The one where the Universe decides to see how much I can take...

So we have two Doctor's appointments down this week for Mike and both went well. The Surgeon is pleased with his progress, but told him to take it easier and not be in such a rush to get back to work. I resisted doing the "told ya so" dance. He made another appointment for two weeks and said absolutely no work. He had also done a chest x-ray, which is looking good. Today we saw the kidney specialist, who also said Mike was doing well. He did repeat blood work and Mike's hemoglobin has climbed back to 12 (almost normal!) on it's own. This is an awesome sign that there's no further internal bleeding. He also concurred with the two more weeks of no activity. Of course, Mike is chafing at the bit. Fortunately, these short jaunts to town make him realize just how weak he still is.

As if we didn't have enough to deal with...bring in the workman's comp case nurses. For real ladies? First they wanted to come into the Dr appts with us. Invasion of privacy much?? I put my foot down there. But they do come in and talk with the doctor (with us present) at the end of the appointments. And ladies...you can stop telling me how you don't really work for the insurance company and you are there on our behalf since every question you ask is geared towards how soon my husband can get back to work. Trust me, no one wants that more than him. But no one is more determined to see that it doesn't happen until he's recovered than me. And I thought you were nurses?? Seriously, even I knew that the recovery period for major surgery is 6 weeks and that's not counting the trauma and broken ribs. You better tread lightly.

And then there's poor Lu. Who was it that said "If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plan"? I guess that applies to the Universe too. Because the Universe sure screwed up my summer plans. And now it's decided to play hell with Lu's school plans. While her Dad was still in the hospital I noticed that she had several awful bruises and was looking pale and tired. Well, of course we were all stressed and not getting much sleep, but my "spidey senses" kicked in. I told her to get a blood test since she hadn't had one in 6 weeks. (Since her platelets had been holding their own at a safe level, the doctor was letting her go two months between appointments.) She argued that she didn't need one, didn't want one. We bickered and finally her Dad threw his weight on my side. The Monday he got out of the hospital, Lu had a blood test and received a frantic call from her hematologist's office. Her platelets had nose-dived to 21,000. We saw him the next day and he explained that since her ITP was recurring it was now classified as chronic and we'd have to look at treatment options. Lu cried. She told him that she didn't want to be on steroids for a year again (the side effects are nasty). He gave us a few options, though he recommended removing her spleen and prescribed some high dose steroids that she'd take four days a month.

The high dose steroids worked and this week her platelets had jumped to 245,000 which is firmly in normal range. But the steroids caused insomnia and muscle pain. We did our research and sadly there are no good options. There's the steroids, but they have harsh side effects with long term use and only buy her a couple of months at a time. She's not a candidate for another treatment because she has RH negative blood. The platelet growth stimulator's only buy a small bump in platelets and can mess with your bone marrow chemistry causing other problems. Also, they are so new that no one knows the long term effects. The Rituximab might buy her a few years of normal platelets but again has harsh side effects and is the doctor's last resort. IVIG infusions only buy a couple of months at a time. With the splenectomy she faces the same infection risks that her father now does. But the chance that it could cure her condition are 65% for a complete remission. Her age and relatively short duration of disease (18 months) puts her in the group that has the best chance. If not a complete remission, it could at least buy her 2-5 years of good platelets. It has been a heart wrenching decision, both for her and for us. But she decided to talk with the surgeon (the same one who did her dad's surgery) about the splenectomy. Oddly enough, their appointments are the same day, one right after another.

Since she works at the camp for kids with disabilities in July, she's hoping to schedule her surgery for the first part of August. This means she won't be moving that month. The move and school will have to be post-poned. I admire the fact that she doesn't whine and cry and ask "why me". Don't get me wrong, there've been a few tears, but mostly she just deals. She gets that from her Dad.

So by the time Mike is ready to vacate the sickroom, I'll be moving Lu in. I'm thinking of putting a revolving door on my office. What do you think?

♥Spot

The one where someone wins pretty things and alcohol speaks...

Yay! It's Wednesday!! I don't know why I'm so happy about that. It's not like anyone in my household has weekends off so it's not really like I'm halfway to two days off. And yet, Wednesday still holds some strange appeal. Maybe it's the fact that Ghost Hunters is on Wednesday nights. Or Happy Town. Although I haven't watched the first one. It's still sitting on my DVR, calling my name. Or maybe I'm excited because my birthday gift to Hildi's oldest is arriving today (she turned ten yesterday...Happy Birthday Madi!) and I sent her some great books. Or maybe it's because it's Cinco de Mayo, which should totally be a holiday in the US. I'm sure someone would come up with a political or socio-cultural (I'm not even sure that's a real word) reason for making it a holiday. But I'm going to go with, what a good excuse to eat Mexican food and drink Tequila!! Who's with me on this??

No, I'm excited because today I get to announce the winner of my giveaway! Woo-hoo! One lucky person gets $60 towards the purchase of some pretties for their house courtesy of CSNstores. And the lucky winner is...Heather! Congratulations girl! Please shoot me an email so I can send you the promo code!! I really wish everyone could have won! Maybe I'll get lucky and someone else will ask me to do a giveaway. *wink wink, nudge nudge advertisers!*

In other news, Lu & Dexter left for Texas last night and I'm already missing her! They should be arriving at their destination right about now. They get to spend a week down there on his Aunt & Uncle's ranch. They went in August and had an awesome time. They even camped on the beach. I wish I was headed to the beach...

We saw the Dr. about Bobby's broken clavicle. They promise in two weeks it will be much improved. The xray looks like someone broke the bone and then tried to build an Indian tee pee with it. They gave him some stronger meds and said he could try school tomorrow. Going back to work depends on how much pain he's in. His manager is being awesome about it though. And obviously no driving for awhile. Looks like Sean and I will be sharing chauffeur duties.

My physical therapist is trying to kill me. I'm pretty sure she lays awake at night trying to think up new tortures. Yesterday's visit ended with me biting my lip and gritting my teeth. The funny thing is it's not the injured knee that hurts...it's the hip. I may have to go get the shot in it after all. Grocery shopping afterward probably didn't help.

I had my first video conference call with one of my clients today. It's a little surreal finally seeing someone you've only chatted with on the phone. Ok, the whole video calling thing is surreal to me. I just got the web cam last week. And I've video called Hildi once too. That was awesome being able to see her and the girls. I guess you get used to it. The funny thing is, I was all nervous, so I got up early; showered, fixed my hair, put on makeup, picked out casual, yet business like clothing and downloaded Skype. Then I waited. And when he called? He was wearing a tshirt. Yes, I overdressed for a conference call. My bad.

Hubby is still majorly busy and so I don't seem him much. Last night, as I was getting ready for bed he was already in bed.

Me: Don't fall asleep yet! I have stuff to tell you.

Hubby: Mrwrmm. Okay. I'll try.

*I go into bathroom, take meds, brush teeth, ect. Finally I emerge*

Me: Are you asleep?

Hubby: No

Me: You looked asleep.

Hubby: No. I'm awake.

Me: Well, okay. Do you want to know how my doctor's visit went?

Hubby: Yeah, of course.

Me: Really, because you didn't even ask?

Hubby: Yeah, I forgot, sorry.

Me: Well Dr. O said he wished all his fibro patients were doing as well as I am. And that almost everyone is getting great results with that medicine. He advised me to avoid surgery at all costs because he's worried about all my allergies to antibiotics. Dr. L is worried about that too. But basically, I don't have to see Dr. O again until next year.

Hubby: Well that's good.

Me: And Dr. L spent like 5 minutes with me. It was one of those times he keeps trying to get up and leave and I keep making him sit back down. Anyway I'm supposed to call them Monday and let them know if I think the kidney infection is cleared up and the swelling is gone. And he's not worried about the BP and Heart rate spikes as long as I feel fine.

Hubby: *who has rolled over, says over his shoulder* So the whiskey didn't tell you anything.

Me: What?

Hubby: So the whiskey didn't tell you anything.

Me: Um. No. The whiskey didn't tell me a damn thing. Was it supposed to?

Hubby: *rolls over and stares as me* What whiskey?

Me: That's what I'd like to know. You said "so the whiskey didn't tell you anything?"

Hubby: No. I said "So basically, he didn't tell you anything."

Me: Well that makes more sense. Especially since I hate whiskey. We really aren't on speaking terms.

Hubby: *shakes head and rolls back over*

Me: Now the tequila, however...


Happy Cinco de Mayo!
♥Spot

PS- I promise to start catching up on all of your blogs. SOON. =]

The one where I look young and Sean *nearly* starts a zombie apocalypse

Mmmmkkkkay....just to clear up a few things...Lu was NOT serious about being pregnant. That was a total joke and I'm not worried about it because as she said the other day..."I don't want to be stuck here for the rest of my life. I don't mean with you Mom. I like being with you. I just meant HERE. In this tiny little area." I so know what she means. Wish I'd considered that before getting pregnant a month out of my teens. And the threat of running to Vegas to get married? Well that was real. Until I pointed out that if they got married, neither of them would have health insurance. Because you can't be on your parents when you're married. Duh. That put the ixnay on that. Lu can be a very practical girl and when you have a blood disorder, health insurance is a priority. Sorry to intrude on their romance with my dose of reality. And for those of you who thought I remained very calm during the conversation...of course. Not poetic license, I really was that calm. Don't you read my blog?! That kind of crazy happens on a daily basis. I can't endanger my health by getting all worked up. Now on to today's daily dose of insanity...

Yesterday started with a hitch...Sean's eye. He started complaining that his eye was hurting Wednesday night. Something along the lines of "I can't feed the cats, I have a brain tumor". He says it felt like when you get punched in the eye, all bruised in the socket and the lid and the eye. It looked fine to me. Not swollen, not bloodshot, no apparent problem. So I told him to suck it up and take some Ibuprofen. And that it was not a brain tumor. Well it was still hurting Thursday night and the Ibuprofen wasn't helping. And yesterday morning the eyelid was beginning to swell. And he was about to leave on a huge weekend camp out. So yesterday morning I got up and called our NP. She decided to have him come in so she could look at it. The phone call with me and the nurse~

Nurse: Well I have some openings this afternoon.

Me: Um. I have to have him back here early, he's going on a big camp-out.

Nurse: How about a 2:15?

Me: I have an appointment with the orthopedic doctor at 2.

Nurse: Can you be here in 15 minutes?

Me: We live half an hour away.

Nurse: Um...

Me: I hate being a pain in the ass...

Nurse: *laughing hysterically* let me check with the doctor...

Me: Okay. Great!

Nurse: Can you be here in an hour?

Me: Sweet!

Of course this meant that I showered, got ready, stopped for gas and drove like a maniac to make it there in an hour. We were only 10 minutes late. I blame Sean for borrowing the car and bringing it back on "E". Seriously, we were sweating it the 10 minutes to the nearest gas station, the little orange gas pump light was on when I started the car!! But we made it and she did a thorough exam and then set him up an afternoon appointment with the Opthamologist, because she couldn't figure it out. Awesome. Now we have 2 hours to kill between appointments and his is at 1:10, so I might be late to mine. We did what anyone would do in that situation. We ate lunch. We went to our favorite Mexican restaurant. The one I always (seriously, always) have a coupon for. We had a fantastic lunch of chicken quesadillas, rice & beans, and huge fountain cokes. Then we went to check out~

Cashier (One of the family that owns the place, maybe about 10 years older than me. Always very friendly. We talked about how "Dora" was teaching American children Spanish and Spanish children English last time I was here. Don't ask. I always talk to stranger.) *to Sean* you have beautiful blue eyes!

Sean: *doing that guy thing where they duck their heads and mumble* thanks.

Me: Awww...you're so pretty Sean!

Cashier: Is he your brother?

Me: *laughing* No. He's my son. But thank you. You can be my best friend now.

Cashier: Oh my! Then you must have had him when you were a baby!

Me: Actually he's my youngest.

Sean: She's older than she looks.

Me: *punching him in the arm* Thanks brat.

Cashier: But your mom is so pretty. That must be where you get it from.

Me: Yeah Sean. You better remember that.

At this point I had to use the restroom and since I couldn't locate my keys in the huge bag I call a purse, Sean had to wait in the restaurant for me. When I came out, she had him cornered. He looked distinctly uncomfortable so I rescued him. As we walked out the door, I told him "episodes like that my dear, are why I color my hair!".

Then on the way to the drugstore to drop off some refills and grab up the last 3 bags of leftover Starburst Jelly Beans from Easter, Sean and I had this convo~

Sean: I have stuff to do at home. I did not want to be in town all day.

Me: Um. Ditto. It's not my fault your being a medical mystery.

Sean: It's not a mystery. I have an eye tumor.

Me: You do not have an eye tumor. *but secretly wondering what the hell is wrong with his eye*

Sean: That's what they always say. You're going to feel awful when I do.

Me: Whatever. Hey...maybe you could be on Mystery Diagnosis! (One of our favorite Discovery Health shows).

Sean: *saying it at the same time as me* Mystery Diagnosis! *then we fist bump, because we are so totally cool and in-sync*

Sean: But I don't want to be on there, because they take like years to figure out what's wrong with people. I want it fixed now. I'm going to ask them to test for "yo- antibodies". Then they'll know it's cancer. You know I was thinking...if "yo-antibodies" fight cancer, why can't they harvest those from one person and inject them in another?

Me: I think you might have just come up with a cure for cancer. Or maybe found a way to start the zombie apocalypse. Either way, I say "GENIUS"!

Sean: Well, then you have to get rid of the "yo-antibodies" so it's kind of like curing measles with pneumonia.

Me: That might be a little drastic.

On that note we decided to go to the library because we had an afternoon of doctor's office waiting ahead of us. I got The Birthing House by Christopher Ransom. I'd been going to buy it off Amazon, but free is so much better. Sean got Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Slayer. Don't ask okay? On the way there, this conversation ensued~

Sean: Did you just say "that stripper is off her pole"?

Me: Why would I say that? What does that even mean?

Sean: I don't know. You're the one who said it.

Me: I did not say that. I was talking about my mom.

Sean: Your Mom is off her pole.

Me: *shaking my head in utter defeat*. Maybe that could be a new phrase for crazy. Man, that stripper is off her pole!

Sean: Perfect! I'm going to call Lu and scream that into the phone and hang up.

Me: She hates it when you do that!

Sean: I know. That's why I'm going to use your phone.

Me: Hey! Give that back! She'll know it's you anyway.

So that is our new phrase "That stripper is off her pole!". I think it's catchy. Please feel free to use it in your daily conversations. I think it will totally catch on. Lu thinks we should stop inventing our own sayings. I think secretly she's just jealous.

Well, there are more conversations, parenting advice and why I should probably write a book on parenting coming. But that's enough for today. Tune in tomorrow for the exciting conclusion. Does Sean have an eye tumor? Was Abe Lincoln a Vampire Slayer? What the hell is a Birthing House anyway?

Happy weekend! If you're bored, you should probably color your hair (it's like a magic fountain of youth). Or figure out how to work your new favorite saying ("that stripper is off her pole!" (you're welcome)) into conversation.

♥Spot

The one where Lulu acts like a 5-yr old and Sean tries to get me arrested...

First off...my apologies for not blogging the last two days. Thursday my folks stayed until about 2 before they went home and quite honestly I was too exhausted to do anything else the rest of the day. Like I didn't even cook dinner for my family. My hubby heated me up something in the microwave. I probably lost a corner from my "50's housewife" card or something! But it was a good visit with my parents and there will be more on that in the days to come.

And yesterday? Well I fully intended to blog when I got home from town but again with the tired. Okay. And we decided to watch a movie. But I commented on some blogs so that should totally count for something! We went to town yesterday for my dr. appt, Sean's appt, grocery shopping, to get movies and pick up med refills. It was not the best day ever. I have to go back to the doctor in 2 weeks so that's never good. Sean has a pretty good case of pneumonia. I had to go to 3 different grocery stores. And we never did get to see our friend K and her brand new baby M, which was the sole reason Lulu tagged along to town.

Now most of the time, I adore spending time with my children. With Lulu so recently moved back into the house, the dynamics are slightly off. And both children were slightly cranky yesterday. Sean due to the pneumonia and Lulu, well, because she can be?? So they were bickering with each other as well as me. By the time we hit Sean's appt, I had a headache. But as usual, his visit was a riot. My kids see a Nurse practitioner that they've been seeing since their old doctor retired about 8 years ago. She's a fantastic doctor. She and Sean have always had a very sarcastic relationship. So we leave Lu in the waiting room with her book and go back to the exam room. The nurse tells us that there is an NP in training and is it okay if she sees us first? No prob. She comes in and does her exam. Sean is on his best behavior, oddly enough. When she finishes, his regular NP comes in~

NP: Were you nice to her?

Sean: Of course!

NP: You can be as smartass to me as you like but you better be nice to new people.

New NP: (looks totally confused) He was nice to me.

NP: So what's going on? No. Wait. Let me guess...you have a fever and a cough? Geez. Can't you come up with something new? It's always the same with you. Pneumonia.

Me: He says he knew he was getting sick on Friday last week and still went to the polar bear camp out this weekend.

Sean: well I was already getting sick so what was the difference?

NP: What kind of stupid man logic is that?

Sean: if I stayed home every time I thought I might be getting sick, I'd never go anywhere!!

*** so then the NP stops and discusses some of Lulu's stuff with me for a minute. The outcome being that Lulu needs to get her flu shots and they can work those in today since she's in town with me. Then she turns back to Sean***

NP: Okay, it's all about you again. I'm your most humble servant.

Sean: You are anything but humble.

NP: Watch out pot...you're talking to the kettle. At least I don't need a garage size door to fit my inflated ego head into my house.

***they decide to do blood work to check for mycroplasm (the walking pneumonia germ) even though we all know it will be positive. Sean goes to the lab to get blood drawn and I go to the waiting room to tell Lu the nurse is going to call her to get her flu shots. She has a fit. Seriously, I mean like a five year old. Now, she hates shots but for real?! The H1N1 shot has saved lives this year. Could she be more ridiculous?***

Me: You're all the time wanting to be treated like an adult and right now you're behaving like a spoiled 5-yr old. That is what I'll treat you like.

Lu: Good! I don't care. I don't want flu shots.

Me: You don't want alot of things. That doesn't mean you don't need them. Are you going to make your children get shots?

Lu: Yes.

Me: Well then?

Lu: Not after they're eighteen. The choice should be theirs then.

Me: Why? Quite obviously, the good decision fairy does not come along and tap you on the head just because you turn eighteen.

Lu: *sticks her tongue out at me*

***the nurse comes and gets us. Lu gets numbing spray and shiny band aids. They even offer her a sucker. She whines about her arm hurting. I give up and take them both to lunch at Jimmy Johns. Where I try to ignore Lu as much as possible when you're sitting next to someone. Which leads to me reading the signs on the wall. Then I read one out loud***

Me: We'd love to see you NAKED but state health code requires the wearing of shirts and shoes.

Sean: Huh. Well since pants don't seem to be a requirement I'm not wearing any next time I come here.

Me: I think they just figure most people don't walk around pantless.

Sean: I'm not most people.

Me: Truer words were never spoken.

***Lu does get over her tantrum, although she continues to claim her arm is going to fall off. By the time we get through the second grocery store, I have a monster headache and I just want to go home and put on my pjs. And spend some time not with my children. At the checkout***

Me: You're supposed to push the cart a little around the side Sean.

Sean: well that's not how I do it.

Me: okay but I have to have room to get to the little thingy to write my check.

Lu: you should get a debit card. Checks take forever.

Me: (under my breath) I cannot wait to get home and get away from you two.

Cashier: (starts laughing hysterically)

Sean: What did you say?!

Me: Nothing dear. I love you.

Sean: (looks at cashier all serious like) She beats me.

Cashier: (more laughter)Really?

Me: No one believes you Sean. I think I'd have a better chance convincing people that you beat me.

Sean: show me the bruises.

Me: Oh honey. They're all on the inside.

Thankfully no one was really harmed in the making of this blog. I got about 30 minutes of peace eventually. Later, when I was telling hubby about my day I said~

Me: I'm exhausted. You're kids drove me crazy today.

Hubby: Yeah, I thought you were crazy taking both of them.

Me: Maybe next time you could say something, you know, before I do it.

♥Spot

Oh the weather outside is frightful...

but the fire is so delightful. Since we've no place to go...let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! Mmmkkk. I really do like that song and usually I'm totally up for it. But we seem to be having a bit of snow overload currently. And still, I'd be totally cool with that if I didn't have anywhere to go. But for some reason this week I've had more places to go then I do in a month most of the time. Still, I'm not complaining. I just put on my long johns, my jeans, and my hoodie. Add snow boots and gloves and that's my winter go to town uniform. I don't wear a coat because I think they're cumbersome and I get hot. You can do the same thing with lots of layers. (which can then be removed when warm). My mother informed me last time I saw her that I looked like a farm girl. I replied that I didn't much care because I was trying for warmth and comfort not style. Also, my snow boots not only keep my toes warm, they keep me from busting my tooshie on the ice. So there.

As I said yesterday, a trip to town was on the agenda. Hubby had an appointment which ended with a mole removal from his chest and Lu had a hematology appointment. Her platelets are at the very lowest "normal" number 150,000. Which means they've been steadily dropping 10-20 thousand per week. Since you can still have surgery when they are as low as 70,000 we have a couple more weeks before she'll need treatment again. Hopefully. As usual we have to watch for signs of a more significant crash. Extra bruising, nosebleeds, petechiae. Then we ran some errands. Let me just say...getting out of our drive and off the gravel required a truck. No way either of our cars would have made it. The highway had barely one lane cleared and the roads in town were still horrible. Add people who can't drive properly and you get awful road conditions. We were in Hubby's work truck which is a good size truck but not 4wheel drive. Lu had come to town in DEBF's 4wheel drive to buy the parts for him to fix her car and then he dropped her off at the clinic where we met her.

Well he called to let us know that the snow had drifted pretty bad on the road to the house and he had some trouble even with having 4wheel drive. Hubby had plowed that road earlier but well, drifting snow has a mind of it's own. So we get to the road and get three feet down it. Then we're stuck. Really stuck. So Lu calls DEBF and no answer. So she calls the house and gets Sean. He bundles up and walks to Hubby's shop where DEBF is fixing Lu's car and they come to the rescue in the 4wheel drive. Hubby, DEBF & Sean hook chains between the two trucks then hop back in. At first we go nowhere. There's a lot of smoke and burnt rubber smell and tire spinning but we don't budge. So DEBF backs his truck up close to ours (I close my eyes in case he hits us). Then shoots forward, jerking us forward too. I give a little scream and Lu turns to me laughing.

Lu: Haven't you ever been pulled out before?

Me: No. I try to make a habit of not getting stuck. (DUH?!)

Lu: Well after two years of dating DEBF I've had lots of experience. Sometimes we're the pullers and sometimes we're the pullees. I've been pulled out of mud, snow, floodwaters, and ditches.

Me: My. What an exciting life you lead.

Lu: Being pulled out not so fun. But we always had fun getting stuck.

By this time we're being pulled down the road. Then the chain snaps! Luckily we're unstuck and able to go on our own. Although I'm still worried we're going to hit the back end of DEBF's truck. Then Hubby pulls into our drive and slides sideways, nearly taking out my car before righting himself. I flinch, tense and shut my eyes. Lu turns to me again.

Lu: Geez mom, have a little faith in your man. Their trucks are like their penises. They know how to use them.

That just may be the best analogy ever. If only it hadn't been my daughter who said it...

♥Spot