Battle Wounds and a Mom’s Intuition

Ever get that feeling that things have been a little too easy, like it’s the calm before the storm and any second things are about to go crazy?  Yep, I had that feeling yesterday.  We went to Chattanooga for the weekend to visit my cousin and her two little boys who were just adopted from Uganda.  After church we decided to go to the Chattanooga Market to check out the car show and eat at the food trucks.  There were a lot of people, it was nearly 90 degrees and what had to be nearly 90% humidity (aka way too hot) and it was a bit chaotic.  Totally my scene though – a lot of local vendors, fresh food, live music, loved it.  However, I got the sense that my boys’ decent behavior was only going to last so long and it was like I could hear the clock a tickin’…

So we had just finished eating lunch and were enjoying a little ice cream.  Brogan was sitting nicely in his chair, but I could see that he was getting tired and was starting to do little things to be testy.  Beckett was lounging in his stroller, French fries in hand, swinging his little legs.  I looked across the table at my cousin and told her, I feel like we’re on the verge of a major meltdown.  And it was only moments later that Brogan decides he’s going to take off.  I’m talking mad dash through the sea of tables and chairs and people, nearing the outward perimeter of food vendors about to make a real break for it.  So I take off, full sprint to try and catch him, weaving in and out of people, shouting, “I’m sorry” to all the folks he’s cut off and run into as I chase him.  In my haste, I caught a metal chair with the little toe on my right foot and Oh. My. Gosh. I would have liked to throw out a dozen four-letter words. But my little guy was still running for it, so I kept pursuit and didn’t let the toe slow me down.  I finally caught him; drug him by the arm back to the table, in too much pain to say much.  I announced to my family that it was time for us to be heading back to the house. I strapped my runner tightly into a stroller and we headed to the car.

It didn’t take me long to realize that I’m pretty sure I broke my toe.  It was swollen, tingling, hard to move, and turning black and blue.  Any pressure to it hurt – to walk, to use the gas pedal or to touch it.  I’m not going to complain too much though – if it truly is broken, it would be my first broken bone ever.  And most importantly, my little guy didn’t get hurt or lost.  Another testament to a mother’s intuition and the need for me to purchase a kiddy leash.

On a happier note, we so enjoyed our time with the cousins in Chattanooga! Nathaniel and Elijah are such happy children and the love in their new home is just contagious.  I wanted to squeeze them and never let go! The boys all played great together and we will definitely be making more trips to visit soon.