And we are out

We were discharged this evening, they cannot figure it out at all. So they discharged us and said to come back if it happens again.

Read more...

How I spent my Thursday (and why my Bible reading did not get done...)

Okay, right off the bat I will admit, my Bible in 90 Days reading for Day 7 did not get done yesterday. I will do it this morning as soon as I finish this blog!

I got up fairly early yesterday to head out to one of the cities about 30 minutes away that has both a Social Security Office and an RMV. Both of these agencies have offices closer to home, but NOT as close to each other. The beauty of going out to this particular city to do this was that I literally was able to walk ONE BLOCK from SS to RMV.

So I got into SS and got my little number from the machine, and waited. I was C22. They had B numbers, 60's, and C's. Of the C's they were on C11. I still waited over an hour. I really didn't think I was going to have time for RMV. Now, as I'm sitting there I can feel my sinuses getting worse and worse. It's become a lovely sinus infection. No big deal just gotta get through it. But I'm in a public building ya know??

So finally I get called, I take my paperwork to the window, and the gal was great, no hassle, she even found a spelling error I hadn't noticed! Got it all done and I check the wait time at RMV on their website through my cell phone. Only 32 minutes for a license. And I have an hour til I have to leave the city. I'm GOOD!

So I walk to the RMV. I get my number there. Now they are PLOWING through the numbers. I fill out my application, and get all my paperwork together to make this easy on myself and I wait. And half an hour passes, 45 minutes passes... I'm getting real close to the one hour mark, but they also are only ONE number away from me. Tough call ya know?

I make the decision to wait it out. I'm running a risk of being late to work, but I DO need to get this done and I'm FINALLY front of the line. I get called. I get there and the guy is so confused. Half my documentation is my "married" name, half is my "maiden" now restored last name. I explain it and he says we have to put me in the system under the "married" name and clear homeland security, and driving record, THEN go back, change my name, clear me AGAIN, and then I am good. Oh my. He works quickly, but it takes 20 minutes.

I text BFF's DH and ask him to get the kids ready and get my work stuff ready too so WHEN I finally get there we are ready to go. I finally get all my stuff from RMV guy, including my little temporary paper license, I pay him the $100 (OUCH) and practically run out the door. I get to the car (meter ALMOST ran out) and get going.

Like a GOOD girl I had put the GPS in my bag, but hadn't shut it off right away. At some point all the stuff in there had reset it to walking route!! So as I drive off it's not putting me on the freeway! I pull over and change the GPS to driving routes and finally get on the freeway. At this point I know I can't POSSIBLY make it to work on time, and I want to cry. So I calmly call work and ask to speak to the manager. I had mentioned to that manager that I was going this week to do this, and so when I told her why I was running late she kind of understood. Plus we were only talking 15-20 minutes.

It's at this point that I realize I have not eaten a BITE of food all day, I have NONE in the car, and there's no time to get any before work. Drats. Oh well, Gotta make it til break. And I did but boy was I hungry.

So I did get to work, just about the full 20 minutes late I anticipated, and started working, and started feeling worse and worse. This darn head sinus thing was just making me miserable. I was (am) totally stuffed up. I was getting a sinus headache from being so stuffed up. I just wanted to quit. Finally i got my break and ate some food. YAY for nourishment. :)

Then back to work until 8 when BFF picked me up and we went to Walgreens to get prescriptions and then WalMart for juice and then home where I didn't even LOOK a my computer, I just went upstairs. I watched some of the 'Bama/Texas game and fell asleep and then BFF woke me up so I wasn't sleeping in my jeans! LOL

So THAT was my Thursday, and no where in there did I manage to get my reading done. I was too on edge while at SS and RMV to read. I had my Bible and notebook with me. And I got a LITTLE bit of the reading done, but not much... So sometime today I will do the rest of yesterdays and all of today's :) No biggie, just catch up :)

Read more...

Worn out

Oh boy it's been a long couple of days. I am feeling worn out. I have a cold that is trying to kick my tail, but I'm not letting it!

Yesterday morning I got quite a bit accomplished, all by phone. Then I worked a 6 hour shift. I came home and did my Bible in 90 Days reading, talked with BFF for a bit and went to bed.

Today I watched the kids while BFF went to an appointment. The boys were cleaning their room and I set the girls up with a movie. I was then able to accomplish some reading for myself. Then when BFF came home we only had a short amount of time before we had to leave to take a friend to her work. Then we had a quick lunch out before they dropped me off at work. I made some copies and then dropped off some mail at the post office and got a drink before heading in for my 5 hour shift. After work, BFF picked me up, we went to Starbucks for a drink and a shared cupcake before coming home. I have done my Bible in 90 days reading and now I am TOTALLY ready for bed.

On tap for tomorrow is a 6 hour morning shift at work followed by sitting on my backside at Starbucks waiting to be picked up (bad timing on the part of my boss, *sigh*) and then our King's Day Celebration. I'm very excited about this! :)

Thursday... BFF has to take Duck to an appointment, her DH is taking the day off work to watch all the kids. He has an appointment early in the morning, when he gets home I am leaving to go to Social Security and get my name changed, WOOHOO. Then I have a 6 hour shift at work. IF, and it's a HUGE if, somehow I manage to get through SS FAST, I will try to head to motor vehicles and see about doing my Driver's License too, but I am SO not holding my breath! LOL

So that is about it for today! Hope you are all having a good week too!

Read more...

When life hands you lemons...

So, today I was supposed to be hosting a Tupperware Party. BUT... we have SEVEN sick children. Yes, you read that right, SEVEN. ALL the kids in the house to one varying degree or another are sick. Worse yet, BFF and I both woke up with sore throats. BOO.

Add to that this LOVELY nor'easter that just continues to add snow to our already plentiful bounty of snow on the ground (I think our 48 hour total right now exceeds 18 inches, but I'm no expert! LOL).

I just felt it best to cancel the party. I'm a bit disappointed. Though not so much for me as for the consultant. I used to be a consultant for a different direct selling company similar to Tupperware, and I know how much it stings to have a canceled party, especially this close to the party. We are still holding the party as a catalog party and I hope to have a live party in the future. My consultant has such incredible enthusiasm that I know my friends would enjoy a party with her. :)

If you are interested in ordering from this party and haven't received an email from me, just let me know what email to send it to!

Read more...

Not so exciting day

Today was a not so exciting day.

All seven kids are sick. It snowed at least a good 4-5 inches overnight from Friday to Saturday and continued a light snow all day Saturday. Church was canceled because of the snow. :(

BFF and I finally dug out the cars and asked her DH to get the snow blower and do the driveway so we could get out after the plows came by. We needed more medicine for the kids and coffee creamer for us for tomorrow.

We ended up going for quite a drive, found an unexpected store that we were glad to find, enjoyed a small coffee shop and bought sushi for dinner for everyone. While we were getting sushi and a quick run to the store in the same parking lot the snow really picked up again and I made BFF start driving again. California girl here is still a little leary of driving in snow.

We are expecting another 5-8 inches of snow tonight, I know just since BFF's DH snow blowed the driveway there's been at least another inch or more, and now the wind is absolutely HOWLING outside. I hate howling wind. But I am trusting God will see me through it and keep us with power and heat tonight. :)

Hope you all had a fun day.

Read more...

Long Day

You know those days... that ones that just never seem to end. Today is that day. I am dragging some SERIOUS monkey butt for some reason. It's been a bit rough for me today. Interesting mail, still recovering kiddos, extra people in the house, work, and oh boy do the people at the store want their stamps. You would think postage stamps were going out of style!!!!

So yeah... Lots of craziness and a long day for me.

Read more...

Busy week ahead...

Hot coffee and homemade peppermint biscotti is being quickly put down my throat, and the car is already warming up/defrosting outside. I need to be on my way to work in about 5 minutes really, 10 at the most (but I could still clock in on time if I left in 15, how sad is that??). OH how I dislike the 7 am shift... there is NOTHING to do a 7 am at that store!!! It will pick up a little at about ten.

My parents arrived yesterday, and my ex-husband arrives Friday. Let the mayhem begin! LOL Tomorrow BFF and I are taking advantage of the baby sitters to go do Pilates. Since Peanut is contagious and we can't risk the others being possibly contagious we can't put ANY of them in daycare at the Y. But Grandma and Grandpa don't mind :). And I need to call the doctor's and let them know Savannah is now sick. And I have to call the insurance and verify info about Bug's upcoming MRI. And I have work tomorrow.

And I work Tuesday and Wednesday. I'm off Thursday. I don't like mid-week days off. :( They are not nice. I work Friday right up to my special requested time off to allow just a sufficient time to go get the ex from the airport.

Saturday is Sabbath and we will be HOPEFULLY taking 13 people. That is if Peanut is healthy and no other kids come down with it by then. *sigh*

Well, Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It's off to work I go...

Have a FABULOUS day!!!!! :)

Read more...

The parents are here

The parent's are here
Bug is feeling MUCH better, her sores are nearly gone!! Praise God!
Peanut now has the sores, :( but we know what to do this time!
I have to work WAY too early in the morning. BOO
The Saints game will not be broadcast here tomorrow, but hopefully we'll be able to watch it on NFL replay.

Overall, Life is pretty darn good and I can't complain too much. Peanut will survive just as Bug did, but she'll be pretty miserable for a few days. :(

Read more...

Eyes and sick baby update 4

Peanuts Eye appoint did not go as expected. We had been seeing improvement initially, but literally in the last couple days, we've seen turn out in her left eye again. And according to the doctor, it's more severe than before. :( She felt that Peanuts prescription on her glasses was fine. Since it was an early morning appointment she shouldn't have been drifting from being too tired. SOOO... She does not want to jump the gun on anything, so we are going to try patching her right eye an hour a day, doesn't seem like much, but she thinks the benefits will be worth it. And we will see her again in one month.

If we don't start seeing improvement, we are going to have to consider surgery. I do not want to have to do surgery. :(

We called Bug's pediatrician's office while we were on the way to the eye appointment because poor Bug's mouth is just so full of sores that it is a challenge to get her to drink at all now. We tried to brush her teeth this morning and she screamed with pain and started to bleed. So that ended rather abruptly. Poor baby girl. So when they called back we had to wait until the afternoon. But I was just glad to get her in at all. We got in and I was a little concerned about possible thrush. That was cleared up, she does not have thrush. As for the sores, they are EVERYWHERE in her mouth. I'd cry and refuse to eat or drink too if my mouth looked like that!!! My poor Bug!! So the Nurse Practitioner gave me a recipe to mix up to swab her mouth with to help so she can comfortably eat and drink. She also told me that basically ANY food or drink she will take is considered good right now. Ice Cream, applesauce, yogurt, popsicles, gatorade, juice, mashed potatoes, rice, bananas... soft, smooth, low salt foods. Cold food were also recommended.

BFF asked a dear friend of ours for some Pediasure. Just because it would give Bug some extra nutrition. She gave us some and Bug drank 2 bottles of it tonight!!! YAY for Bug!!!! :) And she ate some corn at dinner and a little bit of shredded to itty bitty teeny tiny bits chicken. BFF kept on her about water, and she had her couple of spoonfuls of applesauce with her medicines this evening.

The NP told me we really really SHOULD be at the peak of this DAM* thing, and she should start to feel better soon and if I don't see serious improvement by Friday to please bring her back, or if she stops urinating or having bowel movements as these are signs she's not hydrated.

Her other concern was how very very sleepy she seemed. I think Bug is just trying to sleep her way thru the pain, but also, if you had been this ill, wouldn't you be tired. If your body has been fighting this hard, you'd be sleepy too. But it is a little concerning I suppose. So she said if the sleepiness doesn't improve or gets worse to bring her back.

I really love this peds practice. They have been pretty good to us overall. :)

Please continue to pray for Miss Bug to feel better soon :) Thank you :)

Read more...

sick baby update 3

Sunday Morning: Bug woke with another HIGH fever (104.5) and I was at my wits end. I was thinking shouldn't the antibiotics at least be helping to bring the temp down by now?? So down the hatch with MORE motrin, her antibiotics, and her regular daily meds. And into the tub to try to cool her off. And when she finally got some attitude back she and I were sticking tongues out at each other. It was then that I noticed a small sore on the tip of her tongue. I called BFF and showed her. She reminded me that Bug had said the other day that her tongue got "stuck" in her sippy cup.

Shortly after Bug got outta the tub I got a call, from her pediatrician!!! She wanted me to bring Bug in, on a SUNDAY MORNING. We made the arrangements to be there in a little over an hour. We live about 45 minutes from the office, I wasn't dressed yet, and the roads were questionable from the overnight snow. But we got there and saw her. She tells me it is NOT a UTI as diagnosed at Children's. I kinda suspected it wasn't. Nothing grew in the culture. So we could throw out the antibiotics more than likely. She asks all the questions about cough etc. while she's looking her over and I tell her the ONLY thing is I noticed that sore.

She looks in her mouth and nods and says "along with the several small sores on the back of her throat, it makes sense, she has hand foot and mouth" SIGH OF RELIEF. My poor baby is miserable, but I have an answer that makes sense FINALLY. We talked over the 2 biggest issues for Bug with this illness:

-Fever control: She is running HIGH fevers. Fevers are not uncommon with HFM, but high fevers are not so common. Bug has epilepsy which makes the high fevers more dangerous. Her doctor advised us to do piggy backed tylenol/motrin every 3 hours for at least 24 hours straight ROUND THE CLOCK to keep her fever free and give her body a break. Then to let her body have a chance. Last night was the night I got to sleep and I'm about to go wake her and see how she is. Please let's hope she's fever free!!! Or at least low grade. I NEED to get her off the meds because they can hurt her liver as can one of her regular meds and the combo of the two worries me.

-Hydration: The sores in her mouth and throat make her not want to eat and drink. Obviously that is not good. We saw this yesterday. I had to break down and FORCE gatorade down her with a medicine syringe. She was actually pretty good about letting me do it that way!! This tells me the sores IN her mouth are hurting more than the sores in her throat. BFF and her DH said she did better in the evening, and I am grateful for that.

Today is a new day, and I am hoping she is feeling better today. We have appointments for Duck and Peanut to have their eyes looked at again and see if their glasses are helping with the lazy eyes. I'm praying for Peanut especially that it is because if not we are looking at surgery. :(

Stay safe all my friends in the coming weather and I hope you have fun in the snow!!!

Read more...

sick baby update 2

The last 24 hours have been rough for poor little Bug. She had started to feel better after being at the pediatrician's office. But when we started to get the kids ready for bed last night things went down hill FAST. I'll try to describe it as best I can for you.

She was standing there eating her gingerbread cooking and suddenly started to shake. Initially I thought it was shivering, but it progressed to be stronger than shivers, but less violent than a full fledged grand mal seizure. I truly believe she had a seizure. I laid her down on the ground out of concern that she was heading for a grand mal. I called her name and she eye tracked to me (she moved her eyes to look at me) but that was the most reaction I could actually get from her for several minutes. Even when she started to react more she was still twitchy in her hands and feet. And that lasted for another hour and a half. I tried to get her to stand and she fell at first. This just confirms for me that she had a seizure.

BFF picked her up and was holding her and we grabbed the thermometer, it wasn't reading too high (101's) but this is the same thermometer that the Nurse Practitioner told me only hours earlier to replace due to it's age. While BFF is holding her she could FEEL Bug's temp climbing. So we rushed off to Wal-Mart with Bug and BFF's DS1, he was SO concerned about his "Love-Bug." We bought a new temporal thermometer, an oral/rectal/underarm thermometer (as much as any person hates rectal temps, I was to a point of being willing to do it to her last night. So I wanted one that COULD go rectal!), dye-free tylenol and motrin (we MUST have dye free because BFF's DS-3 is allergic red #40 which is in most regular liquid meds), and a couple other things.

We managed to get the oral thermometer opened on our own and BFF was getting the temporal opened while I took Bug's temp with the other thermometer. Mind you, this is still IN Wal-Mart. Her underarm temp (adjusted) was 105.5, I immediately took it orally (wasn't sure my 3 1/2 year old would cooperate with me but I did it and she did), it was 105.9. I didn't even wait for the temporal to be ready, I headed for the car. We got her strapped in and told DS1 he was going to be dropped off at home. By then the temporal thermometer was ready for use. I used it 4 times and ALL FOUR readings were 105.9, 106 or 106.1. No matter which way we tried, no matter what I tried, this child was ON FIRE.

The only decision to be made was go to the closest ER or go to Children's, which is AT LEAST a 45 minute drive away. The problem is, the closet ER is a hospital her pediatrician's practice does NOT have privileges at, and therefore there is little communication with. Also, a serious factor for me, ALL of Bug's specialists, and therefore her big fat electronic medical record, are at Children's. PLUS, she had just had a TON of blood work done THAT AFTERNOON at a Children's facility. IF (and I knew it was a BIG if) the bloodwork was done already, it'd be in the computer and it wouldn't have to be re-drawn (It turned out it WAS done, so it was a good call). SO... I decided to risk it and drive to Children's.

We already had Bug's Diastat with us. Diastat is her emergency seizure medication. If she has a seizure lasting more than three minutes (and in this instance it would be a grand mal seizure that interferes with breathing), I can give her the Diastat rectally to stop the seizure. With a fever of 106, this is a very real concern. So I was prepared for this.

I called the pediatrician's office and left a message with the answering service. I received a call back within 10 minutes, before we'd even made it home to drop off DS1. I explained everything and why I felt Children's was worth the drive and the doctor agreed with me. She asked if I had given her anything for the fever yet. I don't REMEMBER telling her that I was afraid they wouldn't believe her temperature was that high if it came down, but BFF said I did. But the doctor reassured me that they WOULD believe me. She told me to give her motrin and start bringing the fever down. By the time we got to Children's an hour later (darn road work) her fever was down to 104.3. So she was STILL hot.

We were expedited due to how hot she was. I actually was quite impressed with the front end staff. The check in desk gal was so friendly and when she put the bracelet on Bug she said "She is burning up" and had her pushed ahead of other patients! We got a urine sample for them and next thing I know we are in a room. They had given her tylenol and within another 30 minutes she was down to 103.4.

When we got settled and she started waking up a little more as her fever was coming down, the nurse offered her a popsicle. She happily accepted. It was bright green and I have some great pictures of her bright green tongue. She didn't eat all of it but she still enjoyed it and it was nice to see her FINALLY perking up a bit.

The resident came in and well... let's just leave it at he and I didn't get along real well. He pretty much tried to say that she did NOT have a seizure, she just has a virus, blah, blah, blah. He also told me that what my daughter's doctor told me earlier that day was FALSE, to NOT bring her to the ER with a 103 fever... I was ready to rip his head off.

Then the attending doctor comes in. HE was different. He was reasonable. He said listen to your pediatrician, we like seeing kids, but if you feel okay keeping her home go ahead. He still felt it was viral, but he listened to me when I said it was a seizure. He did NOT feel it warranted calling neurology as it didn't last for more than 2 minutes at the most and even I say it was NOT a grand mal seizure.

So a little later the resident comes back in basically saying his same little line. And then says as nearly an afterthought, oh, since you did get a urine sample we'll dip it JUST in case. But I doubt it's a UTI.

About 20 min later he walks in again. And asks the most LAUGHABLE question... "are you sure her urine sample was a clean catch??" Oh how I wanted to be sarcastic and tell him no, I'm not sure, because I handed my three year old a cup and said go pee in this. Instead I told him, yes I am sure because I am the one who collected it. I wiped her first, I wore GLOVES and I ticked her off royal making her pee in a cup, oh, and did I mention she peed all over the floor of the bathroom in the process leaving me to clean it all up for you guys?? YES it was a clean catch. (yes, I can be a bit witchy at 1:30 am when my baby is sick and a "doctor" is questioning if I made sure I got a clean urine catch. The former EMT in me would NEVER have done less!) At that point he took off his mask (no one but him had ever worn one) and says "then she has a UTI because she has broken down nitrites in her urine."

FINALLY an answer. So they prescribe some antibiotics, give her a dose in the ER, give me the script and FINALLY at 2 am send us on our way. Unfortunately, BFF and I realize that we will be in NO condition to try and go to the pharmacy in the morning to get this script filled for her next dose. So we act like responsible adults and after a 45-60 min drive we get to the 24 hour pharmacy and get it filled (well, after a stop at the 24 hour dunkin donuts, come on now, the adults needed a little "prescription" too!!). And then we headed home. We finally arrived home at 3:15 am. I should have given her some motrin or tylenol then, but she was fever free and sound asleep.

She woke up this morning though with 105.5 again. *sigh* I quickly dosed her with her motrin, antibiotics, and her regular morning meds. That was all at around 10 am. It is now about 12:30 and she has a pretty much normal temp (just over 99 when I last checked :) ). But I will be giving her some tylenol momentarily just to keep it at bay for the day. I'll be going out shortly to get her some popsicles and maybe some gatorade. (she did NOT like Pedialyte!!!)

If she is not improving by Monday morning we will be back to the pediatrician for follow up. Actually, I suspect we are going anyway, but I have to make several phone calls first. I want to talk to her pedi, talk to her neurologist and find out if some of the side effects of her medications can make her more susceptible to UTI's because of the meds effects on her kidney's.

It can be so tough being a mom some days!! Bug is acting SO much better right now. She is trying to fold laundry. It is very cute. You can tell she is feeling better. I love seeing her happy and playful again (even if she's making a mess of the laundry!!!)

Read more...

Sick baby update

So after nearly 48 hours of a lethargic and feverish Bug, BFF made the decision that she needed to go to the doctor. Since she was home with her while I was at work, and she could see how she was feeling at that time, I support her decision to call for an appointment. She called me shortly after making the appointment to tell me when it was. I had to leave work early for it, but my daughter will always come first.

We saw one of the nurse practitioners today. I liked her very much. She understood and agreed with why BFF and I chose to NOT give tylenol today. We wanted to try and let her body fight it off. But with the weekend coming and her being my epileptic child, I knew I just couldn't risk it any longer.

The final call was a virus. NOT flu as she has NO symptoms of flu beyond the fever. A strep culture was done as a precaution though her throat looked fine. The NP gave us the go ahead to go to the Children's Hospital laboratory for her regular blood draw. She has to have blood draws on a regular basis for liver function, CBC's, and other things to make sure her medicine for her seizure's isn't harming her. I'd put it off because of the fever. And while we were headed over anyway, the NP added a urinalysis to rule out a UTI. That was the easy part.

Bug had a 102.9 Fever in the doctor's office. But she is fine now. She is playing with the girls and enjoying herself after some pizza. I am sure she will be back to lethargic and feverish in a few more hours, but I am enjoying this while I can. :)

Thank you for your prayers, please continue to pray for her. If it gets too high again we will be heading for the Children's Hospital ER.

Read more...

Sick baby

My poor Buggy is sick. She woke up yesterday lethargic and obviously not herself. I worked yesterday morning and BFF said Bug had taken a nap, but that other than being lethargic, she had been okay. Bug started looking more and more tired and wanted to be picked up, so I gave in and picked her up. Within seconds she was asleep on my shoulder. So I laid down on the couch with her. By the time BFF's DH got home and gave her a kiss on the forehead she was BROILING. I hadn't really noticed cuz it'd happened ON me.

He picked her up and I got the thermometer. 102-102.4 were the various measurements I got. Just depended on the side I measured. I was stunned. And a little worried I admit. Bug has epilepsy as you may recall, high fevers are a serious concern because even with the meds this can cause breakthrough seizures. And with a fever she is more likely to have a Grand Mal. I quickly texted BFF who wasn't at home, she had the van with the car seats in it. She needed to know what was going on, in case I needed her to come home. And then I got her some medicine. Her temp came down and we even managed to get her to eat some dinner.

We put her to bed. When it came time for BFF and I to go to sleep we did our nightly rounds, when we checked her and she was BOILING again. BFF got her out of bed and to my room (affectionatly known as the COLDEST room in the house) and I grabbed the tylenol. She was back to 101.4. We dosed her and stripped her to panties for about 15 min and got her down to under 101 pretty quick. So we let her go back to bed.

This morning, she was back to 101.0. *sigh* It's like we cannot win. More tylenol, and a careful watch. But she ate breakfast and her temp has come down and stayed down. So for now she seems okay. She is outside playing right now. We have an absolutely BEAUTIFUL December day. It's about 70 degrees, a bit of wind, but we are taking advantage of this weather!!!! LOL

I will keep you all posted on my baby Bug. :)

Read more...

Getting healthy takes work

Yeah, that's right folks, getting healthy takes work. :)

It takes rest, it takes eating right, and lots of good stuff like that. But at LONG last I FEEL HEALTHY finally.

I still have a bit of a nagging cough a times. Mostly in cold outdoor air.

We finally managed to make it to church this past sabbath, and I am SO VERY GLAD. I found out that next sabbath we are having a baptism and I spoke to our bible worker about being baptized. I was supposed to be baptized at the end of the summer before our previous pastor left, but I got sick and it didn't happen. Turns out the bible worker had been thinking about me and planning to talk to me and see if I wanted to. So I am VERY excited that I will be baptized on Sabbath. :) BFF will be taking the camera and promises to take TONS of pictures in between her tears.

Speaking of BFF, she and I have embarked on a new adventure. We are now getting up dark and early to go to the gym. I have had some recent weight loss and it's really energized me. As vain as it sounds (and I know vanity is not really a good thing), it feels really nice when friends and family are telling me how good I look, how they really see the difference. I had joined the YMCA a few months back with all the good intentions but have quite literally found myself too busy to go. I have long followed a website called the "No Excuses Workout System" and one of the comments the gentlemen who sends out daily emails makes is that the earlier you do your daily workouts, the less excuses you can make. He's right. So BFF said she was going to start going to the Y at 5 am, before her DH was up and leaving for work. I said I'd join her. This way we motivate each other to get out of the house. It works. :) It's a little tough at times, when you are tired and wanna sleep in, but it works.

Yesterday we took pictures for our Christmas cards. I am super excited. The previews BFF is showing me look incredible. I did some of the pictures for BFF of their entire family. I don't consider myself to be some GREAT photographer, but put the right camera in my hands (and I own the right camera) and I can take a decent picture. LOL Especially when BFF basically composes the shot and all I really have to do is TAKE the picture. I happened to also snap a couple totally candid shots of all four girls while I was hanging from a tree (don't ask. Seriously, this is one of those things where I obviously learned my photography skills from my dad. Because only one of HIS DAUGHTERS would be in a NICE SKIRT AND SWEATER and dress shoes, hanging by one hand from a tree over an ice cold creek with her several hundred dollar camera... mom, is this ringing ANY bells???? Seriously??? Water, cameras, nice clothes.... at least it wasn't RAINING!!!!!! Sorry to all my other readers, only my mom and dad will understand THIS little rant!!! Oh, and as I was just reminded by BFF... AND the couple hundred dollar BRAND NEW cell phone tucked into my bra that NEARLY fell out into the creek.... Yes, only my father's daughter would do this. Yes Dad, I am your daughter, because only I would resort to such antics in the name of "getting the shot." The only difference is I prefer to photograph people not flowers in pouring down rain.)

ANYWAY....Well, it's about 8 am here and eventually I gotta shower and get the workout sweat off of me so I won't sink at work this afternoon. LOL And I have some ADORABLE little girls who are probably hungry for cereal. :)

Hopefully I can get my blogging back on track now that I am feeling good again!!

Read more...

Still coughing

I am STILL coughing.

I am beginning to think I am asthmatic. To hear me cough you'd sure think so. I sound like BFF's Duck. The problem is... the cough is useless at this point.

Oh well... Just wanted to whine.

Read more...

THIS SICKNESS SUCKS

Seriously... I am so tired of being sick. I must have gotten hit the hardest in the house. I'm still the sickest. Several people are still coughing, including the little ones. But I have been totally out of it.

I had to call out of work for three days. My boss gave me a hassle about it of course. Then there was confusion if I needed to get a doctors note to come back to work. I wasted two hours yesterday going to a drug store clinic and waiting to be seen only to be told (BEFORE being seen fortunately, and before having to pay anything) that they do not write return to work notes. When I called my boss to tell her this she got huffy and said she didn't need a note for me to come back, just if I was going to be out the rest of the week. Grrrr... that wasn't what the OTHER supervisor told me the night before. And that is what I told her.

So she says give me half an hour to figure it out and I'll call you back.

An hour later she calls me back. I don't need a note.

Only problem is, I ended up so stressed out yesterday that I think I'm now sicker today than I was yesterday. *sigh* I work the evening shift tonight. so please cross your fingers and pray that I do okay tonight.

Read more...

sick mom, sick kids

It really really sucks to be sick. It sucks that there's two sick momma's and at least 5 sick kids in this house right now. 2 of the boys and 3 of the girls are sick.

The reasons this sucks big time is that well, for one thing, being sick just blows, but I don't feel like I can momma my babies as well because I don't feel so good.

Peanut is at HIGH risk of having an attack right now. She has only been on the Flovent a week really. I already see some retractions and I heard some bad bubble sounds on one side this morning with the stethoscope. And then later I could hear some wheezing when she was on my lap. She is in good spirits though. So for now I am watching her. I want to avoid the steroids as long as possible, but without getting her too sick.

One of the other reasons this sucks is that Adventurer induction was today. The girls would have worn their adventurer uniforms for the very first time today. I was looking forward to seeing them standing in front of the church being inducted. But we couldn't take them, we couldn't get the entire church sick for our selfish desires. BFF's DS2 was the only child truly healthy enough to go to church so BFF's DH took their DS2 to represent our entire household. *sniff* It is what it is right?

Read more...

more on my thoughts and Adventurer's

So more about my thoughts from earlier...

So last night BFF did some research and we discovered that we think Bug may actually have hypoglycemia including cases of Nocturnal Hypoglycemia. This is an excerpt from a website on hypoglycemia in kids:

The Symptoms of Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar) in Children

The symptoms caused by low blood sugar come from two sources and may resemble other medical conditions.

* The first symptoms are caused by the release of epinephrine from the nervous system. these include sweating, pale skin color, shakiness, trembling, rapid heart rate, a feeling of anxiety, nervousness, weakness, hunger, nausea and vomiting.
* Lowering of lowering the brain's glucose causes: headache, changes in vision, lethargy, ,restlessness, inability to concentrate or pay attention, mental confusion, sleepiness, stupor,and personality changes.

(from http://kidsgrowth.com/resources/articledetail.cfm?id=2132)

It is STUNNING how many of these symptoms fit Bug. She sweats, gets flush and pale, shakes, gets hungry, and yet vomits at the drop of a hat. She falls asleep very suddenly compared to the other 3 girls too. BUT... the one symptom that doesn't fit is that she has what I truly believe are petite mal seizures with many of her vomiting incidents. However, I know from my EMT studies that drops in blood sugar (which is exactly what hypoglycemia is), can in fact cause seizures.

As for the Nocturnal Hypoglycemia. As I read about it, it seems more common in diagnosed insulin dependent diabetics, but she still fits many of the symptoms. Here's a description:

Nocturnal hypoglycemia refers to low blood sugar levels at night in a person with diabetes. Blood sugar levels can drop below a safe range at night if a person eats too little food after taking his or her usual nighttime insulin dose or takes more insulin than prescribed in the evening.

Signs of low blood sugar at night include:

* Restlessness, unusual noises, talking, or nightmares
* Waking up feeling tired or having a headache.
* Having damp clothing and bed linens in the morning (night sweats).
* Having a high blood sugar level in the morning.

(taken from: http://www.revolutionhealth.com/articles/nocturnal-hypoglycemia/uq2844)

Bug has had nightmares and babbled in her sleep from a young age, and is a restless sleeper, she frequently awakens feeling damp and sweaty as though she was exercising in her sleep!! This is a big one for me! She is the most night sweating kid I know, considering she is NOT a HOT person (you know those people who are like space heaters and you just wish you could curl up against?? Bug is NOT that person!!! LOL)

So anyway, now I really wanna push for a glucose tolerance test. The first website says it's really the only way to prove it in a child. I feel it is VERY important to have the diagnosis. If we are right, she will have a medic alert bracelet and we will take the needed precautions to keep her healthy, but it's not the end of the world diagnosis.

BFF and I discussed whether or not to pursue the seizure disorder testing or not, and I want to discuss it with another friend of mine who's child has been through it, but overall I believe my answer will be yes. As BFF worded it, JUST IN CASE there IS an underlying, barely showing itself disorder that's just waiting for it's opportunity, do I want to stop this course of action and possibly miss a chance to keep her safe? No, I don't. I want to KNOW FOR SURE. So I will allow the seizure disorder testing.

It's been a rough week in many ways. I truly feel like my patience has been tested and that Satan is trying to get me. But today was an absolutely blessed Sabbath. I so easily could have shut off the alarm and gone back to sleep, but we didn't, we went to church. And I'm glad.

We arrived and it was raining pretty good, but our pastor was walking out to the parking lot with his umbrella helping people into the church!! I LOVE our new pastor, he is SO great!!! I admit, I missed the entire sermon! But the sense of peace just being IN the church was nice. And Adventurer's started today. This was a blessing. We weren't even sure they were going to DO Adventurer's this year. (Adventurer's is like Scouts for our church). The girls are old enough to be part of the Little Lambs program this year, so I am very excited. BFF volunteered us to be the LL leaders, and to have me help the kids with their marching. LOL Guess my Army time will come in handy.

It was a LONG Sabbath, but a wonderful, blessed Sabbath.

Read more...

More thoughts

So after making last nights post BFF did a little more research. She believes she's found the correct condition to the symptoms. Hypoglycemia, with instances of Nocturnal Hypoglycemia. The description of the symptoms of these fit. More later, gotta get ready for church

Read more...

Topsy Turvy...

Well... I knew life couldn't ever slow down.

Earlier this week we finally found shoes for poor Bug. She has very wonky feet. Normal width in the toe box, wide through the arch, extremely narrow through the heel, and no fat across the top, which is odd for a toddler. She is a tough fit. After much frustration we found a store in Lexington that specializes in fitting difficult feet. Of most importance, they carry multiple brands. Well, we got her into a pair of sneakers that set me back a good chunk of change.

For their good behavior on this outing, we took all 7 kids across the street to Starbucks for a treat. After her hot cocoa and pumpkin bread, Bug started reacting badly. We gave her some more food and got her moving but it shook me. Later that evening BFF and I discussed it. Several pieces began to fall into place and the big picture started to look a little less pleasant. My little Bug might not be so healthy. So after 2 days of asking for my schedule early at work, BFF took matters into her own hands and just called for an appointment and hoped for the best today.

Well, after hearing our concerns, the pediatrician's office wanted to see Bug TODAY. Unfortunately, the latest appointment they could get us was at 2:40, I got off work at 3. BFF called to tell me and I talked to my on duty manager who was GREAT about it and let me call in my relief early so I could go. I owe them both!!

We got to the pedis and explained everything to the doctor. Without getting into ALL the details... The doctor is a little confused on what it may be, because it is NOT presenting with any classic symptoms of a particular condition. SO... although neither of us feels it is this, she sent her for blood work to rule out a milk allergy because the "incidents" all seem to occur with milk. I agree to ruling it out mainly because the wait for appointments at the allergy clinic is literally 4 months!!!!!

The pedi is sending her to the neurology clinic to test for epilepsy. I actually do NOT believe she has epilepsy. But I will go on with this testing only because it will make it that much easier to get testing for what I believe is really going on. I believe she has some form of diabetes.

Diabetes CAN cause seizures, and since the "incidents" that have been witnessed have been petite mal seizures, IF they are seizures at all, it seems more likely to be NON epileptic. Since the incidents ALWAYS follow food consumption, especially milk, it seems more sugar related, which is more diabetic. Plus, we have the family history, although of type II not, juvenile, and I was gestational diabetic, insulin dependant. AND Bug was low blood sugar at birth... yeah, my connect the dots leads to diabetes, not epilepsy.

So... I tried to make the appointments, only to be told that the pediatrician needed to make the appointment, called the office, left the message and never heard back, I WILL be on the phone first thing Monday morning. *sigh* I want to RULE IT OUT.

We went straight to the clinic for the blood draw, and poor Bug was JUST there yesterday for a blood draw. She got in the room and very matter of factly said "Mommy, my getting poke." She didn't cry yesterday, just got agitated, but today she did cry a bit, but only for a few seconds and when it was all over and she got to pick out her TWO stickers (Cinderella and Tinkerbell) she was all smiles again.

Anyway, I will try to keep everyone updated. The girls have their very first dental appointment on Monday! I will post results!!

***Edited on 12-28-09: This is the day that changed everything for Bug... That day she got sick buying shoes for her, and the subsequent appointments led to a diagnosis that changed her life. Initially I was scared by it. I admit it. But once I came to grips with it, and accepted what needed to be done, she got appropriate treatment and has improved SO MUCH. In many ways we are still adjusting to it, but 2 1/2 months later it's MUCH easier to accept than it was back in October.***

Read more...