TJ, I love how you put it: building tragedies into opportunities for love and learning. The key is making sure I don't keep that love and learning to myself, or even hoard it for my immediate family.

Lisa, somehow it's just now dawning on me that the fears associated with parenting aren't going to get any easier. Sigh. At least we have our community to support us, and even to say "I've been there." (I'm so glad an online friend was able to come through for you during a hard time.)

Rebecca, thanks for your good wishes. I've always thought the test of true friendship happens when "the rubber meets the road." I guess part of what was surprising to me was how grateful I was for my online friends. I would have thought they would recede in importance during a difficult time, but quite the opposite happened!

Jody, that must have been a terrifying thing to go through. Do you remember much of it? Since becoming a parent, there have been SO many times that I've found myself thinking "So *that's* what my parents felt like when I... [fill in the blank]." 

ejly, thanks! I'm very grateful it ended up being so minor. That probably has something to do with why I feel a bit silly writing a dramatic post like this. I know that so many parents endure much scarier moments and longer-term realities.