Still Waiting Outside the ICU

7:30 p.m.

When I got upstairs, she hadn't yet been moved and the nurses directed me to the "family" waiting area. The three rooms were overrun with families (it looks like one of whom had brought in a big spread of dinner) so I found a quiet spot on a hallway window to catch up on my calls and writing.

Two windows down, a little girl EB's age is playing finger games with her grandmother while they wait for someone they love. A little while ago, I said a quiet prayer for them and felt an overwhelming sense of compassion for the girl, grandma, and all the other people who were anonymously sharing this day, and a day of their own stories, with me. Even for the loud cell-phone talkers.

I called home and talked to each boy, telling them that mom was out of surgery and doing well. They might want to have her stay an extra day or two, just to make sure everything was o.k., but there was nothing to worry about. Hearing MM's stories about their day made her happy and she can't wait to be home with them again.

MM is getting them ready for bed now and has a couple of bedtime stories picked out. Spiff gets to be the story reader.

Gotta go now, someone just came to take me to the ICU. Finally, we get to be together again!