Matt MADE my day!

It's true.... He did. This evening while we were eating our shepherds pie, he asked me the question of my dreams right out of the blue. The question: "Name the Forbidden Curses." By the tone of his voice I could feel him challenge my authority, but at the same time I sensed that if I didn't answer correctly his little heart would be crushed. We weren't even on the topic so I think he was trying to catch me off guard.

I am a Harry Potter Freak. My love affair with the books started over 7 years ago when I was pregnant with Sam. I was really sick. I had Hyper emesis gravidarum which means excessive vomiting in pregnancy. I couldn't keep anything down. I lost 60 pounds in one and a half months. When it was found that my kidneys were bleeding I wound up in the hospital for 10 days, being fed intravenously some kind of clear solution and a big bag of white fluid that looked like baby formula, which was full of lipids and proteins. Every day the doctor of internal medicine would check my blood to see where it was deficient before mixing up a new brew.

For the first part of the week my roommate was a crabby, thirty something woman who was jonesing for a smoke. I heard her and this guy who was there to visit her concoct a plan to climb out the window, onto the roof for a cig. I was shocked when her friend had the nerve to ask the nurse if he could help her do this. Of course the nurse said it was out of the question. None of her patients were going to take a puff on her watch and with a fresh incision this was entirely out of the question. Yes, I eavesdropped through the curtain.

For the second part of the week my roommate was a sweet little old lady who had at least one sometimes more members of her family with her 24/7. They were really nice people, but I was so sick and being poked and prodded hourly. And I was so LONELY.

I would wait all day for Matt to get off work. He would come straight to the hospital and stay with me until the nurse kicked him out at night. Then after I cried for 15 minutes he would go home and we would start it all over again the next day. My mom came to visit too and my sweet Aunts. I will never forget a phone call from my sister-in-law, Jeanna. I was so grateful, and impressed, and surprised that she tracked me down. She didn't really know me, Matt and I had been married less than 2 months at this point.

On one of my Aunt Kathy's visits she brought some lotion and some nail polish. She gave me a pedicure. I felt so bad for her. Not only were my feet and ankles swollen to the width of my legs because of all the fluids they were pumping into me, but my legs were hairier than Sasquatch. Even in my malnourished state I was still capable of growing hair on my legs. No wonder I was so tired. Aunt Kathy is a Saint.

Just before she left, she pulled four books from her bag of sunshine. I had her put them on the bedside table and then she left. I had tried to read the first Harry Potter book about a year and a half before but I couldn't get into it. By the time she had been gone 20 minutes I was already feeling desperate, so I cracked the first book open and I lost myself. I sat in that hospital bed and I loathed the Dursley's. My heart jumped when Hagrid told Harry his true identity as a wizard. I itched to slap that smirk off that little Malfoy twerps face. And I giggled with giddiness at Harry's first quidditch match when his wonderful friends made a banner that said,"Potter for President" that was charmed to change colors. I hung on every word. I consider them some of my best friends. I think it's safe to say, J.K. Rowling saved me from depression.

I remember a few days and two books later when the doctor walked into my room. He asked me if I had experienced a numbness or tingling sensation in my pinky and ring fingers. As a matter of fact, I had. He explained to me it was because I spent my days with the inside of my elbows resting on my by then (and I know this is hard to believe) jutting hip bones. This posture was causing muscle degeneration. From then on I had to stop every so often and do some laps around the nurses station while dragging my IV pole along with me.

And so Harry and friends have a very special place in my heart. Yes, I own a wand. Yes, I made myself a scarf in red and gold Gryffindor colors. Yes, I have read each book more times than I can count. I am not ashamed. I answered the question correctly of course, even adding what each curse does and the incantations to go with. (More than he bargained for.) So I put the challenge to all of you. Answer in the comments section, along with your favorite Harry Potter moment. I can't wait to find out.