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

[Secret Agent Mama]

I am so glad you are all breathing easier. It's so hard to be a mother, but the most rewarding hard--ever!

Here's my second "love thursday":
http://secretagentmama.com/blog/2008/02/21/love-thursday-2/

[Mrs. Eaves]

Thank you for sharing your story; hoping that she is feeling much, much better.

My Love Thursday picture is about the love and gratitude I feel for my kids - they remind me to be curious about life and not worry about the little messes along the way.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23151594@N07/2282439750/

Happy Love Thursday to all!

[Mary]

Here's my Love Thursday.

My littlest guy and I got a chance to plant some flowers yesterday. As I snapped this shot I realized how much I loved those hands and the little boy they belong to. Those hands that once held strongly on to my finger as he nursed are all to soon going to be waving good bye as he heads off into the big blue world.

[Mary]

OOps forgot the link

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2042/2279805625_6a6de5398b_o.jpg

[Karen G]

I'm so glad your little girl is better now. I can't imagine what you must have been going through.
My cousins' daughter has asthma too. She was sick onces when she come to stay with us for a couple of days. It was really scary to see her so weak.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23132596@N07/2281717107/

[jen lemen]

nick and jess (friends and part of my urban family)

http://www.jenlemen.com/blog/?p=331

and i'm so sorry about alex. mother love is scary sometimes--you realize how much this tiny person means to you and how much you have to lose when they suffer. it's intense.

[nicky thomas]

for the love that breaks your heart.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickythomasphotography/2281770441/


for the love that patches it up with string and sticky tape
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickythomasphotography/2281731865/

[Y]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/joyunexpectedcom/2281188387/

Daddy's little girl. Sigh.

[Mama DB]

We've been to the ER with our two once each. Terrifying. I'm glad Alex is okay now.

Here's my submission. Munchkin love.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23829646@N02/2281912355/

[Dana]

Glad your daughter is better. Nothing hurts worse than watching a sick child.

Here's my love Thursday...the picture is explained in the post.

http://ijustlovebeingme.blogspot.com/2008/02/bring-on-rain.html

[Shanna]

That is very scary. I'm glad that you're little one is alright. My Love Thursday shot is of some blocks that I have sitting on my piano.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/just_so/2281971913/

[Aileen]

Glad to hear that your babe is feeling better. Those scary moments definitely take your breath away.

My Love Thursday is a photo of my son meeting his grandfather for the first time ever. My son is the first boy in 23+ years in the family (after 11+ girl births). He and his grandfather easily settled in together.

http://makemineaquad.wordpress.com/2008/02/21/a-boy-and-his-bumpa/

[Shannon]

All you need is love.
http://soulsparklingspirit.blogspot.com/2008/02/all-you-need-is-love.html

[summer]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sufferingsummer/2282148619/

So sorry for your rough night...but thankful it turned out so well. I get that feeling of not really being cut out for the depth of feeling. Of course we are as mothers but man...no one can tell you before you are there.

[simply]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22779383@N08/2282273611/

each one of our precious littles has had a scare at one time or another...heart renching...It's a reminder that they are my "loves" each one of them :o)

~simply~

[shelbi]

so much inspiration here...i love all of you and your beautiful photographs :)

[shelbi]

ps. forgot to say the most important thing and that is they i am so relieved to hear your sweet baby is doing better. those scares are the worst and so hard on us parents. my 2nd son was actually hospitalized for the same thing...this was over 8 yrs ago...but it still feels like yesterday....

hugs to you!

[cherryfizzy]

glad to know everything is back to better for your baby...

for my little one, love is as simple as a popsicle.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cherryfizzy/2282362657/

[becky]

I think I messed up when I tried to leave it earlier.

"So tonight, I hold my little boy and my husband a little closer, thankful for every minute together that God graces us with. Hold your family close. Hug your children a little tighter tonight."

http://beckyscorner.com/ee/index.php?/shifts/comments/passing_on/

[Nancy R]

Karen, I'm glad to hear Alex is on the mend.

http://worldwiderolves.blogspot.com/2008/02/get-your-souvenirs-here.html

[Gloria]

I put this photo up for another challenge, but I think it fits today's theme of Love Thursday too.

http://gloriaruggero.blogspot.com/2008/02/lens-day-monochromatic.html

I know what you mean about being a mother, I never thought I could love someone that much until the first time she got hurt and had to go to the hospital. Then you find out what love is made of....

[Kristin]

This may be an unusual photo for Love Thursday, but basically I love NY. New York City that is. And this photo I particularly love. My mom took the photo while in NY recently and I added loads of processing to it. So not sure this even qualifies since I didn't take the actual photo. But she knows I'm using it and she says it's a joint effort so we're both sharing the credit.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22621057@N04/2283310128/

[Secret Agent Mama]

So to be part of the flickr pool one must provide a flickr link?

If that's the case, here's mine:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/secretagentmama/2282440444/

[toyfoto]

How kismet. I was posting yesterday about a kind of love that some of us can't speak too easily about.

http://ittybit.blogspot.com/2008/02/da-da-da-da-da.html


All about communication.

[vivienne]

here's my love thursday offering:

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

[Laura/CenterDownMom]

Hi Karen -- I just found you and "love Thursday", following a comment from danab on my blog. I happen to love Thursdays because it is our "in town" day, when my homeschooled (unschooled) boys and I hang out with other families all day. It's a happy day for us. Anyway -- no photos this post, just a Love Thursday story.

http://centerdownhome.blogspot.com/2008/02/boy-in-red-cap-and-boy-in-blue-cap.html

Oh, and hey -- my son used to use a home nebulizer occasssionally. He hasn't had to use it for years (he's 15, now). If you or anyone else wants ours, contact me. :) So glad your daughter is doing better. It's scary when something like that happens.

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