Saturday night my eye went from really irritated to really painful. Oh, and swollen. I could barely keep it open. And so I did what every normal twenty seven year-old does. I called my mother. She, of course, told me about all of the worst-case scenarios before suggesting that I call our insurance company's nursing line. After explaining the situation to the nurse, she told me that I'd need to be seen within the next twelve hours. Due to the amount of pain I was in and the fact that it was only one eye (allergies normally effect both), she said there was definitely some cause for alarm.
So, off to the ER my sister and I went. We were the only ones in the waiting room, but it still took an hour to get called back. Then we waited there for what seemed like forever. It was freezing and the room itself was not exactly up to the "Mayo Standard" I'm accustomed to. My sister was pretty grossed out, too. She wouldn't even sit all the way back in her little plastic chair. A nurse took me down the hall for an eye test. It basically was just a poster slapped on the wall at the end of the hallway. I couldn't see past the second line out of my right eye and it would have totally freaked me out except I was too busy being fully aware of the serious audience I had all around me. I guess this hospital had never heard of privacy rights because all of the exam room doors were left open and most of the occupants were staring straight at me. One woman even had tipped her chair back so that she could get a better look at me. Is it wrong that I sort of hoped she might fall and bust her ass?
When the doc finally arrived he didn't have much to say. He told me that I either had a severe allergic reaction or an eye infection most likely caused by my contacts. Oh, and then he non-chalantly asked me if I might have chlamydia in. my. eye. CHLAMYDIA?! My sister and I just stared at him, mouths open. "Whaaaat?" And he says, "Well, it would be really rare and usually it's associated with birth and/or really weird sexual positions." I couldn't even believe the words coming out of his mouth. I just told him that I was married with a two year-old, so no, there wasn't a whole lot of sexual anything in my life, weird or otherwise. And he says, "Well, okay then. I need to get going. There is a very sick person down the hall that I need to attend to." And that was that. I had to check his badge on the way out to make sure he really was a physician and not some janitor playing doctor, or something. Still freaks me out just thinking about it. And then, because we hadn't yet had enough fun, we had to wait another 45 minutes before getting the prescription. We finally got home around 1:30am and promptly passed out.
Taken the morning after starting the antibiotic. "I'm too sexy for my sunglasses, too sexy for my sunglasses..."
As luck would have it, I awoke with a migraine the next morning. I stayed in bed for an extra couple of hours while the boys ran out to get my prescriptions. By lunch time, the fog in my head had cleared enough to allow us all to head out on another little adventure. We drove (for what seemed like forever) out to The Breaks to check out some gorgeous views. I don't recommend visiting that place with a toddler. Especially one who wants to do everything himself. Tantrums will be thrown and all because you don't want them to go toppling over the edge of a mountain. The nerve!
On the way home from the park we decided to stop by a gas station for drinks and snacks. Do you know what happens when you send your husband in for snacks? They bring back m&m's. For a toddler. Who will be strapped in the car for the next hour. Obviously he wasn't sitting in the back seat with him. It could have been bad, you guys, but instead it was hilarious. He put on quite the show.
After arriving back at the house we got in some more trampoline time and Haeden got to ride on Uncle Josh's tractor. His favorite part of the trip, I'm sure!
"What are youuuu lookin' at?"
Deep in thought... wondering what kind of trouble he can get into next, I'm sure.
At The Breaks. I love him, but he's an idiot. That drop was, like, straight down. Great influence on the kid, hon!
"OHMMMMM"
So. Many. Steps.
Where's Waldo?!
Tractor ridin' with Uncle Josh!
Probably his favorite part of the entire trip.
Weeeeee!
Look at his face! Priceless!
Who says white men can't jump?! Shoooooot.
HOORAY Virginia!
The drive home felt excruciatingly long. We were definitely smart to break it up over two days on the way up. We also made a very special stop on the way back to FL. It was a bit out of the way, but worth every extra minute on the road.
Haeden got to meet his Grandpa and GrandMary for the very first time. It's too difficult and personal to get into the specifics of why it has taken so long, but I can tell you that a huge weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. I had been looking forward to that day for a long time and though we didn't get nearly enough time as I would have liked, it still lived up to my every expectation.
My father, the instigator... about to start a leaf fight...
"BAM, BAM, BAM"
"I'm gonna get youuuuu!"
The trip was, all in all, fantastic. Emergency room excluded. I cannot wait to get back there again. And hopefully, someday, to move closer. Not exactly sure that I can handle being as far out in the "boonies" as my sister, but definitely want to be in the mountains again one day.
