The first time

Here it is, my first entry into my new blog. Inspired by my good friend Missy (the only one who will read this) here are my thoughts and feelings.

My nephew is a senior this year. Although I'm 20 years older than him, we are very close. Sometimes too close as he shares things with me that normal nephews don't share with aunts. It's just me and my sister and my brother-in-law is an only child so I'm the favorite aunt - the only aunt.

Tuesday night was their playoff game. My nephew has really come into his own as a football player and is basically involved in every play as he plays both ways. Something that is very common for a 8-man football player from a small town. They lost their game in overtime which was very sad. The seven seniors on the team are very close and they were all very upset about losing. On one of the last plays of the game, one of the seniors got hurt. After the game, he was transported to the hospital by ambulance. During the game, my nephew was escorted off the field by one of the referees. He didn't look like he was feeling too good. After the game, I sought him out and he hugged me for a long time. As I looked up at him, I knew that something wasn't right. I called my brother-in-law over and he took my nephew by the arm and someone started checking him out. I went to my sister and told her that she needed to go to him. I stayed with my youngest niece and nephew and watched as they put my oldest nephew into the ambulance and took him. My sister went with him, my brother-in-law followed and my mom took my middle nephew and went to the hospital. I went into "aunt" mode and took the little ones home. My youngest nephew, who is in 6th grade, went into big brother mode with my neice who is in 1st grade. They were pretty quiet that night and finally fell asleep. My oldest nephew, along with one of his best friends, shared a room in the ER. The entire football team, their parents and the coaches all waited for any news. I was at my sister's house, waiting by the phone. After all was said and done, my oldest nephew was admitted with a pretty serious concussion. Turns out this was his second of the season, he just didn't share how bad he felt after the first one. He was released the next day. I got to the hospital in the morning and sat with him until he was released. He's fine now and even went back to school today. He goes back to the DR next week and at that time will find out if he's going to be able to play basketall. (He also pulled something in his shoulder.)

Whew...that's a lot to type. I don't have any kids of my own (my husband and I have a cat) and so those kids are my life. It didn't hit me until last night exactly what had happened. My husband asked me why I was upset because he was going to be fine. I simply said, "I haven't had time to be upset." I took a sick day yesterday to be with my sister and my nephew. Today everyone at work asked about him and shared in my emotions when I said he was going to be okay. I'm not a public cryer, but I was almost there today. It's nice to work with people who care about my family like they were their own.

I feel better now.