Flight, Flight (or Freak)

Here is the thing, I recently found out I freak in an emergency.

My sister is special needs as you most likely already know. She has a syndrome called Aicardi Syndrome. She has many things that need to be taken care of on the daily. For example her feeding tube. She has to get her liquids through her stomach because she doesn't like to drink water.

Anyway, she is one of the coolest sisters around.

My sister Bridget on a different day than the emergency.

 One night my parents went out with some visitors. I stayed home and watch my sister which I do all the time. I went through the usually routine and put her to bed. Then sat down to watch a show. Then, she started moaning. So I went in and told her to go back to bed and tucked her back in.

She wouldn’t shut up.

I went back in and Bridge was sitting up again. At this point I was annoyed so I brought in my phone and headphones and laid down with her. After a little while I thought she fell asleep so I left.

Then about ten minutes later she was crying again but a little harder. I went in again. This time she was kicking and flailing. Bridge kicked her feeding tube and she was going to knock it over and that would be bad. So I grabbed her foot and the tube was stuck in her toes.
I pulled the covers back.

Her feeding tube that is supposed to be inside her was on the bed.

I gulped. Then yelled. Then went into overdrive.

I called my parents and of course they didn't answer so it was all me.

The thing is the stomach closes within twenty to thirty minutes which is not a lot of time. I knew I had to work fast or else I would be calling the ambulance and my sister and I would be going to the hospital to have emergency surgery.

Bummer.

She was screaming and grabbing at her stomach which was not helpful. I had to make sure her hand didn't touch the hole into her for many reasons.

a. It’s a hole in her stomach.
b. It’s bleeding everywhere.
c. Do I need another reason?

I grabbed her and ran down the stairs. I put her on the couch. I yanked the string out of my hoodie and tied her hands behind her back. She was really mad at me but what was I supposed to do?

I took the tube to the kitchen and usually we have a back up tube that's ready to go but we just came back form Hawaii so it was not unpacked yet. I figured this would have to do.

The hole had gotten a little smaller so it was very hard to jam into her.

I pushed really hard and wiggled.

I GOT IT IN!

My sister was in a lot of pain but I did it and that is all that mattered. I untied her hands, put her back in bed and laid down with her. I taped her stomach over with about twenty pieces so it had no chance of coming out again. I fell asleep with her waiting till my parents got home.

Some people say that people either have fight or flight reactions. I have also heard of freezing. Have you ever heard of freaking? Well now I know.

I freak.

Happy Freaking,
~Corrine

Christmas Joys

Yes, the family can be annoying but to be honest it is the most wonderful time of the year.

Christmas time is by far the best time of the year. Everyone seems to be in a kinder, and in a happier mood. Fall comes to an end and winter begins. Slowly but surely all the lights start to turn on and little by little my tiny towns turns bright.

I know everyone does not celebrate Christmas but if you do I think you should have an alive Christmas tree. Hanging the stockings and decorating with lights is fabulous but having a tree is the most important.

We got our Christmas tree later than usually this year which was a bummer. I had basketball and lacrosse and then finals week so it was just to much. Our family does not really have a so called tradition for getting the perfect tree. Last year we drove out to the Road Island diner and had breakfast then went to Earth and Eaden in midway for our tree. This year Earth and Eaden was closed so we skipped all of it and just went in Park City. My parents picked me up from skiing and then we went to home depot. At that point all the good trees were taken so we left and headed for Smith's. I was kind of bummed because I am into the magic of it but oh well. We found a perfect tree at smiths which surprised me a lot.

We tied it to the top of our car with some white twine we found and drove home. It was a little bit sketchy because the tree was sliding on the roof. My mom freaked out and opened the sunroof and grabbed the string. She then put it in the sunroof so it would hold better. We made it all the way home and had a hard time getting it inside the house. Once it was inside the whole house smelled wonderful and to me that's when Christmas really begins.

I wanted to decorate it but I had to write an essay due that night. Bummer. Then we had dinner so we planed on decorating it another day.

What a good tree looks like lol. (Courtesy of Clip Art Panda)

They next day I finished all my homework in class so when I came home we could decorate the tree. We strung the lights then hung up all the ornaments. We got a eight foot tree so it would seem like we had a lot of space for ornaments but we did not. Finding room to put the last few on was hard because we had so many. My mom likes to get an ornaments wherever we travel to so we have ones form NYC, all the way to California. 

Once we were done we plugged it in and it glowed bright with the star on top. Now every time I walk in my door I see the tree all light up with the smell of evergreen flowing into my nose. That is why everyone needs to have a real tree for Christmas stockings and decorating with lights is fabulous but having a tree is the most important.

Happy decorating,
~Corrine

Kind acts make a big difference

“Simple acts of kindness can go a long way,” my mom would tell me. My mom would also quote Mother Teresa. “Kind Words are simple and easy but their echoes are truly endless,” as she would say.

I always rolled my eyes or laughed and made fun of her. Little did she know I actually listened.

A few weeks ago I started my basketball season at the high school. I have played since third grade but only on a junior jazz team. You know who that goes. Parents cheering, saying sorry when you touch another player, missing 100% of your shots and basically having fun. High school was a whole different story. I was excited and very nervous.

I went to tryouts and after I was told that I would be practicing with the freshman/sophomore team as well as the junior varsity/varsity team. That meant about three hours of non stop basketball every day. I was more than excited but after day one I realized how mentally and physically challenging it was.

How does basketball relate to my moms silly quotes you wonder? Well, after I came home every night my parents were kind and supportive. I did not let on about how much it meant to me because that's what being a teenager is all about right? Wrong.

My mom has this little red and green white board hanging on the wall of my kitchen. We usually write chores, or grocery lists on it but my mom started writing inspiring quotes a few weeks ago. They related to what I was struggling with at them time and it really made me feel better. Although I still made fun of her she kept on doing it.
As the week went on I was super tired and having a great time all the same. My dad noticed this and when I came home there were flowers on the table. Attached was a little note saying we love you and keep going. The flowers were red and orange with little tiny red roses in the middle. I was so happy that my dad would do that for me. I thanked him and said how much I liked them but I don’t think he understand how much better he made me feel.

The very next day I was told by the coach that I would just be playing with the junior varsity and varsity team. I only had to attend one practice now and it was with the older girls. I was over the moon and I don’t think I would have had that opportunity without the support of my parents.

My first game is on Tuesday and I am playing junior varsity and getting dressed for varsity but will most likely just sit on the bench. The season lasts until February and hopefully we will have a winning season. As for my parents, I can’t thank them enough. I don’t show enough appreciate for all they do for me and I plan on trying harder to show them how much I care. Acting like a teenager is overrated and although it comes naturally to be rude I am going to try not to be.

My Team
Source: Park City High School Miners

Happy kindness,
~Corrine