I'd rather have been in Tahiti.

One week. Wednesday to Wednesday. That's usually how long people go on vacation.

To an exotic locale to sip fruity drinks on the beach and get tan and relax and feel the breeze in their hair and the spray of the ocean on their faces.

One week. I'd never been away from my kids for that long before.

Yeah...I'd rather have been in Tahiti. Instead, I was sitting by my 2nd born's hospital bed, worrying like crazy and trying to subdue the nurse in me.

The nurse in me who's heard horror stories of ruptured appendixes and taken care of kids very ill after their appendix had ruptured. Yeah, the mom in me put the nurse in me in a choke hold and wouldn't let her come out. I just. couldn't. go there.

In reality, my Belle was never gravely ill (says the mom in me...while the nurse in me wants to remind her of a story a doctor once told her and the risks that come with a ruptured appendix...). She was miserable. Feverish. In pain. But, never critical.

THANK GOD!!

I look back at the last week, and the stress and the worry we experienced, and it hits me that what WE went through is nothing. Nothing compared to the Kate McRae's and the Sweet Kendall's and the Greg Jager's of the world.

But yet...it was my baby. My sweet girl who I sent off to surgery...in the hands of a bunch of men who were complete stranger's to her. (Weird when you think about it..."See ya later hon! These strange men will take great care of you!") I feel like I had a hand up over most parents...I KNEW who these men were.

I trusted them.

Completely.

With my baby's life.

I have this immense gratitude for the surgeon who helped (guided by You Know Who) to heal her. He is such a humble man...whenever I thanked him for his care, he just smiled quietly and ducked his head...acting almost embarrassed for the recognition.

The magnitude of the last week is hitting me a little more, now that we are home. I get a little teary now and then and yet, I feel silly for being emotional about a little ruptured appendix when I think about what other people are experiencing.

All I know is that I'm relieved to be home. Relieved to be breaking up fights and sopping up spilled milk and staring at a pile of laundry that needs to be folded.

It's so good to be "back to life"...although, I'd still rather be emptying Tahitian sand from our clothes and looking in the mirror at a tanned, relaxed Mama...you know, in case you were wondering. ;)

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PS...I have a giveaway going on over on my review blog for a $100 dollar Dick's Sporting Goods gift certificate through BlogHer and Gatorade!! Check it out!

PPS (or, is it PSS?)...Five Question Friday IS on for tomorrow!