by Sarah | May 5, 2009 | All About Me, Crap
From the time I was little I’ve been warned against being a hypochondriac. My Nana was one…and I had a tendency toward it. In today’s world of the WWW that tendency can get nice and complicated with self-diagnosis via webmd and all of those wonderful sites. I have to say that overall, though – I’m pretty good at avoiding my tendency toward it.
Then again, in order to AVOID being a hypochondriac I go the opposite way and NEVER go to see the doctor.Â
Sunday afternoon I felt a burst of heartburn coming on. I don’t get it often, but a few times recently it’s reared its head. So, I went to the bathroom, threw down a couple of Tums and sat back down to relax in front of the computer.
The Tums didn’t help – in fact the pain got worse. And worse. And even worse. I stood up to get Archie and didn’t make it two steps before I collapsed onto the couch. It took four attempts for me to scream for Archie loud enough for him to hear and come inside.  The pain was excruciating and radiated through to my back. I was bawling and screaming…it was ugly and embarrassing.
After much debate I finally just told him to call the paramedics (the girls were napping, boy wasn’t home and we weren’t sure when he’d get back)…especially because I couldn’t get to the car under my own power.Â
He called the paramedics and our neighbor came across the street to start checking my vitals (he is qualified – it’s not random)…and by the time he did that and the paramedics arrived the pain was mostly subsided and I just felt nauseous.
But I got loaded into the ambulance and taken to the ER. My very adorable EMT-in-training did my IV…and I gave him an A+ because I hate having IV’s done…and I didn’t hardly feel it when he did it.
By the time I got the ER I was feeling really stupid because the pain really was pretty much all gone and I was only a little nauseous…and I was wondering if I’d just overreacted as always…
An EKG, bloodwork and ultrasound were done…and the ER doctor came in to say…
“You have a very ugly gall bladder.”
I was admitted and scheduled for surgery the next day! The doctor’s and nurses kept wondering at how I’ve never had any pain from it (I really haven’t – Sunday was my first ever attack)…and how I was sitting around smiling and joking with all of the nurses and my family. Apparently I was so filled with stones in the gall bladder and duct that I should have been in constant pain. So I was impressing everyone without even trying…
Now I’m home without my gall bladder and with 4 holes in my belly.Â
Well, at least I get to be waited on by my husband. He’s so wonderful and attentive…I should get at least 3 more good lazy days out of this!
by Sarah | Apr 28, 2009 | All About Kennedy, All About Molly
I’ve been missing the Weekly Winners posts. I love my laptop, but I can’t edit pictures on it and rarely get on the desktop so…well, I’m lazy. But, I’ve got some pictures for you from the girls birthday and then from last weekend when we all hung out outside enjoying the gorgeous weather! I’m missing it desperately today with the drizzly yuck…
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by Sarah | Apr 24, 2009 | All About Kennedy, All About Molly, SID
With SID you have two camps – the sensory AVOIDERS…and the sensory SEEKERS.
I have two SID girls – one Avoider (Riley) and one Seeker (Angel).
Up until a year ago I was certain that having the Avoider was the “Worst” of the two. Social situations, eating, playtime were all such challenges. Planes flying overhead were a nightmare for weeks, trucks driving by.Â
Coping mechanisms were learned and slowly with time it became less of an issue.
Then we had our Seeker. I thought it was tough to handle when part of her seeking techniques were ramming her head into everything. Screaming at the top of her lungs. Throwing everything. Breaking everything.
But as much as we’ve been able to curb (some) of these events – in the past year we’ve had the occasion to experience the worst of the SID habits.
Smearing poop.
Poop on the walls, the beds, the clothes…IN HER MOUTH. It makes me wonder for her intelligence (sometimes when I’m most stressed) – and my sanity. It is one thing that I can seriously get truly and horrifically upset and disgusted for….
And it’s one thing that I haven’t the foggiest idea how to stop. The taste obviously doesn’t put her off. The smell. The feel. None of it.Â
I’ve found out through research and searching that this isn’t uncommon – but is ALWAYS stressful for the parents. I also see posts of some children doing it even after potty training, and beyond.Â
So for now I sit and research coping mechanisms again…although this time, I search for coping mechanisms for myself and my husband. I don’t think either of us look good bald.
by Sarah | Apr 21, 2009 | All About Kennedy
My mini-me…my screamer…my cause for many panic attacks…
Today you turn three! Three years old…How can that be? You were born so tiny, so early, and after a surprise (!!!) pregnancy that I was only aware of for 3 months before you joined us.
Your giant brown eyes so filled with joy and love…I can’t get enough of them.Â
You challenge us on a daily basis. You make us smile in the next turn of your head.Â
Despite the struggles and challenges you’ve brought us – with everything from just normal motion of your muscles to talking to breathing – you’ve blossomed into a bright little girl.
The cock of your head when you answer a question, or the way that you reply just by saying “okay” to everything. Frustrating – and adorable…and I wouldn’t take back one day of the past three years.
Happy Birthday, my Angel!
by Sarah | Apr 19, 2009 | All About Molly
My big girl is FOUR years old today!!!
This sweet little girl that came into our lives with such a personality…that we watched fade like a flower…is now blooming brighter than ever!  She talks so much more than she did before, she’s smart, funny, and now giggles with the best of them!
Her anticipation of her party through her into several of her fits today (and by fits I mean shutting down and curling into a corner)…but once it began she was smiles and chatter and miss personality!! She RAN that party, telling me when to do food and presents and cake!Â
Tomorrow will be more on the party…tonight I’m worn out from hosting it…but for now join me in wishing Miss Riley a HAPPY fourth birthday!Â
Two days until the OFFICIAL birthday of Miss Angel! (the party was hers too 😉 )
by Sarah | Apr 9, 2009 | All About Me
As a podophobe I cannot tell you how much this story pains me to express – even about my own foot. But I figured if I was going to get back into blogging (finally) again, I might well start with a bang.
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Back in January I spoke of a series of assaults on the feet of our household, including my own. The object that assaulted me was the “as advertised” unbreakable Pyrex measuring cup:
It fell lip down on my big toe. It got bruised and swollen and ugly. Hubby said, “could be broken”. I wrote it off as all the doc would do is tape it and it would be all over. So I never went.
For three days it remained swollen. For a week it hurt and remained bruised. For three weeks it ached and would cause me to flinch – but gradually it started to fade.
Every time I thought it was over, it would ache again for a few days, and fade again. It was annoying, but never cause for concern.
Last week out of nowhere I started getting shooting pains through the toe and down into my foot. When I spend Sunday night on the couch with my foot in the air I begrudgingly told Archie and my BFF that I would call the podiatrist.
Today I went and met with my podiatrist (whom I love though I’ve only seen him once or twice). I was immediately taken in for x-rays and waited for the podiatrist to show up. He checked the x-rays and declared “no break.”Â
Then he asked about the pain, and had me press my toe UP as hard as I could against his finger. OW. But, I had to tell him how far up it hurt. It hurt about halfway up along the line of my EHL (tendon).
THEN he grabbed the end of my toe and bent it down. I just about jumped out of my chair.
Apparently this is all…BAD.
He says the tendon is injured. We just don’t know how bad.
Tomorrow I go for a 3-D MRI (how different from the excitement of a 3D u/s) and return to the podiatrist in one week to determine how bad it is…
I may need surgery.
Surgery! Because of a Pyrex measuring cup!
Oy.
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I have many reasons for being gone over the past several weeks. I will go more in depth on them over the course of the next week while I’m anxiously awaiting the results of the MRI!
