FORE!!!!

So today marks the 1 year anniversary of the infamous phone call I received around 9:30 am, July 12, 2010. Cade called saying he was hit in the head with a golf ball. At first all I could think was concussion, and Cade's baseball team was playing in the league championship, so I immediately got him in to a doctor to check it out. (Yes, I'm a sports mom and coach!) He ended up passing the concussion tests and it rained that day, so he had an extra day to rest.

I will never forget the events of that week. Sometimes it seems like only yesterday that it happened, and then other times it feels like years ago. I look at Cade now and can see the effect it had on him. He's definitely not the same Cade as he was a year ago, but it's not a big enough difference that most people would notice.

The lasting effect it has had on me, as a Mom, is to trust my instincts. You know, the ones that eat at you when you just "know" something is not right. I had those that entire week. I just knew that Cade was not Cade. And looking back, I wish I had acted on those instincts a lot sooner. I did what every Mom would do and got him in to the doctor. In fact, we went to the doctor four days out of the week. And even when I heard the first Dr. say pneumonia, deep down I knew that just didn't seem right. I mean, I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn the night before, but when a kid can't read and has gotten sick, and has been hit in the head....hmmmm.

Eric and I understand that we're very blessed to have had everything turn out so well. He played basketball and baseball and is already asking about football. Sitting out last year was torture for him...and us, because we had to listen to him complain. Cade's whole head/face region has cost us a fortune between his head injury and flossing his front teeth with a basketball net on a backwards dunk. (A whole other blog post!) The seriousness of it all has never really sunken in to Cade. I mean, what 9 year old thinks they could have died? But I saved all the emails and posts we got from everyone praying for him so that one day he'll really understand and appreciate it.The one thing we have never had to tell him to do is pray whenever a helicopter or ambulance goes by. Whether he's in the on-deck circle at the baseball field, outside swimming with friends, or just driving in a car, I've noticed him praying at those times. A time that as a parent, I wish on no one.

So what did Cade do today? He went golfing with some buddies. And I can now breathe a sigh of relief because I just heard him walk in the door. And to all you Moms out there...trust your instincts. You know your children the best of anyone. I mean, I can tell you right now that Colton is planning his next attack on Carston because Carston ate the last chicken nugget! (I'm betting it will come around snack time.) I just know that Cooper is hiding the extra Wii remote so Colton won't mess up his game, that Carston really isn't taking a nap, and that Cade has granola bars under his bed. We're Moms...we just know stuff!

As I get ready to go break up yet another fight, that I heard coming by the way. I just wanted to take this chance to also say thank you again for praying for my family, offering to help with the kids, fixing us meals, and visiting during that whole ordeal. It's been a year, but it's something I've never forgotten or taken for granted. We're blessed with amazing people in our life and we appreciate you all!