Program Interruption

I interrupt the current programming to make a brief announcement....

I have reached Super Mom status for today, November 24th, 2010.

1. I got four kids bundled up to play in the snow, without completely losing my temper.

2. I swept and mopped the kitchen floor.

3. I made a hot lunch - grilled cheese with bottled pears and pickles (long story on the pickles).

4. I saved my son's life.

Today at lunch Adam choked on a piece of pear when he was overcome with laughter from Kate's constant silliness. He has tried to "inhale" his food into his windpipe before, so I wasn't immediately alarmed. I asked him if he could breathe and he shook his head back and forth.

In less that a second I was on my feet, my fist positioned between his navel and sternum, doing my first-ever real Heimlich Maneuver on a human body. One thrust was enough to get him coughing and within a few moments he dislodged the slimy pear blob. Then he promptly threw up some pickle. It was all so traumatic when he finally sat down he started to cry. I tried to comfort him and just smiled and thought, "That was pretty cool."


Note: #2 actually happened last, you know to clean up the sticky mess, but I wanted to save the best for last.