A Busy Day

Today was a crazy busy day.  We started by taking finally Payton to the Dermatologist.  She has had a muluscum rash since February.  Originally our pediatrician said not to worry about it, because she only had a few warts but she has gotten a lot more and they are not getting better. 

I love the dermatologist, she was great.  Payton even liked her.  The dermatologist described muluscum as a virus on the skin that the body builds up an immunity to.  I guess it is kind of like chicken pox.  After talking to one of the parents of the kids in her class I found out that several of the kids had it during school around the time Payton first got it.  Unfortunately, Payton has not yet started to build an immunity to it so the dermatologist has prescribed a cream that will help her to develop to immunity so the rash will go away.  We are all excited to see if it works.

After our doctor appointment we headed over to have a playdate at Dorie's house, one of Payton's friends.  We had so much fun.  I thought we were just going over to play in the sprinklers but they had so much more planned. 

 

A wonderful lunch, sandwiches, homemade soup, snacks.  It was delicious. 

Sharon, Dorie's mom, also planned to has the kids decorate T-shirts with puffy paint.  I love how creative the kids are.  Although, I will say that standing next to a 2 year old using puffy paint can be dangerous and to only stand close at your own risk.  Haha!  Paint goes everywhere.

 

For dessert, they planned ice cream sundaes.  So good!

After the playdate, we came home to prepare for Papa Ralph's birthday dinner.  It is so nice being close to family so that we can celebrate together so often.

Ring Worm?

Had a little scare, thought Payton had ring worm.  Turns out it is something called Pityriasis Rosea.

The good news is that it is not contagious.  The bad news is that it could last for up to two months.  Oh well, at least it doesn't seem to bother her.

Night Terrors?!?!

Little Austin has been through quite a bit in the last week.  Last week, each night he would spike high fevers 102.6, 103, even 103.8.  The doctor said Roseola.  Friday morning his fever broke and we appeared to be home free.  He was a little irritable but I thought it was understandable given the high fevers and all.

Saturday night it began.  The crying.  The screaming.  I felt so bad because I guess I slept through an hour and a half of screaming while Dave tackled it alone.  The funny thing is that I was dreaming that he was crying and I was getting really annoyed in my dream.  Haha!  It lasted for 5 hours.  We tried everything even bringing him into bed with us, which we NEVER do.  Nothing helped.

Sunday he was ouchy all day and didn't take a nap.  We were hopeful that he was so worn out the he would just sleep Sunday night but that was not the case.  It was a replay of Saturday night all over again.  I was ready to take him to the ER.

So this morning I made an appointment with the doctor thinking he had to have an ear infection or something that would explain this odd behavior. 

The doctor couldn't find anything.  No ear infection.  Nothing.  I wanted to cry. 

She seemed to think that he may be having night terrors.  I thought, for 5 hours straight?!?!?  How horrible.  I am not sure I am on board with him having night terrors but I don't know what else it could be.  I am just hoping that we do not have another replay

Maxi Skirt

Payton started off the morning still throwing up but as the morning as passed she started feeling better.  Thank goodness.

We decided to lay low to make sure that she didn't over do it.  So per their request it was a pj day.  Yay!

I happened to have all my sewing stuff out because I went to a craft night the last night after the kids went to bed.  I have some fabric that was cut into LONG strips 20 inches wide for a project that decided not to do.  Now I find myself trying to decide what to do with it.  As Paton was laying on the couch I thought, "Why not make her a skirt with it?"  Then I did.  :o)

I was so proud of myself.  I made a pattern, cut it out, and sewed it together in less than 40 minutes.  Sweet!  What's better is that she LOVED it.

Barfies

Today started off just like any other day.  Got the kids up and dressed.  Payton even read a couple of books to me.  But as I was finishing up getting ready Payton came in and said that her tummy hurt.  When she turned to look at me her face was white and she had really dark circle under her eyes.  I thought, "Uh Oh, she's gonna barf."  It wasn't long before she did and then she did all day long.  She couldn't even hold down water, poor baby.

We set up a little "bed for her in the family room so that she could watch some TV when she wasn't sleeping.  When Lincoln saw her bed he HAD to have one too.  Haha!  Fine.

Austin was very interested in her barf bucket.  He was very entertaining.  Fortunately it was clean, otherwise that would have been disgusting.

It was so sad, she kept saying she was scared and asking why she was throwing up.  I hope she feels better tomorrow.

The Flu

I have the flu...

I am miserable.  I have body aches.  Chills.  Headache.  A cough... 

Austin is sick too.  :o(

 

 

We have been down for two weeks.  Thankfully my grandma was so willing to come and take care of us.  I couldn't have done it without her help. 

 

I don't know how people do it without the support of family and friends.  I don't think I could have.

Lincoln is sick

I know!  Lincoln is sick again!  The poor kid can't catch a break.

I can't get over how fast it hits too.  We went to a play date and then went over to my mom's house to visit for a little while.  He was playing with the toys one minute and then acting so strange the next.

When we got home he begged to take a nap.  He slept for a good three hours and when he got up just came out into the living room and layed down on the floor.  After about 30 minutes he got up and went back to his room and crawled back into bed.  I knew he wasn't feeling good but he had no fever.  I followed him back to his room and hung out for about an hour in there with him. 

Dave got home and walked back to the room to find Lincoln curled up in bed, me sitting on the floor leaning against his bed, and Payton playing with the Mr. Potato Head.  I don't think he had even stepped into the room when Lincoln got up on his hands and knees and threw up over my shoulder.  Eeww!

Welcome Home Daddy!

Lincoln is Sick

Lincoln appeared to be fine this morning; however, when we met up with some friends at the park it was a different story.  As soon as I laid our picnic blanket out he laid down and went to sleep...This is not normal Lincoln behavior.  This little man usually doesn't stop moving.

This is what he looked like after I carried him to the car.  Not too good. 

When we got home all he wanted to do was go to bed. 

It is never fun to be sick but getting sick today was even worse because Papa Ralph had planned to have all the grand kids over to "camp out" in the backyard.  Fortunately, he was sick enough that he didn't care that Payton was getting to go and he was coming home with me.

Payton on the other hand was SO excited to go "camping".  She has been asking to go since before Christmas.  She packed her bag all by herself at like 2 in the afternoon...with a little repacking by mommy later.  :o)

When Lincoln got up from his nap I put both of the kids in the car and headed out to take Payton over to Mamo and Papa Ralph's house.  We no sooner had walked in the house and Lincoln threw up all over the dining room floor.  Uh oh!

What do you do when you find yourself in a lake of your child's vomit?  Let's just say that we had a fun evening at home and Payton had a great time camping.

Auntie Ashley ended up going out with them too.  I guess I was more nervous about her camping out than I thought.  Jen was so nice to text me these pictures and details of what Payton and Ethan were doing.  I guess they fell asleep telling each other stories.  Ha! Ha!  So cute!

Lincoln threw up all over me...

YUCK!!!!

I was talking to Dave on the phone and Lincoln came running into the kitchen.  I can't remember exactly how it happened but I had picked up Lincoln because he got a bump or something and was crying.  I was holding the phone between my ear and my shoulder and all of a sudden it happened...Lincoln threw up several times.  Each time with more volume.  When he was done, the throw up was in my hair, down the inside of the sleeve of my jacket and shirt, puddled in my lap, and all over him.  As long as I didn't move it was contained but as soon as I moved it went all over.

The smell...

Lincoln has Croup

Last night Dave and I woke up and shot straight out of bed when we heard Lincoln barking like a seal.  We both looked at each other and said, "That sounds like Croup."

Yikes!  At least he doesn't have the wheezing with it like he did last time.

Muffins and Spiders

After yesterday we decided it was a good idea to stay home and lay low today.  Payton was so much better today.  Thank goodness.  I wish I could say the same for myself.  :o)  The sinus pressure is killing me.  I think Dave is getting it too.  :o(

I decided I wanted to try a recipe I found for pumpkin muffins.  I either got it from Jillian's website or HungryGirl.com, so they have to be healthy.  Right?  Ha!  Ha!  They were super yummy and both
Payton and Lincoln ate them.  Yay!


Click for recipe.

Payton said a couple of really funny things today.  The first thing was when she was saying the prayer at lunch.  She said, "Please bless all the snot to come out of mommy's head."  Cracked me up.  Then later she walked over to me and I bent over to talk with her at face level and she said, "Mommy, your tummy is really...full."  Is this her way of telling me that I am getting fat?  Ha! Ha! Sheesh, tough crowd.

I finished Lincoln's spider costume while they were down for a nap.  He really wanted to be a spider for Halloween but neither Dave or I could find a costume that we didn't think looked stupid.  So while we were out shopping the other day we found a larger spider decoration and decided we could just some how attach it to his back.  Ha! Ha!  I have to laugh because every time I see this spider I think of how my friend Jessica reacted to it.  Then I think, "Wait, did that thing just move?"  or "Hey, how did you get from the family room into the kitchen?  I don't remember seeing anyone carry you?"  Anyway, I sewed some straps onto the body of the spider so Lincoln could wear it like a backpack.  So far he seems to really like it.  We will have to see tomorrow if he still feels the same way at the Halloween Play Date.

I left the red eye to make him look more scary.  :o)

Home Sick

When it rains it pours...

The kids were down with nasty colds last week which they were nice enough to share with me.  Wonderful!  Although I have had it for several days, this morning was especially fun as I woke up with the worst sinus headache that I can remember having since right before Lincoln was born.  I was miserable.  Dave told me to take a nice long hot shower, some Sudifed, and some Tylenol, and wished me luck with the day.  Thanks a lot!  :o)

Then Payton woke up screaming.  I went into her room and found that she had thrown up.  Nice!  Got her cleaned up and she appeared to be fine.  Maybe it was just a freak thing.  Nope.  She has been throwing up all day long.  Poor kid.  I feel so bad for her.  She looks miserable.  Pale. Dark circles under her eyes.

Lincoln. Lincoln has been our entertainment for the day.  He has been so goofy. Jumping onto and off of the couches.  Dragging his potty into the Family Room...

Needless to say, mommy has been very busy today.

Vomit

I have been thinking about this all day.  At what point did I become OK with catching vomit in my hand?

Lincoln threw up on Dave and my bed this morning.  In an effort, to contain the vomit I put my hand under his mouth.  Oh, how I wish I would have and could have caught everything...

Yuck!

I don't want to take a nap!

I have gone back to the gym!  Today was day 2.  Yay me.  :o)  I have been working out at home for the past few months and decided it was about time to head on back.  It feels good.

Lincoln and Payton are still a little under the weather.  Lincoln even threw up mucus in the car this morning.  Very gross.

I tried to get Payton to take a nap today to which she chanted over and over, "I don't want to take a nap."  She stayed in her room for about a half an hour and then came out and danced around the family room for a while.  Next thing I know I look over and see Payton...

I don't want to take a nap!  :o)

A Quiet Day At Home

Lincoln has been suffering from a nasty runny nose and both Payton and Lincoln are now suffering form a nasty cough. They sound like smokers.  Blahh!  I hate being sick.

We spend the entire day doing this...

And this...

Yes, the TV was our friend today.

Lincoln Broke His Arm

Wow!  Where do I start? 

Crash!  (Lincoln falling off my bed)

An "S" shaped arm.

Me running through every room of the house holding Lincoln tightly, thinking.  "What do I do?"  "I need to make a splint for his arm?"  "If I just take him to the doctor like this will his arm break worse?"  "I know, a ruler.  A ruler would make a great splint."  etc. etc. etc.

Finally call Dave.  All he hears is some garbly goop coming out of my mouth about Lincoln's arm and then Lincoln screaming in the back ground.  He tells me to call 911.

Firemen arrive.  Four big guys, all with a big duffle bag in each arm.  They ask about how he fell and where he fell from.  Examined him and told me that he had no life threatning injuries and that we could either cancel the ambulance and I take him to his doctor on my own or we could go in the ambulance.  I decided just to take him on my own.  I apologize over and over for even calling them. Boy did I feel silly, but they assured me that that is what they were there for. 

My sister shows up.  Dave called her and asked if she could come over, check on me and give him a run down on what was going on.  Thankfully she was able to stay with me all day and go with me to all the doctor appointments that I ended up having to go to with with Lincoln.  I am so glad she was there.  No only for the emotional support but she had food with her in her car.  Ha!  Ha!  Normally I am prepared with snacks and juice and whatever we may need.  Not today.  Left the house with hardly anything and found myself with two very sad kiddos at two in the afternoon in the radiology waiting room.

After three examinations it was confirmed that Lincoln broke his arm and was going to need a cast.  The fall happened probably a little before 8 in the morning and it was about 4 by the time we were at the doctor's office to get the cast on.  Poor little guy was not a happy camper.



I love this piture.  I call it the stink eye.  I couldn't help but laugh.  That is the look he gave the doctor as he was leaving the room.

It was a long day but Lincoln handled it like a champ.  After the initial fall, he really didn't cry unless someone was messing with his arm or one of the three time he fell on it in the waiting rooms during the day.

I am so glad today is over.

Tubes

It was decided that Lincoln needed ear tubes, and today was the big day.  He was a champ!  They didn't even need to give him a sedative to calm him down so he wouldn't freak out when they took him from us.

He took one look at the stuffed bear and coloring they set out for him and was happy.  Everyone there was so nice and they took great care of us.

Only 15 minutes past from the time they wheeled him in to surgery to the time they came and got us to be with him waking up.

The only time I was nervous was when they were leading us back to recovery.  I noticed one of the areas seemed to be having some action.  I couldn't see into it because of the curtains but when the lady leading us back stopped in front of it, I immediately thought something was wrong.  Fortunately, the action was only because Lincoln was waking up and didn't want the nurse holding him.  Ha!  Ha!

Lincoln was very sad until we got home and put him down for a nap.  I think he was just disoriented.  When he woke up he was as good as new.  Running all over, wouldn't have thought he had had surgery that very morning.

I hope this puts an end or at least lessens all those ear infections.

Saddness

Today was a crappy day.  Nothing about it went as I thought it would.  I got up this morning expecting to bring home my baby girl and instead spent the afternoon digging her grave.

It all started when the animal hospital called me at 8:00 am and asked if I was coming to pick up Lucaya.  I told them that I was actually just getting ready to call them to see if I was able to come pick her up.  That is when they told me that they close at 8:00 am and the pick is from 7:00 to 7:30 am.  "What?  No one told me that."  I told them I would be on my way as soon as my father in law could get here to be with Lincoln and Payton.  They said the would be there until 9:00.  I immediately called to set up an appointment with my regular vet as instructed by the doctor the night before as we would need to get Lucaya on a medication regimen.

When I got to the hospital I found out that she wasn't intended to come home with me and that she was intended to be a transfer.  I was told she still had her IV catheter in and that she was due for her pain medication.  (they had been giving it to her every 4 - 6 hours and the last time she had it was 1:00 am.)  Why hadn't they given her any more?

Came home.  Picked up the kids and headed down to Gilroy.  My friend Aimee was able to watch Payton and Lincoln while I took Lucaya in.  As soon as I took Lucaya out of the cage for the technician I knew it wasn't good.  This was a cat in pain, this was not a cat that was improving and ready to go home.

The technician took Lucaya's weight and temp and then left to get the vet who was reviewing her chart.  I just started bawling.  I knew what he was going to tell me.  All I could do was hold her, cry, and tell how sorry I was and how much I loved her.  I called my mom and asked her if she could come because I couldn't do it by myself.  I think I also needed my mom to tell me it was OK to let her go.

The people at the clinic were very kind to me and let me wait for about 30 minutes for my mother to get there.  During that 30 minutes I was able to just sit with Lucaya curled up on my lap and just pet her like in the old days before kids took over my lap.

I know it was the right thing to do but it hurts so much and I feel like and emotional wreck.

Trying to explain this to Payton has been really hard.  When we picked up Payton and Lincoln from Aimee's house,  she got in the car and saw the cat carrier and told my mom the Lucaya was sick and had to go to the doctor.  I told her that Lucaya had been very sick and had gone to live with Heavenly Father but that she wasn't sick anymore and that she was happy .  To which she responded, "Oh, she won't scratch Heavenly Father." and "Well, when she gets better she can come back to live with us." I told her that she was not going to be coming back, Payton started bawling saying she wanted her kitty and that she wanted to pet her and give her a kiss to make her feel better.  Mom and I started bawling again.

Several times through out the day Payton asked about Lucaya and started crying.  Each time the conversation taking a little bit of a twist.  Last night Dave finally told her that Lucaya had died and that she wasn't coming back.  Payton just stopped and said, "Daddy that's so silly..."  Huh?

We were able to bury her in my parent's backyard under their Camellia tree/bush.  It is a nice peaceful spot.

Missy Roo you will be missed.

Hope?

Called the Animal Hospital this morning to check up on Lucaya.  No real change.  Medication was helping with her discomfort and she was sitting up and alert.  Told me to call back later in the afternoon to talk with the original doctor that had admitted her.

Went to church.  Very emotional.  I don't want her to be in pain.  Am I going to have to put her down?  If not, what is her quality of life going to be?

Get home from church and call the doctor.  She says that Lucaya is showing a LITTLE bit of improvement.  That she looks to be regaining color in her paw and is moving her leg a little although still not putting wieght on it.  She told me that I could come in and visit her and that maybe we could get her to eat.

My mom, sister, and I went in to visit her.  The cat we saw was very alert and even hobbling around a little.  Not at all like she had been the night before.  My mom, sister, and I commented that this is not an animal you would look at and think to put to sleep.  The doctor said that I could probably take her home in the morning.  I was feeling really good.  As long as she wasn't going to be in pain and just gimpy I was OK with that.

Left the hospital feeling relieved. And went home to figure out how to make our home ADA compliant for a disabled kitty.  :o)  As we were still unsure about whether she would regain full or partial use of her leg.

My trip to the ER

It isn't what you think.  I am talking about the Emergecy Animal Hospital.  About eight o'clock Saturday evening Dave called out to me that my cat, Lucay,a was under our bed and wouldn't come out.  I heard him telling her to get out and he told me that he couldn't reach her but nudged her with a backpack that was under the bed to "encourage" her out but it didn't work.  (Dave is allergic to my cats and they are not allowed in our room.)  I knew when he said that she didn't move that something was wrong.

I went in the bedroom and found that she had moved to the far side of the bed to where I could reach her.  I asked, "You OK Lucaya?"  She just looked at me and I could tell something wasn't right.  I took hold of her scruff and slid her toward me so that I could pick her up.  It was so weird, I could tell she was uncomfortable, maybe even in pain but she wasn't hollering like you would expect a pained animal to be.  When I set her down in the dinning room I noticed her front right paw was folded under.  I thought that looked weird, so reached down to feel it and she really didn't do anything.  I told Dave, "I think something is wrong.  Do you think she broke her foot? leg?"  Again, wouldn't she be screaming in pain?

I called my mom for her thoughts and said that I should take her in to the ER, that it sounded like she broke her leg.

Dave went to go get the carrier and I started trying to find someone to come sit at the house with the kiddos.  I did not want to go by myself.  Unfortunately, no one we tried was available.  As it worked out Dave's family was at the movie accross the street from the hospital and Ashley and Ralph met me over there when the movie was over.

I walked into the hospital and told them I thought my cat had broken her leg.  Then sat down to wait our turn.  I am so glad Ashley was there.  She was so calming to me and Lucaya in the moments to come. 

I took Lucaya out of the carrier in the exam room and the technician instead of saying yup it looks like she has broken her leg asked if she had ever been diagnosed with a heart murmur.  I answered, "Nope." and thought what a funny question.  Ashley and I talked about how usually when a cat hurts their leg or foot they lift it up and hers was just dragging limp.  That is when we thought maybe she dislocated her shoulder jumping off the cat tower.

The doctor came in and did her exam and said that Lucaya had not broken her leg but suspected that she had heart disease and had thrown a blood clot to her front right leg.  What?  I asked, "Are you sure?"  She said that Lucaya had a galloping heart rate and that her heart was beating so fast that she could even count her beats, she said that the pads of her limp foot were pale in color and that the foot itself was cool to the touch. 

My mind is swirling.  I knew something was wrong.  I wish I had been right with the broken leg.  I am not prepared to make any life discisions in regards to Lucaya.  Now all of a sudden people are throwing terms like Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, Congestive Heart Failure, and Aortic Thromboembolism.  What is happening?

The doctor confirmed with X-Ray that her right and left atrium were enlarged and her lungs were "dirty" suggesting that she was in the early stages of Congestive Heart Failure.  The doctor told me to give her 24 hours to try and pass the clot and regain circulation to her front leg.  She said that they would put her on pain killers and medication to prevent further clots from forming.  She said the likelyhood that she would throw another clot was high.

I got home around 1 in the morning.  Num.  Scared.  Worried.