The "off-color" family goes to the Emergency Room"

“Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful.” -   Buddha

Those of you who hit my site yesterday realize that it is unusual for me to not have a post at least by the evening.  Yesterday was quite the day.....

As I said in my last one, my throat had been sore for several days.  Yesterday was no different, only it hurt like hell.  I could barely swallow when I got up and spent the morning spitting in a Kleenex because I couldn't swallow.  I thought about calling into work because of it, but I hate to miss work and I knew my staff would already be short because of some others on sick leave.  So I went in.  It was a busy morning and by noon, I could hardly talk.  I got us to lunch and then I said, I'm leaving. 

I sent the kids a text and told them to get a ride home from school and I went to bed.

When the kids got home, I was much worse.  I was in intense pain and I felt as if

my throat might be closing up.  It was beginning to be hard to breath. 

Now being in health care, I'd do just about anything to not have to go to the ER.  So I found an urgent treatment center and went there. My daughter Madison asked if I wanted her to go with me and since I could barely talk, I took her up on the offer. The first thing the doctor said was, "if you are having difficulty swallowing, then you really need to go to the ER for observation." 

I rolled my eyes and said, "I really don't want to go sit in the ER.  I feel too bad."

She did another strep screen which was negative again.  She did a throat culture because she said I had a severe tonsil infection.  She treated me with an antibiotic and high dose steroids.  I was to pick the meds up, go home try to get soup down and take the steroids in a high dose.

We picked up the prescriptions after going to the wrong pharmacy twice and came home.

Madison heated me up some soup and since I couldn't swallow well, I decided to try to take one of the steroids first so that the swelling would start to go down.

I put it in my mouth and went to swallow knowing it would be painful.  By this time my throat was so swollen

the pill got caught in my throat.  It wouldn't come up and I felt like I couldn't breath. 

My daughter got scared and so did I.   I could feel the tears coming as I strained to breath.

I coughed and cleared my throat and finally the pill dissolved enough to go down.

I told Madison to call "Big Daddy" and she got my son Braham from his room to drive me.

To make the story shorter,

once at the ER, I was taken back immediately.  I was provided a suction to pull out the "spit" and

we waited.  The doctor came in....

"you want the good news or the bad news"

I said give it to me...

Good news....it is not an abscess which would involve ENT.

Bad news...you have a severe infection in your tonsil.

We are going to give you some meds and try to get the swelling down

so you can swallow and get liquids down.

By this time, "Big Daddy" has arrived and he and Braham are in the room.

The kids are telling Big Daddy what has happened

and did some pretty funny imitations of me trying to give directions to the ER.

Madison said, "you should have seen the clerk when she tried to tell them her name.....am...we...millllwaa..

I had to interpret for them."

finally, the nurse arrived and I got two big shots in my sexy hot butt...

She also brought in liquid perocet.....

the kids and Big Daddy start laughing because I have a very low tolerance to medicines...

Braham said,  "this is gonna be funny."

I finally got the syringe of medicine down my throat after coming to tears trying to swallow.

Then I started feeling better and the kids kept watching and started taking video.

I found myself laughing too...don't know why and at one point I looked over at my daughter

and said, "Jesus Christ is in the house...." (this is from a video of a girl that was shown on the Ellen show).

She and Braham laughed so hard they cried.

Finally Big Daddy sent them home and waited with me which meant so much because

Big Daddy does not handle hospitals well.

We picked up my medicines and today, I feel like I've been run over by a Mac Truck but I can swallow much better and the percocet they gave me deadens the pain---"it's pretty good stuff."

So for today, I called into work and will tomorrow if I am not better.  Step one in self care!

and I am

thankful to be alive,

for family who loves me,

and

for medicine that makes us feel better

and Big Daddy who has taken really good care of me.

My lesson:  "pay attention to my own care"

I'm just as important as anyone else. I just tend to forget it until

stuff like this.

Take some time to look at the world,

take in the flowers,

feel the rain on your face.

It's a great day to be alive...

and

I don't know about you, but I'm thankful I am.

Happy Tuesday and Hugs to all of you!

Lazy Days and Mondays.....

You can't be friends with a squirrel! A squirrel is just a rat with a cuter outfit.”

Carrie Bradshaw from Sex in the City

I was sitting out on my deck yesterday morning---

having worship if you will--

sometimes for me...

a Sunday Morning on the deck

with a hot steaming cup of coffee and the sounds of the Universe

are the best sanctuary in the whole world.

As a first born overachiever...

I tend to have problems with

sitting back and taking it easy.

My mind runs about five thousand miles fast

and unless I am very intentional with my meditation...

it is very hard to stay centered.

As I was sitting there, staring into the trees just being present,

this guy came up,

laid down right in front of me and stared for a few minutes....

next thing I new he was snoozing away.

I thought about how lazy he was....

how he ought to be...doing something...

and I realized...

the same thing I think about a little squirrel enjoying a day

resting and sunning is

what I feel about people....who rest, or take a break or enjoy doing nothing...

I think they are lazy,

unmotivated,

no ambition.....

I watched him awhile...

and now that it's Monday,

I find myself thinking about him....

I've been feeling sick all weekend...

pushed myself on Saturday to pretend my throat did not hurt,

rested a bit on Sunday,

but went to the gym and did several miles and burned several hundred calories on the treadmill...

went to work

today

even though I could barely swallow---

sat at my desk and actually spit in a Kleenex...

now I have paid sick time--lots of it...

and I sat there spitting in a Kleenex---looking back there is something very wrong with that picture.

I did have a strep screen done down the hall and it appears that i have a virus...

I came home,

went to the gym...omg...I went to the gym even though I could not swallow--how sick am I.

and

now as I begin to think about being lazy...and

I realize,

I might learn a bit from my furry friend....

It is okay to slow down,

to enjoy the view,

but I want to do it better and faster and first...

I want to cram everything in,

to have a cherry on top kind of day

--- every day...

to live,

and laugh and dance and sing....

but for today and maybe tomorrow...

I'm gonna take a Lazy Monday evening day...

going to bed early,

going to pamper myself..

and I'll be damned if I let this over achieving first born girl

spoil it for me....do you ever fight with yourself.

Lazy Day Monday reflections

on Sundays gone past

can sometimes

open our eyes,

and

teach an old dog a new trick....

perhaps.....my friend...the lazy squirrel

has taught me that

enjoying the view..sometimes means you

just lay and stare and breath and sun....and do absolutely NOTHING! imagine that!!!

Have a Lazy Reflective Monday Evening....

you never know what you will learn about yourself....

Happy Monday...and Hugs to all of you.