Love Thursday: February 21st, 2008

On Sunday night, our family had a little scare:  Alex wasn't herself all day, sort of just tired and lethargic.  At the end of the day, we finally decided to call her pediatrician on call -- and soon after, found ourselves in the emergency room, with Alex on a nebulizer.  Turns out she was having her first asthma attack, resulting from pneumonia we didn't know she had.

I remember a moment in the emergency room, watching Alex's limp body finally sleeping, at about 1 a.m.  And I remember irrationally thinking:  "I shouldn't have become a mother.  I can't take this.  I can't watch this.  I'm not strong enough."  Of course, immediately afterwards,  I remember saying to myself, "Don't be an ass, Karen.  She's going to be fine.  What's the matter with you?  In the grand scheme of things, this is nothing.  And if this was something truly life-threatening, of course you'd be strong enough.  You'd take a deep breath, and you'd deal.  BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT MOTHERS DO."

Of course, everything is fine now, and all of us are breathing easier.  And I think back to that night, I'm sort of shocked by the intense fear I was experiencing, motivated by intense love.  Who would've thought five years ago I was going to be a mom, let alone love this little kid with the ferocity that I do?  And boy, how I do.

Happy Love Thursday, everyone.  Please leave your links of love in the comments below -- and be sure to check out the photos left in the Shutter Sisters Flickr Pool by keeper of the chocolates and tonyapoole for inspiration.

And may be you bowled over by the love you feel today. 

Comments

[Tracey Clark]

I'm so sorry to hear of your ordeal Karen but glad Alex is out of the woods now. Whew. And you are right when you said "that's just what mothers do". Our strength knows no bounds.
My post is up with my Love Thursday photo at Mother May I-
http://maypapers.blogspot.com/2008/02/one-tween-for-two-themes.html

[Cassie]

Well, it's only midnight where I am, and though it seems early to me, I just posted my own Love Thursday. I too have written thoughts on moms. While you write about you being a mom, I write about my own mom. And, may I say that as a daughter? I think Alex is lucky to have a mom like you, Karen.

http://cassafrass.wordpress.com/2008/02/21/love-thursday-february-21/

[stacelet]

My mother told me once that strength is not being just fine in a tough situation. It's being fine when you need to be, and usually then going home and crying yourself to sleep. I'm glad that you were able to be strong when you needed to be, and that Alex is getting better.

My love this week is the simple quiet moments I spend with my husband - he's often my strength.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stacelet/2270061853/

[Angella]

You are beyond capable to be the Mom that Alex needs. That is why she belongs to you. You are more Mommy than she could ever require.

Here is a capture of my youngest to the other day. They were watching a movie and I caught them holding hands.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ourcrazylife/2275882887/

[melody]

I haven't posted a photo yet, but wanted to send you a cyber hug. I've resuscitated a child several times...life is so fragile on many points. I hope Alex is feeling much better and that mom has recovered.

[nikkipolani]

http://nikkipolani.wordpress.com/2008/02/20/love-thursday-rain/

I'm so glad little precious Alex is okay.

[camerashymomma]

i'm glad that your little one is doing better. that sounds very scary. ya know, i cant' seem to get over the fact that everytime i stop in here, i am reading posts by women who are experiencing the same intensity as i am. my son is having a very emotional time right now, and the world feels so big, and i feel so little, and i had just confided in a friend yesterday that "i'm not cut out for this, for mothering this sensitive creature that came to me. to give him a better go at it than i had." no one can ever tell you how hard it is, this intensity that fills us every single day. it's beautiful and overwhelming.

here's a shadow of love for love thursday, from a quiet morning
http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerashymomma/2274863981/

[To Think is to Create]

Wow, so glad that story has a happy ending.

My Love Thursday is a fun one, keeping it light today. :)

http://tinyurl.com/3xgdde

[Whitney Hannah Hill]

Your post brought tears to my eyes as I remember the times I have been there...in times of uncertainty and denying my strength as a mother - as I am sure most moms can relate to. I'm happy that your little one is okay. I was inspired & decided to post my own Love Thursday post -

http://www.iknowamomblog.com/2008/02/wow.html

[bleeding espresso]

How scary! So glad to hear Alex is fine and that you have all come away from the ordeal stronger and even more "in love."

I'm nurturing my travel lovebug this week:

http://bleedingespresso.com/2008/02/love-thursday-nurturing-my-travel-lovebug.html

[mel from freak parade]

I'm glad she is ok. That is so scary. We were just in the emergency room a few weeks ago. My daughter fell head first onto our ceramic tile. Parenting is not for the weak....or perhaps parenting makes you grow stronger.

My submission this week is not perfect, but there is so much I love about it.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/muckyyuck/2281518426/

[Frida]

Love - it can give us the strength to do things we never dreamed possible.

My first link:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fridaworld/2267457545/

[DanaB]

So glad Alex is on the mend--lots of hugs to y'all!

Beautiful,glorious picture!

My first Love Thursday post today goes hand-in-hand with the recent post about pictures of hubands...

~~

[DanaB]

Oops...link forgotten!

http://www.ourwindowswideopen.wordpress.com

[jen]

Love is forceful and brutal, yet oh so delicate and sweet and nearly always all consuming. The object of my motherly love also loves our dog and the feeling is reciprocated. http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaycee/2235851150/

[maya]

i'm glad alex is ok...

here's for my love thursday:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mayaeh/2271635889/

[Bipolarlawyercook]

I think a good love lets us all breathe easier. Here's my photo this week.

http://bipolarlawyercook.wordpress.com/2008/02/21/love-thursday/

[Kathleen]

Are there any parents/caregivers who don't experience doubt? Well, I haven't met any...As a newly appointed guardian of a toddler, there have been many times of doubt for me...But, oh, they fade fast when experiencing the world through his bright eyes!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23630286@N05/2280978699/

[FireMom]

A Special Bond:
http://stopdropandblog.com/2008/02/21/love-thursday-a-special-bond/

[Leah]

Oh that is so hard. My little one was sick this week too, but at least I got a good napping photo out of all the puking...

http://lakelinesthoughts.com/?p=586

[Tracie]

Believe me, I've been there. When my now 3.5 year old daughter was only 6 months old, we were in the hospital for 5 days with what they thought was meningitis. I remember looking at this baby that I hardly knew and thinking how lost I would be without her. I was so relieved when we found out it was a viral, not bacterial, infection and we were released to go home. Somehow we moms find inner strength and peace when it is most needed. I'm glad your little girl is going to be fine.

[Lys]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lysrian/2251234900/

Sometimes it's the simple things like a moment with a favorite pet.

[Lauren C.]

http://flickr.com/photos/23924687@N03/2281011025/

My LOVE triangle...

[liza]

Here's hoping this Love Thursday is extra special for me and my husband:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/liza-bean/2279413647/

[Heather]

My parents have seen me run through glass doors (5 YO, 35 stitches), crash bikes (12 YO, front wheel fell off, concussion), and go through a leukemia scare (18 YO, just a virus).

These events make us strong. Be strong, mamacita.

Love Thursday:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/strawberrygoldie/2281041865/

[Ginna]

Isn't being a mother the craziest thing?
Thanks for sharing your story.

Here's my contribution:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ginnahendricks/2278994604/

Happy love thursday everybody!

[Brené Brown]

So glad to hear that Alex is feeling better! I'm not sure anything prepared me for the vulnerability of parenting. It's a daily lesson.

In our house this week, love is finding a backup monkey. Happy, healthy love Thursday!

http://ordinarycourage.squarespace.com/

[kristin]

love in her eyes....
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14811117@N02/2281865024/in/set-72157603828703759/

[carrie]

We had a lot of childhood asthma in our family too - I'm glad she is doing better.

My first Love Thursday http://www.flickr.com/photos/koehmstedt/2236440621/

[JennyB]

I love this photo for one reason...you can see the 'motherly love' in my friends eyes. She's just filled with it.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23134155@N07/2281870752/

[mademlivmom]

love...http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2286/2281081195_66ffc2f0c3.jpg?v=0

[Mir]

Happy Love Thursday, all! http://wouldashoulda.com/2008/02/21/and-here-is-why/

[Raven]

My son was hospitalized 5 times by the time he was 4 years old. It's so scary and yet the strength just keeps coming when you need it; for him that strength would never end.

I always cried when he was home tucked safely in his bed sleeping soundly.

I'm glad everything is okay!

Here he is with his new love Nellie! http://www.flickr.com/photos/justexpressive/2268891147/

[Kelly]

I've been there with those "scares" and they only serve to make us stronger and show us we truly are up for the challenge that is motherhood. Glad all is well now!

Today's photo: Little Boys + Beach + Trucks = LOVE

http://kellyswritelife.blogspot.com/2008/02/love-thursday.html

[Charlotte]

My Love Thursday is posted. Thank you for challenging me to seek out the love that bowls me over in photographic form.

I am so glad you were able to be there for Alex. As a mom, you will always have the strength needed, regarldess of the amount. It just appears. Its like its injected in us the moment we become mothers. We are so lucky that way. Sending happy thoughts your way today...

http://mothernaturesdaughter.blogspot.com

[Calissa]

So glad she's okay... and what an amazing thing to feel a love so fiercely. I can't wait for the day I have children of my own. It's gonna be a wild, scary, incredibly ride.

And for Love Thursday, the love of two precious little men in my life.
http://flickr.com/photos/marycalissa/2178325410

[Amanda]

I, too, have had a scary week with my youngest daughter. She is 8 weeks old and is very sick.

Here is my moment this week ...
http://amandasfavoritethings.blogspot.com/2008/02/dancing.html

[Sara Moon]

A mom in love.
http://flickr.com/photos/saraluna/2282000294/

[amy souza]

discovery.
pure joy.
moments.
too quick.
help me to remember.

LOVE.....

enjoy love thursday. we will indeed.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/astrogirll/2280519710/

[Judy]

Aww, poor Alex. What a sweet photo.

Joining in again. This is my first one, about becoming a friend In Real Life after being friends online:

http://justenjoyhim.wordpress.com/2008/02/21/love-thursday-online-to-irl-friend/

[krystyn]

Ugh, Karen, I wish I could give you a big giant hug right now. What a scare. I'm glad Alex (and you!) are feeling better.

Sometimes I look at my boys and think of all we've gone through -- from the emotions of a divorce to the scares of wipeouts and lost teeth! -- and I wonder how I was able to be a good parent through it all. Or, sometimes I wonder if I was a good parent. I hope so.

Who would've thought twelve years ago that I was going to be a mom for the first time, let alone love my little monkeys with the ferocity that I do? I'm so glad I was blessed with the task, though.

Otherwise, who would make funny faces at me when I need a smile?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/brokenwrists/2278549020/

[Paige]

I'm so glad she is better Karen!

Here is my Love Thursday submission. A gift for my husband for Valentine's Day.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sparkphoto/2282107706/

[Kirsten Michelle]

I can't imagine how hard it must have been to watch your beautiful little girl struggling. I'm so happy to hear that she's doing so much better. Alex is just a year younger then my little one featured today. Every time I look at my daughter, I'm overwhelmed by this tremendous sense that anything is possible. Of course, I've always believed that it is for her, but more recently I'm rediscovering through her eyes that it's that way for me also ;-)

Sweet blessings on your day.xx

http://creatingthelifeiwant.blogspot.com/2008/02/only.html

[Mandy]

I feel for you, both myself and my younger daughter have asthma and have been where you have been. It's quite scary. Ours are under control now, and no attacks in quite a long time. I hear that the young ones may out grow it, I certainly hope so.....
Here's my love, I was playing with some textures for the 1st time and found it to be a lot of fun!
http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/onblack.php?id=2280862300&posted=1

[Liz]

Your story reminds me of my own 4-days-post-partum ER drama which included two dazed and scared parents and a spinal tap for our newborn baby girl. That was 10 years ago and the memory can still give me a chill. Suffice to say everything turned out fine:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lizgrandmaison/2281398429/

So very glad Alex is okay.

And thanks for the Daily Click honors!

[Anna]

What a scare - I am glad that Alex is ok. Lots of hugs!

Here is mine for today - after two boys, I am loving all the stuff that comes with having a baby girl.

http://vancouverhometown.blogspot.com/2008/02/love-thursday_21.html

[McKenzie]

i love the moon and didn't realize that i'd created a heart with my unsteady hand until later. here's my eclipse love.

http://rmcisraelsen.blogspot.com/2008/02/lunar-eclipse-love-thursday.html

[Shalet]

This is not the highest quality photo - I took it with my computer. But I love it.

http://peculiarmomma.blogspot.com/2008/02/its-all-good.html

Happy Love Thursday!

[Chris]

I just love "Love Thursday"! Here's mine:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeroldssis/2281546517/

[laura plouzek]

Such beautiful photos everyone! =)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/smilinglaura/2217102429/