Alrighty then

So, an update.

My right lung is inflamed. Wah-oo... (can you feel the love?) the doctor seems to think from something I inhaled.

I asked him why the left one isn't also if that is the case... the answer? "Possibly because your left lung is more efficient at coughing". hmmmm that makes some sense at least.

He seems to be of the opinion that my lung is inflamed due to something environmental, and that it hasn't been able to heal up properly, therefore the repeat episodes of coughing up blood. So to help it be able to heal up right he has put me on Steroids.... (ROID RAGE!!!!!)... well, actually an inhaler with steroids in it, for 8 weeks.

Hopefully that will be the end of that. Tada!

Today and a Linky

Okay, so I went in for the Bronchoscopy and there is good news and bad news.

Good News: They didn't find anything.

Bad News: They didn't find anything.

Well, at least I knew I'm not dying. I have an appointment with the doctor on the 2nd to go over stuff, more updates then. I hope he is able to answer some questions, because I would like to know "what now" for the next time I start coughing up blood... I really don't want to have to go through all that again.

On to another topic... my favorite! :) Here is an awesome post about one women's experience with how women are viewed from different cultures. I think it puts things into a good perspective.

Enjoy!

They Called.

Well, I have the start of pneumonia (or some other infection) and they still don't know what is causing it so I'm being referred to an Ear Nose and Throat Doctor. They are putting me on antibiotics until I can get in with him.

*crickets*

Still haven't heard what the MRI results are. Which I guess is good.... it means I'm not going to die within the next 24 hours, but it's bad in that we still don't know what is going on and I want them to call me back dangit so that we can schedule whatever else needs to be done to figure this crap out.

Grrrr.

Maybe I could offer to work for them once a week or so, just calling people back who have "normal" test results. hmmmm

Sorry.

Last week I didn't post as ALL. I had intended to, but first off, I didn't have much to say on Monday and didn't feel like anyone (myself included) would appreciate it if I just posted some random crap that no one (myself included) really cared about :)

Turbo turned 3 last Wednesday. He enjoyed the cake I made him and tried to hide in embarrassment with everyone sang "Happy Birthday" to him... and of course he made out like a bandit as far as gifts. The kid loves anything reptilian... what can I say?

 He loves everything he got... and I'm glad I was able to be there.

Earlier that day I had started coughing up blood. Scary. But at least not as scary as it could have been. In February I had had a small experience with coughing up blood that only lasted a couple of minutes. But because it unnerved me so much I went the to doctor who had an X-ray and a D timer done, which came out normal. I had figured it was a fluke.... since sometimes weird things happen that can't be explained. They told me to call if it happened again. Which it didn't, until Wednesday.

So because I didn't die last time I figured I would be okay until I could get into the doctor this time.

Thursday morning I went into the doctor who was concerned. She said that other than coughing up blood (which I was still doing) I had no symptoms, which was odd. And because she doesn't like unexplained things and she tends to be proactive she ordered an MRI for Monday. She also gave me permission to still go to Utah on Friday night... so I did.

Anyhow, we will see what all happens come Monday.

Stitches

This weekend we went to Utah to visit the Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Point (which I will go into in a later post... I don't want to overload everyone on a Monday and all!) It was a wonderful weekend... well, except for the 4 hour stay at the hospital.

On Sunday as we were about to grab lunch and head back to Idaho we had a bit of a surprise. Jer hit the brakes really fast to avoid a wreck and low and behold Turbo's seat was not buckled in!

Now, I don't know who or what undid his seat belt... I suspect one of the older kids did while trying to undo their own seat belt at some point. It doesn't really matter though, honestly, whos fault it was... Jer and I didn't notice it until too late.

Turbo (seat and all) went flying into the folded up seat in front of him. One that was folded in such a way that the poky underside was facing him. (!!!!!) Jer and I both looked back to a stunned two year old smashed into the seat directly behind Jer... and then there was blood.

I quickly climbed into the back of the van, lifting Turbos care seat and him back into their original position. His ear was severely cut, with a large tear that went through the cartilage. I quickly looked to see if his head was also cut, which I was greatly relived to find was not the case.

Jer quickly tried to navigate to the nearest hospital.... unfortunately Salt Lake is always a freaking construction MESS and of course when there is construction no one seems to notice that the HOSPITAL signs lead right through CLOSED ROADS. UGH.

After about 15 minutes we arrived at the Intermountain LDS hospital and were able to get things taken care of.

The poor kiddo had to be sedated so that they could sew up his ear... little kids and moving and all of that jazz. He ended up with 12 stitches and taking a long while to really get back to his "normal" self.

Anyhow, I'm glad things didn't turn out worse, because they very easily could have! Thank heavens for small (?) miracles!

(no worries, the inside of his ear is fine... that's just a little dried blood because the darned kid won't keep the gauze on the thing)

Getting Poked.

I don't like getting poked.

Now, don't get me wrong I don't mind someone poking me to get my attention etc (as long as it's not a hard poke... those hurt!), but getting poked with a needle is not my idea of a good time.

Then again, I don't know anyone who thinks that getting poked is a fun thing that you would want to do on a daily basis. When I talk about me not liking to get poked, I don't mean mild dislike. I mean freak out dislike. I have to make sure I don't see the needle going in or there is a possibility I could hyperventilate. And that is just joy of all joys I tell you. funfun.

To avoid that, I avoid needles whenever possible :) But when all else fails I count ceiling tiles. Cause I have never been in a place that pokes you that doesn't have ceiling tiles.

Today, my doctor decided I needed to get poked.... so into the lab I went.

As I'm waiting for them to stab me, the tech is looking at my arm... prodding it and whatnot.. and asks "where are they usually able to get them to work?". Not a question most people get asked. On top of the fact that I abhor needles is the fact that I have deep veins... and not just deep, but rolly too. Maybe that is where I get my fear? The fact that many techs in training have attempted to move the needles while they were STILL IN MY ARM? Very likely.

I ended up getting stabbed, not once (like it was supposed to be) but FOUR TIMES. By three different techs. Elbow, elbow, wrist, elbow.... no kidding.

UGH.

So what are your nutso fears?

Well, I Went to the Doc Today....

about my depression I've been suffering with.

For those of you that just think it's in my head, I'll admit it is... yup that's right... that's where all those chemical reactions are at dumby! :) Depression is kind of like being a parent. In that there is no way you can possibly understand how it feels till you have been there.

Here is the best way I can think of to describe it:

You know the song "Taps". It's the song that is played by the trumpet or bugle at military funerals. It's really forlorn. And it makes me tear up almost every time I hear it even when I'm not depressed.

Well, for me, and it's probably different for other people... it's feeling like I'm listening to that song on a continuous round. It never stops.. in fact it has more impact the longer it goes. And on top of it, it feels like I've just gotten home form a long trip cause, man, it makes me just want to sleep. I think the sleep thing is a side effect of the depression cause I don't want to have to deal with life at all. Oh, then on top of that my whole body aches all the time.... fun, fun.

This is the main reason that in a previous post I said that without my kids I would be lost. When I'm depressed they are one of the only things that make me get up in the morning and keep going.

Anywho, I like our doc, cause he not only gives you a Rx if you need one... but he also tries to make sure you are exercising and eating better so that your body can cope as well. Though he admits that sometimes people need the Rx to give them the drive to be able to exercise and eat right.

So starting again tonight, I'm going to try start taking walks as prescribed by the doctor... (if my massive headache ever goes away, but that is another topic)

I'm so glad he doesn't just throw a prescription at me and call it good. Cause then I know he will do his darnedest to make sure I get back off of the medication when I no longer need it.

Anywho, Hopefully I can climb out of this quickly and get back to enjoying life. There is light at the end of the tunnel. There is hope. :)

WRONG!!!!

ok, so Li isn't better.... UGH. He had another fever this morning. And now his eyes are red and he has a rash!!! WHEN WILL IT END???? :D

I did take him to the doctor.... who told me.... can you guess????

"It's probably viral"

then processed to tell me that if it continues through tomorrow that I need to bring him in again... with a urine sample. Greeeeeeat. How fun is that going to be to collect? I mean, they gave me this fun time little baggy thingy... but collecting urine from an 11 month old? HA!

He told me the rash was "vague" and that there were a few things to watch for... just in case.

Well, I'm going to cross my fingers and hope this all just GOES AWAY! :P

Hearing Test

Well, G passed his hearing test today with flying colors. So glad his ears work alright! The audiologist even mentioned that since his ears are so good it may be that he has APD (Audio Processing Disorder). Ummmm yeah! So nice to meet someone who knows what the HECK I'm talking about! The Pediatrician definately didn't know what I ment by APD. Oh well, they have to know so much I'm sure it's hard to remember everything.

Anyways, unfortunateley the audiologist also said that there is no way to test G for it right now because he is so young. He would have to be at least 5 and a half (which isn't too far off). So anyways, I think we may be getting closer to figuring out what is up.

We're baaaack!

Hihi,

We have returned! Must be a curse ... I know! But much to your chagrin I'm sure we made it home safely. :o) Just kidding OF COURSE!!!

Anywhys...

We had fun in good ol' Utaho. We took the kids to a great children's museum there, went to a planetarium, took them to temple square on Sunday, and went to a dinosaur park. Needless to say we pretty much turned the whole doctors trip into a family vacation!

So this morning before we came home we went to the doctor. A behavioral specialist.
I was concerned because G has to be told to do things about 3 times before he ever moves to do them, he has a hard time concentrating when there is any background noise, and he can't seam to follow sequences aka "Go get your socks, then put on your shoes, and after that go get your coat on." He gets his socks and looses track of what he is doing. there are other things as well but that is the main part. Anyways. After the doctors played some games with him and had him answer some questions he basically said he isn't ruling anything out at this point as far as A.D.D. or other things but that with the lack of family history in the A.D.D. department he hesitated to say it was that.

What he did say was that he needs a hearing test (not a big surprise) to make sure he hasn't got any issues hearing high frequencies. Basically G is really intelligent for his age (tests at the level of a 6 year old) but his language skills are lacking (He tests at the 4 year old level where he is very nearly 5 years old). The doctor thinks that this may be the reason for the issues G is having with everything from following instructions to potty training issues (which Dr. said was closely related to language skills). He sent home some questionnaires for Jer and I to fill out and for G's teacher to fill out, he is also sending stuff to our pediatrician here in IF. he did say he wasn't overly concerned about G at this point but that we need to keep tabs on the situation and make sure that if it continues or gets worse by the time he is in kindergarten then we may need to do more testing.

Anyways, I feel good about the doctors visit. he seamed competent and very personable and like he was being proactive as far as our concerns about our son go. Overall I liked him and was so glad he didn't just try to brush us off and tell us it was all in our heads. :)

I plan on posting some pictures of our trip tomorrow once we are settled again.

Yup... Mothers intuition strikes again....

So it's official. My kids have RSV.

Little Li was supposed to have his 6 month checkup today but because he was caughing and wheezing a little I had them change the appointment to a regular sick check. Needless to say, he has RSV, which means that Big G most likely has the same thing and Missy My seams to be coming down with it as well.

I'm glad we didn't go to church last Sunday and share all the fun....

Anywho... Li now has to have breathing treatments every 4 hours for the next 2 days... fun fun.... you try keeping THIS thing on or even near a 6 month olds face!!!

(photo from trimed.freeservers.com)

Little Li's Doctors Appointment

So, Little Li had his 2 month well check today...

He is now 23 1/4 in long, 11lbs 11 oz, and his head circumfrence is 15 1/4

He's at about the 50% on height and the 20% on weight.... and man was he mad when they gave him his shots! OUCH! He got three today... besides that there were only a couple of things to keep an eye on. One being that he seams to have mild torticollus. This is when the neck muscles are short on one side and make the baby's head tilt to one side. The pediatricain said not to be overly concerned till he can't turn his head the opposite way on his own... needless to say I will be keeping an eye on this.

Oh, and I get the joyfully fun obligation of having everyone in the family get flu shots so that Li isn't put in danger of getting the flu. :P fun fun... can't WAIT till I get to take Gavin.... ugh! Wish me luck!