I'm back. This insanely wacky long weekend has taught me a few things. (Like, no one uses the word "wacky" anymore, and I think thats sad).

1. Some women handle stress much more gracefully than I do.
Stace spent 12 hours in the car on Friday. She got to Huntsville Hospital at midnight and spent the next three nights at the hospital, never once leaving. But, she seemed to get prettier every time I saw her. I mean, WTF? By Monday? I would have looked like I had been run over by an 18-wheeler, in the rain, and smelled like death. But not Stace - she's amazing like that. Either that? Or she's a little bit insane.

2. I'm a ROCKIN' gift giver
I brought Leah goodies Saturday morning. Since shoes are pointless, and she loves her shoes, I brought her a bunch of funky socks AND some Hello Kitty Houseslippers. She kept having me put them on her Saturday. When I came back sunday? She was wearing them in her SLEEP. And when I came back Monday? She was also wearing the Hello Kitty nightgown I got her. I was VERY proud of myself. And also? When you have a son? Its FUN to shop for little girls.

3. Sometimes, my avoidance of left-hand turns is APPRECIATED
I spent the day at Stace's house in Tuscumbia on Sunday, and her oldest daughter, Lauren (who was only bruised from the wreck), went back home with me on Monday. Unfortunately, she was TERRIFIED to make the 80 mile drive back to Huntsville. Well, I explained to her my driving trait that passengers in my cars have been cursing me for for years.

I dont make left turns. (well, MOST left turns. The dangerous ones.)

The wreck happened because of a bad left turn.

She was FINE riding in the car with me. She actually embraced my policy, which was nice since people have been rolling their eyes at it for YEARS. So to all of you who scoffed? HA!

4. The Universe likes to throw it ALL at you at once
While at Stace's house on Sunday - trying to get everything ready for their homecoming, her A.C. went out. Its the middle of summer here, she's going to be homebound for the next three weeks (at least) and her AC went out! Well, since it was cool outside, we thought to plug in a fan at the window to pull the air IN. The fan broke too. Then? The phone line went dead (her brother fixed that eventually) and her fridge? May have been dying by the time I left. It just seemed like it wasnt cooling at ALL. So - we got her house ready for her. If by "ready" you mean "broke everything so her homecoming kinda sucks".

5. Scooby-Do scrubs do NOT make a bad nurse any more tolerable
Leah's dayshift nurse was AWFUL. The rest of the staff? On the other shifts? Were fantastic. But Nurse Bitch? Almost got her ass kicked by Stace. She told them to be moving Leah around (Leah SCREAMED), but her Surgeon said, "No - not this first week. You do what SHE wants, she's in pain." Leah was amazing - took her medicine - never cried (unless moved) but that nurse got MAD at Leah several times, for just whining a bit. It was SO weird. Leah is FIVE and has a major injury and had a major surgery and is bound to a wheel chair for the next several weeks. Its okay if she whines when you touch her HURT LEG. That nurse was so weird...

But to all the rest of you who worked on Leah? You all ROCKED! And the new Women and Children center at our hospital? Rocked too.

6. I missed you guys
I hope to catch up with you all tonight. Thanks for your emails and well wishes. And Stace says thanks for the prayers, they need them all.