Watching the H1N1 flu pandemic - The Big Picture - Boston.com
Posted using ShareThis
11.16.2009
Building Great Cathedrals
I actually got this in an email last year around this time. It's something I go back and read frequently. I thought since this is the season that I always seem to be the busiest and least appreciated, maybe other moms felt the same way and would enjoy this also.
The Invisible Woman
It started to happen gradually.
One day I was walking my son Jake to school. I was holding his hand and we were about to cross the street when the crossing guard said to him, "Who is that with you, young fella?" "Nobody," he shrugged.
Nobody? The crossing guard and I laughed. My son is only 5, but as we crossed the street I thought, "Oh my goodness, nobody?"
I would walk into a room and no one would notice. I would say something to my family - like "Turn the TV down, please" - and nothing would happen. Nobody would get up, or even make a move for the remote. I would stand there for a minute, and then I would say again, a little louder, "Would someone turn the TV down?" Nothing.
Just the other night my husband and I were out at a party. We'd been there for about three hours and I was ready to leave. I noticed he was talking to a friend from work. So I walked over, and when there was a break in the conversation, I whispered, "I'm ready to go when you are." He just kept right on talking.
I'm invisible.
It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, "Can't you see I'm on the phone?" Obviously not. No one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all.
I'm invisible.
Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this? Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, "What time is it?" I'm a satellite guide to answer, "What number is the Disney Channel?" I'm a car to order, "Right around 5:30, please."
I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again.
She's going¸ she's going¸ she's gone!
One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself as I looked down at my out-of-style dress; it was the only thing I could find that was clean. My unwashed hair was pulled up in a banana clip and I was afraid I could actually smell peanut butter in it. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, "I brought you this."
It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: "To Charlotte, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees."
In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work:
No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names.
These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished.
They made great sacrifices and expected no credit.
The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.
A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, "Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it." And the workman replied, "Because God sees."
I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard someone whispering to me, "I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become."
At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride.
I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.
When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, "My mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table." That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, "You're gonna love it there."
As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.
The Invisible Woman
It started to happen gradually.
One day I was walking my son Jake to school. I was holding his hand and we were about to cross the street when the crossing guard said to him, "Who is that with you, young fella?" "Nobody," he shrugged.
Nobody? The crossing guard and I laughed. My son is only 5, but as we crossed the street I thought, "Oh my goodness, nobody?"
I would walk into a room and no one would notice. I would say something to my family - like "Turn the TV down, please" - and nothing would happen. Nobody would get up, or even make a move for the remote. I would stand there for a minute, and then I would say again, a little louder, "Would someone turn the TV down?" Nothing.
Just the other night my husband and I were out at a party. We'd been there for about three hours and I was ready to leave. I noticed he was talking to a friend from work. So I walked over, and when there was a break in the conversation, I whispered, "I'm ready to go when you are." He just kept right on talking.
I'm invisible.
It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, "Can't you see I'm on the phone?" Obviously not. No one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all.
I'm invisible.
Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this? Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, "What time is it?" I'm a satellite guide to answer, "What number is the Disney Channel?" I'm a car to order, "Right around 5:30, please."
I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again.
She's going¸ she's going¸ she's gone!
One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself as I looked down at my out-of-style dress; it was the only thing I could find that was clean. My unwashed hair was pulled up in a banana clip and I was afraid I could actually smell peanut butter in it. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, "I brought you this."
It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: "To Charlotte, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees."
In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work:
No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names.
These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished.
They made great sacrifices and expected no credit.
The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.
A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, "Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it." And the workman replied, "Because God sees."
I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard someone whispering to me, "I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become."
At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride.
I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.
When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, "My mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table." That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, "You're gonna love it there."
As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.
20/20
It's been a while since I've had a moment to actually post a entry...trust me though..I have quite a few drafts and will be posting many of them soon.
First things first though....
Zachary...oh my dear. This child is a mess. I recently took him to his doctor because he had a huge bump on the top of his forehead that had been there for a good 6-8 weeks. He hits his head quite frequently, but usually the bump will come and go pretty quickly. This one did not and as with anything that involves something odd about one's head, I called to have it checked out.
After a quick look his doctor said that bruises can actually leave scars sometimes (who knew?!) and that it seemed that was all that it was for Zach. He hits his forehead a lot because of his height right now. I told her how he cannot pass a doorknob without running into it. She mentioned that he may not be able to see well and as a little experiment made a little obstacle course for Zach to walk through. He failed miserably. He tripped and stumbled and ran into counters. It was actually quite comical. We both decided it would hurt to have his eyes checked.
I made an appt. at a pediatric ophthalmologist (I will never go there again) and took Zach to have his eyes dilated and checked. The kid's vision is better than 20/20. Apparently he is just a walking catastrophe.
While both of them are growing so quickly before my eyes, right now it is Lacey that seems to be keeping me busy. That child has gotten quite the attitude lately. I'm not sure if my constant urging to stick up for herself has backfired or what. If I didn't know any better I would think she should be starting her period in a week.
On a serious note, you always hear about how your children teach you so much about yourself and I have been finding that to be more evident for me lately. Not only is Lacey developing the kind of attitude I have (had) sometimes, but for the first time in her life I can glance at her and I actually see myself. Not only in a physical aspect...its in her eyes, her mannerisms, the way she talks to Zach sometimes. Its been very humbling for me to see myself that way.
Either way, I know we will get through this little phase. She's a sweet pea & is just trying to figure out her little niche.
11.13.2009
10.28.2009
Math
2 sick kids + Dr. Appt = LOTS OF MEDICINE TO GIVE!
This is just stuff that I washed after using TONIGHT. T-O-N-I-G-H-T PEOPLE!!
Good gracious.
This is just stuff that I washed after using TONIGHT. T-O-N-I-G-H-T PEOPLE!!
Good gracious.
Oink, Oink
Last Friday I picked the kids up from daycare and I could tell that something was wrong with Lacey. I automatically assumed it was the evil little trolls, but after we got into the privacy of my car, she told me that she was just very tired and did not feel good. When we got home, I took her temperature and she was running a fever of 102.6.
I gave her some medicine for the fever and she ate some of her dinner. Then…my child…the one I swear has ADHD sometimes…the one that CANNOT sit still…went upstairs to her room, got in her PJs and went to sleep.
It was only 7pm. And she slept a solid 13 hours.
The rest of the weekend she seemed okay. She was still a little tired and didn’t eat like she normally would. She had developed a cough and was sneezing her little head off. But she played…..oh she played and played. Every now and then we would check her and it would feel like she may have a low grade fever but she was never warm enough to warrant a thermometer.
By Monday, she seemed to feel a little worse. I offered multiple times to let her stay home from school, but she didn’t want to and since she didn’t have a fever I didn’t see a reason to keep her home
Tuesday I called the pediatrician because Zach has been having problems with his asthma. Of course, they would not call in more medicine or change it without seeing him. I decided if I was going to take him, I might as well take Lacey to get her checked out.
She has the swine flu plus a touch of pneumonia in one of her lungs. His O2 levels were at 95% (not good). It cost me $80.00 in co-pays just to have them seen. Then I have 5 prescriptions to pick up this afternoon. Insurance needs to be fixed. Some woman with 5 kids was in there with me...obviously not working and didn't pay a G-D DIME. I can't catch a break because I WORK.
It is SO frustrating, but I shall save my rant for another day.
Either way, my little girl had the infamous swine flu and never missed a beat. She even was cleared to go back to school after we left the pediatrician. She is at the tail end of the flu, so why not let her if she wants to, right? She was contagious last week.
Let us just keep our fingers crossed that Zach does not get it. Not only is he high risk because of his age, but he also has a chronic lung problem. If he gets a bad case, at best, it would be a hospital visit and I do not even want to think about anything worse than that.
I gave her some medicine for the fever and she ate some of her dinner. Then…my child…the one I swear has ADHD sometimes…the one that CANNOT sit still…went upstairs to her room, got in her PJs and went to sleep.
It was only 7pm. And she slept a solid 13 hours.
The rest of the weekend she seemed okay. She was still a little tired and didn’t eat like she normally would. She had developed a cough and was sneezing her little head off. But she played…..oh she played and played. Every now and then we would check her and it would feel like she may have a low grade fever but she was never warm enough to warrant a thermometer.
By Monday, she seemed to feel a little worse. I offered multiple times to let her stay home from school, but she didn’t want to and since she didn’t have a fever I didn’t see a reason to keep her home
Tuesday I called the pediatrician because Zach has been having problems with his asthma. Of course, they would not call in more medicine or change it without seeing him. I decided if I was going to take him, I might as well take Lacey to get her checked out.
She has the swine flu plus a touch of pneumonia in one of her lungs. His O2 levels were at 95% (not good). It cost me $80.00 in co-pays just to have them seen. Then I have 5 prescriptions to pick up this afternoon. Insurance needs to be fixed. Some woman with 5 kids was in there with me...obviously not working and didn't pay a G-D DIME. I can't catch a break because I WORK.
It is SO frustrating, but I shall save my rant for another day.
Either way, my little girl had the infamous swine flu and never missed a beat. She even was cleared to go back to school after we left the pediatrician. She is at the tail end of the flu, so why not let her if she wants to, right? She was contagious last week.
Let us just keep our fingers crossed that Zach does not get it. Not only is he high risk because of his age, but he also has a chronic lung problem. If he gets a bad case, at best, it would be a hospital visit and I do not even want to think about anything worse than that.
10.25.2009
Mockery
I’ve mentioned that Zach is pretty rough and tough before. If you know my kids at all you have probably been witness to some of his antics.
Case in point; a member of the same family that has been bulling Lacey is in Zach’s room at daycare. One day last week she tried to push him around. He promptly threw a rock at her head. Problem solved.
Before I go into what my zany child did, I think it would be relevant to explain what Zach has been dealing with for the past few weeks. Every year around this time his asthma really kicks it up a notch and even with medications to help control his breathing he is often kept up at night coughing. The poor kid hasn’t had a good night’s sleep in weeks. It’s something about the night air because he sleeps really well in the morning hours and he takes fabulous naps.
Whilst taking his treasured nap at daycare Friday he was awakened by his on again off again girlfriend H. She had had enough of his silly sleeping and needed him awake so that she would have a 'Daddy' for her babies while she played house.
So she walked up and yanked his pillow out from under his head. (This cracks me UP!) Of course, this infuriated Zach. He scratched H’s arm, yanked his pillow back and tried to lie back down. H, (rightfully) cried and told the teacher what Zach had done to her. Ms. B walked over to him, fussed at him and attempted to make both of the children sit in time out. In order to do this she would have to take Zach’s pillow away. This didn't go over well and he ended up pitching a royal fit and scratching Ms. B also.
And then I was called.
So Friday when I picked up the kids I had to sign two things:
1. Zach's write up
2. A document for Lacey...because she continues to be bullied.
Oh at the irony. I have one that is antagonistic and one that is excruciatingly passive.
Even though I am making light of the situation please know that I do not find it funny when it happens. In our home it is not, nor has it ever been okay for him to be so disrespectful to his teacher, nor is it acceptable to have scratched H, no matter what she did. We are trying to teach Zach not to EVER physically attack a girl. EVER. Being disrespectful or hitting an adult is not EVER acceptable either. Making light of some of the things that go on is just my way to keep from going batty.
10.21.2009
Losing my religion...
Every year around this time I get an overwhelming sense of guilt. I'm reminded of the chain of events that began my journey away from a belief I grew up with. To turn your back on something that you were taught to believe all of your life is difficult.
Everything about it was and is still so very sad.
Zach was born on Sept. 18, 2006. He was the boy I had always wanted. Big, fat and healthy as can be. A quiet little guy who loved to snuggle with me and sleep. The bond I had with him was instant. While I love Lacey dearly, there was an immediate special bond different from the one I had with Lacey.
Zachary and I left the hospital on Sept. 21, both very happy (heavy!) and healthy. In less than a week we both had contracted viral meningitis & a very common cold virus.
Of course we didn’t know that was what we had. I just felt a little crappy, like I was catching a little cold, I had mastitis and was less than two weeks out of a c-section that had a few complications. I was also adjusting to having TWO kids and Andy had just gone back to work. I was still nursing despite the mastitis and like any other newborn & new mom; we were still trying to work out the kinks.
I remember the morning very clearly. I actually still beat myself up about how I handled it. I was exhausted. It was 2 am and Zach was crying and wouldn’t stop. Andy couldn’t help because…. well I had the goods. Zach acted like he was hungry and I knew he should be, but for some reason he would not eat. He would try, but give up so quickly which was unlike him. His crying wasn’t a LOUD, MAD cry; it was almost between a constant whimper and a whine. I should have known then. Finally, after hours of doing everything I knew to do I just laid him down in his bassinet and gave up. I dozed on and off between his cries and would pat his little bottom almost constantly trying to soothe him. I should have held him close and kept trying....
The rest of the day becomes a blur. I remember waking up around 8 with Lacey and he was sound asleep. I tried to wake him up for another attempt at nursing since it had been a very long time for him to have gone without eating, but I couldn’t get him to wake up and stay awake long enough. I called our pediatrician and they confirmed my thoughts – he’s just as tired as me, plus he is a sleeper anyways. They told me he would be fine but to call them if he didn’t get better by early afternoon. I should have known.
Fast forward to noon and he still was sleeping and not waking up for more than just a minute or so and now he has a low grade fever. I called the pediatrician back and was on my way to their office in minutes.
By the time I made it into the office (maybe 40 minutes) we couldn’t wake him up and his fever had shot up to 102 – which is bad news for a newborn. We were offered an ambulance ride to CHOA, but I would have to leave Lacey with someone as she would not be allowed in the ambulance. EVERYONE I knew was either busy or out of town. My parents were in Mexico of all places. My sister getting ready for her best friend’s wedding, grandparents were out of town…it was a mess. I opted (with the permission of our Dr.) to go directly to the hospital in my car. He was very clear that I was not to go home, get gas, stop for food, nothing. That is when I thought I knew how serious this was.
Andy met me at the hospital and his mom wasn’t far behind him. I was told Zach’s condition was life-threatening and he would be admitted for a minimum of 3 days. We had X-rays, spinal taps, urine culture, blood cultures, blood work and an IV within 45 minutes of our arrival.
I was beginning to feel really bad and run a fever. When we finally got settled in a room it was past 11:00 pm and I told Andy he could just go home with Lacey and I would be okay. Reluctantly he and his mom left.
I stood by his hospital crib for hours. He was still un-responsive and other than the IV had received no nourishment for 24 hours. I distinctly remembered asking one of his nurses if it would be alright if I lay down in the chair next to his crib. My fever was hitting 102 and I was having a hard time standing next to him. (I still had the staples in my stomach from the C-section) Zach obviously wasn’t going to wake up right now and he seemed, to me, to be stable and I wasn’t expecting a change, good or bad, anytime soon. What she told me still haunts me today.
I will never forget those words. I will never forget her tone when she said those words. It was a cross between sympathy and strength. Like she really felt sorry for me but didn't want for me to know it.
No one had made it sound that serious. What had I missed? So I asked her if he would make it through the night. Apparently the attending Dr. in the ER didn’t tell us everything. They weren’t sure if he would make it another 24 hours. They still had no idea what was making him so sick and even with his IV, broad spectrum antibiotics, Tylenol and packing him in ice – his fever was still hovering around 105. A fever of any kind for a newborn is bad – 105 is often fatal.
I was so shocked I just nodded my head. At that very moment my life changed forever. I hadn’t realized the magnitude of the situation.
There I stood all night. Telling him how much I loved him, how I had fallen in love with him the moment I found out I was pregnant. Asking him, begging him to fight. Telling him that I needed more than 11 days with him. That night as I stood there by his crib alone my life changed forever. Everything I had ever thought I believed was gone.
The next day Andy didn’t make it to the hospital until after lunch. He didn’t know the magnitude of the situation – and when he found out he was afraid. He avoided the subject like the plague. When the pediatrician on call made her rounds that afternoon she confirmed the information I had received the night before and told me his condition had only deteriorated. His heart rate was irregular, his oxygen low, and his fever still dangerously high. They were moving him to the NICU.
My symptoms were getting worse and Zach wasn’t getting better. Andy was trying to juggle Lacey, work and our house. He has many good qualities and I love him dearly, but he just. checked.out. He couldn't handle it, so he checked out.
Those were the darkest days of my whole life.
Long story short, this continued for 6 very long days. His was poked over 30 times for IVs because his veins kept collapsing. They had shaved spots on his head and his arms, hands, wrists, feet and ankles were full of bruises.
After the 6th day, the virus was finally found growing in his spinal fluid cultures, and by talking with the doctors and keeping an eye on my symptoms we were all but 100% positive Zach and I had menengitis..something we probably caught at the hospital when he was born. (You can't test for a virus like that...just bacterial infections) So basically both of the viruses had attacked his (very immature) nervous system.
He has had some nervous system problems and we have been through 2 years of thearapy for his speech and vestibular problems.
Even now, 3 years later, I cannot fully enjoy his birthday. I cry everytime I think of what he had to go through and of how closely I came to losing a child. Its not something you will ever forget - nor is it something you can explain or understand unless it is something you have experienced yourself.
I like to think I am a very strong person, but this...this broke me.
I hope one day I will find peace with the month of September.
Everything about it was and is still so very sad.
Zach was born on Sept. 18, 2006. He was the boy I had always wanted. Big, fat and healthy as can be. A quiet little guy who loved to snuggle with me and sleep. The bond I had with him was instant. While I love Lacey dearly, there was an immediate special bond different from the one I had with Lacey.
Zachary and I left the hospital on Sept. 21, both very happy (heavy!) and healthy. In less than a week we both had contracted viral meningitis & a very common cold virus.
Of course we didn’t know that was what we had. I just felt a little crappy, like I was catching a little cold, I had mastitis and was less than two weeks out of a c-section that had a few complications. I was also adjusting to having TWO kids and Andy had just gone back to work. I was still nursing despite the mastitis and like any other newborn & new mom; we were still trying to work out the kinks.
I remember the morning very clearly. I actually still beat myself up about how I handled it. I was exhausted. It was 2 am and Zach was crying and wouldn’t stop. Andy couldn’t help because…. well I had the goods. Zach acted like he was hungry and I knew he should be, but for some reason he would not eat. He would try, but give up so quickly which was unlike him. His crying wasn’t a LOUD, MAD cry; it was almost between a constant whimper and a whine. I should have known then. Finally, after hours of doing everything I knew to do I just laid him down in his bassinet and gave up. I dozed on and off between his cries and would pat his little bottom almost constantly trying to soothe him. I should have held him close and kept trying....
The rest of the day becomes a blur. I remember waking up around 8 with Lacey and he was sound asleep. I tried to wake him up for another attempt at nursing since it had been a very long time for him to have gone without eating, but I couldn’t get him to wake up and stay awake long enough. I called our pediatrician and they confirmed my thoughts – he’s just as tired as me, plus he is a sleeper anyways. They told me he would be fine but to call them if he didn’t get better by early afternoon. I should have known.
Fast forward to noon and he still was sleeping and not waking up for more than just a minute or so and now he has a low grade fever. I called the pediatrician back and was on my way to their office in minutes.
By the time I made it into the office (maybe 40 minutes) we couldn’t wake him up and his fever had shot up to 102 – which is bad news for a newborn. We were offered an ambulance ride to CHOA, but I would have to leave Lacey with someone as she would not be allowed in the ambulance. EVERYONE I knew was either busy or out of town. My parents were in Mexico of all places. My sister getting ready for her best friend’s wedding, grandparents were out of town…it was a mess. I opted (with the permission of our Dr.) to go directly to the hospital in my car. He was very clear that I was not to go home, get gas, stop for food, nothing. That is when I thought I knew how serious this was.
Andy met me at the hospital and his mom wasn’t far behind him. I was told Zach’s condition was life-threatening and he would be admitted for a minimum of 3 days. We had X-rays, spinal taps, urine culture, blood cultures, blood work and an IV within 45 minutes of our arrival.
I was beginning to feel really bad and run a fever. When we finally got settled in a room it was past 11:00 pm and I told Andy he could just go home with Lacey and I would be okay. Reluctantly he and his mom left.
I stood by his hospital crib for hours. He was still un-responsive and other than the IV had received no nourishment for 24 hours. I distinctly remembered asking one of his nurses if it would be alright if I lay down in the chair next to his crib. My fever was hitting 102 and I was having a hard time standing next to him. (I still had the staples in my stomach from the C-section) Zach obviously wasn’t going to wake up right now and he seemed, to me, to be stable and I wasn’t expecting a change, good or bad, anytime soon. What she told me still haunts me today.
“Honey, if I were you I would stand right there. You stay by your boy’s side and you tell him how much you love him. You tell him to fight. You tell him how much you need him. You tell him not to leave you yet. He needs to know you are beside him because he is going to have to fight hard.”
No one had made it sound that serious. What had I missed? So I asked her if he would make it through the night. Apparently the attending Dr. in the ER didn’t tell us everything. They weren’t sure if he would make it another 24 hours. They still had no idea what was making him so sick and even with his IV, broad spectrum antibiotics, Tylenol and packing him in ice – his fever was still hovering around 105. A fever of any kind for a newborn is bad – 105 is often fatal.
I was so shocked I just nodded my head. At that very moment my life changed forever. I hadn’t realized the magnitude of the situation.
There I stood all night. Telling him how much I loved him, how I had fallen in love with him the moment I found out I was pregnant. Asking him, begging him to fight. Telling him that I needed more than 11 days with him. That night as I stood there by his crib alone my life changed forever. Everything I had ever thought I believed was gone.
The next day Andy didn’t make it to the hospital until after lunch. He didn’t know the magnitude of the situation – and when he found out he was afraid. He avoided the subject like the plague. When the pediatrician on call made her rounds that afternoon she confirmed the information I had received the night before and told me his condition had only deteriorated. His heart rate was irregular, his oxygen low, and his fever still dangerously high. They were moving him to the NICU.
My symptoms were getting worse and Zach wasn’t getting better. Andy was trying to juggle Lacey, work and our house. He has many good qualities and I love him dearly, but he just. checked.out. He couldn't handle it, so he checked out.
Those were the darkest days of my whole life.
Long story short, this continued for 6 very long days. His was poked over 30 times for IVs because his veins kept collapsing. They had shaved spots on his head and his arms, hands, wrists, feet and ankles were full of bruises.
After the 6th day, the virus was finally found growing in his spinal fluid cultures, and by talking with the doctors and keeping an eye on my symptoms we were all but 100% positive Zach and I had menengitis..something we probably caught at the hospital when he was born. (You can't test for a virus like that...just bacterial infections) So basically both of the viruses had attacked his (very immature) nervous system.
He has had some nervous system problems and we have been through 2 years of thearapy for his speech and vestibular problems.
Even now, 3 years later, I cannot fully enjoy his birthday. I cry everytime I think of what he had to go through and of how closely I came to losing a child. Its not something you will ever forget - nor is it something you can explain or understand unless it is something you have experienced yourself.
I like to think I am a very strong person, but this...this broke me.
I hope one day I will find peace with the month of September.
10.20.2009
Beach Baby
My parents both retired in the past 2 years - so they live at the beach. Lacey went down with my sister and stayed with them over the past weekend.
Just a few cute little pictures my sista took. ;P
10.19.2009
The reason I don't like kids....
You have a little girl....a sweet little girl. She is very tender-hearted and kind. She makes friends easily and is always giggling or talking. She has the biggest blue eyes you have ever seen and the most beautiful long blonde hair. She has legs that go on forever and is tall and skinny. By all accounts a gifted child who is the #1 in her grade level. The only problem is that she fails to see how beautiful she is or how smart she is. She has a hard time being mean to others and standing up for herself.
You are aware that recently she has run into some problems at her daycare (she stays here before and after school) with a family of 4 children. 3 monstrous girls, 1 beastly boy. The girls are spiteful and mean one day and nice the next. The boy is 4 years older (and bigger) and makes a habit of taunting and kicking her.
She is having a really hard time understanding how a friend could be so mean one day and nice the next and while you try to explain to her that she needs to stay away from this family she won't. No amount of talking to her will make her understand as she says "They said they were sorry...I don't want to be mean to them...I want to be friends with them."
You, as the parent, have gone to the daycare multiple times about this. You are told time and time again that it has been handled. You have talked with the children and teachers involved. You talk with Lacey. Everything seems to be handled and put behind us.
So she tells you this morning on your way to drop her off at daycare that she doesn't want to go to daycare. She says this family is mean to her. She is afraid. She has been silent about this bullying for a while now because she fears retaliation.
Last week they took her book bag and hid it. She got in trouble with the teacher because she couldn't find it. While she was being disciplined for being irresponsible, two of these children where watching and laughing because they knew exactly where the book bag was. Sometimes they push her off the swings. Sometimes they scribble over her homework and she has to do it over......
Enough.
So I called the Paulding County School District. I called the GA Dept of Education. I called Lacey's school's counselor. (The family also goes to the same school as Lacey) While it is not happening on the school property, since all the children involved go to the same school, I have it documented in all of their records.
I call the daycare* and speak to the director. I tell her that if it happens again I will call the police and file a report. Apparently bullying is now a very big deal. It's like yelling fire in a crowded room. Good to know.
Daycare jumps ALL over it. Calls mom of the family of the children and mom wants to meet with me.
Whatever bitch. C'mon. I would love to meet with your sorry ass about your wretched kids. I would love to hear you apologize and try to blow smoke up my ass about how they are just 'kids'. Tell me when and I will be there and you will lose.
So we schedule a Wed. afternoon meeting. I have everything together, names of my contacts at the GA DOE, Paulding Co. School Districts and many others, my little speech is ready and all I have to do is type up my course of action so that all parties involved have my complaint and warning in writing. The very next time one of them so much as touches Lacey or her anything that belongs to her I will call the police and file a report**.
And then I show up at the daycare today at my usual time to pick up the kids. And mom is waiting for me.
She is dressed nicely and appears to have an education past high school. She also speaks very clearly and intelligently...through her tears. She is standing in the middle of the hallway waiting for me.
Crying.
She says she is so sorry. She is appalled by the news. She was once picked on as a child and it was terrible and has stuck with her throughout her life. She cannot believe her children could be so cruel.
She is either a really great actress or she is sincere. I'm very cynical of people, so I'm not sure I trust her yet. During my bitch session about her children she never makes an excuse for them. She never argues with me. She just apologizes. Profusely. She gets down on Lacey's level and apologizes. Profusely. She has all 4 of her children apologize to Lacey.
So I shall keep a well documented record of what goes on with Lacey. I hope that this mother really keeps her word and works on this. Is Lacey suicidal? No, of course not. But she deserves to feel safe at her school and her daycare. She is 5 and she is learning about friendship and trust. Her self-confidence is developing and I will not allow a little family of rejects to interfere with any of that.
*In Daycare's defense, they have been really great over the years. Anytime you deal with a daycare you are going to run into problems or things you don't like. I have found with this daycare any issues have been handled quickly and very well. Bullying is often hard to catch as the kids will do it when the teachers aren't looking or sometimes without words.
**The police report – a little harsh you say? Yes. BUT it’s for documentation and it will be a pain in the butt for the mom and the daycare. No jail time or fines would come out of it…its just a message I am sending….I am not playing anymore.
10.16.2009
I should be working on my Islam paper....
♥ What are your middle names?
Andy and Rachel (Sullivan)
♥How long have you been together?
We've been married for a little over 5 years, but together (on and off sometimes) for almost 7.
♥ How long did you know each other before you started dating?
We had known of each other for a couple of years as he was a regular at the bars I worked at, but we had just started talking and hanging out a few weeks before our first date.
♥ Who asked who out?
He asked me out.
♥ Who made the first move?
Andy - he was not a BIT shy. Defiantly a plus to marrying an older man.
♥ How old are each of you?
Andy - 36 Me - 27
♥ Did you go to the same school?
Nope, not even close. He grew up in Bowdon and I grew up in Powder Springs.
♥ Are you from the same home town?
No
♥ Who is the smartest?
It depends on what the subject is. We both have our strengths. He is REALLY good at math and I'm more of a critical thinking person.
♥ Who majored in what?
He majored in girls and beer (and eventually dropped out), I'm still going to school
♥ Who is the most sensitive?
Neither of us are really that sensitive, but if I had to choose, would have to say it's me.
♥ Where do you eat out most as a couple?
Usually a Mexican restaurant (the kids LOVE chips and dip) or a steakhouse (Andy and I love a good steak!)
♥ Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?
Florida - sad I know. He isn't much of a traveler.
♥ Who has the worst temper?
Mine flares up more often(I have been known to throw a remote as his head from time to time)He rarely loses his but when he does - you better watch out. Usually he will go downstairs or outside.
♥ How many children do you want?
When we first talked about having kids he wanted ZERO and I wanted 4. Now that we have our 2 (a boy and a girl no less) we think we might be done. Sometimes I wish for another, but if I had another now there would be such an age gap between it and Zach and Lacey that I would want to have another TWO..so they would be close in age....yeah....this is still up for debate. :)
♥ Who does the cooking?
We really don't cook a lot. We eat a lot of sandwiches and cereal. If and when someone cooks, its usually something Italian and its me. He can't even cook eggs.
♥ Who is more social?
He is very social and doesn't know a stranger. I'm not a big people person.
♥ Who is the neat-freak?
Neither of us, but I'm usually the one that cleans up.
♥ Who is the most stubborn?
ME! He is so easy going...it drives me nuts sometimes! For example, we'll have a disagreement and he will throw in the towel almost immediately sometimes...and I will follow him around the house trying to get him to argue back.
♥ Who wakes up earlier?
Andy. He always wakes up earlier than me. He also will fall asleep sitting up if he isn't in bed by 10:30-11:00. I will stay up until 1 or 2 am.
♥ Where was your first date?
Provinos in Douglasville.
♥ Who has the bigger family?
Me. He has a mom, sister and aunt. He does have a father, but we haven't seen him in well over a year (he only lives 35 min. away...sad I know). I am very close with all of my family. I have more cousins that I can count spread over a few states!!
♥ Do you get flowers often?
No. I don't like getting them too often because 1. they are predictable and 2. they die.
♥ How do you spend the holidays?
Usually with both of our families. His family has always had a Thanksgiving lunch and opened presents on Christmas Eve. My family has always done Thanksgiving dinner and opened presents on Christmas day. Since his family is in Carrollton and mine is in Powder Springs it works out really well!!
♥ Who is more jealous?
Neither of us. Actually, its sometimes a little annoying for me. I wish he would get just a little jealous sometimes.
♥ How long did it take to get serious?
A LONG TIME. We broke up, then I found out I was pregnant. We didn't really get back together but we weren't seeing anyone else. I moved in with him (in one of the spare bedrooms) and we lived that way from May 2003 to June 2004. July 4th he asked me to marry him and we were married on August 22nd.
♥ Who eats more?
OMG. HIM!! He eats everything in the HOUSE. He will come home from work and eat two sandwiches, two bowls of cereal and a bag of chips. And of course, doesn't gain a pound.
♥ What do you do for a living?
He's a foreman in the construction industry. He and his crew basically drill holes in the ground for gas lines to go in. I am sure if you ask him its MUCH more complicated, but I usually get lost after he tells me about the hole he drilled. In his defense, he works up to 75-80 hours a week sometimes, so it must be a little complicated.
I am an account executive for a packaging company in Atlanta and a part time student at UWG. And a mommy.
♥ Who does the laundry?
I sort it, wash it and dry it during the week. He puts it all up on the weekends.
♥ Who’s better with the computer?
Me, me me. I just taught him how to send an email about 6 months ago. LOL.
♥ Who drives when you are together?
We trade off. It depends on who might have had something to drink or which car we are in.
♥ What is "your" song?
We don't really have one. We've never really been into stuff like that.
Andy and Rachel (Sullivan)
♥How long have you been together?
We've been married for a little over 5 years, but together (on and off sometimes) for almost 7.
♥ How long did you know each other before you started dating?
We had known of each other for a couple of years as he was a regular at the bars I worked at, but we had just started talking and hanging out a few weeks before our first date.
♥ Who asked who out?
He asked me out.
♥ Who made the first move?
Andy - he was not a BIT shy. Defiantly a plus to marrying an older man.
♥ How old are each of you?
Andy - 36 Me - 27
♥ Did you go to the same school?
Nope, not even close. He grew up in Bowdon and I grew up in Powder Springs.
♥ Are you from the same home town?
No
♥ Who is the smartest?
It depends on what the subject is. We both have our strengths. He is REALLY good at math and I'm more of a critical thinking person.
♥ Who majored in what?
He majored in girls and beer (and eventually dropped out), I'm still going to school
♥ Who is the most sensitive?
Neither of us are really that sensitive, but if I had to choose, would have to say it's me.
♥ Where do you eat out most as a couple?
Usually a Mexican restaurant (the kids LOVE chips and dip) or a steakhouse (Andy and I love a good steak!)
♥ Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?
Florida - sad I know. He isn't much of a traveler.
♥ Who has the worst temper?
Mine flares up more often(I have been known to throw a remote as his head from time to time)He rarely loses his but when he does - you better watch out. Usually he will go downstairs or outside.
♥ How many children do you want?
When we first talked about having kids he wanted ZERO and I wanted 4. Now that we have our 2 (a boy and a girl no less) we think we might be done. Sometimes I wish for another, but if I had another now there would be such an age gap between it and Zach and Lacey that I would want to have another TWO..so they would be close in age....yeah....this is still up for debate. :)
♥ Who does the cooking?
We really don't cook a lot. We eat a lot of sandwiches and cereal. If and when someone cooks, its usually something Italian and its me. He can't even cook eggs.
♥ Who is more social?
He is very social and doesn't know a stranger. I'm not a big people person.
♥ Who is the neat-freak?
Neither of us, but I'm usually the one that cleans up.
♥ Who is the most stubborn?
ME! He is so easy going...it drives me nuts sometimes! For example, we'll have a disagreement and he will throw in the towel almost immediately sometimes...and I will follow him around the house trying to get him to argue back.
♥ Who wakes up earlier?
Andy. He always wakes up earlier than me. He also will fall asleep sitting up if he isn't in bed by 10:30-11:00. I will stay up until 1 or 2 am.
♥ Where was your first date?
Provinos in Douglasville.
♥ Who has the bigger family?
Me. He has a mom, sister and aunt. He does have a father, but we haven't seen him in well over a year (he only lives 35 min. away...sad I know). I am very close with all of my family. I have more cousins that I can count spread over a few states!!
♥ Do you get flowers often?
No. I don't like getting them too often because 1. they are predictable and 2. they die.
♥ How do you spend the holidays?
Usually with both of our families. His family has always had a Thanksgiving lunch and opened presents on Christmas Eve. My family has always done Thanksgiving dinner and opened presents on Christmas day. Since his family is in Carrollton and mine is in Powder Springs it works out really well!!
♥ Who is more jealous?
Neither of us. Actually, its sometimes a little annoying for me. I wish he would get just a little jealous sometimes.
♥ How long did it take to get serious?
A LONG TIME. We broke up, then I found out I was pregnant. We didn't really get back together but we weren't seeing anyone else. I moved in with him (in one of the spare bedrooms) and we lived that way from May 2003 to June 2004. July 4th he asked me to marry him and we were married on August 22nd.
♥ Who eats more?
OMG. HIM!! He eats everything in the HOUSE. He will come home from work and eat two sandwiches, two bowls of cereal and a bag of chips. And of course, doesn't gain a pound.
♥ What do you do for a living?
He's a foreman in the construction industry. He and his crew basically drill holes in the ground for gas lines to go in. I am sure if you ask him its MUCH more complicated, but I usually get lost after he tells me about the hole he drilled. In his defense, he works up to 75-80 hours a week sometimes, so it must be a little complicated.
I am an account executive for a packaging company in Atlanta and a part time student at UWG. And a mommy.
♥ Who does the laundry?
I sort it, wash it and dry it during the week. He puts it all up on the weekends.
♥ Who’s better with the computer?
Me, me me. I just taught him how to send an email about 6 months ago. LOL.
♥ Who drives when you are together?
We trade off. It depends on who might have had something to drink or which car we are in.
♥ What is "your" song?
We don't really have one. We've never really been into stuff like that.
9.07.2009
I just fail to see the issue here.....
Come on people. He is our President.
Like him, don't like him. The majority spoke and that is what makes us who we are.
I love all of the people who quote the Bible. Have you read Romans 13: 1-2? No? Go check it out.
It really doesn't matter what you think or how you voted. He is a man who came from nothing and worked very hard to get where he is. He is the definition of what America is.
And you don't want him speaking to our youth?
Unlike many people I spoke with on this subject, I read the prepared speech online before passing judgement.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/Streaming-at-Noon-The-Presidents-Speech-to-Americas-Students#
Then I decided I would allow my child to watch it at school.
Like him, don't like him. The majority spoke and that is what makes us who we are.
I love all of the people who quote the Bible. Have you read Romans 13: 1-2? No? Go check it out.
It really doesn't matter what you think or how you voted. He is a man who came from nothing and worked very hard to get where he is. He is the definition of what America is.
And you don't want him speaking to our youth?
Unlike many people I spoke with on this subject, I read the prepared speech online before passing judgement.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/Streaming-at-Noon-The-Presidents-Speech-to-Americas-Students#
Then I decided I would allow my child to watch it at school.
9.03.2009
He has a point.
I will not say which side of the heath care debate I am on or which political party I belong to. Democrat or Republican, this guy has a point.
SAN ANTONIO, Texas (CNN) -- As people shout over each other and tune out diverging views in town hall meetings, the health care debate is proving to be symptomatic of a major ailment threatening our nation:
A contagious culture of closed-mindedness threatens to suffocate our progress as a society.
Why has it become so difficult to even consider changing our minds about important issues?
Here's my diagnosis.
Increasingly, the willingness to change one's position on political issues has been misread as a mark of weakness rather than a product of attentive listening and careful deliberation.
During the 2004 Presidential campaign, the successful branding of John Kerry as a flip-flopper doomed his bid. Fear of "flip-flopper syndrome" is apparently catching like the flu, because today politicians are not alone in their determination to adhere to partisan positions despite the changing needs of our nation.
Nearly everyone's so reluctant to appear wishy-washy that they stand firm even when the evidence is against their views.
Three factors exacerbate this paralysis by lack of analysis: labels, lifestyles and listening.
First, the labels ascribed to many potential policy tools render sensible options taboo, loading what could be rational, economic or social measures with moral baggage. This narrows our choices, hemming in policy makers.
Any proposal including the words "government-run" elicits cries of "socialism" and "communism." Any argument invoking the words "God" or "moral" sparks accusations of "right-wing extremism," "facism," or "Bible-thumping." Instead of listening to each other's ideas, we spot the warning label and run the other way.
Second, our lifestyles favor knee-jerk reactions. The way we think, work and live in the Digital Age demands we quickly categorize information without investing time into rich interaction, research and understanding.
We're hesitant to ask questions because we don't have time to listen to the long, complicated answers that might follow. And we lack the time to fact-check competing claims. In our haste, it's easier to echo our party's position than drill down, questioning whether party leaders are motivated by our best interests or the best interests of their biggest contributors.
Third, we tend to listen only to like-minded opinions as media fragmentation encourages us to filter out varying perspectives. If you're a liberal, you avoid FOX News. If you're a conservative you revile MSNBC. The dynamic is even more pronounced online, where a niche media source can be found for any outlook.
This silences the opportunity for meaningful dialogue and deliberation that might lead to reformulating positions, forging sustainable compromises, and developing consensus crucial to moving our nation forward on complex issues.
So how can we overcome this challenge, starting with the health care debate? How do we open our minds to the possibility that we could actually learn from somebody else? Here's my prescription.
For starters, we should eschew the notion that changing our minds is a character flaw. To the contrary, experts believe it's a manifestation of higher intelligence. Renowned psychologist Stuart Sutherland wrote in "Irrationality," his seminal 1992 book: "The willingness to change one's mind in the light of new evidence is a sign of rationality not weakness."
To further free our minds, we should aggressively treat the three Ls:
Let's lose the labels: from "flip-flopper" to "commie," from "fear-monger" to "right-wing nut job." Trash the diatribe; mull the ideas.
Let's engage in some constructive lifestyle management, slowing down to ponder -- and make independent decisions -- as enlightened people. We cannot allow the technological evolution to rob us of the intellectual strides of the American Revolution.
We must value the art of listening, reflection, comparative analysis, and civil discourse if we're to make the most of our democracy. In the process, we should signal to leaders that we're willing to expand our horizons beyond party lines. Maybe they'll get in front of our parade, collaborating for a change.
Let's request a second opinion and listen to each other. Switch channels. Visit different Web sites. Read a newspaper, while we can still find one. How about stepping into a town hall with an open mind, prepared to converse with people hailing from diverse circumstances? A range of perspectives enriches our viewpoint, empowering us to craft nuanced responses to complex situations.
Ultimately, we must stop thinking that the only thing to think is what we've thought all along. As we learn more about multifaceted matters, our positions should evolve accordingly. Let's accept that it's OK to change your minds.
In the end, opening our minds can only enhance the prognosis for our most cherished patient: America.
The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Rudy Ruiz.
SAN ANTONIO, Texas (CNN) -- As people shout over each other and tune out diverging views in town hall meetings, the health care debate is proving to be symptomatic of a major ailment threatening our nation:
A contagious culture of closed-mindedness threatens to suffocate our progress as a society.
Why has it become so difficult to even consider changing our minds about important issues?
Here's my diagnosis.
Increasingly, the willingness to change one's position on political issues has been misread as a mark of weakness rather than a product of attentive listening and careful deliberation.
During the 2004 Presidential campaign, the successful branding of John Kerry as a flip-flopper doomed his bid. Fear of "flip-flopper syndrome" is apparently catching like the flu, because today politicians are not alone in their determination to adhere to partisan positions despite the changing needs of our nation.
Nearly everyone's so reluctant to appear wishy-washy that they stand firm even when the evidence is against their views.
Three factors exacerbate this paralysis by lack of analysis: labels, lifestyles and listening.
First, the labels ascribed to many potential policy tools render sensible options taboo, loading what could be rational, economic or social measures with moral baggage. This narrows our choices, hemming in policy makers.
Any proposal including the words "government-run" elicits cries of "socialism" and "communism." Any argument invoking the words "God" or "moral" sparks accusations of "right-wing extremism," "facism," or "Bible-thumping." Instead of listening to each other's ideas, we spot the warning label and run the other way.
Second, our lifestyles favor knee-jerk reactions. The way we think, work and live in the Digital Age demands we quickly categorize information without investing time into rich interaction, research and understanding.
We're hesitant to ask questions because we don't have time to listen to the long, complicated answers that might follow. And we lack the time to fact-check competing claims. In our haste, it's easier to echo our party's position than drill down, questioning whether party leaders are motivated by our best interests or the best interests of their biggest contributors.
Third, we tend to listen only to like-minded opinions as media fragmentation encourages us to filter out varying perspectives. If you're a liberal, you avoid FOX News. If you're a conservative you revile MSNBC. The dynamic is even more pronounced online, where a niche media source can be found for any outlook.
This silences the opportunity for meaningful dialogue and deliberation that might lead to reformulating positions, forging sustainable compromises, and developing consensus crucial to moving our nation forward on complex issues.
So how can we overcome this challenge, starting with the health care debate? How do we open our minds to the possibility that we could actually learn from somebody else? Here's my prescription.
For starters, we should eschew the notion that changing our minds is a character flaw. To the contrary, experts believe it's a manifestation of higher intelligence. Renowned psychologist Stuart Sutherland wrote in "Irrationality," his seminal 1992 book: "The willingness to change one's mind in the light of new evidence is a sign of rationality not weakness."
To further free our minds, we should aggressively treat the three Ls:
Let's lose the labels: from "flip-flopper" to "commie," from "fear-monger" to "right-wing nut job." Trash the diatribe; mull the ideas.
Let's engage in some constructive lifestyle management, slowing down to ponder -- and make independent decisions -- as enlightened people. We cannot allow the technological evolution to rob us of the intellectual strides of the American Revolution.
We must value the art of listening, reflection, comparative analysis, and civil discourse if we're to make the most of our democracy. In the process, we should signal to leaders that we're willing to expand our horizons beyond party lines. Maybe they'll get in front of our parade, collaborating for a change.
Let's request a second opinion and listen to each other. Switch channels. Visit different Web sites. Read a newspaper, while we can still find one. How about stepping into a town hall with an open mind, prepared to converse with people hailing from diverse circumstances? A range of perspectives enriches our viewpoint, empowering us to craft nuanced responses to complex situations.
Ultimately, we must stop thinking that the only thing to think is what we've thought all along. As we learn more about multifaceted matters, our positions should evolve accordingly. Let's accept that it's OK to change your minds.
In the end, opening our minds can only enhance the prognosis for our most cherished patient: America.
The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Rudy Ruiz.
9.01.2009
Letter of the Week: Gg
I know I am biased, but how stinking cute is she? Have you ever seen a goat that looks like that?!
She is also the only kindergartner in the whole class that can count to 100 & her handwriting is better than a lot of 2nd-3rd graders...and she is only in her third week of school.
She must take after her mama. ;O)
Updates
Updates coming SOON.
So much going on. I had back surgery, Lacey started Kindergarten, I started a new semester, Andy and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary & Zach is (FINALLY) potty trained.
For now, how about some pictures?
Lacey's first day of Kindergarten.
Zach
Cousins
Me and my Zach
Lacey & I
So much going on. I had back surgery, Lacey started Kindergarten, I started a new semester, Andy and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary & Zach is (FINALLY) potty trained.
For now, how about some pictures?
Lacey's first day of Kindergarten.
Zach
Cousins
Me and my Zach
Lacey & I
7.08.2009
Is it the media or all of the people that KEEP WATCHING!?!
(CNN) – New York Rep. Peter King called on the media to "knock out the psycho-babble" and stop covering Michael Jackson because "this guy was a pervert."
"He was a child molester. He was a pedophile. And to be giving this much coverage to him day in and day out, what does it say about us as a country," King said Sunday in front of the American Legion Hall in Wantagh. "We're too politically correct. No one wants to stand up and say, 'We don't need Michael Jackson.'"
King, a nine-term Republican representative from New York's Third Congressional District, said the media has "disgraced itself," noting that there are people dying everyday.
"There are men and women dying today in Afghanistan. Let's give them the credit they deserve," he added.
Jackson went on trial for child molestation allegations in 2005, but was acquitted after a 14-week media circus of a trial in Santa Maria, California. A decade earlier, prosecutors in Los Angeles declined to file charges in their own 13-month child molestation investigation. That case settled out of court, reportedly with Jackson paying millions in damages.
"There's nothing good about this guy. He may have been a good singer, did some dancing, but bottom-line is — would you let your child or grandchild be in the same room with Michael Jackson? What are we glorifying him for?" King said, asking instead that the public honor people like servicemen, teachers and firefighters.
King defended his comments in an interview Monday with CNN radio affiliate WOR, “The fact is that what he has done as far as young children are concerned, young boys are concerned, is a horrible example to set to the world.”
“…Anyone who causes evil or endangers children, to me that supersedes anything else. And do we as a culture really want to be defined by Michael Jackson's singing and dancing or by the fact that he became a worldwide spectacle for abuse of children? “
"He was a child molester. He was a pedophile. And to be giving this much coverage to him day in and day out, what does it say about us as a country," King said Sunday in front of the American Legion Hall in Wantagh. "We're too politically correct. No one wants to stand up and say, 'We don't need Michael Jackson.'"
King, a nine-term Republican representative from New York's Third Congressional District, said the media has "disgraced itself," noting that there are people dying everyday.
"There are men and women dying today in Afghanistan. Let's give them the credit they deserve," he added.
Jackson went on trial for child molestation allegations in 2005, but was acquitted after a 14-week media circus of a trial in Santa Maria, California. A decade earlier, prosecutors in Los Angeles declined to file charges in their own 13-month child molestation investigation. That case settled out of court, reportedly with Jackson paying millions in damages.
"There's nothing good about this guy. He may have been a good singer, did some dancing, but bottom-line is — would you let your child or grandchild be in the same room with Michael Jackson? What are we glorifying him for?" King said, asking instead that the public honor people like servicemen, teachers and firefighters.
King defended his comments in an interview Monday with CNN radio affiliate WOR, “The fact is that what he has done as far as young children are concerned, young boys are concerned, is a horrible example to set to the world.”
“…Anyone who causes evil or endangers children, to me that supersedes anything else. And do we as a culture really want to be defined by Michael Jackson's singing and dancing or by the fact that he became a worldwide spectacle for abuse of children? “
6.25.2009
You Can't be Serious?!
I have had problems with my back since Zach was born. I used to blame it on the stupid doctors who gave me the epidural (when I wanted the spinal block THAT I NEVER HAD PROBLEMS WITH) and on Andy...because it is his fault our babies were ginormous.
Last September I had a horrible accident on my way home from work. A dog that looked to be a mix between a boxer and great dane, walked directly out in front of my car while I was going 60 mph. It killed the dog instantly and caused more than 8k worth of damage to my SUV. Luckily me and the kids were not hurt. Actually, the kids had no clue what happened and I just sobbed hysterically for hurting the dog.
A week or so later I noticed that my back was hurting and it just got worse and worse. By February I had gone to a chiropractor, my MD, completed 8 weeks of physical therapy, tried a TENS & of course took anti-inflammatory pills. Still I was in pain. I went back to my MD in May because the pains were moving down to my ankles and it was becoming increasingly difficult to even walk. I was referred to an Orthopaedic Surgeon. Orthopaedic Surgeon says I have arthritis and orders an MRI. MRI shows ruptured disk and collapsing spine. Surgery will be necessary.
So I will be having surgery in the next 6 weeks or so. Whoo Hoo...:(
Last September I had a horrible accident on my way home from work. A dog that looked to be a mix between a boxer and great dane, walked directly out in front of my car while I was going 60 mph. It killed the dog instantly and caused more than 8k worth of damage to my SUV. Luckily me and the kids were not hurt. Actually, the kids had no clue what happened and I just sobbed hysterically for hurting the dog.
A week or so later I noticed that my back was hurting and it just got worse and worse. By February I had gone to a chiropractor, my MD, completed 8 weeks of physical therapy, tried a TENS & of course took anti-inflammatory pills. Still I was in pain. I went back to my MD in May because the pains were moving down to my ankles and it was becoming increasingly difficult to even walk. I was referred to an Orthopaedic Surgeon. Orthopaedic Surgeon says I have arthritis and orders an MRI. MRI shows ruptured disk and collapsing spine. Surgery will be necessary.
So I will be having surgery in the next 6 weeks or so. Whoo Hoo...:(
6.21.2009
6.15.2009
My Work Here is Done
I got a call from the daycare a few days ago. Zach has a new teacher & he is testing her. Imagine that.
Teacher: Mrs. Stephens, he has had a difficult day. He won't take a nap and I feel so badly for him. I keep trying to help him and-
Me: Don't "help" him. Put him in the corner, he is testing you.
Teacher: Well I guess that would explain why he told me to shut the hell up.
Me: Probably. Sigh.
Of course apologizes for my 2 year old delinquent's behavior came quickly. I can't imagine where he would hear such a phrase....
Teacher: Mrs. Stephens, he has had a difficult day. He won't take a nap and I feel so badly for him. I keep trying to help him and-
Me: Don't "help" him. Put him in the corner, he is testing you.
Teacher: Well I guess that would explain why he told me to shut the hell up.
Me: Probably. Sigh.
Of course apologizes for my 2 year old delinquent's behavior came quickly. I can't imagine where he would hear such a phrase....
6.08.2009
Accomplishments
Lacey completed PreK last week. Honestly, I thought PreK was a joke. Not really because of the teachers or the school Lacey was in, they are GREAT, just because of the guidelines the state makes the teachers go by.
We decided not to test her out of Kindergarten so she could go straight to the first grade. We'll just keep her in any advanced programs we can and if she is still excelling in school by the 4th or 5th grade we will address it then. We just thought Kindergarten would give her some of the necessary skills that aren't academic. We want her to be a kid more than anything. School is important, but it is not the end all be all of life.
Zach no longer has a speech therapist, physical therapist or behavior specialist seeing him. :) He is doing SO much better!! I have requested his speech therapist stay with us until he ages out of the program at 3 years old (in September) She isn't helping with speech anymore (we'll get to that in a minute)she is helping with his sensory issues and social skills. He is the typical smart kid with no people skills. On top of that he is just kind of weird about his space and what touches him. So she is working on that with him while he is at daycare and with other children his age.
This is a HUGE accomplishment for him!
His speech is comparable to a 5 year old now. WOW! Speech therapy is obviously no longer needed. His vestibular abilities are much more advanced. He can jump, play and go down slides now! One year ago I had a little boy who would not speak, would bite himself & bang his head against the wall, wouldn't jump, didn't like slides, didn't trust anyone, couldn't stand to have his routine altered ect, ect. It was so awful and I felt so helpless. Now I have a pretty normal little boy. If anyone needs some developmental help with their child I cannot say enough about this program and the people I have worked with.
5.27.2009
Cancer - But the good kind
Andy has basal carcinoma on his neck. He has to go back to the doctor to have it burned out of skin on June 2nd.
This type of cancer does not usually spread past the skin and if it is caught in time it is usually 100% curable.
So that is great news.
The Dermatologist looked Andy over with a fine toothed comb & so far he has no melanoma. He will have to check his body once a month go back and be checked from head to toe by a professional every year for the rest of his life.
For once I'm a little sad that the kids didn't take after me by having brown eyes, hair and olive skin. They have almost every high risk factor for going for them now.
This type of cancer does not usually spread past the skin and if it is caught in time it is usually 100% curable.
So that is great news.
The Dermatologist looked Andy over with a fine toothed comb & so far he has no melanoma. He will have to check his body once a month go back and be checked from head to toe by a professional every year for the rest of his life.
For once I'm a little sad that the kids didn't take after me by having brown eyes, hair and olive skin. They have almost every high risk factor for going for them now.
Pleading my Case
In order to start 'fresh' at a University I had to call the only University I have ever attended.
State University of West GA, in Carrollton (my FAVORITE place EVER). My assumption was that I would be noted in the system as a "DROP OUT LOSER"
Well, actually after speaking with (the sweetest lady ever) Peggy in the registrars office I found that I am not only a drop out loser, I'm also an idiot. Yeah Me!!!
Apparently, back in 2001 when I decided I would rather spend my day with alcohol at a frat house instead of going to class, I never withdrew from any of my classes correctly. I got ALL F's. Yes sir. My GPA is a big fat ZERO with 26 attempted hours. Those professors gave me actual ZEROs for my grades.
Didn't you know? I am super duper smart.
So. I had to go through a month long process of appealing my grades and applying for academic renewal. Basically, they wipe the F's off so that they no longer apply towards my GPA. The grades will stay on my transcript. I had to write a letter to the Dean of Admissions and the Dean of the Sociology Dept. & collect letters of recommendation. Not to mention the PILES of paperwork I had to sign.
But did I win my appeal and get academic renewal!?!
YES!!
So. Then I try to sign up for classes. Guess what? My GPA is a ZERO and I was not making Satisfactory Academic Progress for the year 2001 & 2002. YEAH!! I get to do the whole freaking thing over again, this time with the financial aid office. It didn't take me nearly as long since I already had most of the information. I was told by multiple people not to get my hopes up as an appeal with the financial aid office is difficult to get. Get this...they request Obituary's if you claim you had a death in the family. Too sick to go to class? You better provide medical bills. All I had was stupidity & laziness.
But did I win my appeal?
YES!!
Now I have to wait and see if they can get my Hope Scholarship back. It is a state funded scholarship that basically pays most (if not all) of your tuition and gives you money for some of your books. You automatically get it if you have at least a 3.0 and live in GA. I would really love to be able to get that scholarship back!! Even if I can't get my HOPE back, I should at least be able to get a student loan now so that I can actually attend college so that I can EARN my HOPE back. WooHoo for me!!
Keeping my fingers crossed. I should know in about 2 weeks what I am eligible for.
State University of West GA, in Carrollton (my FAVORITE place EVER). My assumption was that I would be noted in the system as a "DROP OUT LOSER"
Well, actually after speaking with (the sweetest lady ever) Peggy in the registrars office I found that I am not only a drop out loser, I'm also an idiot. Yeah Me!!!
Apparently, back in 2001 when I decided I would rather spend my day with alcohol at a frat house instead of going to class, I never withdrew from any of my classes correctly. I got ALL F's. Yes sir. My GPA is a big fat ZERO with 26 attempted hours. Those professors gave me actual ZEROs for my grades.
Didn't you know? I am super duper smart.
So. I had to go through a month long process of appealing my grades and applying for academic renewal. Basically, they wipe the F's off so that they no longer apply towards my GPA. The grades will stay on my transcript. I had to write a letter to the Dean of Admissions and the Dean of the Sociology Dept. & collect letters of recommendation. Not to mention the PILES of paperwork I had to sign.
But did I win my appeal and get academic renewal!?!
YES!!
So. Then I try to sign up for classes. Guess what? My GPA is a ZERO and I was not making Satisfactory Academic Progress for the year 2001 & 2002. YEAH!! I get to do the whole freaking thing over again, this time with the financial aid office. It didn't take me nearly as long since I already had most of the information. I was told by multiple people not to get my hopes up as an appeal with the financial aid office is difficult to get. Get this...they request Obituary's if you claim you had a death in the family. Too sick to go to class? You better provide medical bills. All I had was stupidity & laziness.
But did I win my appeal?
YES!!
Now I have to wait and see if they can get my Hope Scholarship back. It is a state funded scholarship that basically pays most (if not all) of your tuition and gives you money for some of your books. You automatically get it if you have at least a 3.0 and live in GA. I would really love to be able to get that scholarship back!! Even if I can't get my HOPE back, I should at least be able to get a student loan now so that I can actually attend college so that I can EARN my HOPE back. WooHoo for me!!
Keeping my fingers crossed. I should know in about 2 weeks what I am eligible for.
5.15.2009
5.10.2009
Mom
You Were There...
You were there when we took our first steps,
And went unsteadily across the floor.
You pushed and prodded: encouraged and guided,
Until our steps took us out the door...
You worry now "Are they ok?"
Is there more you could have done?
As we walk the paths of our unknown
You wonder"Where have my children gone?"
Where we are is where you have led us,
With your special love you showed us a way,
To believe in ourselves and the decisions we make.
Taking on the challenge of life day-to-day.
And where we go you can be sure,
In spirit you shall never be alone.
For where you are is what matters most to us,
Because to us that will always be home...
Author Unknown
We love you!
5.07.2009
Updates
My sister in law has Stage 1B cancer. 98-99% survival. Great news for her! She has surgery on the 27th to remove what is left of it on her skin & to have lymph nodes removed/biopsied.
I had a couple of spots biopsied last week. They all came back cancer free - Yipee! Andy had to go and get checked out Wednesday. Melanoma tends to run in families, plus Andy has light hair, eyes and skin. He is high risk now. They took a couple of spots off of his back, but said it was nothing to worry about. We are still waiting on the results of his biopsy. I'm sure it will be fine.
I'm signing up for more classes on Monday. Hopefully I can get my financial aid together. A University is MUCH more expensive than a tech school. My classes are almost $175/credit hr and most classes are 3 credit hrs. That will get expensive quick.
Lacey & Zachary are doing well. Both have been pretty healthy this Spring (I think that is the first time in SIX YEARS that I haven't had to miss tons of work) Keeping my fingers crossed that their good health continues.
I somehow deleted almost ALL of my posts/pictures. I have no back up so I will try to at least add the pictures back. I'm not even sure I can remember what was in the posts.
I had a couple of spots biopsied last week. They all came back cancer free - Yipee! Andy had to go and get checked out Wednesday. Melanoma tends to run in families, plus Andy has light hair, eyes and skin. He is high risk now. They took a couple of spots off of his back, but said it was nothing to worry about. We are still waiting on the results of his biopsy. I'm sure it will be fine.
I'm signing up for more classes on Monday. Hopefully I can get my financial aid together. A University is MUCH more expensive than a tech school. My classes are almost $175/credit hr and most classes are 3 credit hrs. That will get expensive quick.
Lacey & Zachary are doing well. Both have been pretty healthy this Spring (I think that is the first time in SIX YEARS that I haven't had to miss tons of work) Keeping my fingers crossed that their good health continues.
I somehow deleted almost ALL of my posts/pictures. I have no back up so I will try to at least add the pictures back. I'm not even sure I can remember what was in the posts.
5.02.2009
4.29.2009
My Thoughts Exactly
The Judgement on Vaccines Is In???
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jim-carrey/the-judgment-on-vaccines_b_189777.html
Recently, I was amazed to hear a commentary by CNN's Campbell Brown on the controversial vaccine issue. After a ruling by the 'special vaccine court' saying the Measles, Mumps, Rubella shot wasn't found to be responsible for the plaintiffs' autism, she and others in the media began making assertions that the judgment was in, and vaccines had been proven safe. No one would be more relieved than Jenny and I if that were true. But with all due respect to Ms. Brown, a ruling against causation in three cases out of more than 5000 hardly proves that other children won't be adversely affected by the MMR, let alone that all vaccines are safe. This is a huge leap of logic by anyone's standards. Not everyone gets cancer from smoking, but cigarettes do cause cancer. After 100 years and many rulings in favor of the tobacco companies, we finally figured that out.
The truth is that no one without a vested interest in the profitability of vaccines has studied all 36 of them in depth. There are more than 100 vaccines in development, and no tests for cumulative effect or vaccine interaction of all 36 vaccines in the current schedule have ever been done. If I'm mistaken, I challenge those who are making such grand pronouncements about vaccine safety to produce those studies.
If we are to believe that the ruling of the 'vaccine court' in these cases mean that all vaccines are safe, then we must also consider the rulings of that same court in the Hannah Polling and Bailey Banks cases, which ruled vaccines were the cause of autism and therefore assume that all vaccines are unsafe. Clearly both are irresponsible assumptions, and neither option is prudent.
In this growing crisis, we cannot afford to blindly trumpet the agenda of the CDC, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) or vaccine makers. Now more than ever, we must resist the urge to close this book before it's been written. The anecdotal evidence of millions of parents who've seen their totally normal kids regress into sickness and mental isolation after a trip to the pediatrician's office must be seriously considered. The legitimate concern they and many in the scientific community have that environmental toxins, including those found in vaccines, may be causing autism and other disorders (Aspergers, ADD, ADHD), cannot be dissuaded by a show of sympathy and a friendly invitation to look for the 'real' cause of autism anywhere but within the lucrative vaccine program.
With vaccines being the fastest growing division of the pharmaceutical industry, isn't it possible that profits may play a part in the decision-making? That the vaccine program is becoming more of a profit engine than a means of prevention? In a world left reeling from the catastrophic effects of greed, mismanagement and corporate insensitivity, is it so absurd for us to wonder why American children are being given twice as many vaccines on average, compared to the top 30 first world countries?
Paul Offit, the vaccine advocate and profiteer, who helped invent a Rotavirus vaccine is said to have paved the way for his own multi-million dollar windfall while serving on the very council that eventually voted his Rotavirus vaccine onto our children's schedule. On August 21, 2000 a congressional investigation's report titled, "Conflicts in Vaccine Policy," stated:
It has become clear over the course of this investigation that the VRBPAC and the ACIP [the two main advisory boards that determine the vaccine schedule] are dominated by individuals with close working relationships with the vaccine producers. This was never the intent of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, which requires that a diversity of views be represented on advisory committees.
Isn't that enough to raise questions about the process of choosing the vaccine schedule?
With many states like Minnesota now reporting the number at 1 in 80 children affected with autism, can we afford to trust those who serve two masters or their logic that tells us "one size fits all" when it comes to vaccines? Can we afford to ignore vaccines as a possible cause of these rising numbers when they are one of the fastest growing elements in our children's environment? With all the doubt that's left hanging on this topic, how can anyone in the media or medical profession, boldly demand that all parents march out and give their kids 36 of these shots, six at a time in dosage levels equal to that given a 200 pound man? This is a bias of the most dangerous kind.
I've also heard it said that no evidence of a link between vaccines and autism has ever been found. That statement is only true for the CDC, the AAP and the vaccine makers who've been ignoring mountains of scientific information and testimony. There's no evidence of the Lincoln Memorial if you look the other way and refuse to turn around. But if you care to look, it's really quite impressive. For a sample of vaccine injury evidence go to www.generationrescue.org/lincolnmemorial.html.
We have never argued that people shouldn't be immunized for the most serious threats including measles and polio, but surely there's a limit as to how many viruses and toxins can be introduced into the body of a small child. Veterinarians found out years ago that in many cases they were over-immunizing our pets, a syndrome they call Vaccinosis. It overwhelmed the immune system of the animals, causing myriad physical and neurological disorders. Sound familiar? If you can over-immunize a dog, is it so far out to assume that you can over-immunize a child? These forward thinking vets also decided to remove thimerosal from animal vaccines in 1992, and yet this substance, which is 49% mercury, is still in human vaccines. Don't our children deserve as much consideration as our pets?
I think I'd rather listen to the more sensible voice of Dr. Bernadine Healy, former head of the National Institute of Health, who says:
Listen to the patients and the patients will teach...I think there is an inexcusable issue, and that's the lack of research that's been done here...A parent can legitimately question giving a one-day old baby, or a two-day old baby [the] Hepatitis B vaccine that has no risk for it [and] the mother has no risk for it. That's a heavy-duty vaccine given on day two [of life]. I think those are legitimate questions.
Dr. Healy is also calling for a long overdue study of vaccinated vs. unvaccinated. Dr. Frank Engly, a researcher and microbiologist who served on the boards of the CDC, FDA and EPA during the 70s and 80s, warned:
The CDC cannot afford to admit thimerosal is toxic because they have been promoting it for several years...If they would have followed through with our 1982 report, vaccines would have been freed of thimerosal and all this autism as they tell me would not have occurred. But as it is, it all occurred.
In all likelihood the truth about vaccines is that they are both good and bad. While ingredients like aluminum, mercury, ether, formaldehyde and anti-freeze may help preserve and enhance vaccines, they can be toxic as well. The assortment of viruses delivered by multiple immunizations may also be a hazard. I agree with the growing number of voices within the medical and scientific community who believe that vaccines, like every other drug, have risks as well as benefits and that for the sake of profit, American children are being given too many, too soon. One thing is certain. We don't know enough to announce that all vaccines are safe!
If the CDC, the AAP and Ms. Brown insist that our children take twice as many shots as the rest of the western world, we need more independent vaccine research not done by the drug companies selling the vaccines or by organizations under their influence. Studies that cannot be internally suppressed. Answers parents can trust. Perhaps this is what Campbell Brown should be demanding and how the power of the press could better serve the public in the future.
-- Jim Carrey
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jim-carrey/the-judgment-on-vaccines_b_189777.html
The Cost of a Tan
My sister-in-law has always been someone who likes to be tan. I can't remember a time when she did not have a beautiful even tan. I've always been jealous. Her skin just has a really pretty tone to it when it's tan. So when we saw her on Easter, Andy noticed something on the inside of her ankle. Since I have had numerous trips to the dermatologist to have 'suspicious' spots on my skin removed he asked me to look at her leg.
I knew it immediately. This was not suspicious. That was Melanoma. There was not a doubt in my mind. I told her she needed to get to the doctor as soon as she possibly could. And she did. And the results came back yesterday.
Level 3(of 5)Melanoma. She was referred to Emory to have a 6" surgery to remove (what they hope) is the rest of the cancer. She also will have to have her lymph nodes biopsied and her cancer will be staged (from 1-4). Hopefully her doctors will find that the cancer has not spread past her skin. As long as it can be cut out Melanoma is treatable. Once it gets into your organs there is no treatment.
I can't imagine how afraid she is.
And here I sit. Writing her story and pondering if I should go back to the tanning bed tomorrow. I keep telling myself that I have dark features and tan really well. Surly it wouldn't happen to me too. And this makes me think my priorities really need to be put in order.
I knew it immediately. This was not suspicious. That was Melanoma. There was not a doubt in my mind. I told her she needed to get to the doctor as soon as she possibly could. And she did. And the results came back yesterday.
Level 3(of 5)Melanoma. She was referred to Emory to have a 6" surgery to remove (what they hope) is the rest of the cancer. She also will have to have her lymph nodes biopsied and her cancer will be staged (from 1-4). Hopefully her doctors will find that the cancer has not spread past her skin. As long as it can be cut out Melanoma is treatable. Once it gets into your organs there is no treatment.
I can't imagine how afraid she is.
And here I sit. Writing her story and pondering if I should go back to the tanning bed tomorrow. I keep telling myself that I have dark features and tan really well. Surly it wouldn't happen to me too. And this makes me think my priorities really need to be put in order.
3.15.2009
Hospital Stay for Lacey
Sinus Infection + Strep Throat + Botched Bloodwork + Secondary Bacterial Infection in the neck glands = 3 days in the hospital.
Woo Hoo.
She's fine now. Just IV antibiotics Fri, Sat & Sun. We got home around 5:00 ish on Sunday.
Thanks to everyone for all of the positive thoughts that were sent our way this weekend.
xoxo
1.15.2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)