Bells R Ringin'

Damn. Is it me? Or is it Christmas already? I hear bells ringing. Over and over,
the soft tinkling sound of bells. So many times now that the sound is no longer
soft and tinkling.

It's like being inside the bell tower at Notre Dame when the bell ringer is at his best.

By the sinking or the swelling in the anger of the bells -
Of the bells -
Of the bells, bells, bells, bells,
Bells, bells, bells -
In the clamor and the clanging of the bells!
(Thanks Edgar Allen Poe, The Bells)

So what's up with the bells?

My twelve year old had his tonsils and adenoids removed yesterday, and so I didn't have to stay at his bedside, and he didn't have to yell for me, I gave him one of the little crystal bells I have. You know...a dinner bell. Makes the sweetest sound. Errrrr, made the sweetest sound.

Not in this demon child's hands. The bottoms of my feet are worn out. The skin is now paper thin. Won't take much more and the soles of my feet will be dripping blood. Little Demon. He's doing it on purpose too. Punishing me for this surgery.

He liked getting strep once a month. Kept him out of school. Now he knows he will go to school so much he will be the smartest kid there. Yay!!!!! Plus, he'll have more energy now. He'll sleep much better--no snoring and waking up. So, when he comes home from school he won't flop down on the sofa and go to sleep. He'll have to take out the garbage and make his bed and do his homework in a timely fashion. No more feeling sorry for him.

On another up side. He can go to football camp this summer too. Yay!!!! XBox Live move over. lol

But I have to say, poor kid is miserable right now. Between being high on hydrocodone and still in some pain, he's really cranky. I'm spoon feeding him mashed potatoes and gravy, pudding, sweet potatoes, soup, etc. And, of course, popsicles.

They loved him at the hospital. He was funny. At least they thought he was. The nurse came at him with the needle to do the IV, and he says, eyes as big around as saucers, "Whoa, that's one big freaking needle!" I almost choked. They heard him up and down the hall and all came to peek in on who had said it, laughing their asses off.

And then I am sure they will never forget this question to the anesthesiologist.
"Um...listen...I got a question. The other day I had a CAT Scan and the dude put this heavy apron thing over my chest, and then he put another one over my privates. He said he wanted to make sure I could help populate the world some time down the road. So what's up with this stuff you're putting me to sleep with? It's not going to damage my man stuff is it?"

There is no where to hide in one of those little pre-op rooms. And only a curtain separates you from all the other rooms. The whole place rocked. Did that embarrass my twelve year old? Hell no. He waited patiently for his answer. Had to give the anesthesiologist who had to be in his fifties time to stop choking first, of course.

So, now that he was satisfied the family jewels would still be in tact when he left the building, he was ready to go in. I kissed him good bye. He asked if I would be there when he woke up. I said, "Wouldn't be anywhere else. I love you." I then stood there and watched them wheel him away, tears streaming down my cheeks, telling myself it's just tonsils, just tonsils, just tonsils. Nothing is going to happen.

I went out to the waiting area where I was offered coffee, no diet coke. *sigh* Sat down with my book, read fifteen minutes and the waiting room attendant hands me the phone. The doctor says, "Surgery went well, he's fine, and they will call you back in a couple of minutes." I thanked him and again tears flowed. He was ok.

Five minutes later, the door opens, and I am ushered back to him. I call his name, his eyes flutter open. He's incoherent, but not so incoherent he can't recognize me. His arms sort of flop forward, and he starts to thrash. His eyes look so frightened. And I realized later it was because he couldn't control his arms. The nurse is standing there and her eyes widen. Scared me. His lips are moving--no sound. I bend down to him and all of a sudden is arms fall around my neck and he pulls me down to him. He plants a wet kiss on my cheek and I hear the mumbled sound of "I love you."

If I die today, then I die knowing I am truly loved. And actually, the bells still have a soft, tinkling sound.