Wow, once again, time is flying by
The past couple of weeks have been a struggle for all of us. Nathan started with an early morning emergency room visit because he could not breath. His croup got so bad we were not able to break it with the usual steamy shower. We spent a couple of hours where I work, not working...
Then when he completed his prednisone he started running a high fever...so, the nurse in me thinks this is now pneumonia. I had Jim stay home from work and bring him to the doctor. Jim comes home and says the doctor told him it was just a cold.
The next morning, I get home from work to a completely dark house. By this time, the kids should already be at school...no one is up. I go in to wake Jim and find he is burning up. His temp is 104! He rolls over and says "Amilia has been up all night, she is sick."
So, I go check on Amilia and find she has a fever of 103.8!
Nathan has a fever of 101!
Next I go to the store to stock up on fluids...Gatorade, ginger ale, Popsicles. Anything that I think I can get everyone to drink.
I also get cough medicine, Airborne, Zicam, and two different types of yogurt that are supposed to boost your immunity.
I start making my rounds, medicating and pushing fluids...this is after working 12.5 hours in the emergency room overnight.
Because I have three sick kids (HAHA), I have to start writing down times of who got what when because I started not remembering what I gave last.
By noon, I collapse into bed, Jim crashes on the couch and the kids continue to sleep or watch TV. The next day, they are all still very sick. I have continued to medicate every 3-4 hours to try and keep the fevers down.
At one point both Jim and Amilia start getting delirious...It was actually quite funny. Jim kept insisting that it was Saturday when in fact, it was only Wednesday. Amilia kept telling me what Nathan was doing wrong...Nathan was not even in the room.
In the middle of all of this, Jim's work calls (After I called and told them he was very sick), and calls and calls. They called about 8 times before Jim finally relents and says he will go out to British Columbia. He is still running a high fever, he gets weak and tired just moving around.
I am also getting very worried because a cold should not make you this sick. I finally found the paperwork that Jim brought home from the doctor and find that Nathan does indeed have the flu...what a relief. These symptoms are typical flu symptoms...And I got my flu shot!!!
Nathan got better and returned to school. Jim left for British Columbia and Amilia continued to feel sick through the rest of the week. By the weekend, she was feeling much better and went to school on Monday.
On Monday afternoon, she started complaining of a bad headache...I too had had a headache and lower back pain for the past couple of days. So Amilia stayed home on Tuesday through Friday. Every day, she complained of a headache and she was not eating. I took her in to the doctor on Wednesday and she just had another virus. She also has lost 4 pounds since July! So we changed her ADHD medications (again) and hope that she will start eating lunch!
On Thursday, I started coughing and running a fever and still had the same headache that I had had since the weekend and my lower back was very achy. So I did not go to work on Friday night.
On Saturday, I woke up...no headache, no backache, no fever! Finally I felt normal!
Amilia woke up the same! And she started eating again!
So yesterday, we spent much of the day cleaning the house. The kids have been doing great with their "chores" that they have to do each week. We make a list, then each week, they take turns on who picks first and they pick their chores. One of the chores I still have a hard time believing they like to do is cleaning the bathrooms. And they do a great job!
We have to get the house completely organized and cleaned as Nathan has his big birthday party on Sunday. I have been using my sun room as a catch all for everything that does not have a home. I pulled everything out into the living room, vacuumed and have gone through most of the boxes and junk in there.
Today we finish the organizing so my house looks like I have lived here for awhile instead of still having boxes of stuff everywhere...
Jim is supposed to get home on Tuesday then have off until the following Monday. Time to recover, clean the yard and be ready for the party on Sunday.
The weather has been rainy and windy. But we expect to have warm sunny days in the next week. Nathans party day should be in the high sixty's and sunny.
The bulbs we planted in the fall have started flowering. We have had crocuses for about a month, the daffodils have been up for a couple of weeks. I have Hyacinth's that I did not expect for another couple of weeks.
Last week (when everyone was feeling a little stir crazy from being in the house), we went out and got tons of seeds and starter pots. This afternoon if I get the living room cleared out, we will plant the seeds inside. Next week, we will plant a bunch of flowers all around the house as I do not think we will have any more frosts.
I started weight watchers about two months ago and have lost 22 pounds! I still have a but to go, but some of my clothes no longer fit! Such a great feeling!
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
February already--late posting!
Time has just flown by.
Today there is a light fog, I have walked around and opened all of the windows because it is getting warm. It is supposed to be up to 71 degrees.
For the last couple of weeks we have had our "winter". It got down to the 20's for a few days, we actually had snow on the ground for about a day and had school canceled due to the anticipation of snow.
Last week Amilia and I discovered the crocuses that were planted in the fall have bloomed...so early! We were not expecting them for another month at least.
We plan to have a big garden this year and I need to re-adjust my thinking on planting times. In New England, you cound not plant outside until late sping. I can plant here much earlier but I do not yet know how much earlier. It is only February! I still think of it as winter! But is it to be 71 degrees today!
I have been voluteering at the kids school. I really enjoy getting in there, spending time with the kids in the classroom and getting to know the kids teachers. They love me coming in right now. Lets hope that it continues for awhile.
I have been working every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday night. We have been extremely busy!
Jim's work keeps him busy. He is still loving what he does as well.
Today there is a light fog, I have walked around and opened all of the windows because it is getting warm. It is supposed to be up to 71 degrees.
For the last couple of weeks we have had our "winter". It got down to the 20's for a few days, we actually had snow on the ground for about a day and had school canceled due to the anticipation of snow.
Last week Amilia and I discovered the crocuses that were planted in the fall have bloomed...so early! We were not expecting them for another month at least.
We plan to have a big garden this year and I need to re-adjust my thinking on planting times. In New England, you cound not plant outside until late sping. I can plant here much earlier but I do not yet know how much earlier. It is only February! I still think of it as winter! But is it to be 71 degrees today!
I have been voluteering at the kids school. I really enjoy getting in there, spending time with the kids in the classroom and getting to know the kids teachers. They love me coming in right now. Lets hope that it continues for awhile.
I have been working every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday night. We have been extremely busy!
Jim's work keeps him busy. He is still loving what he does as well.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Last day of the year!
So, December 31st.
We have had quite the year.
We moved from Greenville North Carolina to Greensboro North Carolina for my job. I now work at a smaller hospital in the Emergency Room. And I love it!
Jim changed driving companies shortly after moving to Greensboro. He loves his job. The hours/miles are more consistent. It is for a small company within a big company so we enjoy the health benefits, retirement benefits that would come with a big company.
Amilia and Nathan started at a new school. Nathan is being tested for Accelerated Learning. Amilia is being tested for learning disabilities. Her head injury two years ago may have a much longer lasting effect than we had anticipated.
Amilia and Nathan started riding lessons. Nathan no longer taking lessons but he loves going to the barn and pushing around the wheelbarrows...
Amilia had the opportunity to ride a larger pony at the stables near our house for a couple of weeks, but then the owner stopped allowing her to come over because she says "you're driving me crazy." About the same time I was getting stressed out because she was not giving me clear directions of what she wanted me to do! So, although Amilia is no longer riding Peaceful, the short amount of intensive riding improved her riding abilities enormously! She is now very confident and able to post without difficulty. She will continue riding Magic until she can canter on her and keep her seat. She is improving quickly. What she does from week to week is amazing growth and learning. She now gets an hour (because Nathan has stopped) and Annette, her instructor is amazed at how well she is riding now.
I hurt my back on September 17th and I am still struggling with the pain and with work. I did not work for 3 months, went back and had to immediately stop again. I had an injection of steroids about 3 weeks ago that lasted about 10 days. I worked two weekends, then stopped working again. So, I am scheduled for another injection on Friday. Hopefully, it will bring great results and I will be pain free for longer.
So we say goodbye to 2007 and pray for a happy, healthy 2008!
We have had quite the year.
We moved from Greenville North Carolina to Greensboro North Carolina for my job. I now work at a smaller hospital in the Emergency Room. And I love it!
Jim changed driving companies shortly after moving to Greensboro. He loves his job. The hours/miles are more consistent. It is for a small company within a big company so we enjoy the health benefits, retirement benefits that would come with a big company.
Amilia and Nathan started at a new school. Nathan is being tested for Accelerated Learning. Amilia is being tested for learning disabilities. Her head injury two years ago may have a much longer lasting effect than we had anticipated.
Amilia and Nathan started riding lessons. Nathan no longer taking lessons but he loves going to the barn and pushing around the wheelbarrows...
Amilia had the opportunity to ride a larger pony at the stables near our house for a couple of weeks, but then the owner stopped allowing her to come over because she says "you're driving me crazy." About the same time I was getting stressed out because she was not giving me clear directions of what she wanted me to do! So, although Amilia is no longer riding Peaceful, the short amount of intensive riding improved her riding abilities enormously! She is now very confident and able to post without difficulty. She will continue riding Magic until she can canter on her and keep her seat. She is improving quickly. What she does from week to week is amazing growth and learning. She now gets an hour (because Nathan has stopped) and Annette, her instructor is amazed at how well she is riding now.
I hurt my back on September 17th and I am still struggling with the pain and with work. I did not work for 3 months, went back and had to immediately stop again. I had an injection of steroids about 3 weeks ago that lasted about 10 days. I worked two weekends, then stopped working again. So, I am scheduled for another injection on Friday. Hopefully, it will bring great results and I will be pain free for longer.
So we say goodbye to 2007 and pray for a happy, healthy 2008!
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Writing
I love to write.
There is so much in my mind that I want to come out, that I want to put on paper.
But sitting down and taking the time to write has been hard.
If I put it down on paper, (computer) it is permanent.
I have not written in the past few months because what I have had in my mind has been dark, depressing, not how I want to be seen.
Today, for the first time in months, I woke up and felt like the sun was shining. My heart felt light, the heaviness I have had has been lifted.
Back pain is almost gone, I have gone back to work, I have found horses to be near.
Horses. There is only one smell like them. It is a smell that I would recognise even if I did not see the horses. Pungent, not sour, smells like the outside, smells to me like work, happiness, satifaction. I love the smell of horses
Horses. I love it when they stick their heads out over the stall and sniff you with their noses close to your head. Softly stroking the side of their silky smooth head, itching up behind the ears. They rub back, pushing with their noses for more. Nibbling with their mouths, tasting your skin or clothing. Inquisitive, checking you out.
Horses. The way they move. So graceful, so smooth. Such large animals, controlled simply with a small bit and a pair of reins.
There is so much in my mind that I want to come out, that I want to put on paper.
But sitting down and taking the time to write has been hard.
If I put it down on paper, (computer) it is permanent.
I have not written in the past few months because what I have had in my mind has been dark, depressing, not how I want to be seen.
Today, for the first time in months, I woke up and felt like the sun was shining. My heart felt light, the heaviness I have had has been lifted.
Back pain is almost gone, I have gone back to work, I have found horses to be near.
Horses. There is only one smell like them. It is a smell that I would recognise even if I did not see the horses. Pungent, not sour, smells like the outside, smells to me like work, happiness, satifaction. I love the smell of horses
Horses. I love it when they stick their heads out over the stall and sniff you with their noses close to your head. Softly stroking the side of their silky smooth head, itching up behind the ears. They rub back, pushing with their noses for more. Nibbling with their mouths, tasting your skin or clothing. Inquisitive, checking you out.
Horses. The way they move. So graceful, so smooth. Such large animals, controlled simply with a small bit and a pair of reins.
December
This morning, frost was on the ground, the air was cold and dry. But by afternoon, it should be quite warm again (compared to the northern relatives).
For the past couple of months I have been struggling with a back injury that occurred on September 17th. Along with the pain, I had isolation because I was not working and do not yet have a network of friends here in Greensboro. So, as a result, I got depressed, did not want to do anything at all, spent much of my time lying around in bed (back pain), watching TV, reading and feeling sorry for myself.
A week and a half ago, I got an injection in my back which has help the back pain tremendously! Before, I could not sit for longer than 10-15 minutes without having shooting pains down my legs. Now I can sit as much as I want and no significant increase in the leg pain. YEAH!
Life has gotten so much better...God is good!
Last weekend, a dog came into my yard. It was an unfamiliar dog and Daisy was out. I did not want Daisy playing with a dog she did not know (I also did not want an accidental breeding). So I caught the dog and heard yelling over at the stables next to our house. Amilia and I walked the dog over to the Stables and finally met our neighbor Joan. What a wonderful thing! She needed some help around the stables and in return, Amilia and I get to ride!
I have ridden twice (oh the aching muscles after!) and Amilia has ridden several times. She has gone from a tentative rider to bold and outgoing. She so wants to let the pony run but does not yet have the seat or the balance for this. She has put together the rhythm of trotting and posting and she looks amazing riding. And so tiny! She is riding this great big Welsh mix pony! At first I was fearful of her falling but now, she just moves with Peaceful as she trots around the ring. The ring has a layer of sand that would cushion her if she happened to fall...and I as a kid, used to fall all the time and did not get hurt...
Nathan has ridden a couple of times for a short period of time, but he is not enjoying it as Amilia does. He, instead, plays with the many dogs that Joan has (she has 18!), or he plays in the dirt pile by the riding ring, or he goes back home and plays on the computer.
Jim is in Toronto today. He will hopefully start home tonight and be home tomorrow.
I have been working again and now that I do not have leg pain, love my job! I work with a great group of Nurses and Nursing Techs. When we are busy, everyone pitches in, when we are quiet, we all sit around talking and joking (two very bad words in the emergency department--busy and quiet...I cannot believe I put time down on the computer!).
I am off to Physical Therapy for my back (it still hurts some, but not at all like before the injection), then will spend the late morning, early afternoon cleaning the many stalls that Joan has (instead of going to the gym, I shovel poo).
For the past couple of months I have been struggling with a back injury that occurred on September 17th. Along with the pain, I had isolation because I was not working and do not yet have a network of friends here in Greensboro. So, as a result, I got depressed, did not want to do anything at all, spent much of my time lying around in bed (back pain), watching TV, reading and feeling sorry for myself.
A week and a half ago, I got an injection in my back which has help the back pain tremendously! Before, I could not sit for longer than 10-15 minutes without having shooting pains down my legs. Now I can sit as much as I want and no significant increase in the leg pain. YEAH!
Life has gotten so much better...God is good!
Last weekend, a dog came into my yard. It was an unfamiliar dog and Daisy was out. I did not want Daisy playing with a dog she did not know (I also did not want an accidental breeding). So I caught the dog and heard yelling over at the stables next to our house. Amilia and I walked the dog over to the Stables and finally met our neighbor Joan. What a wonderful thing! She needed some help around the stables and in return, Amilia and I get to ride!
I have ridden twice (oh the aching muscles after!) and Amilia has ridden several times. She has gone from a tentative rider to bold and outgoing. She so wants to let the pony run but does not yet have the seat or the balance for this. She has put together the rhythm of trotting and posting and she looks amazing riding. And so tiny! She is riding this great big Welsh mix pony! At first I was fearful of her falling but now, she just moves with Peaceful as she trots around the ring. The ring has a layer of sand that would cushion her if she happened to fall...and I as a kid, used to fall all the time and did not get hurt...
Nathan has ridden a couple of times for a short period of time, but he is not enjoying it as Amilia does. He, instead, plays with the many dogs that Joan has (she has 18!), or he plays in the dirt pile by the riding ring, or he goes back home and plays on the computer.
Jim is in Toronto today. He will hopefully start home tonight and be home tomorrow.
I have been working again and now that I do not have leg pain, love my job! I work with a great group of Nurses and Nursing Techs. When we are busy, everyone pitches in, when we are quiet, we all sit around talking and joking (two very bad words in the emergency department--busy and quiet...I cannot believe I put time down on the computer!).
I am off to Physical Therapy for my back (it still hurts some, but not at all like before the injection), then will spend the late morning, early afternoon cleaning the many stalls that Joan has (instead of going to the gym, I shovel poo).
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