When does mothering end?

Yesterday Sunday Jan 30, 2011 I was back in the saddle again.  Son Dan (20 3/4) had stomach pains and I had to brush the dust off my problem solving skills, bring them to the frontal lobe and help determine what he should do.  No nausea, no bleeding, regular bathroom activities but major stomach pain in the abdomen under his belly button.  Appendix?  Jump up and down Dan to see if it gives you excruciating pain.  No more than he currently has.  OK.  Call your urgent care clinic and have them look at you while you are in an acute pain situation.
Result....appendicitis!  Thought so, but you can never be sure.  He went directly from clinic to hospital for CAT scan, to ER, to surgery, to recovery and then to a room. 

Before surgery

After surgery

Mom and Dad were there from the "ER on" sequence until he was resting in his room (approx. 7:30p)  His day started at 7:45 with severe pain and ending groggy with severe pain.  Good news, he didn't have to be cut open to remove the appendix.  Laperoscopy (sp) is the new technology.  Three holes in the abdomen and they take it out without major cutting.  Amazing.  Recovery is shorter and he won't have any restrictions.  He'll be back at before we know it.  I guess you never forget how to mother and you never will stop being a mother when it comes right down to it.  Wouldn't really want it any other way....except............