Calm Before the Storm

Although we had lived the last nearly five months in "isolation", the doctors gave us the go ahead to go to the beach the week before her scheduled surgery.  I believe every member of our family needed a getaway before enduring what was right ahead of us. 

I love the beach.  It is one of my absolute favorite places to go.  Although I was happy to be there with my family, it was somewhat of a difficult week.  Don't get me wrong, we had an excellent time, but all the while, we knew what would be happening in a few short days.  It was so much fun watching my four-year-old build sand castles, catch the waves with his daddy, and swim like a fish in the swimming pool.  I loved taking Lynley down to the beach for short intervals to experience it for the first time.  I loved basking in family time...all of us out of the house together making memories!  There was no reason to believe that she would not survive the surgery, but it IS a high risk surgery for anyone.  There are no guarantees.  No one could tell me with certainty that Lynley would be around for many beach trips to come.  I tried not to dwell on that, but it never fully leaves your mind no matter how much fun you are having.

There is no place I would have rather spent the "calm before the storm."  I hugged my two kiddos a little bit tighter each day, and enjoyed family time a little more as the time grew shorter.  I wasn't about to take one single minute for granted.  I spent portions of the time in tears dreading the future, but I also spent much of the time with a peace (that I know only God could give).

We got home on a Friday and we were scheduled to be at the hospital on Sunday for check in as the surgery was Monday morning, June 11, 2012. On Sunday about 11:00 A.M., we left in our van with little Lynley and left our other precious boy at home with my parents.  The moment nearly took my breath away.  I'm pretty sure I cried most of the way to Birmingham.  This was really happening, and the reality of it was painful...very, very painful!

In the hospital room the night before surgery

 

 

After a totally sleepless night, they came and got us early the next morning....