Catch! (up)

Ok, I'm ready. Are you?

This might be a long one, so consider yourself warned.

I think the best place to start is March 5. March 5 started as a seemingly innocent enough day and then it all changed when Bug went to bed. She woke up barking about 1 hour after falling asleep. I followed the Croup to-do of taking her outside in the cool air to ease her cough, didn't work, tried the steamy bathroom, didn't work, tried the humidifier, didn't work. In fact things were getting worse and so we loaded up and went to town. 15 minutes later and she's doing much better. Instead of going to the hospital we drive around town a bit and then decide we're really tired and start to go home. We get to the top of the mountain and WHAM! back to the old stuff again. That's it we're going to the hospital. We arrive at 12am and are there until 2am. They give her some steroids to open her throat and a breathing treatment. She is doing much better and we go home. I camp out on the living room floor with her next the humidifier. Saturday morning we wake up and she's doing good but does have a little cold. The hubba bub and I go to pick up a wooden swing set that we bought for $100 off of CL.

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The swing set is finally painted and up. Bug LOVES it! Now we just have to get some wood chips to go around everything. (Another thing to add to the to-do list)

 

My mom watches Bug and she slept most of the time we were gone. It wasn't restful sleep though because she would cough and wake herself. When we get back Bug looks sick, but she's running around, playing, and joking. We eat dinner at Mom's and then come home. Bug's breathing is labored and we put her next to the humidifier. That seemed to help and we all cuddle up in our room in our bed. I wake in early morning of Sunday (~3am) and see that Bug is back to having labored breathing. I hold her next the humidifier some more and we go back to bed. When we wake up at 6am she is once again having labored breathing, and we decide that enough is enough and take her into the ER. Let me try to paint a picture for you of what it looked like when she was breathing... Her chest would puff up, her diagram sink in and the little spot on her neck would be sucked in so much. She was trying so hard, but not it seemed like she wasn't getting much air....Back to the hospital...They gave her some more steroids (the same kind they gave before which are supposed to be good for 36 hours), and more breathing treatments. At 10:00 they said that she needed to be admitted and would have to be transferred to another hospital because they don't take care of pediatrics. 1 hour later an ambulance arrived (which we questioned if we actually needed and they said that if we didn't they'd start a FILE on us because of parental poor judgement) and Bug and I took a ride in the ambulance to the next hospital (1.5 hours away).  When we arrived the sweetest nurses and doctors checked us in and explained what was going to happen to us; they were going to keep us and do an RSV test as well as continue to monitor her oxygen levels. Bug was great. You could tell she wasn't feeling good, but she was still really good. The only time that Bug would ever be a problem was at night when she was extremely tired and couldn't sleep because she'd cough too much to sleep. Sunday night was no different. It felt like an eternity. Monday came and Bug was doing MUCH MUCH better. (We didn't receive any treatments or medicine while at the new hospital- she got better by herself!) We were discharged at around 3pm with a follow up appointment scheduled on the 10th with her pediatrician and an appointment in May to see a pediatric pulmonologist. FINALLY we were able to sleep Monday night.

 This is what we do with a sick "baby" in recovery at our house. Let her wear what she wants, how she wants and play with bubbles!

Then something happened on Tuesday. Bug woke up crying and was unsoothable. She kept tugging at her ear and saying "Ow." Oh and did I mention that her eye was pink? As the day progressed so did her ear ache and pink eye.

 I think this pictures explains it all pretty good.

I didn't make an appointment because we were going the next day. Wednesday we headed to the doctor and had a confirmed case of pink eye and our first ear infection ever! (There's a milestone) We were sent home with some medicine to give her twice a day for ten days.
    Bug was getting better and one day we got a phone call from her doctor saying that she was able to reschedule the pulmonologist appointment sooner as in one week away! One week later we are on our way to Albany Med to see the pediatric pulmonologist. This guy was AWESOME!  He was funny, professional, and great for the kids. He explained that she will most likely grow out of it and he wanted to start us on a nebulizer once a night until June 1st and then start back up in September because of how fast the Croup comes on in her case (without any warning signs). She has been doing really good with the treatments and looks so cute with her little mask on. (Pictures to come)


In other news....

I have been SUPER swamped with grad school work and preparing for the state tests in April (8th grade ELA) and June (11th grade Regents) for regular work. I really can't stand state tests and usually don't worry too much about them, because I am really hard on my kids when it comes to their writing and reading (oh do we read A LOT!) This year I am freaking out because as I mentioned in one of my quick posts that cuts are being made this year. I am the only English teacher, but the way things are going, it looks like if someone doesn't like you it doesn't matter what your job is; you're outta there! The good news is that I'm really well liked around the place. I really don't want to go into too much details over what is going on right now (to protect myself once again), but one day there will be a time and place for this whole can of worms.

Something we can talk about...

It all started with my genius idea to make over Bug's room. I started popping off those annoying drywall seamers and started plastering. Her room has been a MESS since the project began, and I think it is fair to say that the project is moving quite SLOWLY! Most of the time the door is shut: out of sight out of mind. To my defense though... I had ran out of plaster and living outside of civilization had to wait until Monday to get some more, then I couldn't do it during the week. The weekend would come and the weather would be too crappy to work without proper ventilation.

 This is how it has been for about 3 weeks now. Don't see the mess? That's because I cropped most of it out. I'm sneaky like that. ;)

FINALLY we have nice weather again and I am thinking that I should finish the last bit of sanding and primer today so that I can work on painting tomorrow.

Oh and did I mention in there that part of the reason I fell so behind is because I would randomly pick up another project and start working on that? For example...painting the trim around the windows in the living room so that I can hang the new blinds? The problem: I now have to paint the rest of the trim in the living room and prime and paint the walls. C'mon over to the house of many projects all of which are works in progress.

And then there is the sewing/fabric side of me... 

Those projects will have a post all to themselves (like they deserve) :P

Oh What A Weekend!

Friday:
I awoke at 12am to the beautiful feeling of wretched butterflies fluttering their way to my mouth, which caused me much discomfort for the next 5 hours off and on. I slept on the bathroom floor, and every time I tried to stand or stretch my body out from a fetal position, those pesky butterflies would reveal another escape attempt. Needless to say I ended up filling out a sub-request form online at intermission and stayed home for the day. It is a good thing too, because although the butterflies had succeed in escaping and finally none where left, I still had the after-shock of their exiting that hit erratically throughout the day. (If you haven't figured out what I'm talking about yet, I was vomiting and then dry-heaving) Oh, did I mention that I spent about 5 more hours lying in the fetal position in the bathtub too? That's right. And when I wasn't in the tub I was sleeping in my bed. Thank goodness Nick had taken the day off too (per my request) and was taking care of Bug, who was starting to get a fever. The day seemed to drag, but as it geared towards night I was starting to feel a little better. I continued to coat my stomach with that pink-chalky-goodness and was thankful to still be alive.

Saturday:
I woke up not feeling 100%, but definitely feeling better than the day before. Nick on the other hand, well he had what I had the day before. Bug still had her fever and I was pumping her full of Tylenol and Motrin to try and keep it under control. I have to say that she is a trooper. You wouldn't know she was sick unless you felt her head. She was as active as always, and as cheerful as always. Nick on the other hand, well didn't fair quite as well. He was bedridden for most of the day and when he wasn't, well he was couch-ridden. At one time he thought it would be better if he "just got up and did something," so he went outside and hopped on the snowmobile for a quick ride. Silly boy. The butterflies that had haunted me the day before had mysteriously leaped inside of him and finally found their escape into the fresh woodsy air where they belonged. When he arrived back home, he said it took all he could do to get back and how stupid of an idea it was, to which I thought "I told you so!" and said "I'm glad you made it back." I tried pumping him full of the pink-chalky-goodness, but he wasn't into worshiping it as much as I had. Finally the night had come, and we were praying and hoping that he would feel better in the morning because he wasn't feeling any better than he did earlier...He fell asleep and....

Sunday:
I'm feeling better. Nick's feeling better. Bug's still got a fever. That's right, poor Bug has had a fever for 3 days now! This is getting to be a bit ridiculous and has even called for some even more ridiculous measures. She kept "waking" through the night and would whimper, but calm as soon as I arrived in her room and rubbed her back or belly (whichever was up at the time), so I simply decided instead of running back and forth every 15 minutes I was getting a blanket and bunking up with her in the crib. (Not the first time I've climbed in there with her, but still an unusual moment) She still continued to wake, and I still continued to rub and soothe, but it was so much easier on the two of us with this close proximity. Finally at around 5 am I had enough of sleeping in positions only a circus contortionist could manage, and climbed out bringing Bug into bed with Nick and me. Nick was in a deep sleep and didn't even really notice Bug until about 2 hours later and then he retreated to the couch. Bug slept really good for the next 3.5 hours!!! I continued to pump her full of the meds to keep the fever at bay and called the doctor. They said to continue doing what we're doing and maybe take her to get her ears checked if she's messing with them (she wasn't). After some loooooooong much needed naps today, she is FINALLY feeling like her old young self again.

Not so sure...

I'm not really sure what is going on lately. I've been in some sort of a slump. I feel extremely tired, nauseous, and just moody. Yes, I realize that these sound much like the symptoms of the 9-month bug, but I'm pretty sure it's not that.

Yesterday I left work 45 min early because I didn't feel good. I came home and slept until Nick came home. Luckily he was able to pick Bug up at the daycare so that I could sleep. Then this morning when I was getting ready, I still didn't feel well. It didn't help that I slept with my contacts in (DUH TO ME!) and was fighting off a migraine. All day today I have been SUPER tired and thinking that today is Friday. News flash: IT IS NOT!

I do have tomorrow off. That is because tomorrow is the service for Nick's grandmother, who passed away this past Saturday, but that is it. Can you believe I couldn't use my bereavement time for that? I had to take a personal day! What crap is that?! I'm really not looking forward to tomorrow. I hate these kind of things, but I know that it is important to go. I hope that Nick will be ok. He seems to be doing well with it, but he also hasn't been up to his parents or up to Gram's since, so I don't know how that will be. I hate to see him upset, which rarely happens, but when it does it's just that much worse.

A-OK!

Monday I had my medical procedures done. It was my first time going under and I was scared. The nurse called me back, and I told Nick to come and she's like "ONLY CRYSTAL" so that upset me. Well needless to say I started crying like a little baby when she started the IV. Not because it hurt, but because I was scared and nervous. She told me everything would be fine, and the hardest part is already over with. So I sucked it up and waited to meet the doctor. He was really nice, and even joked around with me. Finally it was time...all I remember was hearing "it usually works quickly so you should be feeling nothing anytime soon hunni" and watching my heart rate on the monitor rise and fall. Then the next thing I remember I am in Old Country Buffet (which I INSISTED ON GOING TO BECAUSE I WANTED MAC & CHEESE) trying to walk to my seat with a plate of salad and people staring at me because I can't walk straight. Then I remember downing that salad like there was no tomorrow (I even put chickpeas on it--I never do that!!) Then I remember waking up in the car on the way back and asking Nick if he called grandma (like the 20th time I asked him he says) and went back to sleep until we got home. I was so groggy even when we got home, but at least I was able to function a little bit more. It's funny now that I think about it, harldy as scary as I imagined it.

So what did the test say? Well my stomach is irritated and red (I guess the lining has been worn down or something-once again going off what Nick was told by the doctor) So I have medicine to take, but I have to get it filled first. I took it today to RiteAid, and there is this big run around because it doesn't come in the MG that he perscribed and they need to contact him, but he's with other patients and hasn't called back. So hopefully by tomorrow I will have it. I'm just glad that they found something, so that way I know I wasn't going crazy! It will be fine in a little while (the meds are supposed to re-build my stomach lining).

Just a bump...

So for those of you who may have heard I was "sick".... this serves as a clarification. I wasn't sick, I just hit a bump in the road of womanhood. This bump was much worse than other bumps I've hit, but I managed. I have been going to the doctor to find out what's been going on with me, and my stomach. (The stomach thing has been ongoing since July-ish). So nothing has changed, and it's not that bad. As soon as we figure out what's up with my tummy (why it likes to perform loud concerts & making me suffer the discomfort of all the concert-goers) I'll let you know. Most likely though, it's nothing. No worries :)