Cathy's Grace Notes

Embarrassed?

For two weeks, our nine year old is going to the local camp at the college. She has been going now for several years, as it is a time for her to spend with her cousin and keep busy during the day. I have mixed feelings about her going - I don't mind her being here, but she enjoys being with the kids her age.

This year, she gets "bumped up" to the next older group - since she will be in 4th grade this year. Before we get to camp today, she announces. "Uh, you don't need to walk me in today."

Are we into the age of being embarrassed by parents?

She ain't seen nothing yet, just wait til I get my swim cap with the flowers on it and start working on my somersaults in the pool.

Doesn't seem possible....

Doesn't seem possible, but 30 years ago today, #1 child was born. Here he is with is girlfriend on a fishing trip. Though I might be biased, he is one of the nicest young men I know. Happy Birthday, Fungus. Hee.....

Be Careful What You Ask For

Mom has had problems with her foot since last Fall when she had a stress fracture.  They placed her in a boot to stabilize foot and allow the fracture to heal. After a period of time, they told her to start weaning herself off the boot into a shoe with a orthotic for her arch.

Well, she still is in the boot. And can't seem to move to the shoe with orthotic because of the pain.

She went to the orthopedic clinic today and wanted a second opinion from one of the doctors. He recommended a cast up to her knee to stabilize the foot.

She's so  mad -- that is not what she wanted. Be careful what ye ask fer.

Mom Update

Update on Mom - Mom is doing better - her cough sounds "worse" which means it is getting better, since her cough is NOW being productive. Don't know how much longer she will be in the hospital.

This afternoon, I squeezed in a walk and had gone to the YMCA track - the parking lot was filled with cars with all that was going on. I noticed that my van had the MOST pollen on it in the parking lot. So..... I drove my van to the gas station that has a car wash, and gave it a proper bath.  For the moment, it has a minimal amount of pollen, but mind you, we NEED rain! RAIN. Spring break begins after school lets out tomorrow afternoon and it won't be a minute too soon!

Keep those prayers coming!

Out of Pocket

I have been out of pocket as Mom is in the hospital with pneumonia. She has had a bad cough and congestion over the past couple of weeks and this morning she said she needed to go to the emergency room and away we went. She is now getting an IV for dehydration and an antibiotic for the pneumonia.

Prayers requested and appreciated.

Out of the mouth of a 9 year old

Conversation at dinner after church:

Adult 1: You have 2 other dogs at home, correct? I believe they are hairless chihuahuas. Is that right?

Adult 2: Actually, they are Chinese Crested.

Adult 1: Oh yes, that's right, they look similar to chihuahuas in their size.

9 year old in all of her excitement: OH I KNOW WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE - I SAW THE UGLIEST DOG VIDEO ON TV............

Yep, out of the mouth of babes...

An antibiotic is the reason why I am here

An antibiotic is the reason why I am here, but it's not the reason why you probably think.....

Cheesehead posted about the misuse of antibiotics in the world today and my haven't they been? However, I wanted to share a little story with you and why it hits a soft spot with me.

If it weren't for antibiotics, I wouldn't be here today.

My parents met  during the late 1940s, not sure of the year, under circumstances that less than ideal. Mom had been a student in college and Dad was working. Mom got sick at college, really sick. Well, their illness is how they met each other as both were in a tuberculosis sanitarium.  I don't know how long they were there, but I know that Dad had been placed on a medicine that was experimental at the time. Streptomycin was the name of that new drug, and from what I understand, Dad was very very sick.  Well, Dad lived to tell that story. Antibiotics were the miracle drug.
So, as a young child, when we were sick (and it seemed like we were alot - but that is when we all got measles, chickenpox, mumps,etc) we went to the doctor and we got an antibiotic or a shot (I always knew if I went to one of the pediatrician, he would give me a shot. The other one would just give me a prescription. Guess which one I liked going to?).

Dad is no longer with us on this earth, but Mom is. When she goes and gets her chest xray, there is calcification spots showing from when she had  tuberculosis. And.... when she gets sick with respiratory stuff, she gets antibiotics.

The mentality of antibiotics being needed for every infection, especially respiratory, is hard for some to shake. Antibiotics were and are a matter between life and death for some. We now know that antibiotics will not treat every infection.

So.... Cheesehead's posting jogged a little story to share that gave me time to reflect as well as to see how medicine has changed over the years.

So.... I am here on this earth today because streptomycin saved a man's life. And that man was my Dad.

Leaving home to go home

The anticipation of the holiday is wonderful. Full of excitement and looking forward to seeing loved ones. Gathering together as a family has a feeling of satisfaction, of bringing those that can come under the wing one more time. Sitting around the table to share memories, to see and hear of changes that have occurred since we last gathered. It's the essence of capturing a time when we sat together daily and we shared those times - and now we can only have snatches of them.

It also makes me aware of how independent they have become. They leave to go back to THEIR homes, they look at THERE as home now.

I do ok until they all leave, and then it hits. Seems like just yesterday they were SO underfoot, I looked forward to them growing up. Now I wish they were right here.

I need to stop writing this post as the tears that flow are what I need to focus on right now. 

Time to get well

We are trying to get better, but  it seems every time we turn around we get knocked down. I am finally finished with the prednisone and I am on the mends and beginning to feel myself. Mom has been bringing up the rear as she was the last one sick with bronchitis. Today she called me at work to say she was feeling sick and weak. Got home and she was not feeling good at all, and finally said to call the ambulance, that she needed to go to the hospital. So we called 911 and the ambulance came and got to the emergency room. (Many details escape this posting, but going to the hospital was a wise decision.)

When we got there, and after several tests/xrays done, we found out she has pneumonia and a urinary tract infection. So she is in the hospital until she gets better.
We are thankful for the good medical attention that the emergency medical technicians and the emergency room staff gave Mom.  Now we look forward to the medicine doing the good it needs to do and for Mom to get better. Prayers, too!

This past week at home

It's been quite the week in this home - it has been consumed with consumptive like coughs that never would relent.  I have missed over 5 days of school/work, which I don't think I have done for a personal illness since I began working. Needless to say, it's been humbling to think I can nip this bronchitis on my terms and go back to work when I THINK I should/need to return.

I tried to return Thursday, but by mid morning I knew it was a mistake. I couldn't do it. I had to go home. By the end of the week, 2 more prescriptions had been added to my list of keeping up to take. Sleep has/was erratic especially with the prednisone. This weekend I did get out on Saturday morning and was a little wiped out, but I could see that I was beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
There are a few things in which I am thankful. Not once has there been a feeling of impatience on my dear husband's part in "when are you going to get well?". If I needed something, he got it. No complaining... I think I'll keep him.  This with the fact he, too, had what I had, but not as bad. My mother had it several days after us and still is hacking.

Other things I found out this week:
I can knit half asleep if I am ONLY in KNIT MODE.
Even if I think I can watch a movie in the middle of the night and I am wide awake, I sure can't remember what it was I watched.
The benefits of using a local pharmacy - free delivery.
Fast food comes in handy.
When taking certain medications, it is not beneficial to think one can read anything of any substance.
Chin and Tillie did not understand my erratic sleeping patterns and when it was time for me to wake up, they were relentless. The cat didn't care.
Diet Cherry Lime Aids don't taste as good unless your tastebuds are working right.

Tomorrow is a workday and for that I am truly thankful. Thanks for all the well wishes in the previous comments - prayers were heard and felt!