So I realized (sadly) that I think I have about 257 different blogs all over the interwebs. How many am I capable of locating at this time? One. And that one was from my MySpace page. Um, it took me multiple tries to figure out what my log in was and once I did finally figure it out it then let me know that it had been since January...2009 that I had last logged in. OK, so I facebook more now than I do myspace. Whatever.
So anyhoo, I guess it's about time I try and gather all of these things into one location. It would make it a lot easier for me to finally get this "book" done that I at one point in time would like to get published. THEN AGAIN it might just give me one more thing to waste my time with during the day when I should be doing housework instead. I guess we'll see. And if after a month or two this ends up being my last blog then I guess we know how successful I wound up being at keeping my blogs all in one place!!! Sigh, what was that thing that the doctor told me I had? Attention Deficit Disor-Look! A squirrel!
There isn't much to blog about today...been tired, in a lot pain lately. Stupid body really hates me some days. Today was a looooooooong day but overall good. Last soccer game plus the soccer party, groceries, Young Marines, Angel Food Ministries (and again only a few orders...I need to get off of my duff and do a better job at promoting it, I'm slacking and not really proud of the fact either). This evening I let Wayne take over dinner, fairly basic, just chinese noodles but I love them any day of the week and when I'm hurting and can sit and not cook I'm happy with it =)
I was told today that the Chicken House in town is closing. That makes me sad. I was really rooting for them to make it. They've only been open since the first of the year, they really gave it a good try. It's so sad to see business fail in town. I wish they would have been able to hold onto it longer. I have a feeling that once Walmart opens they would have been in better shape but I guess there is no telling.
Anyway, time for me to crash out I suppose and stop digging for new blogs. I know I have more out there in cyberspace so as I find them I'll bring them all here. Not that I have many "followers" LOL...but at least I know God is following me no matter where I type. =)
Saturday, October 30, 2010
What Kind of Spiritual Tree Are You? (From Apil 27, 2008)
I really liked the sermon at church today and I will admit that at first I was a little worried. I was a little worried because our head Pastor was out sick and it was one of his associates that did the sermon. Never having listened to someone else preach (at this church) I was concerned that my little daydreaming mind would take over and I would take nothing home from his sermon. Well I am thankful that my attention DID hold and the sermon was really good!
Pastor Tom talked about "What Kind of Spiritual Tree Are You?". He went through and talked about all the kinds of trees that are on his property. He talked about the Alders that while they stand strong when they are together they are often marked up and heavily scared from the Elk and other animals that sharpen their horns on them. He said often people too carry their own scars around and have a hard time letting them heal.
He also talked about his old Oak tree. He said it still has many of the dead leaves on it from the Fall. Those leaves are like sins and how many of us continue to hold onto our sin, even after Christ has forgiven us?
He spoke about his Apple tree, or so he thinks it is an Apple tree. He has never seen it bear fruit and it remains weak so it's easily damaged by the wandering animals. How easily damaged are we by those around us? Are we growing well?
He talked about his Cherry trees, he said that once the trees are covered in blossoms, they begin to get cherries and then before they can become ripe enough to pick and eat raccoons come along and eat them. By the time the rest of them are ripe they are on branches so high up he is unable to get them so they go to waste. How many of us have spiritual fruit that goes to waste? Do we keep our Christianity up so out of reach that no one else can see it?
Then he wondered if there was a tree on his property that would show good growth in the Lord and was a good spiritual tree. He talked then about his large Rhododendron. He saw how it was sturdy, beautiful with it's green leaves and flowers that lasted all season long and it's large ball of roots that kept it strong and healthy. He went to move it one day to another location and saw that it would take a lot to dig it up. He was unable to dig it out completely so he took a chain and wrapped it around all the trunks. With gentle pulling he uprooted the tree much like we are often uprooted and moved by God. When he was done pulling it out he didn't have a new spot ready for it so it sat out of the ground for a few weeks but even though the roots were out, they were so strong they were able to keep the tree alive and green and healthy. Much like the Rhododendron our roots in Christ need to be that strong. He finally divided the tree and planted it about his property and one day his wife while moving some items accidentally bumped the tree with a vehicle and ripped off a limb. It left a scar but as time went on the tree healed and that scar got smaller and smaller. It showed how as Christians we should allow Christ to heal our scars so we can continue to be beautiful in him.
It really made me think about how we are all like a lot of the trees he spoke of in different areas of our life. Sometimes it is so hard to stay strong and healthy in the Lord when there are people and items that take our spiritual fruit and waste it, or they sharpen their horns on us leaving us with scars and at times we simply want to put our Christianity up high so no one can do that. Let's make a point to try and be more like the Rhododendron where we stay strong and beautiful in the Lord, where we don't hide our spiritual fruit or blossoms and we show to the rest of the world the beauty and grace that knowing Jesus gives.
Pastor Tom talked about "What Kind of Spiritual Tree Are You?". He went through and talked about all the kinds of trees that are on his property. He talked about the Alders that while they stand strong when they are together they are often marked up and heavily scared from the Elk and other animals that sharpen their horns on them. He said often people too carry their own scars around and have a hard time letting them heal.
He also talked about his old Oak tree. He said it still has many of the dead leaves on it from the Fall. Those leaves are like sins and how many of us continue to hold onto our sin, even after Christ has forgiven us?
He spoke about his Apple tree, or so he thinks it is an Apple tree. He has never seen it bear fruit and it remains weak so it's easily damaged by the wandering animals. How easily damaged are we by those around us? Are we growing well?
He talked about his Cherry trees, he said that once the trees are covered in blossoms, they begin to get cherries and then before they can become ripe enough to pick and eat raccoons come along and eat them. By the time the rest of them are ripe they are on branches so high up he is unable to get them so they go to waste. How many of us have spiritual fruit that goes to waste? Do we keep our Christianity up so out of reach that no one else can see it?
Then he wondered if there was a tree on his property that would show good growth in the Lord and was a good spiritual tree. He talked then about his large Rhododendron. He saw how it was sturdy, beautiful with it's green leaves and flowers that lasted all season long and it's large ball of roots that kept it strong and healthy. He went to move it one day to another location and saw that it would take a lot to dig it up. He was unable to dig it out completely so he took a chain and wrapped it around all the trunks. With gentle pulling he uprooted the tree much like we are often uprooted and moved by God. When he was done pulling it out he didn't have a new spot ready for it so it sat out of the ground for a few weeks but even though the roots were out, they were so strong they were able to keep the tree alive and green and healthy. Much like the Rhododendron our roots in Christ need to be that strong. He finally divided the tree and planted it about his property and one day his wife while moving some items accidentally bumped the tree with a vehicle and ripped off a limb. It left a scar but as time went on the tree healed and that scar got smaller and smaller. It showed how as Christians we should allow Christ to heal our scars so we can continue to be beautiful in him.
It really made me think about how we are all like a lot of the trees he spoke of in different areas of our life. Sometimes it is so hard to stay strong and healthy in the Lord when there are people and items that take our spiritual fruit and waste it, or they sharpen their horns on us leaving us with scars and at times we simply want to put our Christianity up high so no one can do that. Let's make a point to try and be more like the Rhododendron where we stay strong and beautiful in the Lord, where we don't hide our spiritual fruit or blossoms and we show to the rest of the world the beauty and grace that knowing Jesus gives.
Meeting Mandy (plus an update!) (From Feb 2, 2007 & October 23, 2009)
(This first part I wrote after seeing Mandy Patinkin in concert and then getting to meet him in February of 2007. The "update" is at the bottom)
First off let me say that I would drive for days and spend big cash to go see Many Patinkin...it was sooooooooooooooooo worth the $60 and the 3 1/2 hour drive...I am like a complete blubbering moron right now (yea yea, I know, what's new)...The show lasted right at two hours, he was a comedian, a story teller and sucked everyone in to the show. He told stories of his father, his grandfather, his sons and his wife. Many of the stories had him as the butt of the joke. He was so down to earth it felt like you were just sitting there with him and no one else. The seat I had was great I was in the 11th row of the Orchestra Pit, I could see his facial expressions perfectly. I can not even begin to explain how good the show was except maybe to say that I smiled a big fat grin for two hours strait and my cheeks actually still hurt 7 hours later. There was something magical about him, I sat in awe like a little girl hearing her grandfather tell stories. I hadn't even noticed how long the concert had been until it was over and I saw it was a little after 4 (the concert had started at 2). I would have listened to him all night and not heard enough. As it was he didn't sing either of my two favorite songs (Race You To The Top Of The Morning-Secret Garden, Honey Bun-Oscar & Steve) but I heard so much wonderful music I could die happy and now MUST go out and buy the couple of CD's of his that I don't have.
After he had finished the concert and did a short encore he came out to say goodbye and told everyone that he had to end every concert with the same words. He poised one hand up in the air in front and the other behind him and said, "My name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die", and of course everyone erupted in laughter and applause. So after the concert ended I politely asked one of the men working the concert (who I knew had been traveling with Mandy) that I had been a huge fan for almost 20 years and did he know if there was any chance of meeting him or obtaining an autograph. He smiled and told me to wait outside the stage door and assured me that Mandy would come out that door since his car was parked outside it. I quickly went outside (in 25 degree weather with a slight wind) and began to wait. I couldn't believe that aside from the security guard I was the only one there. Well, there was also a couple of people waiting to bring their U-Haul into the alley (they were moving into the apartments that were next to the Capital Theater and because of the concert the alley had been closed off, they weren't to happy...)
Anyhoo, after a good 20 minutes and several other people coming and going I hear the door open and out walks a lady, right behind her was Mandy in a winter coat and stocking cap with this heart melting smile on his face. He looked at me and apologized for making me wait so long (heck, I would have waited longer!!) Then I become this idiotic, drooling blubbering dip. I swear to you, my jaw was open and I couldn't talk! I had sort of prepared in my head a few polite things to say and nothing came to my mind-well except can I have your love child-but after my hysterectomy I don't think that's possible!! After a few seconds I squeak out the words, "It's really you" and he laughs and says, "It's me!" I buried my face in my hands and muttered "I am such a dork"! He laughs again (oh my I tell you too he has the sexiest laugh!!!!) and tells me, "Look at me! I'm the one dressed like a dork!" I mellowed out (a little) after that and told him I was a fan and we talked for a few minutes. I had told him that the girls I work with teased me about being such a fan and that he was going to take out a stalking order on me and he thought that it was pretty funny. He is so sweet and genuine, he truly is. His eyes and his smile are so perfect, he absolutely glows with love for his fans and his work. I wish I had brought my camera but since they didn't allow pictures at the concert I didn't..DOH! I have his face etched into my mind with his handsome smile and shinning eyes looking at me. After we had talked (and I was just sure I had come across like some freaked out fan) he leaned over and gave me this great big hug that was so pure and heartfelt. I was able to get my ticket and program autographed and for as long as I live I will never forget this.
I will also still do my best to go to any concert that comes near me and next time I'll bring a camera!!
*UPDATE*
So today (October 23, 2009) I go to the post office to see what sort of election crud, junk mail and bills I have (and lo and behold there was some of each!!) but amongst all of that was this large envelope that came from New York, curious! In fact for a split second I thought it might be junk mail but then again I do have friends in NY so who knows what it could be. Anyhoo, I open it and pull out this 8x10 glossy of Mandy himself (AUTOGRAPHED TO ME...AND HE EVEN SPELLED MY NAME RIGHT!!!!) along with this kind letter (obviously a "form" letter but hey, like I care, it came from HIM!!!) talking about how important organ and tissue donations are to him and he is asking his fans to become organ donors (AND I AM ONE ALREADY!!) so um, yea...I'm once again a giddy little school girl with my heart going pitter patt pitter patt for my Mandy... Me thinks I'll have to watch the Princess Bride sometime this weekend.
First off let me say that I would drive for days and spend big cash to go see Many Patinkin...it was sooooooooooooooooo worth the $60 and the 3 1/2 hour drive...I am like a complete blubbering moron right now (yea yea, I know, what's new)...The show lasted right at two hours, he was a comedian, a story teller and sucked everyone in to the show. He told stories of his father, his grandfather, his sons and his wife. Many of the stories had him as the butt of the joke. He was so down to earth it felt like you were just sitting there with him and no one else. The seat I had was great I was in the 11th row of the Orchestra Pit, I could see his facial expressions perfectly. I can not even begin to explain how good the show was except maybe to say that I smiled a big fat grin for two hours strait and my cheeks actually still hurt 7 hours later. There was something magical about him, I sat in awe like a little girl hearing her grandfather tell stories. I hadn't even noticed how long the concert had been until it was over and I saw it was a little after 4 (the concert had started at 2). I would have listened to him all night and not heard enough. As it was he didn't sing either of my two favorite songs (Race You To The Top Of The Morning-Secret Garden, Honey Bun-Oscar & Steve) but I heard so much wonderful music I could die happy and now MUST go out and buy the couple of CD's of his that I don't have.
After he had finished the concert and did a short encore he came out to say goodbye and told everyone that he had to end every concert with the same words. He poised one hand up in the air in front and the other behind him and said, "My name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die", and of course everyone erupted in laughter and applause. So after the concert ended I politely asked one of the men working the concert (who I knew had been traveling with Mandy) that I had been a huge fan for almost 20 years and did he know if there was any chance of meeting him or obtaining an autograph. He smiled and told me to wait outside the stage door and assured me that Mandy would come out that door since his car was parked outside it. I quickly went outside (in 25 degree weather with a slight wind) and began to wait. I couldn't believe that aside from the security guard I was the only one there. Well, there was also a couple of people waiting to bring their U-Haul into the alley (they were moving into the apartments that were next to the Capital Theater and because of the concert the alley had been closed off, they weren't to happy...)
Anyhoo, after a good 20 minutes and several other people coming and going I hear the door open and out walks a lady, right behind her was Mandy in a winter coat and stocking cap with this heart melting smile on his face. He looked at me and apologized for making me wait so long (heck, I would have waited longer!!) Then I become this idiotic, drooling blubbering dip. I swear to you, my jaw was open and I couldn't talk! I had sort of prepared in my head a few polite things to say and nothing came to my mind-well except can I have your love child-but after my hysterectomy I don't think that's possible!! After a few seconds I squeak out the words, "It's really you" and he laughs and says, "It's me!" I buried my face in my hands and muttered "I am such a dork"! He laughs again (oh my I tell you too he has the sexiest laugh!!!!) and tells me, "Look at me! I'm the one dressed like a dork!" I mellowed out (a little) after that and told him I was a fan and we talked for a few minutes. I had told him that the girls I work with teased me about being such a fan and that he was going to take out a stalking order on me and he thought that it was pretty funny. He is so sweet and genuine, he truly is. His eyes and his smile are so perfect, he absolutely glows with love for his fans and his work. I wish I had brought my camera but since they didn't allow pictures at the concert I didn't..DOH! I have his face etched into my mind with his handsome smile and shinning eyes looking at me. After we had talked (and I was just sure I had come across like some freaked out fan) he leaned over and gave me this great big hug that was so pure and heartfelt. I was able to get my ticket and program autographed and for as long as I live I will never forget this.
I will also still do my best to go to any concert that comes near me and next time I'll bring a camera!!
*UPDATE*
So today (October 23, 2009) I go to the post office to see what sort of election crud, junk mail and bills I have (and lo and behold there was some of each!!) but amongst all of that was this large envelope that came from New York, curious! In fact for a split second I thought it might be junk mail but then again I do have friends in NY so who knows what it could be. Anyhoo, I open it and pull out this 8x10 glossy of Mandy himself (AUTOGRAPHED TO ME...AND HE EVEN SPELLED MY NAME RIGHT!!!!) along with this kind letter (obviously a "form" letter but hey, like I care, it came from HIM!!!) talking about how important organ and tissue donations are to him and he is asking his fans to become organ donors (AND I AM ONE ALREADY!!) so um, yea...I'm once again a giddy little school girl with my heart going pitter patt pitter patt for my Mandy... Me thinks I'll have to watch the Princess Bride sometime this weekend.
midless words (from October 16, 2007)
my heart it aches my body is cold
my mind is feeble as though i am old
my tears they come with all this pain
they hit the ground like acid rain
my family sits and waits for me
while i wander lost impatiently
where is god can't he hear my cry
i hang my head and wonder why
i'm so alone i'm by myself
i look at pictures on a shelf
i used to be happy i used to be free
from this depression that has captured me
it won't let me go i'm giving up hope
my soul is dying i can not cope
i'm covered in darkness i feel so week
life is colorless it's outlook bleak
i know i am loved so why can't i smile
i can't keep going mile after mile
terror festers inside me and rips at my heart
i'm left with the pieces all torn apart
i'm frozen by fear as i hope for new life
but my screams go unheard, they cut like a knife.
my mind is feeble as though i am old
my tears they come with all this pain
they hit the ground like acid rain
my family sits and waits for me
while i wander lost impatiently
where is god can't he hear my cry
i hang my head and wonder why
i'm so alone i'm by myself
i look at pictures on a shelf
i used to be happy i used to be free
from this depression that has captured me
it won't let me go i'm giving up hope
my soul is dying i can not cope
i'm covered in darkness i feel so week
life is colorless it's outlook bleak
i know i am loved so why can't i smile
i can't keep going mile after mile
terror festers inside me and rips at my heart
i'm left with the pieces all torn apart
i'm frozen by fear as i hope for new life
but my screams go unheard, they cut like a knife.
alone and lost (from October 14, 2007)
alone and lost i sit and stare
my eyes glaze over past thin air
the tears they burn my eyes are sore
i've cried so much i can cry no more
tears still fall to the ground
they hit and stain without a sound
my family waits they are still here
i sit alone and lost and shed more tears
i feel nothing yet i'm full of pain
will darkness come just like the rain
lost and alone i sit and wait
until light shines again-until that date
i'll sit and cry and watch life go by
my children will love me, at least they will try
i feel no good, my life is a waste
i feel the pain must like the hate
what is life, why am i here
to dumb to anything but just sit here
and so i will wait with nothing to do
but watch another tear and listen to you
my pain will it ever come to an end
maybe not for me but maybe for a friend
my eyes are swollen and dripping with wet
my head is tired my fears not met
my nightmares have become my life
wrecked my body with suffering pain and strife
i would give so much to be me again
but i sit and i wait just wondering when
so i am here but still lost and alone
surrounded buy nothing but the unknown
my eyes glaze over past thin air
the tears they burn my eyes are sore
i've cried so much i can cry no more
tears still fall to the ground
they hit and stain without a sound
my family waits they are still here
i sit alone and lost and shed more tears
i feel nothing yet i'm full of pain
will darkness come just like the rain
lost and alone i sit and wait
until light shines again-until that date
i'll sit and cry and watch life go by
my children will love me, at least they will try
i feel no good, my life is a waste
i feel the pain must like the hate
what is life, why am i here
to dumb to anything but just sit here
and so i will wait with nothing to do
but watch another tear and listen to you
my pain will it ever come to an end
maybe not for me but maybe for a friend
my eyes are swollen and dripping with wet
my head is tired my fears not met
my nightmares have become my life
wrecked my body with suffering pain and strife
i would give so much to be me again
but i sit and i wait just wondering when
so i am here but still lost and alone
surrounded buy nothing but the unknown
September 11, 2007
Please stop and take the time to say a prayer. Thank God for your life, your family, friends, your freedom. Ask God to be with those who lost loved ones in the attack and to be with those who live with the horrific memories of that day 6 years ago. Pray for peace, pray for the soldiers who are fighting not just for our freedom but for the people enslaved in other countries.
Do something kind today, smile so that others may smile but mourn with those who are still mourning.
Stop and think where you were 6 years ago, what you did that day and in the following days. Everyone was kind, giving, compassionate and there was no hate in regards to race, political or religious preference.
While we never want to relive those attacks, let us never forget.
God Bless the USA!
Do something kind today, smile so that others may smile but mourn with those who are still mourning.
Stop and think where you were 6 years ago, what you did that day and in the following days. Everyone was kind, giving, compassionate and there was no hate in regards to race, political or religious preference.
While we never want to relive those attacks, let us never forget.
God Bless the USA!
An Ice Cream Sort of Day (from Sept 6, 2007)
You know, I don't really wake up in the morning thinking that I need ice cream at the end of the day. Not that I turn it down often but it's really not the first thing on my mind. Actually coffee and getting my but to work on time are what I'm thinking about. Nor do I worry much about my kids. They are getting older and yes they do tend to make dumb mistakes here and there or grate on my nerves (sometimes often) I don't worry about them much. But then there are days like today.
Oh the day started out normal enough. I woke up, took Carinda to daycare and then went off to work. Of course before I left the house I made sure Nehemiah was up and getting ready for school. He's in the "big league" now and has his own house key so he catches the bus on his own in the mornings and lets himself in once he gets home from school. Anyway, he was up and dressed and it was "Love you Mom, see you this afternoon" and Carinda and I were out the door.
After route I came home, did some work around here and sat down to check my email. I was only able to get the email checked and couldn't do much online because the computer was arguing. (Stupid electronics, I blame it all on Bill Gates). Anyhoo, so Wayne takes over the computer for a while and about 11 this morning the phone rings. It's Nehemiah. He tells me that he's not feeling well and feels like he's coming down with a cold. Ugh. My first thought it yea right, he's probably trying to get out of school work. I ask him if he thinks he can make it though the day and he simply replies, "no". He is sounding meek and tired so something tells me go.
I drive over to the school and when I walk in to the office I see this shakey ashen colored sweating child who is so dizzy he can hardly stand. I sign him out and stand him up. He is so hot that you could roast a marshmallow off of the radiant heat coming from his head. I help him to the car, he reminds me of a wobbly newborn horse or something. He all but collapses in the car and I grabbed my cell phone to call his doctors office.
The doc wanted to see him right away so after a quick stop at the house we get headed into Vancouver. CRAP!! Why is it whenever I need to go somewhere important, in a hurry no less I'm almost out of gas?? I swing through the mini mart but the damn gas pump wouldn't take my debit card. I step inside to pay that way and see the line of teenagers. Of course I go to the one mini mart in town by the high school...at lunch time!!!! Grrrrr. As luck would have it though I spied Jorden's best friend Ross. Next to Ross, Jorden!! Now it's mom's turn to beg for cash! I asked Jorden and as luck would have it he had enough cash on him to get me enough gas to get to the doctors. He was happy he could help out and once again I'm glad I have a nice teenager.
On the way to the docs Nehemiah slept the whole way and once there we took the elevator up to his docs. I sent him waddling over to the area he had to be in as I checked him in. He was so tired and almost unaware of what was going on. He took his shoes off (almost falling down) to get weighed and after getting his blood pressure and temp the nurse confirms he is a sickie. Well duh!! I am glad though she is a nice nurse and his pediatrician isn't one to keep you waiting. He is almost always on time.
He comes in and sees Nehemiah sleeping on the table and wakes him to do the exam. He is very concerned because of his temp and pain he is in. He decided to order some blood work, an xray and get him started on IV fluids right away. It would depend on how he responded to the fluids and what his labs looked like. He was pretty close to sending us on to the hospital and for a mom, well that's a bit worrisome.
I tried not to worry. I said my prayer and took him downstairs. He was so unsteady we decided to put him in a wheelchair, the last time he was in one he had fun playing around. Not this time. He sat his head half leaned over onto his sweatshirt half dozing. We get him undressed once we are in xray and the tech snaps a few pictures of him and then we head over to get our IV in. At that point they had a small hospital like room for him with a nice bed where he could sleep.
Once he was settled but before the IV I quickly stepped out. I had to calm my own nerves again because if I'm stressed out then I'm no help to Nehemiah. I run to the restroom, get a cup of much needed coffee and make a quick call to my Dad's cell phone. No answer. Ugh. I didn't want to talk to his voice mail. I needed a reasuring voice aside from my husbands at that point. I called his work and asked for him or my brother and after what seemed to be hours Ernie picked up. I quickly explained what was going on and asked him to relay the message to Dad. I also called my work, obviously I wasn't going to be driving my school bus that afternoon.
Once back in the room the nurse was ready to place his IV. He was scared but after I turned on one of his favorite songs on my mp3 player for him to listen to he was fine. Once his IV was in and his labs were drawn he dozed off and slept. He would wake once in a while and barely pick his head asking if it was time to leave. I'd tell him no and bam, down his head would go and he'd be back out. His doctor stopped in a few times and the nurse kept checking on him too.
After a couple of hours he had some pink in his cheeks and while his fever had gone up he was having a lot less pain in his abdomen and could stand a bit. More fluids, more tests, more waiting. He was a trooper. Everytime his IV thing would beep that it was done he would hold up his head and look around and ask if it was time to leave. Finally his doc felt that it was more a flu than anything and gave us the go ahead to go home.
Now of course after lots of phone calls to several people and two trips to the store I am sitting, finally in front of my computer. I am tired, I am drained and of course I have to keep an eye on the boy. He has pretty much slept since we got home and if need be ol' mom is ready to go back to the doctors though I am hoping and praying he is going to wake up in the morning and start picking on his sister. That's when I know he's feeling better.
So here I sit, me, the computer and two scoops of ice cream. It's amazing though, the emotions you have when you are a mother and faced with that look from a doctor. That look that says keep your cool mom, this isn't good. I know my nerves and at the end of the day, they needed that ice cream.
Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go check on my sleeping one and put myself to bed because I'm sure tomorrow will be a long day too.
Oh the day started out normal enough. I woke up, took Carinda to daycare and then went off to work. Of course before I left the house I made sure Nehemiah was up and getting ready for school. He's in the "big league" now and has his own house key so he catches the bus on his own in the mornings and lets himself in once he gets home from school. Anyway, he was up and dressed and it was "Love you Mom, see you this afternoon" and Carinda and I were out the door.
After route I came home, did some work around here and sat down to check my email. I was only able to get the email checked and couldn't do much online because the computer was arguing. (Stupid electronics, I blame it all on Bill Gates). Anyhoo, so Wayne takes over the computer for a while and about 11 this morning the phone rings. It's Nehemiah. He tells me that he's not feeling well and feels like he's coming down with a cold. Ugh. My first thought it yea right, he's probably trying to get out of school work. I ask him if he thinks he can make it though the day and he simply replies, "no". He is sounding meek and tired so something tells me go.
I drive over to the school and when I walk in to the office I see this shakey ashen colored sweating child who is so dizzy he can hardly stand. I sign him out and stand him up. He is so hot that you could roast a marshmallow off of the radiant heat coming from his head. I help him to the car, he reminds me of a wobbly newborn horse or something. He all but collapses in the car and I grabbed my cell phone to call his doctors office.
The doc wanted to see him right away so after a quick stop at the house we get headed into Vancouver. CRAP!! Why is it whenever I need to go somewhere important, in a hurry no less I'm almost out of gas?? I swing through the mini mart but the damn gas pump wouldn't take my debit card. I step inside to pay that way and see the line of teenagers. Of course I go to the one mini mart in town by the high school...at lunch time!!!! Grrrrr. As luck would have it though I spied Jorden's best friend Ross. Next to Ross, Jorden!! Now it's mom's turn to beg for cash! I asked Jorden and as luck would have it he had enough cash on him to get me enough gas to get to the doctors. He was happy he could help out and once again I'm glad I have a nice teenager.
On the way to the docs Nehemiah slept the whole way and once there we took the elevator up to his docs. I sent him waddling over to the area he had to be in as I checked him in. He was so tired and almost unaware of what was going on. He took his shoes off (almost falling down) to get weighed and after getting his blood pressure and temp the nurse confirms he is a sickie. Well duh!! I am glad though she is a nice nurse and his pediatrician isn't one to keep you waiting. He is almost always on time.
He comes in and sees Nehemiah sleeping on the table and wakes him to do the exam. He is very concerned because of his temp and pain he is in. He decided to order some blood work, an xray and get him started on IV fluids right away. It would depend on how he responded to the fluids and what his labs looked like. He was pretty close to sending us on to the hospital and for a mom, well that's a bit worrisome.
I tried not to worry. I said my prayer and took him downstairs. He was so unsteady we decided to put him in a wheelchair, the last time he was in one he had fun playing around. Not this time. He sat his head half leaned over onto his sweatshirt half dozing. We get him undressed once we are in xray and the tech snaps a few pictures of him and then we head over to get our IV in. At that point they had a small hospital like room for him with a nice bed where he could sleep.
Once he was settled but before the IV I quickly stepped out. I had to calm my own nerves again because if I'm stressed out then I'm no help to Nehemiah. I run to the restroom, get a cup of much needed coffee and make a quick call to my Dad's cell phone. No answer. Ugh. I didn't want to talk to his voice mail. I needed a reasuring voice aside from my husbands at that point. I called his work and asked for him or my brother and after what seemed to be hours Ernie picked up. I quickly explained what was going on and asked him to relay the message to Dad. I also called my work, obviously I wasn't going to be driving my school bus that afternoon.
Once back in the room the nurse was ready to place his IV. He was scared but after I turned on one of his favorite songs on my mp3 player for him to listen to he was fine. Once his IV was in and his labs were drawn he dozed off and slept. He would wake once in a while and barely pick his head asking if it was time to leave. I'd tell him no and bam, down his head would go and he'd be back out. His doctor stopped in a few times and the nurse kept checking on him too.
After a couple of hours he had some pink in his cheeks and while his fever had gone up he was having a lot less pain in his abdomen and could stand a bit. More fluids, more tests, more waiting. He was a trooper. Everytime his IV thing would beep that it was done he would hold up his head and look around and ask if it was time to leave. Finally his doc felt that it was more a flu than anything and gave us the go ahead to go home.
Now of course after lots of phone calls to several people and two trips to the store I am sitting, finally in front of my computer. I am tired, I am drained and of course I have to keep an eye on the boy. He has pretty much slept since we got home and if need be ol' mom is ready to go back to the doctors though I am hoping and praying he is going to wake up in the morning and start picking on his sister. That's when I know he's feeling better.
So here I sit, me, the computer and two scoops of ice cream. It's amazing though, the emotions you have when you are a mother and faced with that look from a doctor. That look that says keep your cool mom, this isn't good. I know my nerves and at the end of the day, they needed that ice cream.
Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go check on my sleeping one and put myself to bed because I'm sure tomorrow will be a long day too.
Six Stiches, One Splint and One Really Good Milkshake (from July 28, 2007)
Well, well. I see that my darling ten year old son has once again decided that he needed to take after the ol' mom just a teeeeeeny bit more.
Nehemiah and I were out doing yard work yesterday (well, he was trying to finish paying off that new Harry Potter book he got a week ago), and I had bought a small hand aerator where you slam it into the ground and two little plugs pop out. I was attempting to work this little contraption and was getting quite the work out from it. After telling Nehemiah, "No, you can't do this, it's hard to use" for the third time he insists that he can do it. So he comes over and I show him how to use it. He makes light work of it and actually enjoys it! OK fine, I'll let him do it since it gets me out of something that halfway resembles exercise.
So he is happily pounding away on the grass and I'm watering away trying to keep it wet enough for him. We see Dad come home from work so we go inside for a drink of water. After five minutes of some chit chat he excitedly gets back up and tells me he is going back out. I told him that was fine, I would be out in a minute. Literally 30 seconds later the front door flies open and Nehemiah comes in holding his hand screaming. I look and see blood dripping (don't worry people, I won't describe it in detail-I know some of you have weak tummies). I sit him down in the chair and grab a clean kitchen towel to wrap his hand in. Nehemiah through his hysterics explains that while slamming the aerator into the ground he caught his hand on a wooden post. We have a "Vote for this guy" sign in our yard and he had wanted to get as close to the sign as possible. Obviously he got pretty close.
So after a few minutes of Wayne and I talking to him getting him to calm down I lift up the towel and can clearly see a lot of damage. Without looking any further I quietly explain to Nehemiah that he is going to go to the hospital and I need him to sit and be calm. Wayne and I seemed to work like a well oiled machine, well a well oiled machine with a couple of screws loose. Nehemiah was feeling faint (and looking it) so Wayne went and got the air conditioning going in the car while I called a neighbor to see if she could keep an eye on Carinda so both Wayne and I could go. I was worried about just one of us going at this point because we were having a hard time keeping Nehemiah calm. No such luck with our neighbor, they were leaving so Wayne got to stay behind with the princess of the family (and seeing as though like most men he doesn't really like hospitals I don't think he minded, LOL).
We get our little ashen colored boy into the car and away we go. Gas. Dang it-I forgot the car needed gas. We own three cars, can I take the one with gas? NO! A quick stop through the local Chevron and we were on our way. By the time we get to the freeway the ice pack on Nehemiah's hand was starting to do it's job and the bleeding had slowed and the pain had started to subside, hence our brave little (oh, sorry BIG) boy was calming down. He was lamenting on the way there that we should have a hospital in Woodland because we would already be there. I agreed and prayed we wouldn't have much traffic to contend with.
On the way there I grabbed my cell phone (yes, I used my headset people-it's now a law in Washington) and called up Kaiser to find out the best place to take him. The receptionist for the nurse assured me of where to go and that the urgent care would be able to take care of him. As Nehemiah's nerves calm, Mommy nerves seem to kick in. I made a couple of quick calls to my parents letting them know the damage done. It reminded me of all the times I had been taken in for a fall or cut of some kind. Nehemiah remained calm but was sleepy and asked if he could close his eyes. I assured him that yes he could nap.
Before to long we pull into the urgent care and present ourselves to the receptionist. Now normally things like lacerations are taken first...well what do you do when there are SEVERAL lacerations to be seen? There were so many, and of course they were all complicated ones. There was a little girl of about 4 or so who had whacked the back of her head and received four or five staples, ironically right about where Nehemiah had just March of last year. I was talking to her and reminded Nehemiah of that and he chuckled. I was amazed that with all the people there we only sat about 50 minutes before being called back.
Now up until being called back Nehemiah was good and calm. He knew that there would be stitches involved and was OK. Once we got back to the exam room the nurse removed my kitchen towel and ice pack (I kept the ice pack but decided not to save the towel) and Nehemiah took one look at his gash and almost like a cartoon you could see the color drain from his face. We laid him down and while the nurse got the doctor I did my best to keep the boy calm. One look from the doc and oh yes, you need stitches. (DUH) So the nurse put on a topical medicine to help numb it before he gets the lidocaine shots (hey, I don't ever remember that when I got stitches)!! The doc comes back and proceeds to numb our little guy up and we are having a big problem keeping him calm. He wanted to know why we couldn't just knock him out! We kept him deep breathing and calm enough so the nurse could come back and wash out his cut.
Once the cut was cleaned (and someone DID NOT like the cold/wet/numb sensation) and the doc was ready we brought in everything to stitch him back together. Nehemiah shrieked when he saw the tray of all the little instruments. He wanted to know what the scissors were for and I told him to cut the thread. I didn't dare tell him anything else-and the doc just agreed with me. Nehemiah kept trying to look up and I kept holding his head down trying to keep him looking at me, not his hand. The doc and nurse that fixed him up were so wonderful. They were calm, very nice and overall just took great care with him as though he was the only patient that night. Now because the gash came from striking a hard object we were concerned about a possible fracture to his thumb or hand so once we got the stitches in we would need to get an xray.
Before we go to the xray department we stand him up to wash his hands and once again Nehemiah looks at his hand, now all stitched up and once again he almost passes out on us. The nurse and I steady him and get a wheelchair. Once his hands were clean, his hand was wrapped in some gauze and that was good because he could no longer look at it. We take him to xray and once done we wheel him back to the exam area. Color has returned again and we sit waiting for the doctor to come back in who at that point had begun stitching up another laceration. He came in to say he had good news, he didn't see any fracture. But because of the severe swelling and the location of the cut he did want a splint on his hand. We get the splint on and make another appointment to see his own doctor on Monday for a follow up and for further instructions hoping that this won't remove us completely from football practice. (The doc had said he can do conditioning just nothing that involves the hand).
Once we were out of there we headed down to our favorite frozen custard shop. I had promised Nehemiah a cone and once we got there we decided a shake would be easier to handle. So one cookie dough shake later (well and of course mom wanted one too) we were on the road for home.
He slept well and so far this morning doesn't have any major pain or throbbing with it. After breakfast I'll change the dressing and I'm sure he will do his best to try and gross sister out. So I guess he is relieved of his yard work duties, I think I'll try and recruit the other two kids for that...I'll just make them wear padded suits.
Nehemiah and I were out doing yard work yesterday (well, he was trying to finish paying off that new Harry Potter book he got a week ago), and I had bought a small hand aerator where you slam it into the ground and two little plugs pop out. I was attempting to work this little contraption and was getting quite the work out from it. After telling Nehemiah, "No, you can't do this, it's hard to use" for the third time he insists that he can do it. So he comes over and I show him how to use it. He makes light work of it and actually enjoys it! OK fine, I'll let him do it since it gets me out of something that halfway resembles exercise.
So he is happily pounding away on the grass and I'm watering away trying to keep it wet enough for him. We see Dad come home from work so we go inside for a drink of water. After five minutes of some chit chat he excitedly gets back up and tells me he is going back out. I told him that was fine, I would be out in a minute. Literally 30 seconds later the front door flies open and Nehemiah comes in holding his hand screaming. I look and see blood dripping (don't worry people, I won't describe it in detail-I know some of you have weak tummies). I sit him down in the chair and grab a clean kitchen towel to wrap his hand in. Nehemiah through his hysterics explains that while slamming the aerator into the ground he caught his hand on a wooden post. We have a "Vote for this guy" sign in our yard and he had wanted to get as close to the sign as possible. Obviously he got pretty close.
So after a few minutes of Wayne and I talking to him getting him to calm down I lift up the towel and can clearly see a lot of damage. Without looking any further I quietly explain to Nehemiah that he is going to go to the hospital and I need him to sit and be calm. Wayne and I seemed to work like a well oiled machine, well a well oiled machine with a couple of screws loose. Nehemiah was feeling faint (and looking it) so Wayne went and got the air conditioning going in the car while I called a neighbor to see if she could keep an eye on Carinda so both Wayne and I could go. I was worried about just one of us going at this point because we were having a hard time keeping Nehemiah calm. No such luck with our neighbor, they were leaving so Wayne got to stay behind with the princess of the family (and seeing as though like most men he doesn't really like hospitals I don't think he minded, LOL).
We get our little ashen colored boy into the car and away we go. Gas. Dang it-I forgot the car needed gas. We own three cars, can I take the one with gas? NO! A quick stop through the local Chevron and we were on our way. By the time we get to the freeway the ice pack on Nehemiah's hand was starting to do it's job and the bleeding had slowed and the pain had started to subside, hence our brave little (oh, sorry BIG) boy was calming down. He was lamenting on the way there that we should have a hospital in Woodland because we would already be there. I agreed and prayed we wouldn't have much traffic to contend with.
On the way there I grabbed my cell phone (yes, I used my headset people-it's now a law in Washington) and called up Kaiser to find out the best place to take him. The receptionist for the nurse assured me of where to go and that the urgent care would be able to take care of him. As Nehemiah's nerves calm, Mommy nerves seem to kick in. I made a couple of quick calls to my parents letting them know the damage done. It reminded me of all the times I had been taken in for a fall or cut of some kind. Nehemiah remained calm but was sleepy and asked if he could close his eyes. I assured him that yes he could nap.
Before to long we pull into the urgent care and present ourselves to the receptionist. Now normally things like lacerations are taken first...well what do you do when there are SEVERAL lacerations to be seen? There were so many, and of course they were all complicated ones. There was a little girl of about 4 or so who had whacked the back of her head and received four or five staples, ironically right about where Nehemiah had just March of last year. I was talking to her and reminded Nehemiah of that and he chuckled. I was amazed that with all the people there we only sat about 50 minutes before being called back.
Now up until being called back Nehemiah was good and calm. He knew that there would be stitches involved and was OK. Once we got back to the exam room the nurse removed my kitchen towel and ice pack (I kept the ice pack but decided not to save the towel) and Nehemiah took one look at his gash and almost like a cartoon you could see the color drain from his face. We laid him down and while the nurse got the doctor I did my best to keep the boy calm. One look from the doc and oh yes, you need stitches. (DUH) So the nurse put on a topical medicine to help numb it before he gets the lidocaine shots (hey, I don't ever remember that when I got stitches)!! The doc comes back and proceeds to numb our little guy up and we are having a big problem keeping him calm. He wanted to know why we couldn't just knock him out! We kept him deep breathing and calm enough so the nurse could come back and wash out his cut.
Once the cut was cleaned (and someone DID NOT like the cold/wet/numb sensation) and the doc was ready we brought in everything to stitch him back together. Nehemiah shrieked when he saw the tray of all the little instruments. He wanted to know what the scissors were for and I told him to cut the thread. I didn't dare tell him anything else-and the doc just agreed with me. Nehemiah kept trying to look up and I kept holding his head down trying to keep him looking at me, not his hand. The doc and nurse that fixed him up were so wonderful. They were calm, very nice and overall just took great care with him as though he was the only patient that night. Now because the gash came from striking a hard object we were concerned about a possible fracture to his thumb or hand so once we got the stitches in we would need to get an xray.
Before we go to the xray department we stand him up to wash his hands and once again Nehemiah looks at his hand, now all stitched up and once again he almost passes out on us. The nurse and I steady him and get a wheelchair. Once his hands were clean, his hand was wrapped in some gauze and that was good because he could no longer look at it. We take him to xray and once done we wheel him back to the exam area. Color has returned again and we sit waiting for the doctor to come back in who at that point had begun stitching up another laceration. He came in to say he had good news, he didn't see any fracture. But because of the severe swelling and the location of the cut he did want a splint on his hand. We get the splint on and make another appointment to see his own doctor on Monday for a follow up and for further instructions hoping that this won't remove us completely from football practice. (The doc had said he can do conditioning just nothing that involves the hand).
Once we were out of there we headed down to our favorite frozen custard shop. I had promised Nehemiah a cone and once we got there we decided a shake would be easier to handle. So one cookie dough shake later (well and of course mom wanted one too) we were on the road for home.
He slept well and so far this morning doesn't have any major pain or throbbing with it. After breakfast I'll change the dressing and I'm sure he will do his best to try and gross sister out. So I guess he is relieved of his yard work duties, I think I'll try and recruit the other two kids for that...I'll just make them wear padded suits.
Harry Potter Fever (from July 21, 2007)
So going to Borders books last night, at 9:30pm...with a bookstore of people dressed up as funny looking people, I wander around with Nehemiah waiting with "anticipation" for midnight to come. Will someone explain to me WHY I thought it was a good idea to do this? It was crowded, I have no clue how many people were there, I know at least one thousand and I'm sure more than that. We were smart and had reserved our copy of Harry Potter months ago online. We were doubly smart and went to the store we had it reserved at Friday morning to obtain a bracelet to hold our place in line. (And yet suddenly I feel like I am back in high school waiting in line for Def Leppard tickets).
Not long after we arrived Harry Potter (ok, some guy that worked at Borders dressed up as HP) handed us a couple of raffle tickets and two little "wands", well actually they were glowsticks but hey, we are in the fantasy land so I'm game. We wander the aisles stepping over sleeping children (!) and other people who had strategically stuffed themselves into little corners reading books trying to avoid the crowd. Pretty soon they were doing a raffle drawing and Nehemiah was of course excited as all get out. There was a wand (that I'm sure he only wanted because he thought it might actually make his little sister turn into a toad), scarfs that were like the ones that the characters wore and other various Hogwarts material. Of course with so many other people there we didn't win anything so when that was done we wandered about some more.
Time check now, 11pm. Mind you with my *wonderful* sleeping habits I had not slept well the night before and it really felt like the Red Bull that I had consumed at 9pm was not going to kick in. I had previously checked the line for the cafe inside the Borders but the caffeine line was about three miles long. By this time I would have walked to Seattle for a cup of coffee. We drag ourselves to the line and I was impressed at how quick it actually moved. Of course while we are in line they begin to do more raffle drawings so I stay in line and Nehemiah steps out to hear the numbers drawn. Again, no luck. Once we get our drinks and rest our sore little bodies at a table we feel a little more refreshed. Maybe, just maybe I will live through the night. As we sit and sip we halfway listen to the costume contest going on in the middle of the store.
Next thing I know it's almost midnight and they begin to line up the first set of bracelets. Just so you know we were silver. The bracelets all had numbers on them and were color coded. So there were three groups of people wearing orange bracelets, three groups of people wearing silver, and so on and so forth. Each group was about 75-100 people or so. I was relieved that the silver people went after the orange people so I knew we would not be there all night but none the less it was still pass this old momma's bed time.
We are hot, tired and the official countdown occurred with the books now flying out the door. They were still doing raffle drawings with people in line and I am half asking Nehemiah a question when they call out his raffle number. Now as I had said before there were a lot and I mean a LOT of people crammed inside this book store. So for those people that would win something you have to shout as loud as you can to get the ladies attention so she knows you are there and doesn't go to grab another number leaving you, well, prizeless. I let out a good yelp into the air and I hear over the loudspeakers, "I heard that, come on up and see whoever (God, I'm sorry I forget the characters name giving out the prizes but we were told to go see her) so we wade through the store dripping with sweat and Nehemiah retrieves his prize-a free book, not a HP book but a free book still.
So we get the book and go back to the other side of the store where I knew we would be getting in line shortly. They called the first group of silver people and of course they all line up behind Mr. Potter himself. By this time of the night Nehemiah is both excited and so tired he is almost serene-or was it just plain delirium? I wasn't sure. A few more raffle drawings and we are chatting with other sleepy (sleeping?) parents when they called our numbers to go get in line. Next thing I know my heart is racing (could it be that I'm actually excited???) we go show Harry our bracelet and get in the official "I'm here to buy a book!" line. I pull out my wallet and this line moved so fast I wasn't really even able to take a good look at all the little things up front. Of course Nehemiah spots a container of the Harry Potter Jelly Belly's and since he really was well behaved there I caved and let him have the beans (I mean who doesn't like booger flavored Jelly Belly's)?
The next thing I know we are up front, some kind looking checker waves us up, scans my credit card and we are off to the car. Nehemiah was given a free poster on his way out and of course once we get to the car the book comes out of the sack and my little 10 year old genius uses his glowstick wand to read by. I think that was the quietest 30 minute ride ever! By the time we walk in the door it's 1:08am and I feel like I am going to crash. I tell my messy haired boy to get some sleep (though I knew deep down he would read himself to sleep) and go to crash myself.
I hear Wayne snoring loudly so I get ready for bed trying to be quiet as to not wake him and it hits me. I drank a Red Bull at 9pm. I had a cappuccino at 11pm. I, ladies and gentlemen am WIDE AWAKE!!!!!! All of that lovely caffination hits me at one o'clock in the bloody morning. Needless to say I didn't get to sleep until about 3:30 this morning and have pretty much been quite incoherent most of this lovely day but Nehemiah is happy, he has already read through chapter 6 on his book (and of course he was reading it while eating lunch this afternoon and has fingerprints on his book because he took the dust cover off...sigh...that's my son).
Anyway, all in all I hope it made a good memory for him. It was really a fun time and everyone that we ran into was really nice and polite. It seriously brought me back to my high school days of waiting over night in line at the Milwaukie GI Joes for Def Leppard tickets (hey, I got 13th row so it wasn't to shabby for not having a bracelet then)!! All I hope is that in 20 years I hear a thanks instead of being dragged onto the Jerry Springer show for somehow wrecking my son's life.
A Long Day (from 3/30/07)
It has been a long day...I was up early and by 8:45 Wayne, Nehemiah and I were all at the local hospital's surgery center for Nehemiah's ear surgery. As a mother one of the hardest things to ever have to go through is watching your child go through something like surgery. He was nervous and it showed but he put on the bravest face. He had brought his stuffed bunny with him and a Harry Potter book that he checked out from the school library. I surprised him with a new bunny (that I even got a little hospital gown for) and a new book. That kept him calm for quite some time and I was thankful since the doctor was running a bit behind schedule today.
Nehemiah was the last operation for the day and I am so thankful that he has such a wonderful surgeon. He came and talked to us before the surgery and made sure Nehemiah understood what was going on before anything happened. This was the first surgery that he had to do his IV while he was awake. He weighs to much now to be gassed. All of his prior surgeries he was light enough that they could knock him out and then they would do the IV and anything else they needed to. He had a great nurse who was very calm and sweet to him. In just seconds she had that thing in with no tears. That alone was a relief!
About 10:45 or so they took him back and Wayne and I did our best to relax in the waiting room. We had some lunch there and around 12:40 or so his doctor came out and told us that everything had gone well. He was able to replace his ear drum and he had cleaned everything up in there. There is something about seeing the doctor walk through that waiting room door and you know he's coming to talk to you. It's like until he tells you that everything is OK you sit there and hold your breath while hanging on to his every word. When he smiles and shakes your hand you begin to breath again and you feel your muscles begin to relax.
After a few minutes we were able to go back with him in recovery. We knew we would be there for a couple of hours since the surgery was a big one. He rolled his eyes a few times and at one point I asked him how he was doing and he did his best to give me a thumbs up. He slept for the first hour then he started waking up and had a few crackers and some water. What he really wanted they didn't have so on the way home Wayne stopped and bought him some creamcicles. We had brought both cars because we knew there would be a chance that he would get called off to work so when I headed for home with Nehemiah, Wayne went and got the goodies and the pain meds. I felt bad for Wayne because for one I know how much he hates hospitals so for him to be there for support was huge, then when he went to go get the medicine the pharmacy was full and it took him an hour! I have to say I was thankful to have him there-I know Nehemiah was too.
The ride home was interesting. Of course what happens when you take a 10 year old after surgery, on a body part that is already going to mess with the equalibrium, give him a couple glasses of water, a few crackers then stick him in a car? Yup. We weren't one block from the hospital and we were horking. I laugh only because they hand you this little tray that holds about 8 ounces of liquid. I'm a smart mom-we've been there done that. I asked for a bag, the big heavy duty plastic bags you get with all your clothes in it. He made it too, nary a drop spilled. Here I was driving down the road one hand on the wheel, one hand holding a bag secretly praying I didn't get sick myself...is that what they call the joys of motherhood? I was lucky to not have been on the freeway so we pulled off into a small gas station and dumped the bag, got him cleaned up (and of course his ear was bleeding again!) and headed home.
He fell asleep once we got on the highway and slept the rest of the way until we took the Woodland exit. He opened his eyes and exclaimed, "That didn't take long at all!" I laughed and once home he tried to spring out of the car and no sooner sat up when he realized that he couldn't just run for the door.
But here I sit and he's on the couch resting. He's ate some rice and had his creamcicle now so he's good and relaxed. He's in the middle of watching Cars and I think I'm going to go buy Happy Feet tomorrow so we have a new movie here to watch. I chuckle to myself because his head is wrapped up in this bandage and gauze so he looks like some old wounded war vet. The house is quiet because Wayne did have to go to work, Jorden is spending the night at a friends and little Carinda is at the neighbors.
His post op is on next Friday-at the end of his spring break. Poor guy, I feel bad that he has to miss out on his spring break for this. I took him out of school early yesterday and took the afternoon off of work so we could go to Chuckie Cheeses and bowling. He had a lot of fun then and I'm hoping he'll recover well and get to enjoy Easter weekend. A whole week though with no physical activity...ugh...it's going to be a loooooong week. I think I'll go have a creamcicle.
Nehemiah was the last operation for the day and I am so thankful that he has such a wonderful surgeon. He came and talked to us before the surgery and made sure Nehemiah understood what was going on before anything happened. This was the first surgery that he had to do his IV while he was awake. He weighs to much now to be gassed. All of his prior surgeries he was light enough that they could knock him out and then they would do the IV and anything else they needed to. He had a great nurse who was very calm and sweet to him. In just seconds she had that thing in with no tears. That alone was a relief!
About 10:45 or so they took him back and Wayne and I did our best to relax in the waiting room. We had some lunch there and around 12:40 or so his doctor came out and told us that everything had gone well. He was able to replace his ear drum and he had cleaned everything up in there. There is something about seeing the doctor walk through that waiting room door and you know he's coming to talk to you. It's like until he tells you that everything is OK you sit there and hold your breath while hanging on to his every word. When he smiles and shakes your hand you begin to breath again and you feel your muscles begin to relax.
After a few minutes we were able to go back with him in recovery. We knew we would be there for a couple of hours since the surgery was a big one. He rolled his eyes a few times and at one point I asked him how he was doing and he did his best to give me a thumbs up. He slept for the first hour then he started waking up and had a few crackers and some water. What he really wanted they didn't have so on the way home Wayne stopped and bought him some creamcicles. We had brought both cars because we knew there would be a chance that he would get called off to work so when I headed for home with Nehemiah, Wayne went and got the goodies and the pain meds. I felt bad for Wayne because for one I know how much he hates hospitals so for him to be there for support was huge, then when he went to go get the medicine the pharmacy was full and it took him an hour! I have to say I was thankful to have him there-I know Nehemiah was too.
The ride home was interesting. Of course what happens when you take a 10 year old after surgery, on a body part that is already going to mess with the equalibrium, give him a couple glasses of water, a few crackers then stick him in a car? Yup. We weren't one block from the hospital and we were horking. I laugh only because they hand you this little tray that holds about 8 ounces of liquid. I'm a smart mom-we've been there done that. I asked for a bag, the big heavy duty plastic bags you get with all your clothes in it. He made it too, nary a drop spilled. Here I was driving down the road one hand on the wheel, one hand holding a bag secretly praying I didn't get sick myself...is that what they call the joys of motherhood? I was lucky to not have been on the freeway so we pulled off into a small gas station and dumped the bag, got him cleaned up (and of course his ear was bleeding again!) and headed home.
He fell asleep once we got on the highway and slept the rest of the way until we took the Woodland exit. He opened his eyes and exclaimed, "That didn't take long at all!" I laughed and once home he tried to spring out of the car and no sooner sat up when he realized that he couldn't just run for the door.
But here I sit and he's on the couch resting. He's ate some rice and had his creamcicle now so he's good and relaxed. He's in the middle of watching Cars and I think I'm going to go buy Happy Feet tomorrow so we have a new movie here to watch. I chuckle to myself because his head is wrapped up in this bandage and gauze so he looks like some old wounded war vet. The house is quiet because Wayne did have to go to work, Jorden is spending the night at a friends and little Carinda is at the neighbors.
His post op is on next Friday-at the end of his spring break. Poor guy, I feel bad that he has to miss out on his spring break for this. I took him out of school early yesterday and took the afternoon off of work so we could go to Chuckie Cheeses and bowling. He had a lot of fun then and I'm hoping he'll recover well and get to enjoy Easter weekend. A whole week though with no physical activity...ugh...it's going to be a loooooong week. I think I'll go have a creamcicle.
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