In England, they're called Polo.

When I was 4, I choked on a Life Saver (ironically) and almost died. Which is an odd segue into this: I saved The Meatball's life last night. Seriously! 

We went out to dinner for Heidi (Meatball's mama)'s b-day, some family members came down - there were 7 of us altogether (not counting babies). The Meatball was in the stroller between Heidi and me, and she was doing stuff with him and I was talking to someone across the table. So all of a sudden Heidi starts freaking out, Help, help, and she can't get him out of the stroller. He'd been coughing a second ago but he wasn't anymore, he wasn't breathing. So I get the strap off and yank him out of the stroller, and turn him upside down on my hand and hit his back, then I stick my finger in his mouth to sweep his throat - he coughed, and then he gagged and spit up a little, and he was fine. It was crazy!! Heidi was crying and hugging him, and everyone was like, Oh my god!!! 

I am not the kind of person that freaks out, EVER. I just don't worry about stuff... I am extremely calm in a crisis. I'm not trying to toot my own horn (though I often do it without trying ;) ), it's just a fact. Maybe the day will come when it will be necessary to worry more, but it hasn't happened yet.

So even though everyone was freaking out, I was totally calm and I knew, like I knew, like I KNEW, that  everything was going to be fine. It was like I went into autopilot! After, I apologized to Heidi for taking over, but I said I know parents sometimes get too worked up and I knew what to do. And she said, thank God you did because I just froze! Afterwards I felt the adrenalin rush, my heart racing like I'd just been in a car accident or something - weak kneed, the whole bit. Definitely one of the most intense experiences of my life! It was only after the fact that I realized what a scary situation it actually was.

Now, the FUNNY part, was that just as this all was happening, the waiter came out with Heidi's cake and lit candles and they were singing Happy Birthday. Everyone was like, "NO!" and they had to stand there holding the cake until everything was ok, then we sang. 

She said it was definitely a birthday to remember! Hopefully her 36th will be less eventful... ;)

Comments

[exhale. return to center.]

Oh my gosh Devon! What a scare! How cool that you can stay so calm in a crisis.

[flowers]

holy crap. i can't believe they were coming out with the cake. good story, in a weird dark sort of way.