Happy Fourth of July

The past ten days have been horrible. As I sit here on the Fourth of July just shaking my head at all that has happened, I still think "What a Wonderful World".

Still recuperating from my shoulder surgery, last Friday evening, I just didn't feel right; and I thought there is a stomach bug coming my way. I was right, and by Saturday I was feeling it. I spent Saturday through Monday in bed not knowing what was going on. Temperature up, temperature down. Stomach OK, stomach not OK. Tuesday morning, a week ago, I called Eric at work and told him he needed to get me to the ER as I felt I was going to pass out. Yes I was dehydrated, but to make a long story short I was diagnosed with diverticulitis and an abscess. Kind of shocking to me, but such is life. I was admitted to the hospital and have been here ever since. Ladies let me tell you that there is one other place where we feel we are having the transitional stage of labor...OUCH! I haven't felt pain like this since my last child was born a natural birth.

Since I have such a high, technical medical degree (called M.O.M.) I had it all figured out. Three days of antibiotics, send me home with meds, catastrophe all gone. Little did I know they would keep me for the five days of antibiotics. Surgeon comes in yesterday and says that after he and the other surgeon looked at my CT Scan from yesterday, the 3 inch abscess is not going away as it should and they would be doing surgery this week, either tomorrow or Wednesday. What happened to the stomach bug I thought I was having?

So here I sit on the fourth of July contemplating what this holiday means to me. I remember the Fourth of July growing up in New York, a time when this holiday was for remembering our forefathers and what they did for us..for those who gave up their lives so that we may have the freedoms we enjoy. This was a patriotic day..a day for flying the flag, for patriotic parades where all the patriotic songs were played, not rap music by the band, not jazzy music played so the dance team can jazz up their dance moves..no these parades were for people lining the streets all holding and flying small flags in their hands, people taking off their hats when the big flag came by, singing along with the patriotic songs that were played by the band. This day was not for sales and savings..it was a time to reflect, again, on those things that are important to us.

Go down your street today and see how many flags are flying in your neighborhood. The flag is no longer important..the barbecues, the smell of brisket being smoked, the beer with the brisket, the fowl language you hear from your neighbors after they have had too much to drink. What has happened to this country of ours? Yes, I do think we live in a wonderful world knowing Heavenly Father's plan and what is in store for us. The problem is enduring this world that we live in and watching the USA going down the tubes.

I truly think that so much of our problems are caused by greed. Just go to the mall or to Target or Wal Mart...people aren't flying their flag. They are shopping, shopping, shopping...get those bargains ladies because there will never be sales like this again (yeah, right).

As I was drinking my broth here at the hospital for the umpteenth time, I looked at that broth and jello and a different thought came to my mind about that meal. There are mothers in the world who would do anything to have broth and jello to feed to their starving children. And we stuff ourselves with all the trimmings. How ungrateful of me to not appreciate what I have.

Our country has become one filled with greed, unrighteous pride, political scandals and wheelin' and dealin'. Wouldn't George Washington just be flipping over in his grave? What did he fight for? How many mothers lost sons and husbands, men who would give their lives so that we could have what we have today...FREEDOM!...freedom to choose, freedom to worship, freedom to go to whichever doctor or hospital we wish to, and the list goes on. Other countries must look at us and say, "Don't they get it? Don't those Americans appreciate what they have been given?"

I know, I am on a roll today. I guess that is what 7 days of being in a hospital bed, a bed I should be grateful for, does to my mind.

I am proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free (you have to love Lee Greenwood). My prayer for this country is that we won't lose that freedom, that we won't take it for granted, that on this day we may remember and celebrate those who gave us this wonderful gift.