Monthly Archives: June 2008

Zach……

***Sandi today….

Current mood: aggravated

GrrrOkay…Thursday night Ed kicked me out of the hospital to go home to get some sleep and visit with Shana thinking it would get my mind off worrying about Zack but he noticed that I stopped off and got a pass (just in case I changed my mind at some point during the night.) so he called home to make sure that I was there. We visited- I yacked on the phone- and did honestly try to get get some sleep but still doing the ‘combat’ sleep. Ed called from the hospital on Friday morning and said they’re releasing Zack so come up and get them. By the time I’d gotten there Zack was coming out of the bathroom from getting dressed and made to the bed and said he was going to be sick so I put the pan down just in time. Ed went to get the dr. who said to give it a couple of hours and in the mean time take Zack outside for a walk to get some fresh air. We got to the elevator and Zack leaned up against the wall and slid down- so went back to the room and let him rest a bit then tried to cruise around the floor. He was walking quickly anxious to get back to the room to lay back down. The nurse took his blood pressure lying down then again when he stood up and the numbers had jumped up quite a bit when he stood not to mention the color seemed to drain from his face-they said that was normal??? More time passed several more people in and out of the room until we got a resident who basically told us that there was a chance that Zack had picked something up there in the hospital so we could stay there and basically do nothing or go home and do nothing…they put Zack in the chair and he began shaking and crying because it hurt so much yet they tell us there’s nothing left for them to do. Now by this time as a mother going very little sleep- hardly any food that stayed down- I was irritable aggravated and just right pissed off. I turned around and looked at Ed and I told him- “I told you from the very beginning the f@ken diagnoses is a bunch of b.s. My son is sitting here in pain completely miserable and we’re relying on these people to make him better yet all we’re getting is a run around and bogus diagnoses when what they’re telling us completely contradicting to the experiences from other people who are dealing with this still because there’s no informative stuff about this confusion diagnoses. They can’t come up with what’s going on with him so lets slap a name on it call it good- and move on to the next person instead of continuing to find out what the underlying problem is. So if all they’re gonna do is give him drugs I can do that home- if he continues to get worse then we’ll go to another hospital that might actually do something! Because somethings not right- I can feel it in my gut!” I told him I was going down for a smoke because at that point I beyond pissed off. He wasn’t too far behind me after having his own thing to say to this resident when she began patronizing him. Once we came back we told the nurses that if all they’re doing is buying a couple of hours at a time with the intent of sending him home anyway then just give us the papers to send us home. By then a new pediatrician was on duty and came in to find out what was going on and we told her about the residents attitude/behavior and I told her that the resident ain’t got no business being a Dr cuz her bedside manor sucked- Ed’s like it has more to do with her personality and I said well that sucked too. The new pediatrician called the neurologist who said that Zack was to go home even if he was still throwing just give him a shot for the nausea to get home so that’s what they did. They gave us 2 new prescriptions- Ibuprofen (800mg) and Zantac to coat his stomach so the Ibuprofin wouldn’t eat his stomache lining. OK- I go to the pharmacy to get his meds and some pediasure to give him his dose at 9pm. Next morning I went in there and Zack says he’s feeling better I give him his meds just as I was instructed to do…by afternoon he was throwing up again even water wouldn’t stay down and dealing with yet another headache. So Ed took him back to the ER after grounding me home (due to the episode with the resident yesterday) and has returned home again with Zack looking and feeling better. Now the ER is saying that his meds were way too strong for Zack and that’s probably what was making him sick. These are the people I trusted to make my child better- not to make him worse. So it’s probably a good thing I didn’t go with back to the ER because I probably would’ve said even more. Grrr!!  Very frustrating! We’re hoping for a better day tomorrow- I’ll probably do another night of ‘combat’ sleep because I’ll be up and down checking on him all night again just to be sure he’s ok and not still throwing up for my own peace of mind. To top off the day- Nick began pulling more his b.s. as well throwing one his temper tantrums only adding fuel to an already well lit fire by deciding to run off down the road. Kids!! I swear that I’m on the verge of my own mental breakdown so I’m beginning to wonder if I should put the local psych ward on alert to get the straightjacket ready so I can get a vacation…

More on Zack…

**Sandi had this on her myspace blog yesterday :]

Current mood: refreshed

Nurse Wednseday once Zack was taken out of the ICU and placed in a regular room a new fear took over. I was thankful to be out of the ICU but began realizing that he was acting strangely…Guess the best way to describe it was that he was acting mentally retarded. His speach was all off and very hard to understand. We asked if it could be a permanent side effect but they didn’t have any answers for us. So we paced and worried some more. Of course I’ve ‘rested’ at the hospital when I could not wanting to be away for too long. Ed had even sent me home to sleep but I was so restless I just showered and went right back up to the hospital. Yesterday Zack was doing better and definately coming back to being hiself-and we’d hoped he’d be able to come home but his back still hurts from the spinal tap and in the afternnon he’d develpoed another headache so the Dr. wanted to keep him again especially when we noticed he was trying to prevent another neck spasm by rotating his head to be in control of it. He’s done a lot of sleeping…poor kids body has been through a lot though. Dr’s diagnosed him with confusional migraine- I did some research on it but because it’s so rare I got very little information on it but instead read some personal stories that really concerned me because it contridicted a lot of what the DR had told us…for example- we were told that it most likely won’t happen again but the stories I’ve read people had gone on to have multiple episodes. We were told it’s a child thing but some of the stories came from 16-24 years olds dealing with it as well. From all the stories I read it takes a few days to recoup from the episode itself but on top of that Zack has to recoup from all of the trama of the hospital doings as well. I’ve got mixed feelings- some of the stuff that I’ve read nobody had had the extremeness of what Zack seemed to have experienced- I didn’t read about anyone else being put on a breathing machine or some of the other things he’d gone through. So I feel as if we’ve got this diagnoses but still don’t really know what had happened- what is happening or what could happen in the future. It is very frustrating especially for Zack who has begun to ask questions and wants to know what is happening to him too- he knows that something happened. He remembered me telling “fight baby, you’ve got to fight” in the ICU and he told me “Mommy I fought for you.” I’m so very thankful for everyone’s prayers and your thoughts being with us that words can’t even begin to appreciate all of you being there for us in your own ways. Thank You so very much!! When Ed came up last night he kicked me out for the night- but he seen that I got a pass to come back in -JUST IN CASE. My Neice came up from Indiana to help with the other kids so Ed called her to make sure that I was home and that I stayed home last night. I slept- in the beginning I was still just resting being aware of what was going on around me but when I did finally begin to really fall asleep I’d jump up confused of where I was looking for Zack’s bed. At one point I almost just got up and went back to the hospital- yelling inside my own head that I should’ve just stayed up there but then having this discussion with myself in my head of how I need to go back to sleep and at least try to sleep. At some point I did finally drift back off for a little while. Some of you have grown concerned about me knowing that when stressed I don’t eat- I’m doing what I HAVE to even if it’s eating a few crackers once I’ve gotten to the point of being light headed. But food isn’t setting real well in my stomach these past few days no matter what I eat- I am trying though. Once I get Zack home I’ll do better…I promise. But right now it’s not about me- it’s about Zack and I’m doing what I need to for him. I wouldn’t intentionally put myself in danger when not just Zack but all of my kids still need me around to pester and be a fun-sucking mom.  I have no intentions of going anywhere anytime soon! Ok- well I’m goin to get a shower and get back up to the hospital to see what’s going on today- Hoping to bring my baby home! I’ll keep you all posted.

Not Feeling Too Well

I’m just not feeling too well.  I don’t know why.  I started off ok this morning, but when we were headed to REI I started to feel nauseated.  Now I get motion sickness, but this is only 30-45 min so as long as I’m sitting in the front facing forward I’m all good.  But I was feeling as if I was getting the beginning of a headache/migraine.  I haven’t had a migraine in years and usually my headaches are from dyration or sinus, but they don’t make me sick.

I took it easy when we were at REI, spent some money.  =) We are trying to pick up little things here and there.  Part of the issue is for some of it, we are not sure what to get…such as what cooking things…  There is so many different things and so much different info….it is mind boggling.

Then we went on to Torrid, about the only woman’s store that I can find stylish shirts that fit.  My poor husband, I would not normally bring him….I usually buy clothes, take them home, try them on to show him and return them if they aren’t to our agreement.  It helps to have someone who isn’t trying to sell something to you and wants you to look good for opinions.  =)  But the store is 30-45 min away.  So he brings his iPod, watches a movie and sits on the bench in the store and I try to find things as quickly as possible to try on for him to give his opinion.

By the time we left, I thought I was doing ok, but a few miles from home….yuck.  I had to laydown for a little bit and cover my eyes.  I feel somewhat better, but not fully well.  I didn’t even go tanning today or for my walk….which sucks.   I love going for my walks.  I’m debating on taking a tyenol pm to help me get over this and I don’t care to take those, gives me that drugged feeling in the morning.

I pretty much spent my day playing catch up on work.  I had gotten busy yesterday so got none of my work done.  I still need to put our laundry away….probably work on that tomorrow and try to finish this mess around my desk that I almost had done Thrusday before bed.  Getting my nails done Friday really slowed me down…..but they were really needed.

I had a bunch of news stories that I wanted to rant and rave about….but I don’t feel well enough for them.  =(

2008 06 15 110

Comcast offers BTN to states with Big Ten Schools…. except Iowa..

Torn_Rose

Justin(Thu Jun 19 17:35:48 PDT 2008)>Good afternoon. I will be happy to assist you with your cable inquiry.

Torn_(Thu Jun 19 14:39:10 PDT 2008)>Will I be able to get the Big Ten Network with Comcast while living in Oregon?

Justin(Thu Jun 19 17:38:16 PDT 2008)>Comcast at this time will not be providing the Big 10 Network to states outside the Big 10 area.

Torn_(Thu Jun 19 14:41:18 PDT 2008)>ok, that is really stupid IMHO, so I should look into dropping Comcast for a Dish?

Justin(Thu Jun 19 17:39:36 PDT 2008)>Let me make sure that is exactly the case.

Justin(Thu Jun 19 17:41:22 PDT 2008)>That is the case, I do apologize.

Justin(Thu Jun 19 17:41:25 PDT 2008)>Is there anything else I can assist you with today?

Torn_(Thu Jun 19 14:44:42 PDT 2008)>nope, unless you can tell me which is better, Dish Network or Directstar?

Justin(Thu Jun 19 17:42:28 PDT 2008)>Thank you for choosing Comcast as your Cable TV provider. Should you have additional questions, please feel free to chat back with one of our Online Customer Support Specialists 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at http://www.comcastsupport.com/chat

Justin(Thu Jun 19 17:42:31 PDT 2008)>Analyst has closed chat and left the room

How Do I Feel?: annoyed annoyed

My Boobie hurts.

Torn_Rose

I pulled a pectoral muscle while bench pressing 200# last week, I felt it when I did it and being the smart guy that I am, I just kept working out since it wasn’t that bad, just something I thought I could work though and since we don’t go to the gym on the weekend I thought 2 days of no lifting would take care of it.

I felt it somewhat on Monday as I worked out, but again, nothing too bad at the time but later Monday afternoon I sneezed (which lately is too common of a thing thanks to my allergies and the pollen count in OR is the highest in the nation this week) and when I sneezed I thought I blew my right boobie off, it hurt that bad!

Of course it’s a “deep” muscle so I have trouble even getting to where it hurts to rub and so far Ben Gay isn’t doing too much, so I just need to rest it I think. I didn’t lift at all Tuesday and today I tried to bench 135# which has been my “warm-up” weight and I could still feel it so I gave up after just 4 lifts and will take the rest of the week off from the bench press which totally bums me out since I can actually SEE THE DIFFERENCE WHEN I LOOK INTO THE MIRROR!

Since last summer when I weighed 236# I have lost 29#’s total give or take, I am now 205# to 207# depending on the time of day. It has been so long since I have been able to see “definition” on my own body that it’s freaking me out when I look in a mirror.

A few weeks ago I had to go to the bathroom at like 4-5am and when I was walking out to go back to bed, totally still 1/2 asleep, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror as I turned out the light and had to stop and turn the light back on and stared at myself for a few minutes totally amazed that I am once more in a “athletic” condition, I can still lose 5-10 more #’s but that would be my limit.

I am once more COMFORTABLY wearing my old jeans sized 34/34 which is down from my 36/34 that I have had to wear for the last 5 years or so. So I am making progress and I am pleased. I still want to get in better shape with better endurance with my first goal of being able to run 2 miles nonstop on a tread mill daily.

Right now the first thing I do when I get to the gym is 30 minutes on a treadmill, I walk a fast pace for .5 miles as a warm-up and then try to run as far as I can in .25 mile increments, the best I have done is 1.75 miles nonstop running (which I just did last week), but normally its walk .5 miles, run 1 mile, walk .25, run .25 to .5 and finish out the time walking until I get my 30 mins in and then I go lift weights.

There are a few women we see most days running on other treadmills and both can run 5-10 miles without thinking about it which I am jealous off, but at the same time I am not sure I want to do that. When I run more than 1.5 miles most of the time my feet and knees ache for a few days after, to the point that the next day of running I have issues even running at all, which has been my frustration since its pain and pain hurts, but it adds to the mental part of it since running has never been my favorite thing to do, so if mentally I am “not there” I can’t run, or lift for shit and those days piss me off like nothing.

Just wanted to brag with this post I guess, I think I look better than I have in years, I just need to start tanning again since this cracker is bleach white