The Grinch Stole My Christmas

I love Christmas, it's my favorite time of year where everyone is cheerful and happy. I had family coming in from out-of-town and I was even ahead with all of my Christmas shopping and wrapping. Score. My mom and I decided to visit my uncle in the hospital on Christmas Eve before all of the festivities began later on...but then...boom...my mom started to mention how her chest hurt and that her heart felt like it was going to beat out of her chest that morning right before we were supposed to leave. I thought to myself, "this isn't happening...it can't be." Well it was. My dad and I rushed her to the hospital and found out and that she has a tightened heart valve that caused atrial fibrillation and a domino effect of other issues including fluid around her heart, lungs, plural cavity etc. Excuse me while I scream another "EFF YOU!" to 2013...

Once she was moved from the ER and into her own room in the cardiac unit, we found out the following day that she didn't need surgery and could go on medication. Phew. Finally some good news. She stayed in the hospital through Christmas, although my sister and I just decided to bring Christmas to her and decorated her room with a mini pink Christmas tree and a Christmas Snoopy tie blanket that I made the night before. All I wanted for Christmas at that point was for her to feel better.

The nurses that watched over her were great and I couldn't have asked for better people watching over my mom. It was a really scary time in my life that I definitely do not want to relive...but now she's out of the hospital and got to celebrate Christmas last weekend with my mom's side of the family. It's amazing how some quality time with the family can be the perfect kind of medicine and take all of your worries away. I'm not too sure about anyone else, but I am DEFINITELY ready for 2014 to start! I don't think I can handle anymore health scares within the family. I've warned all of my friends and loved ones to just live in a bubble and stay in their houses for the remaining hours of 2013 just as a precaution.

If 2013 taught me anything, it is that life is too short to worry about trivial things. Bring on 2014!!!