Feeling Better

We are all feeling much better. Not exactly100%, but getting there...finally.

Adam and I still have a lingering cough which I think we'll have for a while. Zoey is still a bit stuffy, but I think anything left over is allergies at this point....I have been getting some pretty nasty headaches as a result of allergies too.

Colin is miserable, but only because the poor kid is teething. He is NOT a good teether, so this is new to me. Zoey was a great teether and fussed only a bit. Colin full on sobs and loses it. He also is completely clingy and ravenously biting on everything left on the floor.

Zoey started back to school this week with all sorts of stupid drama which I am trying to put behind me....the whole "be the bigger person" thing. Let's just say I love Zoey's school but am not a fan of the mothers who gather and gossip at drop off/ pickup. I swear, I will never find a mommy friend to hang with.

Since we are finally feeling better, I am trying to find time to update with pictures, etc... My house is a complete mess, my to-do list is scary, Adam is behind in homework, Thanksgiving is next week, I have picture orders to process, and 2 kids to watch. Easy peasy for most, but with 2 kids that DO NOT sleep through the night...it is quite the challenge for me.

Anyway, among the hundreds of pictures I need to finish, I have a few ready and thought I would share some with my bloggy readers.

Enjoy my children you lucky, lucky people...

This last one was something I needed to do for me. This is Zoey at about 6 months old...she was so bald.

...and here is Colin at almost 9 months (hey, I've been sick, lay off!) He is so much fatter, hairier and even shorter then Zoey was.


Hopefully I can share some more later.

another short random post...

...since I am here and kids are with daddy. Who knows when I will be able to return to blog some more....could be a day, week, month.


More on Zoey's awesome hair. I love her hair....LOVE IT. It is a love hate relationship because sometimes it is very hard to manage. I always wanted curly hair and even had a couple failed perms as a kid trying to achieve curls like Zoey's. NO doubt she will hate hr curls and I will despise every moment when she straightens them out as a teen....but I digress

A lot of mommy friends with girl's Zoey's age have posted pics of their daughters with LONG GORGEOUS HAIR. Zoey was bald until 18 months and I have always wanted her hair to be longer.

Well....apparently Zoey is no longer that far behind them. I straighted some curls the other day to see Zoey's true hair length and was surprised to see her length is pretty close to the girlies with the long hair (minus Harper)

pulled out



Scrunched

stupid doctors

With so many trips to the doctor lately, I have a lot of paperwork to file, etc... Zoey saw a different doctor every time which was a little more than annoying. I hate Kaiser and miss our old family doctor so bad. I miss being treated like a person, vs. a number or a co-pay

While reviewing some of Zoey's visit summaries this week, I was a little more then shocked to find this.


Having trouble? Let me help you out.


Which prompted me to look this up on BBC - Maybe next time the idiot doctor should focus on her illness and consider measuring my daughter's height before diagnosing her as being an overweight child. She is quite the tall 2.5 year old.

{from BabyCenter.com}

"At 34 months:

your child is 38 pounds, and that is
at the 96th percentile for weight.

your child is 41 inches, and that is
at greater than the 97th percentile for height."


My diagnosis.... Zoey's doctor is a tool


On another note, the doctor who actually cared enough to have a work up done on Zoey provided this summary. Apparently Zoey's weight was not an issue to her.

She is NOT a tool



anyway, back to the bushes...

...I like to move it, move it

{attempting to post something that isn't disgusting or sickness related}


Colin started dancing about a month ago and I love it. He moves his head back and forth like a total Valley Girl. I love him!

Here are some videos of the boy.







And for fun....some of Zoey getting down

for Natty-cakes

This is the craft box

Dear H1N1........... I hate you!!!!

Well....it continues. After leaving the doctor yesterday, Zoey came home and took a nap. She woke up on fire with a 103.8 fever. I was angry because again, she was NOT improving.

I called the night nurse who seemed to "get it." She couldn't believe we were dismissed so easily that morning without further testing. She got angry and kept yelling AT ME, telling me I was my child's only advocate and needed to speak up more. I lost it and started bawling. It was awful. She told me in no way should Zoey have a fever that high develop WHILE ON ANTIBIOTICS. She made a note to have us seen again today with another doc.

So we have been to the doc 8 times in 3 weeks...ugh

Today was a better day...not necessarily how we feel, but for peace of mind. We finally have some answers.

The doctor we saw today looked over Zoey's chart, saw how much she had been in and wasn't happy. Zoey was at 103 and completely flushed. They gave her some tylenol and it all came up about as fast as it went down. Ughh!

The doctor decided to do a work up for Zoey. Zoey had 6 blood tests done, a urine sample was tested, and 3 x-rays. She was low on sodium (still pushing pedilyte) and the poor girl needs to poop. She hasn't gone since Friday, but again hasn't eaten since Friday anyway.

Everything checked out good and her white blood cell count was back in normal range. The x-rays revealed that there was some chest congestion and lots of other stuff backed up....the girl needs to poop.

The doctor told me that she is pretty confident that Zoey has the H1N1. I asked if she needed to be swabbed to confirm diagnosis and she said no. I guess they are diagnosing it and only giving Tamiflu to kids that have a weak heart or scary things like pneumonia. Zoey's chest x-ray cleared her from pneumonia and since she looked good everywhere else (minus high fever) the doctor decided to not give Zoey the Tamiflu and to let her fight it. I was informed that the Tamiflu really only helps kids with the problems mentioned above.

Finally something. I know it doesn't change a thing from before we walked in...but at least I KNOW it isn't pneumonia and I KNOW she is not at risk for one of those really scary H1N1 cases. I was thrilled to have a doctor take me and Zoey seriously and at least MAKE SURE that we had done everything to see why she has been sick so long.

She confirmed that Z's sinus infection still isn't clear and that could be contributing to the high fever with her flu. She said the antibiotic Zoey was on was not ideal but understood we are limited with her allergies. To be honest, she was kind of annoyed they put her on the one she is on vs. a better one like Keflex, but since Zoey is over 1/2 way into this medicine, she told us to continue and finish it.

I was pleased with this doctor over the others and she assured me that she's "always there" and more then happy to see us again if we need her. She basically said we could ask for her by name...if I can remember all 39 letters of it. she was also very reassuring that as mommy, I did the right thing by bringing her in each time since her vitals we below par on every visit.

I started getting really sick yesterday at 8pm....but I tried to will it away and focus on Zoey. By morning I knew I was SICK. I was 101 and achy achy achy....I have never been this sore with a fever in my life. My shoulder blades and knees were/are killing me.

Since we went from Dr.'s office, to the the blood lab (poor Zoey is bruised everywhere from the amount of blood they have drawn since Friday), to the urine lab (no cath thank goodness), to radiology, then back to the doctor. I carried 40 pound Zoey everywhere and my 20 pound purse full of items to keep Zoey busy and not "lose it" during these appts/tests.

By the time we got back to the doctor's office, I was flushed, 102 and couldn't breathe. Doctor said I had more red flag symptoms of H1N1 then Zoey and that we both needed to go home and rest. She seemed more concerned about me at that point....and convinced our whole house has/had it

I was instructed to keep an eye on the baby and not hesitate to COME BACK if things got bad again.

We left the doctor at 3pm after being there since 11am...long time. When we got home, Zoey was 101 and so was I. We both took a couple hour nap and woke up feeling worse. Currently, Zoey is 103.5, completely flushed and miserable. I am still 101 and breathing HURTS.

The best hubby in the universe went out and got us meds, dinner, etc... I am having the hardest time with Colin. He feels better then us and has energy, everything I am lacking. Caring for him is hard enough...then I have Zoey crying, "No, that's my mommy, get away Colin!!!"...every time I touch him.

I am going to go die now....but there is our update.

Long post about vomit and sickness....there's your warning!

Still sick....yes you read that right. STILL!!!

Zoey is just a few days short of being sick for 4 weeks straight. My poor little one cannot seem to catch a break.

Last week we went back to the doctor for both kids (see last post) and BOTH were diagnosed with a sinus infection and put on antibiotics. The doctor told me that any time kids are sick for longer then 2 weeks, it is most likely something viral that has turned bacterial and needs antibiotic treatment.

The baby was put on Amoxicillin and Zoey was put on something else I can't spell because of her allergies. The doctor told me the meds he gave Zoey were not ideal for her and would most likely upset her stomach. Both are on these medicines for 10 days.

I filled both presciptions and waited. 24 hours later, Colin is breaking out in rashes and is miserable. Screaming, screaming, screaming....very not like him. A call into the night nurse ended with, "Continue medicine, does not sound like an allergy....keep an eye on him."

The next day was worse for the poor boy. His rash got worse, almost like a burn in the diaper area, complete with blisters and bleeding. Another call to the nurse and we are back at the doctor.

Turns out Colin is NOT allergic to the medicine, but the medicine did cause a bacterial reaction that caused the bleeding and blisters. We are now giving meds for that in addition to the antibiotics.

As of today, Colin seems to be on the mend. His poor "undercarriage" is still sore, beat read and tender but NOT blistered or bleeding. He still is stuffy and has a runny nose but nothing like it was. He is in MUCH happier spirits.

WHOO HOO right? Well maybe just "whoo" for now....remember, I have another kid.

The antibiotics seemed to be helping Zoey too. Her sinuses began to clear up and 48 hours later she was a different kid. The meds did cause some major stomach upset with yucky results but that was to be expected. I thought things were FINALLY looking up for Zoey who had been down for 3 weeks.

Friday night Zoey was having a VERY HARD TIME falling asleep, even in our bed. We fought non stop over her needing to calm down and SLEEP. At 11:30pm she said, "Mommy, I am just sick, I am just so very sick."

I asked her where and she responded, "In my tummy."

I kissed her tummy and told her if she would lay down and GO TO SLEEP her tummy would be better by morning (I was assuming the meds again since she already had her nightly dose). She fell asleep at midnight and woke up at 12:15. She said, "Mommy, mommy...."

....and then started vomiting EVERYWHERE all over the bed, all over Adam, myself, down my shirt, in my hair, on my face. It was horrific, rancid and something out of an exorcism horror movie. Colin was the only who escaped the mess and he WAS in bed with me nursing.

Thank goodness Adam was home to help. He took Colin over, started laundry and changed our bedding while I took Zoey in the shower with me. We got all cleaned up and just sat in the warm water. I could tell her stomach was still upset and figured it was still medicine stomach upset. She kept squatting, laying down, etc... anything to try and get comfortable.

Wonder daddy brought in some ginger ale for her to try and help her tummy but it was a no go. We had been in there for 20 minutes and were getting ready to get out and it started all over again. Not down the drain...but all over mommy.....cause it feels better to vomit ON mommy vs the toilet or sink right?????

More washing, tears, etc... At this point I KNOW it is not the meds. Between phase 1 & 2 she got a ton out of her.

When we got out of the shower, Zoey said, "I am sorry, I am sorry I made a mess and threw up everywhere. Mommy I need to go to the doctor, I need a doctor right now."

I felt terrible. I assured Zoey NEVER had to apologize for throwing up and that we just wanted her better. The fact that she was telling me she NEEDED to go to the doctor scared me a bit too. NO child ever says that, especially her....it was like she knew how sick she was.

We got out, got her dressed, laid her down. It started again.....all over the bed, etc... New bed change in progress and Adam and I decide it is time to go in. It was too similar to the last time she was admitted to the Pediatric ER and we wanted to get her checked sooner then later.

Adam stayed with Colin in hopes that they could get some sleep and I started running around the house to get insurance cards, wallet, keys, etc... Meanwhile, Zoey is still upstairs and listless. So much that she will not even LIFT HER HEAD out of the puddle of vomit below her. She would rather lay there.

We got her in the car and drove to the doc. She threw up 4 times in the car on the way there during our 6 minute drive. They checked her in and got us back pretty fast....we were in a room in less then an hour. She continued to vomit and the nurses started the IV. It took 15 minutes of DIGGING in one arm trying to find a vein. The digging made a big hole that made her arm start bleeding....so they bandaged her up and started in on the other arm. They got a good vein right away and started blood tests and her IV's.

3 hours, 3 saline injections, 1 Zofran injection, 1 large IV fluid bag, and 2 blood tests later we were allowed to go home. Her tests came back normal aside from the white blood cell count. It was elevated, but not enough to keep us there. AMAZING what the injections and fluids did for her. She was a NEW KID. Best $100 co-pay EVER SPENT! We were told they wanted her to be seen again in 24 hours and NOT wait until Monday.


We went home at 8am and went to bed (Poor Adam was up all night with Colin who wouldn't sleep without me.....got a taste of my night shift). Zoey woke up at 1pm with a 103 fever. Ughh! Called the nurse and they said to keep an eye on her and still come in on Sunday to the urgent care.

We got to Urgent Care this morning when they opened and were shuffled around to rooms etc... We got CRAPPY care today. It was useless. We got the "Push fluids and keep and eye on the fever." I got no response for my, "can we test for H1N1 to see if she needs Tamiflu?," or "the fever doesn't bother me so much as the LENGTH OF TIME SHE HAS BEEN SICK."

Nothing. I would have rather saved the co-pay and let my daughter sleep at home. I had to ask 4 times in the 3 hours we were there for some medicine since she was running OVER 103.

I am angry, beyond frustrated, TIRED and BURNED OUT!!!! I want my daughter, well, my whole family well. A full 4 weeks....enough is enough. I am NOT a nice person these days. We have paid OVER $500 in co-pays and meds ALONE in the past 4 weeks!!!


But there it is. Our update.