Oct 19, 2002 UNSTOPPABLE...

[Mickey02]

Getting ready to head back to bed for the second time. I am so sore an achy I have no idea why. Feels like flu again. WHAT IS THE DEAL?? Is it possible that I could be feeling a mild case of the flu because of the shot I had 10 days ago? I have been feeling like this for the past 2 days. I go for another xray tomorrow hopefully it is good news. We leave for New Hampshire Wed. I am so scared to go. I have not been out of the house much for the past 2 weeks. I dont want to leave the security of my home.

Good night talk to you tomorrow.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Mom - I know it is so frustrating. I hope they get the license plate passed because that will be my new one. I did see a commercial during Amazing Race last night regarding Epilepsy. The only way to get the word out and more research done is if a star either has been diagnosed with epilepsy or their kids were.

Susan - Sorry to hear that about Paul's mom. I hope they can get the by-pass rescheduled soon. What are they doing for the infection?

Barb - I think the shot is a dead virus so you can't get the flu from the shot. I think it is possible for the flu mist since that is a live virus, but I am not a nurse or doctor so maybe Denine can say more. I hope you feel better. I think your body is telling you to relax for a few days and do nothing.

I am so tired, I haven't slept for the last 2 nights because of Chris's snoring. We bought an air purifier for the room due to his allergies to our dog and he sleeps so much better now and unfortunately that means more snoring and less sleep for me.

 

[Denine]

Barb: You will probably have small setbacks every now and then. You were one sick puppy. No, you CANNOT get the flu from the flu shot. You could have more of a reaction from the flu mist vaccine since that is a live virus. That is why asthmatics and other's can't take the mist. Just rest and DO NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good luck with you xray.

Sandy: There are so many diseases out there they never get any coverage or research money. I feel for you.

Heidi: Hope you can get some sleep.

Today is Kaleigh's pediatric ENT appointment. Her tonsils are nice and swollen today. We will see what he says.

We did make it to Cedar Point yesterday. It was a beautiful day! The decorations were a bit cheesy, but some were cute. The parade was really cheesy and short. We expected to see all the Peanuts characters, not just 3 of them. We cleaned up at the arcade. We would play Skee Ball everytime we went. We got enough tickets throughout the summer to get a nice bear the last time. But, we played more yesterday. We also played this quarter game which wasn't really fun, but had a bigger payout of tickets. We had 300 tickets and didn't really find much to choose from, so we went to get 100 more tickets for this toy that was 400. We played the quarter game and had 50 tickets when Jerry went to get more quarters. He came back and I put a quarter in and he went on the other side. I hit the jackpot of 200 tickets! So, we went to cash in and they only charged us 200 tickets for the toy. So, we had to choose more stuff. It was like going shopping. I think they were just trying to get rid of stuff since next weekend is the last weekend. They weren't charging as many tickets for stuff as the tags said.

Another pretty day today.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Denine, sounds crazy but it is fun shopping with those tickets. I remember doing that at our indoor fun park when the girls were young. Good luck with Kaleigh's doctors appt!

Barb, before you go to NH, I would call the doctor and ask his opinion. I would hate for you go have a set back. Maybe the doc and you could have a plan if you do go just for the what ifs.

Heidi, I have said it all along. A disease goes without attention until a star's family suffers. Not right that money buys attention. With the statistics on epilepsy you would think that it would be a priority. Not so, all the other individual diseases that I listed get more than it. I wish I knew how to go about doing something. Squeaky wheel gets the gun. Rachel asked to be my friend on facebook. Cute or what?

Wondering how Brooke is doing today.

Stacey called today and the kids are out again because of the snow. She is headed up here and we are going to an indoor tramp fun area. Never have been but people really like it. Oh, and the snow was nothing. She doesn't know why in the world that the school was on delayed start. She said that if it goes on delayed then the morning preschool doesn't go.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Mom - that is so cute that Rachel asked you to be her friend on Facebook. She is such a sweetie! (For everyone else, Rachel is Chris's youngest niece..she is a year older than the girls) Have fun at JumpStreet. I have always wanted to go there, but its expensive. Stacey called and asked if I could come but Monday's at the beginning of a pay period are so hectic with new employees.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Back from Jump Street. AWESOME!!! You pay for an hours worth of time. Tyler couldn't make it the whole hour. He ran himself ragged or should I say jumped himself ragged? I think Joey was pretty much done a few minutes after Tyler. Would I go again? You bet! My ankle started to act up but feels fine now. We had lunch at KFC and then went to a Christian store. Bought a few educational things for the kids. Now I have to face reality and do laundry.

 

[Mickey02]

Back from the doctor not the best news. My Xrays show some improvement but I am not where I should be. She thinks I have 2 kinds of pneumonia. (It comes in kinds?? Who knew!) viral and bacterial. She kept calling one of them strep pneumonia. Strep is a word I am all to familure with! I have both so the flu symptoms is coming from the one of them. Last time they told me I was not contagious this time she told me I am or could be. Now I am really worried about being around Bobs parents. I know I am not up to traveling but it has already cost us over $300 to change the tickets. Everyday I say I will be better tomorrow but so far no change. I really thought I would be better by now.

 

[Denine]

Barb: This flu couldn't have come at a worse time for you. But, your situation is why I am afraid of the H1N1 strain. Kaleigh has had enough problmes this year. I don't want her having anymore.

Kaleigh's appointment went great. This guy was a peds ENT as opposed to a regular ENT. He explained that her tonsils swelled up due to the pneumonia and go up and down in size right now with an overreaction to any germs. This will correct itself over time. Unless something happens she doesn't need surgery. She does NOT snore at night. The 2 weeks we spent in the same room was a good test of that. In fact, she wasn't even doing her Darth Vader breathing. I think that is due to the asthma medicine. He would feel more co nfident about her tonsils if we weren't going into winter, especially this one, but then again , she got sick in the summer. I made a promise with Kaleigh; I would stop looking at her tonsils and she has to tell me if she has a sore throat.

Now to keep her from getting the swine flu when there is no vaccine.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Barb, I am so sorry about what the doctor found today. I cringe over the strep pneumonia because of my rheumatic fever, strep related. This might sound harsh but I honestly think you should stay home. I know, I know that it has been forever since you guys have been back and I know that it has set you back some money but this double pneumonia has got a good grip on you and if you don't slow down it may get worse. That could set you back more financially, emotionally and physically. I don't want you to get worse and I think I speak for others. Please think this through especially with
H1N1 still floating around. Please!

Denine, sounds like an excellent Ped ENT! Sounds like he really went over things pretty thorough. I like the deal you made with Kaleigh.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Barb - I'm sorry things didn't go well at the doctors. Please take care of yourself and allow your body to heal.

Denine - Glad Kaleigh had a good appointment and no need for surgery yet.

I am so stressed out at work right now I am so miserable. First we are 8 people understaffed, then they change my hours, now they are changing them again, then we are covering for these 8 positions and doing it all and getting yelled at for not doing things timely, today we are getting yelled at for making mistakes because we are doing things so quickly and we need to slow down, then this morning I hear when are you getting this done because they need this right away, and then hear things are changing again and my coworkers in my office and I are not allowed to go to lunch together. I am at my wits end. Everyone is so miserable and stressed out, but what are they doing to thank us...taking more things away. This lunch thing really has me mad, there are a total of 4 specialists right now and every lunch we rotate to stay back and watch the phones and then 1 never goes to lunch with us....so that leaves 2 Specialists eating lunch together and apparently with the new lunch change I guess they want us to eat alone because we can no longer go to lunch at the same time. With only 4 people, I think 2 people can handle 30 minutes without the other 2. I am SOOOOOO done.

 

[Denine]

Sandy: I saw this in the paper today: Procedure offers hope for epilepsy patients. The neurosurgeons at the Clinic and at UH are using a minimally invasive technique to map out where the seizures are coming from or The Focus. It is called SEEG. It places electrodes deep in the brain to find the source. It has a much lower complication rate than the alternative method. Dr. Hans Luders is the director of the epilepsy center at UH and Dr. Jorge Gonzalez-Martinez is with the Clinic's epilepsy center. You may be able to read the article at the Cleveland Plain Dealer website.

Heidi: I feel for you. They are always making dumb changes where Jerry works.

Barb: How are you today?

Ordinary day today.

 

[Mickey02]

Good Morning

I feel lots better today. YAY!! Missy and I are going out to breakfast and I have a couple of errands to run then home to finish sewing halloween bags for Ethan to hand out at school. Doctor said it would be ok for me to go to NH tomorrow. I must admit I am scared of leaving my home. It has been my santuary for the past 2 weeks and now I will be so far away. It is time for me to slowly get back into life though. I am listening to my body and resting when it wants to. Not to much housework either. I am anxious to start water aerobics again but am going to wait until the doctor releases me. Once I am through this I am going to have a good long talk with my doctor to see what I need to do to get my immune system strong again. I know one thing Airborne and me are going to be best friends the rest of the winter. Can't stand the taste but am going to drink some everyday!

Heidi-I am so sorry your work is so stressful right now. I just dont get the not having lunch together it helps with work relationships which plays a big part in productivity. If you are happy at work you are going to be more productive! More with less more with less that is all corporate thinks of.

Denine-Glad Kaleighs appt went well. I like the deal too. I gag everytime I have to get my throat looked at. I gag on pills too. Bob had to cut my pills up into little pieces for me so I could get them down. I swear the bottles should have a warning that a maine and tail are required to take the pills!

Julie-Still thinking about you. Hope you are doing ok I love the fact that Annemarie spoke at the funeral. How touching I bet that was. I know if Sandy and I would have been there we would have been crying crying crying.

Susan-Thinking about you too. Hope Paul's Mom is doing ok.

 

[Mickey02]

Did I mention the cool Debra Winger voice is gone now I just sound horse. Hummm wonder if it has anything to do with the horse sized pills I had to take? Next time I am asking for the skinny girl pills!

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Barb - thanks for the well needed laugh. You had me laughing a few times with your post this morning! Have fun in NH, I will be thinking of you. How long will you be gone?

 

[wildernessgirl]

Hi guys! I finally have some time to post.

First off, Thank you for all the support and prayers for my family. My dad went through a lot the last 5 weeks of his life, and no body likes to see a family member pass, but it was for the better for him. He had undergone 5 surgeries in those 5 last weeks. The infection was through his entire body. Garry, my mom, my brother and sister in law and my dad's brother and his wife (along with me) and our minister were with my dad as he passed. He went very quietly and peaceful. We had lots of running to do on monday and tuesday. My dad was a 32nd Mason so I had to track down someone from there so they could do their "ceremony" at the funeral home on Wednesday. Also, my dad was in the Army National Guard and we couldn't find his discharge papers, so through LOTS and I mean LOTS of calls... I did manage to get the gov't to send me his papers so my dad could have his coffin draped with the flag. It was an honor to see it. I was very proud of my dad. Anna Marie and my brother did a eulogy at the church service. Anna Marie did a fantastic job. She wanted to speak so she represented our side of the family. My brother did a good job too. I don't know what I would have done without Garry there by my side. He was my rock. And even though this brought back memories of his father's passing, he was awesome! We had people from 3 different states besides Ohio that attended my dad's wake (Michigan Illinois and Arizona). Also, a friend of Garry's who was in our wedding, who we haven't seen since our wedding, came to the wake. We were so surprised. He said he remembered my maiden name and when he saw it in the paper, he had to come. So with the sad, also came good. Garry and his buddy have now gotten back in contact and they actually spent 2 hours last night talking on the phone. They are gonna go out for pizza later this week and catch up. This past sunday was rough since it was 1 week from when he past and Garry and I kept looking at the clock saying ... 1 week ago mom called a this time to get up to the hopital.... at this time last week we took dad off the ventilater.... and on top of all that, my uncle and brother took down the ramp at my mom's house and my mom got my dad's ashes. I know I will have days where I get weepy, but I know he is in a better place.

Thank you all for the flowers, they were very nice too! Thank you thank you!

Heidi, sorry to hear about things at work. I hope they get better for you. Is Chris done with school or is he still in school? I have to catch up on people's lives!

Sandy, saw on the news that you guys were getting hit again with snow..... that's pretty early huh?

Susan, prayers are coming your way for you and your father! Keep us posted when you can!

Barb, Have a safe and fun trip to NH!!! Try and relax and hopefully you can rest and continue to get healthy.

We went for an 8 mile walk yesterday. It was a beautiful day for it. We even took the puppy for 3 of those miles. Took her home to nap and then got the kids and went for another 5 miles. I'm trying to get back on the weight loss wagon. I've gotta do something.

Well gonna run. I have to get Brooke ready for school. I just wanted to pop in and say thank you! I have a wonderful DIS family. It really means a lot!!!

I'll be back!! I promise it won't be so long between posts!

TTFN

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Julie - I am so glad you got a few minutes to post. You have been constantly in my mind wondering how you and your mom are doing. Sounds like a very nice funeral. That is great that Anna Marie did a eulogy at the service, she is a very strong person and I know I would have never been able to do something like that. I wish I could have been there in person for you. You will still remain in my thoughts and prayers. If you ever need to talk, you know my number!

 

[Denine]

Julie: Glad you found some time to post. I am guessing your mom went back to work. She is not the type to just sit around. That is a LONG walk, but it was a beautiful day.

Barb: Just don't overdo. Have fun in NH. We swear by airborne!

Off to finish my grocery list.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Wow, so much to catch up on with all of you and it was only a day.

Julie, so wonderful to hear from you. As others have said, you haven't been out of my mind even one day. I, too, was impressed that Anna Marie spoke. There is no way I could have done that. Like Barb, said, the two of us would have had a hard time listening to her. I bet you were so proud. That's pretty cool about Garry finding a long lost friend through the sadness. Yes, you will still have a few tears but it will get better, I promise. Hugs. Eight mile walk? Yikes! Proud of you. I just went back to WW today for the first time in MONTHS. Wasn't proud of my weight but I can change that, right?

Barb, good for you. What a difference a day can make for you. I'm an Airborne fan as well. Hope you can stay in touch in NH!

Denine, thanks for the epilepsy "blurb". I will pass it on to Stacey.

Heidi, I am so sorry that they are doing this to you. I agree with Barb. The lunch thing doesn't make sense. Honestly, can anything be that big of an emergency with just a 1/2 hour break? In the Courts, all went to lunch but two of us and we held the entire office down. Phones, front desk, everything.

Snow, depending on the tracking of the storm we could get up to a foot tonight through Friday AM. I feel it is early but don't know for sure. I don't mind a biggie hitting but I have a dermatologist visit on Thurs and I don't want to drive in it.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Mom - I am so proud of you for going to WW today! Good job! I am sure that was hard but you will be happy you are doing it again, I know I am happy I started working out again.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Ya, Heidi it was hard going. I didn't want to face the "number" all these weeks so I kept making excuses. No more! I have invented a new way to encourage me to stay on track. We shall see.... BTW, your surprise is here!