Silver-Lining

What silver lining can you find with a head cold while you are pregnant and can't really take anything for relief? And when I say head cold, I mean a full-blown 2-week-er, complete with jaw pain and sinus pressure that screams inside your head when you try to blow your nose every five minutes because your brain is drowning in snot.

I've found my silver lining:
First of all, the nasty Glucola they make you drink in your third trimester to check for gestational diabetes... I couldn't taste it!!!!
Secondly, my husband, who let me go to bed on Saturday night at 6pm with the help of some Benadryl so I could get some rest after a long day of running around.
And thirdly, not having as much of an appetite, which is hopefully going to prove to be a blessing when I weigh-in tomorrow at my next OB appointment.

Sniff, Sniff

Got a head cold today. Came home from church and made my boys some lunch. Put Dylan down for a nap and started feeling some congestion. Decided to take a nap myself and when I woke up... Yup. Head. Cold.
Hoping now that it gets somewhat better by tomorrow morning so I can go to work.

And regarding baby: Kicking is getting stronger. Ryan felt her move this past week too, which I was excited about.
And cravings? I want mashed potatoes and Roscoe's fried chicken, fruit, and tortilla soup (I promise I don't want all those together. That'd just be disgusting.)

Barf-fest 2008

The morning after the "peacefully sleeping Dylan" picture was taken in the previous post, Ryan and I woke up at 5am to the sounds of Dylan coughing and crying in his room. Ryan, being the super-husband that he is, got up and went to check on him.

Dylan had thrown up his chinese dinner from the night before. Very unpleasant for all of us. Semi-digested chinese food is my least favorite smell!
So while Ryan (again, super-husband) cleaned up the bedding and started the washer with all the pukey blankets and sheets, I tended to Dylan.

And as I carried him into our bedroom with fresh PJs and a clean diaper, he said to me: "I need a bandaid" in the most pitiful little sicky voice.
I couldn't help but smile. How do you put a bandaid on a tummy-ache?

So I decided him getting to sleep in our bed would be a treat. We all piled in and tried to convince Dylan that even though the sun was rising, that it was STILL NIGHTTIME and we needed to go back to sleep.
Sometime around 5:30, he was puking again. This time in OUR bed.

Round Two.

So again, Ryan tended to the bedding while I took Dylan to the bathtub for a quick washup and fresh clothes. Then we came back to bed, full of fresh sheets. But this time with a bucket next to the bed, fully prepared for more of the same.
And yes, it came in handy when Round Three came along.

Poor little Dylan. I wish a bandaid could have fixed it all for him - way back at 5am.

Parental Sickos

Ryan stayed home from work yesterday with a stomach flu. He rested and drank lots of gatorade - our family protocol for tummy problems and dehydration. By the time I got home from work with Dylan, he was feeling better and was able to help with Dylan's evening routine as I started some chicken soup for my sick man.
Within about an hour, I was hanging over the toilet myself. For about FOUR HOURS. Not fun stuff, expecially with the guilt that Ryan wasn't fully recovered yet and Dylan was his little post-daycare-day-self, fussy and demanding for attention.
Today I'm home in bed from work, trying to keep at least a little liquid down. Fun times.

And for a little humor: Yesterday morning whilst we were both trying to get Dylan ready for daycare, I explained gently to Dylan that he needs to be extra helpful today because Daddy isn't feeling well. He looked up from his breakfast as if it suddendly made perfect sense to him why daddy wasn't feeling well.

Dylan: "Daddy baby tummy?"
Me: "No honey, daddy is just sick. No baby in Daddy's tummy."
Dylan: "Mommy nauseous?"

I guess he really does listen and picks up on our adult conversations. One that unfortunately we have in this household too often recently.

Migraines

Long story, but it's late and I'm tired, so I'll just toss out the gist of what's going on here with us. Yesterday I ended up in the ER again at work. I didn't want to go, but my loving coworkers insisted that I went and it turns out I was having a pretty serious migraine. Only thing that finally touched the pain was morphine! Boy was that pain INTENSE. And I know pain. Remember now people: I've had a baby.
And this time the doctor sent me for a CT scan, which put my mind at ease about one thing: No tumor. I'm glad to know that now for sure... (always worry in the back of your mind I think when someone has recurrent headaches).
The doctor determined it was a migraine when I told him about the flashing lights and strange feeling I had about 20 minutes before the headache and vomiting hit me. Unfortunately I was working and was with a patient when it all happened. Poor lady. Not only was she confused to begin with, but then I had to excuse myself a number of times to run to the bathroom. Thank heavens for a supportive group of coworkers. I'm blessed.
I'll post more another time as I learn more. Now I need to get to bed.

Urgent Care

What would you say is the most relaxing way to spend your Saturday evening? A movie on the couch? A good book? Yeah. I agree with those.
But that wasn't in the cards for us this weekend. Instead we got the privilege of going to the Urgent Care with Dylan last night, sitting in progressively smaller and dirty waiting rooms over a period of 3 1/2 hours, with a whinning toddler. Fun stuff for sure.
And if I'd have bet money that Dylan had an ear infection and we'd only see the doctor for less than 5 mintues, I'd be a bit less poor today and maybe less tired if I had gone to the doctor on Friday afternoon instead of last night's ordeal.
But in my own defense, he didn't start tugging at his ear till yesterday.
Today we are starting antibiotics and taking it easy at home.
And thankfully, Dylan slept in nicely this morning - just getting up now, nearly at noon! That's my boy!

Nose and Ears and Eyes, oh my!

Sunday morning Dylan woke up with his eyes 'glued shut' - and goopey, and... well, I won't gross you out. But it wasn't pretty. And he was miserable. And while we didn't know the exact diagnosis, it was clear that he had some nasty infection. Purple eyes, and one VERY fussy and unusually clingy toddler. So we called his pediatrican and got a prescription for some antibiotic eye drops until we could bring him in on Monday.
Enter Monday. I went off to work, leaving Ryan with the fun job of getting Dylan a doctor's appointment and taking the first shift of the day until I could come fly home at lunch to relieve him for his 1/2 day at work. He got a 12:40 appointment and I met my boys there. Another $30 copay.

What do we win? A set of ear infections, ladies and gentlemen!

So now we are $75 down with a sad little boy.
I've wondered over and over where on earth he could have picked up at least the eye infections... but then glanced at our blog here and remembered good 'ol Disneyland. Then Daycare. Then Make and Take. All in the past week. So there you have it. GERMS!

Want some?

Ana's Daddy

Last night I got a call from my friend Ana's dad down in San Diego, who just-so-happens to be a famous gastroenterologist. We talked at length about my symptoms and I'd like to point out that he was the most kind, gentle, and thoughtful MD I've ever talked to (and working at the hospital, I've spoken to my fair share of these guys).
He reassured me that if this keeps happening, we'll figure out what it is.
And while he isn't certain what is going on with my gut, he encouraged me that it was GOOD news that he couldn't. Because if he could, then it probably was something more serious and damaging (i.e. colon cancer or pancreatitis).
The plan is to wait and see (which makes me nervous - because a future episode is likely to spring on me without notice and I DON'T LIKE THAT)... but the plan also includes going down to San Diego to see him personally when/if it happens again.
Today I woke up nauseated again. But one Zofran later and 6 hours of silent prayers to just feel better somehow, I'm doing better this afternoon. I even ate some lunch with Dylan this afternoon. I think he ate more than I did, but it's a start. Right?

whatcha eatin?

Dylan has 4 new teeth coming in: top two canines and both upper and lower right sided molars. And the amazing thing is how well he's been eating (which if you knew what a picky eater he is, you'd be impressed too)!

Oh, and he peed twice today in the potty! Go Dylan! (even though one of those times was on my leg because he was sitting a tad askew on the seat and... you know). And the fun part was the jelly beans. He sure loves those.

And tonight when I put him down in his crib, he looked up at me and said "night night" and then replied to my "i love yous" with a sweet little "aye oh" (which is his version of the same). Made my day.

And me? I'm eating rice for dinner tonight (the 'ol B.R.A.T diet) while my boys eat yummy treats, including some cookies. I'm jealous. But I'm not nauseated tonight, so I'm pretty happy about that.

Time for more rice. (hey it works for the folks on Survivor, doesn't it?)

Day Two

1. This cat is driving me nuts. Ryan is liable to come home to a cat-less household tonight if Thaddeus doesn't leave me alone!
2. Yes, I'm still nauseated, but it is getting better. I haven't had to take another Zofran yet today (anti-nausea medicine) and I'm actually debating putting some food in my mouth later on if all goes well.
3. I feel like such a slug with all this laying around, but each time I get up to walk to the bathroom I feel dizzy and nauseated again... which brings me back to bed. I feel awful for not being able to go to work again today, but seeing patients when I feel lousy isn't fair to them either. And this morning at 6:45am while I layed here debating that very thing, another wave of nausea hit and my mind was made up. So here I am. Day #2.
4. Ryan is my hero. (did I mention before that we both also have headcolds - and he has graciously taken on more than his fair share of the parenting while I'm sick?)
5. The internet (while it can be helpful in some instances) is a vessel for my worry. Ovarian cysts, diabetes, colon cancer? What ever could this be? I think I need a new distraction for my nausea.
6. This cat is driving me nuts.
7. Ryan thinks that Dylan said "i love you" while waving goodbye to me from the car as they drove off this morning for daycare and work. It brought tears to my eyes.
8. I need a haircut. Oh, and a shower. (maybe I should start with the shower and move up from there, you think?)
9. One of these days I will finish this book sitting next to me on my nightstand. It is a good book in principle, but I'm struggling to really get into it. Actually, it is pretty emotionally draining. I don't want to feel any more drained right now than I already feel.
10. Dylan hasn't used the potty since Friday afternoon.
11. The cat is asleep again. I think maybe I'll join him.
12. Nevermind, the phone is ringing...

Updates:
I finally got a nap.
Dylan ate a huge dinner tonight. He's getting a new tooth coming in (right upper molar), so I'm impressed with how well he ate.
Oh, and Dylan used the potty again tonight after his bath - with a little pee pee success. He got a jelly bean and shouted "yea" and clapped with me when I got excited for him. It was a good night for us over here - (I'm still zofran free, and only a little bit nauseated). Thanks for the prayers.

coincidence?

I'm home again today from work. I tried to go in this morning and barely made it inside the door before rushing to the bathroom and then to my boss's office to tell him I'd be out for the day, AGAIN.
It's the 5th time I've had a stomach flu or whatever in 4 months and frankly I'm beyond annoyed. Ryan has looked at the calendar for a pattern of some kind and interestingly enough most of the times have fallen around the 19-21st of each month. Wonder what that means.
Regardless, I'm tired of this and I just want my old tummy back. I promise to behave, do my chores, and be nice to everyone. Just let me feel better again.

(and she opens another yogurt)

As of Wednesday night, I've started taking Zantac twice a day to see if that helps with the "acid reflux" problem the doctor determined that I have. So far I've felt better overall, but the mornings and late evenings are hard still. I feel nauseated with tummy cramping. And no, I'm not pregnant.
And I've started eating more yogurt, which apparently can't hurt with all those live "active cultures" in it to perhaps boost my natural immunities within my digestive tract. According to the probiotics school of thought, increasing your intake of healthy bacteria will spur better GI health. I don't know of any specific supplements to take (do any of you take/recommend a specific type or brand?), so I'm sticking to yogurt for now and will see if it helps.
Here's to hoping it does.

p.s. My parents came down to visit us and we had a lovely time. Dylan had fun tumbling and chasing around my mom. And he soaked up the attention of my dad, while building "carrier ships" out of Legos, reading books, and driving around his toy cars. Pictures to follow here soon, I promise.

nope and nope

Got a call back from the doctor's office today and both of the blood tests they did came back negative. So no h.pylori and my electrolyte panel was normal, I suppose. So that's not the cause of all this feeling like super-doodoo. I still need to wait for the you-know-what results to come back sometime later this week or early next week (by Monday, I hope). Dropping off my samples yesterday was all too uncomfortable, standing at the reception desk of the lab, explaining what I had there in the bag to Mr. Lab-dude. It is irritating to not know what is causing all this nausea and feeling a bit helpless in a solution to the problem. Dylan is still coughing and wheezing and a bit out of sorts himself. We make a joyful pair today. I can see why Ryan might have been half excited to leave and go to work this morning.
Well, wish us luck. May the best toddler/parent win - or maybe take a nap! (My personal vote is to be able to take a shower today, and maybe stay sane. Is that too much to ask?)

P.S. Dylan's top right molar has popped through. Just noticed it last night. And my oh my, are those molars big! Maybe that's to blame for the heightened fussiness and lack of sleep.
So to date: he has four top teeth, three bottoms (the fourth seems to be hiding out indefinitely), two top 1st year molars, and the left bottom 1st year molar. All in all, 10 teeth!

sick and tired of...

...being sick and tired.

This morning I awoke with Stomach Flu Part IV. F-O-U-R times in 3 months, ladies and gentlemen. I'm not kidding here. So I called and got myself an appointment this afternoon to see a doctor. Long story short: They don't know what it is. Apparently my digestive tract isn't functioning properly and could possibly be due to any of the following:
1. stress (no duh)
2. acid reflux (not sure if that can cause aches and diarrhea and extreme nausea, but I'm not the doctor here, obviously)
3. bacteria/infection (for which I get the privilege of collecting a very fun three samples of you-know-what to deposit at the lab later this week for further analysis)

I'm just guessing that it being number 3 would be too easy (and therefore won't show up with the tests- that'd be too nice) and so it's probably a combination of factors. Factors which I don't understand. Factors which 10 minutes wasn't enough to sort through and really clarify what she was thinking. And in those 10 minutes of talking to me, this doctor felt quite confident that it is stress and reflux. Oh, and something making my digestive tract all screwy. And to make me more "stressed" was the concept that a doctor who really didn't listen to much of what I was saying, can determine the problem and prescribe me some Pepcid and send me out the door. Now, if she's right, then would acid reflux cause body aches and dizziness and nausea and diarrhea? I really doubt that. And again, I'm not a doctor. But I know what my body feels like.
I'm so frustrated with the healthcare system right now. I could puke. Literally.

p.s. Ryan is THE BEST. I couldn't have gotten through today with Dylan not having daycare due to the holiday and my having to stay home from work. I love you, Ryan.

fever, rash, and snot galore

Dylan came home from daycare yesterday with a fever (102.3) and a nasty rash across his tummy. He was so sad and obviously feeling crummy. We got him fed, bathed, and then snuggled in for the night. Only problem is that he's not sleeping as well as usual. And because of the fever factor, he couldn't go to daycare today. That means that Ryan had to stay home for the day (trying to get work done during naptime and other random stolen minutes) while I was at work. Then he went to work after I got home for a few hours. It was a long day for all of us.
I just hope Dylan can get some sleep tonight (little cough in background).

Ryan and I are desperately trying to ward off the spread of this virus he's picked up who-knows-where (another little cough heard from down the hallway).
We are washing our hands like crazy and I'm on a near-constant mission to wash all laundry before the germies crawl down the hall and attack us.

you say TEN?

Ok. So with the second bout of the stomach flu in the past month, I can safely say that my appetite has dwindled to near nothing (nausea really does a number on my appetite). On an ordinary day I'd be glad that I'm not hungry, but after stepping on the scale this afternoon and realizing that I've lost about 10 pounds in the past two months or so, this is ridiculous. I forced myself to eat a little something for lunch after work today. Hopefully it stays down....

Anyhow on a happier note, Dylan has finally gotten some new socks. He was busting out of the old ones. His morning with daddy (while I was at work, trying to see my patients and get home as quickly as possible) consisted of a trip to Target and the store. Ryan reports that Dylan had a meltdown in the grocery store, which I can imagine was NOT pleasant, but I'm glad they got out. And I'm very excited about those new socks. (can you tell that my expectations for good news has shifted?)... and in my own defense, Ryan seemed pretty excited about the new socks too.

Dylan is in love with his blankie now. He always seemed to like a couple of them, but recently (like in the past week or so) he's attached himself to one in particular. He chews on the soft, cushy fabric and snuggles it at bedtime. I figured out that he really liked it this past week when he saw me take it out of his crib to put it in the big-bad-washing-machine. I had to work some distractable mommy skills there to keep him from a full meltdown. "Hey, there's another blankie here. How about a train or your bear? Or how about helping mommy fold some laundry over here?" And, boy oh boy, was he excited when that beloved blankie returned the next day in his crib. I guess this one is a keeper.

Lastly, Dylan got a haircut recently. It is a little shorter than planned, but precious nevertheless. Kinda reminds Daddy of Jim Carrey a bit...

flossing? um.

My new years resolution was to floss. Everyday. But with another strike of the stomach flu (or whatever it is this time, I don't know), last night lent to an evening floss-less. That was the least of my concern really. But I'm disappointed in myself on a number of levels. Flossing is just laying on the surface. I'm disappointed that I am not fully "mommyable" to Dylan when he wants to play and I feel like running instead to the bathroom, with waves of nausea lurking around the next corner of my day. Disappointed that I'm not fully there for Ryan and having to lean on him more than he deserves right now, with a full plate of his own with work and Dylan when I'm feeling sick like this. I only hope this is just the flu and I'll be feeling like myself again in a day or so. I hope, I hope.
And so I ask, has anyone gotten the stomach flu TWICE this season? Is that possible?

feeling better

Briana here. Feeling better. No more typhoid. Just some residual nausea at times if I overeat and don't stay cautious of the sometimes still-sensitive tummy-ness. (however I must add that there was one benefit - if you can call anything related to the stomach flu as a benefit... loosing 5 glorious pounds!)
And regarding the whole accident thingy, I'm working through it... albeit slowly. Some things just take time to resolve in your mind and work through emotionally. I'm just so glad to have had the loving support of my dear friends and family this past week (special thanks to my mom for coming down to help on Tues/Wed and my friend Kathy for being here for me in so many ways). I don't know what I would have done without you all. I'm so blessed.
Speaking of support, Ryan was such a doll this past week. I'm so thankful for his support and kindness. He never complained or gave me grief for laying in bed and not feeling like lifting my head off the pillow while I was sick (in fear of puking yet again), all the while dealing with Dylan alone, working hard so he get his work done and come home early and take care of us, and making sure I was comfortable. I'm a lucky, lucky girl.
Thanks Ryan. I love you.

typhoid Briana

Tough week here. So to add to the stress of my last post, the past 24 hours have been filled with nausea, vomiting, the works. Yup. I got the flu. Not pretty. Especially with a toddler.
Isn't it amazing how unphased toddlers/babies are when we get sick? It is like they almost seem more energetic...
So I spent the majority of the day today in the bathroom or in bed. Yuckers.
And sad to say, I hope that this was the flu, because it will mean that it will be over with in another day or so and not an indication of some kind of emotional manifestation from last Sunday's events... I never thought I'd say those words: I hope it is the flu. Sigh.
Silver lining: blessings of friends and family who step up to help when things seem unbearable and hopeless. Oh, and loosing 3 pounds!
Thanks to you all who have been here for us this week. And to those who stop by here on occasion, I promise future posts will be less depressing.


PS-Ryan here. Most pics from now on will be taken with my newly arrived, much anticipated (2.5 months) AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED lens! Here's a pic: