July 30, 2009

Eat Fresh

Today was the longest, busiest day of my week.

After working my shifts I quickly gave Dawson a shower, then showered myself, and we got dressed to head out to do the errands.  I had my 28-week doctor’s appointment this afternoon (more on that later), and we had some things to accomplish in addition to that.

Just as we were heading out the door at (it was around noon), Doug called to ask if we could drop off his knee brace.  Somehow he forgot to put it on before he left for work.  For those that don’t know, he manages the frozen department of our local Copps grocery store.  He does a lot of manual labor, and he’s suffering knee trouble due to the last 20 years of managing stock rooms and store shelves.

After saving my husband some pain, we went to the bank to make a deposit and to get a cashier’s check to pay our property taxes at the county treasurer’s office.  Fifteen hundred dollars needed to be paid before tomorrow’s installment deadline.  I hate giving money to people I don’t really like.

Next we went to the doctor’s office.  I had to repeat the glucose testing and have blood drawn, as well as pee in a cup to detect protein in the urine.  Dawson was so well behaved.  I was very impressed.  After an hour of waiting for the disgusting glucose cocktail to do it’s thang, I had my blood drawn and we went on our merry way.

We went to the pharmacy to pick up two new prescriptions, one for baby aspirin (it’s supposed to help lower my blood pressure in addition to the methyldopa I already take) and one for an iron supplement because I’m deficient.  Again.

Dawson was a very good boy in the store.  I couldn’t believe it.  Usually he begs for things.  Today, he happily sat in the cart and asked questions about why there are so many drugs in the “farm-you-see”.  To reward him for good behavior, I bought him a Transformers story book from K-mart (we use their pharmacy since it’s down the street from the clinic).  He’s obsessed with that movie lately.

Post pharmacy we went to the post office, then to the library to return our books. Dawson played in the children’s department for a little while, picked out a movie and then we headed to the gas station.   My “empty” light was on and I didn’t know if I’d make it home if I didn’t fill up.

After paying for my gas, we climbed back into the car and Dawson told me he was very hungry.  It was then that I realized we didn’t eat lunch.  I had forgotten to feed my kid.  I felt like a bad mom.  And he was so well-behaved!

“Do you want to hit McDonald’s?” I asked.

“Noooo, Mom,” he replied. “I’m sick of Donald’s.  Can we go to eat at Subway?  I want to eat good today.”

I started laughing.  My child wanted to eat Subway instead of greasy french fries.  He never ceases to amaze me.

Luckily, Subway was just down the road from the gas station so we went inside and ordered our sandwiches.  Dawson ordered a ham sub (the kid’s version) with tomato, cucumber and black olives.  I had the veggie since I can’t eat cold cuts or deli meats.

My little munchkin wanted potato chips instead of apples and I couldn’t say no.  When we were finally at our table and ready to eat, I opened his chips and ate one.

“Mooooom,” he said.  “Those are NOT good for you.  They can make you fat!”

I was stunned.  My little dietician was telling me what I should and shouldn’t eat.

“Well,” I started. “Why did you pick these instead of apples?”

“‘Cuz, mom.  I’m just a little boy.  I don’t have a big belly yet.”

“I’ll have you know, young man, that my belly is big because your brother is in there!”

“I know mom.  But I don’t think he likes ‘tato chips.”

“How do you know?” I asked.

“‘Cuz babies only like good food.  You gotta eat fresh, Mom!”

I think this child has watched one too many Subway commercials.

July 11, 2009

Swine Flu Scare

So I’ve had a sore throat since Tuesday. It started out as just a tickle and gradually turned into something so horrible that it hurts to swallow water.

Then I was on Facebook on Friday morning, and I updated my status to reflect this miserable bit of information, and my friend tells me her 2-year-old son was in the ER the night before, and that the doctor believes he has swine flu.  Yeah, you read that correctly.  The freakin’ SWINE FLU!

I see my friend and her son at least 3 times a week, so if indeed the poor little guy does have the H1N1 virus, I’ve been exposed.

“Don’t freak out, okay,” my friend e-mailed me.  “But it starts out with a sore throat and nasal stuffiness.”

Did I mention I have had a stuffy nose in addition to the sore throat thing?  Did I tell you how I did indeed freak the hell out?

I was ready to drive myself to the ER right that minute, but a wise owl told me to call my OB/GYN and inform them that I’ve possibly been exposed.  The nurse who took my call told me to stay home, get lots of rest, and avoid contact with people.  She also explained that if the symptoms got worse, to call back and they’d decide whether or not an Urgent Care visit would be necessary.

I spent most of the weekend sleeping.  Dawson was at my parents house since Thursday, before I realized I could be infected, and my parents said he was fine.  He was full of energy and had no visible signs of being sick.  Thank God for that.

Doug didn’t seem to be sick either, so we figured perhaps I was just having an allergy attack, or that rhinitus of pregnancy was causing some sinus troubles.

As of today, my throat feels somewhat better.  I’ve been drinking gallons of water, and the occasional 7-Up (the carbonation feels wonderful on the scratchy throat), and my symptoms are not getting any worse.  I think the worst part was the freak-out I had when I realized I could have the flippin’ swine flu.

My friend is still waiting for results from the test her son had Thursday night.  They are quarantined until the results are in (and they were supposed to be in on Friday), and I know my friend and her family are on edge, waiting for the doctor’s office to call back.

Let’s hope the little guy just caught a cold that will go away quickly!

January 8, 2009

The Sneeze Factory

It’s Sickness Central here at the DF house.  I think it all began Monday afternoon when I was feeling sort of yucky.  It was like I could feel an impending illness coming on, but it never turned into a full blown thing.  Until yesterday.  Dawson has it, too.

I think it’s a stomach bug because we’ve spent most of our time in the bathroom.  Immodium has helped me, but the little guy doesn’t really understand what’s happening.  Yesterday he clinged to me and cried a lot when he wasn’t awake.  And let me just tell you he didn’t get a lot of sleep.

Dawson insisted on laying next to me on the couch while we watched an Unsolved Mysteries marathon on Spike TV (and we’re watching it again today).  I hadn’t watched that show in so long and the marathon was awesome.  I love seeing all the updates and solved cases.  Dennis Farina is pretty good as host, but I do miss Robert Stack.

In addition to the virus thing, I’ve been sneezing like crazy, but I think it’s allergies (other symptoms include scratchy throat and dry eyes).  I can’t imagine having a cold on top of it all.

I haven’t eaten much the past two days.  What’s the point of eating when my stomach is in protest?  Saltines and 7-Up are doing the trick for both me and Dawson.

Since we’re mostly watching television today, I’ve been surfing the channels and came across an Elvis Presley movie marathon on TCM. I’m waiting for the ones that I don’t already have on VHS to come on TV.  Roustabout starts at 3:30.  Woot!

It’s Elvis’ birthday today.  He’d have been seventy-four years old had he stopped using drugs lived.  I’m a huge Elvis fan and have been since I was little.  My mother and my aunt were mega fans and introduced me to his movies and music at a very young age.

I think I was five years old when Aunt Judy told me he was dead.  I cried for days. Seriously.  He died two years before I was born, and my grandmother thought it was hilarious that I was crying over the man she called “the glorified lounge singer.”  She liked Elvis, but she wasn’t crazy about him like her daughters.  Doug will be totally annoyed when he comes home to find me watching Elvis movies, but I say, I’m not feeling good, so he can buzz off.

In between movies, tv and mothering a sick little boy I’ve tried to read blogs and news stories today.  I haven’t gotten very far, but I’ve got some good links to share:

Dear Brett Favre – Because you know I’m a Packer fan and can’t get enough Favre talk.

Gearing Up For Valentine’s Day - I love the marshmallow pops!  Such a clever idea!

Are You Freakin’ Kidding Me? -  If this happens I will protest.  I don’t think it will, but anything is possible in our country…  and if it does I will march from my home to Washington D.C. and I will do something drastic.  I don’t know what yet…but I sound threatening, yes?

Christina Has a New Look! – And both of her girls are beautiful, dammit!

This sweet bloggy pal o’ mine has big news. – If anyone understands my conception woes, it’s Lisa, and I’m so freaking excited for her.

Enjoy the links!  I’ll be back when I’m feeling much better.

December 8, 2008

Dear Santa Nintendo,

Please send Wii.  And Wii Fit.

Wii we need them desperately.

Love,

The Dana Files

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What?  It’s worth a shot.