I often forget to be grateful for my health when I am busy enduring everyday life- working, trying to sleep, paying bills, running errands.. And then BOOM. Suddenly I'm sick.. and I can't manage to do the most basic of human tasks (like showering, changing clothes, feeding myself)..and I think.."I really should be more grateful I am usually healthy."
I am not a pretty sick person. Or a patient sick person. My sister would probably tell me it's my immune system forcing me to slow down. Take a time out. But this is a little ridiculous. Now I can suffer through a cold with the best of them...they are annoying but I still manage to get everything done.. However this week I was hit with the dreaded influenza.. and that's a different story. I haven't been able to move off the couch or my bed since Tuesday (it's now Friday night). It has made me so weak that even getting up to let the dogs out is exhausting. The fever gives me sweats and chills and interrupts my sleep. And the cough makes my throat feel like it's constricting with every breath. Not only do I feel sorry for myself when I am sick, but because I am a mom, I also feel sorry for my child. Praying she doesn't catch this (because I didn't remember to get her flu shot this year) and feeling guilty that I have no energy to put in her direction. Thankfully she is pretty self-sufficient these days. She is potty trained. She can dress herself. She can turn on the TV. She can find snacks in the cupboard. She knows not to open the door to strangers. She understands that I am sick. Still there is guilt. Thankfully my folks took her on her their day off (and got her that flu shot)...and they brought us medicine, food, did our dishes and changed our sheets (three trips out to Fox Island in one week is one for the record books for them)
Tomorrow, whether I am ready or not, I have to go back to work. Let's hope I wake up with the energy to get through my shift..
This is a video Grace made today to wish our friend Amy a happy birthday.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
(One of the Reasons) Why I'm Broke
(this pic was right before surgery)
So I know I probably need to do less rescue now due to the impact the economy has had on my paycheck and the ever increasing balance on my CareCredit card .. but recently I fell into another rescue situation. I had just taken over the cases in the hospital for a 2p-11p shift. In rounds I was told this patient was scheduled for discharge because the clients were out of funds (basically a discharge against medical advice but you can't keep them in the hospital if the owner's can't afford to pay for the services). This little dog had been run over by a truck- twice.. and had multiple rib fractures and pelvic fractures. What we didn't know for sure was that he also had a diaphragmatic hernia. I told the owner's he wasn't out of the woods yet, had vomited a couple of times and if he had a d-hernia he needed surgery.. And, if they took him home and he didn't get better he'd need more medical care as soon as possible. Well, the owners asked me if any rescue groups were available to take him on because they absolutely didn't have any more money to spend on vet bills. But they really didn't want him to have to be put to sleep because he was such a good little dog. Unfortunately (for my pocketbook) he met all my criteria to be rescued- he was young, had a decent prognosis, and he was cute (and being a small breed dog helps too- they are more adoptable). My clinic doesn't work with specific rescue groups and rescue groups generally have their hands full (especially these days) and don't really have budgets for surgery and medical care for new rescues. So I offered relinquishment to them. They accepted and were extremely grateful. He had his surgery about 3 weeks ago (thanks Dr. L!) and he is doing great. He is such a good dog that I think he's actually going to stay as a permanent member of our family. We're calling him Kipper.
So I know I probably need to do less rescue now due to the impact the economy has had on my paycheck and the ever increasing balance on my CareCredit card .. but recently I fell into another rescue situation. I had just taken over the cases in the hospital for a 2p-11p shift. In rounds I was told this patient was scheduled for discharge because the clients were out of funds (basically a discharge against medical advice but you can't keep them in the hospital if the owner's can't afford to pay for the services). This little dog had been run over by a truck- twice.. and had multiple rib fractures and pelvic fractures. What we didn't know for sure was that he also had a diaphragmatic hernia. I told the owner's he wasn't out of the woods yet, had vomited a couple of times and if he had a d-hernia he needed surgery.. And, if they took him home and he didn't get better he'd need more medical care as soon as possible. Well, the owners asked me if any rescue groups were available to take him on because they absolutely didn't have any more money to spend on vet bills. But they really didn't want him to have to be put to sleep because he was such a good little dog. Unfortunately (for my pocketbook) he met all my criteria to be rescued- he was young, had a decent prognosis, and he was cute (and being a small breed dog helps too- they are more adoptable). My clinic doesn't work with specific rescue groups and rescue groups generally have their hands full (especially these days) and don't really have budgets for surgery and medical care for new rescues. So I offered relinquishment to them. They accepted and were extremely grateful. He had his surgery about 3 weeks ago (thanks Dr. L!) and he is doing great. He is such a good dog that I think he's actually going to stay as a permanent member of our family. We're calling him Kipper.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Happy Birthday to G
(L to R: marissa, scout, panda, amelia, kaylee, jacob,sammy, taylor, ian, elizabeth, feliciana, kate, sam, jake l., jake b., kaitlyn, madeline. back row: savannah, grace, madisyn, david, gus, alexis and chloe. not pictured- sally, sophia and matt)
Yesterday Grace had her big birthday bash at Pump it Up.. it was preceded by a sleepover with her cousins, Savannah and Madisyn.. the girls decorated the butterfly cakes, played the Wii, and watched most of Horton Hears a Who.. Then they slept together on the air mattress in the living room (only partially inflated because the pump was not charged..oops.. but secretly glad I found that out before the next camping trip since it has to be charged for 10 hours!) The party was a huge success.. As always a bit stressful for me- not enough time to really 'visit' with my friends.. and I didn't get as many great pics as I would have liked (the kids aren't really into stopping what they are doing for a photo op)..and I forgot to have the video camera out for the blowing out of the birthday candles (so we did it twice!)..but I think everyone had fun and jumped, bounced and slid to their hearts delight!
Then, at 4:00 Grace and I drove down to Olympia to sing with the Free Choir for the Westside Art Walk and that was fun.. finally home, Grace stayed up singing and playing with her new toys until 11:00 when she couldn't keep her eyes open anymore!
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