October = Bad Month!
I'm just gonna come right out and say it: October sucked! My maternal grandmother passed away in mid-October. She was 98, and hadn't had the best time over the last couple years. That really wasn't too bad. Everyone felt she was better off, and no longer in pain, etc. However. The following Thursday, I get a call from my mother. I'm at Henry's Happy Hour with co-workers. Mom tells me that my little sister J. is in the hospital undergoing emergency surgery for an ectopic pregnancy (which is doctor-speak for a tubal pregnancy). Seems, even though she was ON THE PILL (she's married with a beautiful 2 year-old girl, BTW), she got pregnant and it implanted in one of her fallopian tubes. She did not know about the pregnancy. The tube eventually burst, and she lost over 3 pints of blood into her abdominal cavity. Had to have an ambulance rush her to the hospital. They operated, and had to put 5 units of blood back into her.
She almost didn't make it.
I've never been so freaked out in my life! I was ready to run home, pack a bag and make the drive over to Bend, work and dog sitting for a friend be damned. But everyone in the family told me not to go. She made it through okay, and called me from home that Saturday. She's still not 100%, thanks to the grievous blood loss, but she's getting around, and is able to take care of my niece okay. I'm headed over there this weekend, as my brother-in-law is out of town. Figured I could help out and keep them both company. And besides, my niece Lanie is so cute...