The headache saga continues...

My poor daughter is still struggling with headaches. Over the last  38 days she has only had 9 pain free days. She spent six days within the last 3 weeks in the hospital. Thankfully she is not in pain ALL the time now, but it is still so frustrating that she continues to get these massive headaches that we've now learned are migraines. We are still searching for answers and experimenting with different diet and lifestyle changes hoping to alleviate and prevent her pain.

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So Scary

Since I couldn’t really talk on the phone with all the nurses and doctors checking on Summer, I sent these texts to let my husband and my two best friends know what was going on.
In Spotsy ER with Summer

Is she OK?

Head pain. Screaming. BP 164 over 90. They are giving her drugs for pain.

Did she go to the neurologist?

Yes. They said she has migraines. She started screaming on the way home. Drugs have kicked in so she’s not screaming anymore.

Do they know the cause?

They are assuming migraines, they are doing another CT scan to make sure nothing else is going on. They gave her morphine, she is still hurting but not crying.

Wow

Ridiculous, right?

Good

Pain still high, crying again, they gave her another dose of morphine.

Damn!

She wanted me to send you this picture to show you she’s being a trooper.

Poor baby, I’ll go let Lady out and then I can come to hospital

Lady is taken care of.

Ok, I will come to hospital.

Spotsy ER, Room 9


Keith arrived at hospital and I kept my friends in the loop as well.
I’m scared, she’s still in pain, they are arranging an ambulance to transfer her to a hospital in Richmond that has a pediatric neurologist.

Stay calm and try not to let yourself get upset. She is going to be ok. Keep me updated. Would you like our company? {Katherine}
Do you want me to go with you? {Julie}
[These girls are the best, I didn’t even have to ask and they were at my side as soon as they could.]

Yes please, in Richmond. Ambulance eta 5 minutes.

Are you going in ambulance? {Julie}
Are they going to admit her? {Katherine}

Not sure yet, we’re doing an ER to ER transfer first. Will know more when we get there. I’m riding in ambulance with her.

After all of these texts flew back and forth we got very few answers. We are very thankful that the 2nd CT scan came back clear, as well as the spinal tap that was done later that night at the second hospital. Although, she was admitted to the hospital for observation and then released the next day, we still have more questions than answers. Nobody can seem to tell us what is causing these headaches and why it has lasted 18 days!!!! She was discharged with enough medications to take down a small army and now two days after her discharge we are finally seeing a small improvement.
Summer racked up a bunch of firsts throughout all of this, first CT scan, first ER visit, first ambulance ride, first IV – not a fun group of firsts.
We are so thankful that it is apparently nothing life threatening but that simple explanation does not help the little girl sitting on my lap crying and begging for the pain to stop.

White flakes and white knuckles

This scene is beautiful you say, while I would have to agree just imagine what the roads looked like. They were not quite as pretty. I made my way slowly and cautiously to the office all the while wondering ‘why in the world did I decide to go in today?!’ Fortunately by the time I left to go home, the roads were quite clear and unfortunately the scenery not as pretty.

 

So there you have it, my white flake and white knuckle driving experience for the day. Hope things are pretty where you are!

Happy Birthday Julie

We took my friend Julie to the National Harbor yesterday to celebrate her birthday. We started the day off with a champagne breakfast and then we whisked her off up north, picking up another friend along the way. We browsed the shops in National Harbor, ‘rode’ a Harley, tried on shoes that were WAY too expensive, checked out the Peeps store and ate and drank to our hearts content. We stopped at CakeLove for cupcakes, and then on to Rosa Rita’s for mexican for lunch. Then we waited out the rain at Grace’s Mandarin and enjoyed the libations there. Only to continue on at the Thai Pavillion for dinner. We were pleasantly spent by the end of the day and have lots of great pictures to prove it. Here are some of my faves from the day.

Check out this slideshow to see more of the fun that we had!

 

Free digital scrapbooking design personalized with Smilebox

For the love of cheese

This has been my go to lunch for the last few weeks. Bad habit, I know, but paired with a cup of tomato soup… well, it just makes me happy :-)

Running on empty

Getting used to my new schedule and working full time again; this is how I have been feeling lately. While I’m very glad to be amongst the gainfully employed once again, sometimes I forget to fill my own tank as well as the one in my car. Fortunately, my car has one of those annoying dings to remind me I’m getting close to empty. As I slip into a worn out, grumpy mood when I’m getting close to empty I long for an annoying ding to warn me to stop and re-fuel.

February 2012 Roundup

1. What books and/or magazines did I read this month?
   Creating Keepsakes, and some books regarding medical stuff going on in our family . I also signed up for a Big Picture Classes workshop with Cathy Zielske called Ten Tips for Better Type.
2. What movies, television shows, plays, etc. did I watch this month?
   Friends with Benefits & One Day with my friend Diane; Radio Rebel with Summer, Keith was sweet and watched Mr. Popper’s Penguins with Summer. While she was sick I rented her a bunch of movies to watch: A Dolphin Tale, Treasure Buddies & Monte Carlo. She sure is a movie lover. On our Valentine’s Date, Keith and I saw Contraband. I started listening to Paperclipping Roundtable Podcasts again during my commute. I had forgotten how much I enjoy them. Although we’re not big sports fans we did make a point of watching the Super Bowl with some friends. As a former New Yorker, I have to say I was pretty excited that the Giants won!
3. What fun things did I do with my family and/or friends?
   Diane, my college buddy, came down from Saturday morning to Sunday evening and we spent the majority of that time relaxing, eating, looking at college photos and watching chick flicks. I enjoyed a Ladies Spa Day at my friend Katherine’s house one fabulous Wednesday.
4. What gifts did I give and/or receive?
   
   Got Keith a brand new BBQ for his birthday. Keith took me out to dinner and a movie for Valentine’s Day (planned it all himself and even got a sitter). Got Bryce some special snacks to take with him since I wouldn’t actually see him on Valentine’s Day. He loved his heart shaped Butterfinger treats.
   
   
   For Summer her surprise was a heart shaped box of chocolates waiting in her breakfast spot.
   
5. What special or unusual purchases did I make?
   Took advantage of the Designer Digital’s sale and picked up some things on my wish list for a sweet discount. Also I finally got to restock my Becky Higgins’ Project Life pocket pages and dividers. Took Bryce to Lowe’s to buy PVC piping and various other things for a project he decided he wanted to do. Also, bought paint and supplies to paint Summer’s rooom. Although, I’m not quite sure when that will actually happen {sigh}.
6. What illnesses or health concerns did I have?
   Bryce was able to survive a major cold and continue to work at the capitol. Summer had strep throat with a horrific headache. We are currently awaiting an appointment to get a CT scan of her head as well as another appointment with a neurologist in early March. These headaches just won’t go away and our family has a history of migraines.
7. What were my accomplishments this month?
   Started working full time again for the first time in three years. Still managing to keep the house halfway decent despite having way less time to do so.
8. What were my disappointments this month?
   Since I started working full time I haven’t made time to go to the gym and I miss hanging out with my friends (they miss me too). I plan on working the gym back into my schedule as well as making sure I make time to see the girls more regularly.
9. How did I do on my goals for the month? (Or any current short or long term goals)  While very thankful to have my wonderful new job, it certainly took center stage this month. Not much progress was made in any other area. I hope to have a different story to report next month.
10. Anything else noteworthy to include? So happy to have a paycheck and REAL medical insurance again. And, it doesn’t hurt that I love my new job!

This post inspired by Katie

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