Marriage is an exciting thing. Really, it is. My husband can tell you that the most exciting time in his life has been since we were married. Exciting can mean so many different things. There is the excitement in a child's face when he or she sees all the presents under the Christmas tree on Christmas morning. There is the excitement one feels when they meet a celebrity or are given a promotion. There is also excitement felt when one jumps out of an aeroplane with nothing but the promise of the parachute that they will land unharmed and not just crash to the earth.
This is probably more how the Mr. would describe the excitement of our marriage. I dare say that every night when he arrives in from work this is the excitement he feels wondering what is for dinner. The excitement he feels when the door bell rings and it is the letter carrier with a parcel. The excitement he feels every time I start a sentence with, 'You'll never guess what!'
There has also been a fair lot of excitement over the years that wasn't all my ridiculous ventures. There have been things that were for some reason chosen to land in our laps. One such time...
I had to take some antibiotics awhile ago. It was for some dental work I had done and so I took them. To be fair, the instructions did say to take on a full belly and well, I decided to take them halfway in between meals which of course made me feel like I was going to be sick all day/night. I had even tried taking half of the tablet thinking I was a doctor it was better than not taking any. By the end of the fourth day I had to stop taking them. So, I phoned the GP and requested a different, milder antibiotic (since surely by now selecting meds must be similar to buying a handbag or new shoes).
After I was informed that my method of taking them was, in fact, flawed I started my new, milder pills the next day, taking them with a meal each time I took one. WOW, not being funny, that is the way to take antibiotics for those who don't have the consititution for keeping them down. It worked.
One evening, after the week or so of antibiotics was over, the Mr. and I were watching a show, quite late actually, nearly 1am. I noticed that my hands looked rather blue, especially around the finger nails. Well, having read enough blogs and parents forums with children with heart repairs and surgeries I panicked calmly asked the Mr. what he thought.
Interestingly, he too was quite alarmed. I didn't feel particularly unwell so the blueness of my fingers and skin took me quite by surprise. Knowing what blue hands and nail beds can mean, I started to feel a bit woozy and thought I'd better lie down. He asked me if I was feeling any chest pains. Well, now that he mentioned it, I DID feel a slight tightness that wasn't there earlier and as long as we're on the topic, my heart rate did feel a bit fast and my breathing wasn't as steady and calm as it had been (five minutes earlier). We wondered if perhaps due to my not taking the antibiotics properly if perhaps an infection had spread to my heart and I was now having a heart attack.
Well, we've read about how some people with chest pains have taken aspirin during the pains and it has saved their lives. So, we googled 'So You think You're Having a Heart Attack for Dummies' and read how much to take all whilst praying fervently that I would survive this ordeal. By now I was sure the room was spinning and I could barely breathe.
Well, the Mr. went to see if we had any aspirin. No, no, we didn't. Fortunately for us (and definitely NOT for her) his Mum was staying the weekend with us so the Mr. could bring her to the airport on his way to work that Monday. So, he knocked on the door to the guest room see if she had some aspirin with her. No, no she doesn't actually use much aspirin so she didn't have any. He asked her to get up and plead with God pray for me so she did, probably not for a terribly long prayer but I'm sure she at least turned over and mentioned something upwards as she turned.
At this point, the Mr. decided he should dash to the one shop, about a five minute drive (20 minute walk) away that is open 24 hours (we live in London - not the US - so shops open all night are still a rarity). He rushed out the door and when he got to the car door, he realised he didn't have his keys. Well, he took a moment to ascertain what the best option was. Does he bang on the door to get me, who is possibly in myocardial infarction, to come let him in (again, no keys) or does he just run to the shop on foot? He thought he could just run there. Not a problem.
Literally 14 minutes later I hear what sounds like someone breaking into the house. Of course now is the time we would get burgled so as I, in my weakened state, clutching my arm and shoulder, muttered with what could potentially be some of my very last breaths, 'Dear Lord, come quickly near'. Just as I was sure I was going to faint, the door to our room burst open and in stumbled the Mr., clutching his chest, gasping for breath, his windproof torn on the one arm and sweat mingled with rain pouring from his forehead. He could barely talk. HE was who had 'broken in' since he didn't have any keys and he had RUN to the shops AND back AND purchased the aspirin in those 14 minutes! My hero! Tears again drenched my face as I told him that if I lived it would be because of his valiant gesture.
Well, the next morning, through tear swollen eyes, I awakened. Little Poppet is usually my alarm clock and the days the Mr. isn't working I am his. So, we all were awake and I felt so much better. We all hugged and though Little Poppet didn't ever realise she nearly lost her mum in her sleep, joined in the celebration. One thing though, I had had an awful lot of water and tea before sleeping so I was in a bit of a rush for the loo.
Well, after I washed my hands in the basin I noticed how very much back to normal they looked. I uttered a little 'Thank You, Lord' and with big smiles returned to my loved ones to declare that the aspirin had saved my life. I felt surprisingly well! We decided I should take 75g of aspirin every day so we broke several of the aspirin into four pieces so I could start my daily regime. I was so thankful my life had been spared but felt a responsibility to take the best care possible of myself.
Well, I was getting Little Poppet dressed for the day and changed her nappy. We keep a little pot of antibacterial hand gel on the dresser so I can clean my hands after nappy changes. It saves on the dry skin your hands get from washing your hands 300 times a day when you have little ones. Well, after I cleaned my hands with the antibac I noticed the blue had come back in my hands! Actually, the antibacterial gel that we had wasn't the usual one we buy. The shop was out of our brand so the Mr. had bought a smaller bottle of their own brand of antibac hand gel which was, coincidentally, blue in colour. I immediately went to wash my hands WITH WATER and erm... the blue disappeared.
So, I went into our room to tell the Mr., 'You'll never guess what'...
Disclaimer:Though it may be difficult to tell, the Poppies' Blog is NOT a valid source for medical information. Nothing you read here should be considered competent medical advice. In fact, it is more than likely quite the opposite. the Poppies' Blog is not liable for any actions or treatments you chose to use in your own situation. Seek competent medical advice if you feel you may be having a heart attack or for any other medical condition. Phone your GP or in emergency phone 999 (in the US 911) for assistance.
