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December 25, 2000
Buttloads of merriment!
Happy Christmas! Or whatever you celebrate -- I can't keep track of all the different holidays. Things are much better here -- my mom is home, most importantly. I went to the hospital yesterday morning, and arrived just a few minutes before Dr. P. checked in. He started off by saying "Well, we'd hoped to discharge you today, but I don't think that will be happening..." He didn't count on the Carter Stubbornness. My mom told him that, since all she was doing was lying in bed taking painkillers and antibiotics, she may as well go home -- since she could do the same there without running up a huge bill. (Little does she know -- I haven't told her what I charge by the hour!) He said she had a point, then turned to me and asked how long I would be in town. "As long as it takes," I said, wincing at the thought of calling my boss and asking for more time off. He agreed to let Mom go home, as long as I would be there to look after her. I got the car, the nurses took out the IV, and we were home! She's doing okay (and huge thank-yous and hugs to everyone who sent well-wished -- you guys rock), and we had a happy Christmas. I was up with the birds -- I wanted to open presents, dammit! After an hour or so, I heard stirrings from my mom's room, and the dogs appeared, wanting to be walked. After shivering outside in the cold with them, I made us some Christmas pancakes, and we dove into the presents. Candy! Jigsaw puzzles! Hair clip thingies! Socks! (hey, I needed new socks...) And the best present of all, a new set of soft, fluffy flannel sheets! Once I get back to Boston, I will become a Bed Person (TM Patrick.) My bed will be so comfortable, I will never leave it again. I got my mom a Joycam (one of those Polaroid instant camera thingies -- I should have known better. There are now at least two photos of me, pre-coffee, with frightening bedhead, which must be burned...) and a sparkly blue sweater, and a Winnie-the-Pooh watch, and a snowman candle-lamp thing, and oh, a bunch of other impulse purchases. It was a very happy Christmas morn, with wrapping paper and ribbons strew around, and dogs and cats trying to get in on the action... after the presents were demolished, I dropped off some movies at Blockbuster, and did a quick grocery shop, and spent the rest of the day loafing around doing a jigsaw puzzle. I'm glad my mom's home -- and I'm glad my boss called to tell me to take as much time off as I need. And I'm hoping you're all as content as I am tonight -- Merry Christmas!
Posted by Mary Ellen at December 25, 2000 09:15 PM