As long as we can still laugh

I know we're okay.

Red Ribbon Week is teaching Noah some interesting things.  Last night, he was very serious, talking to me about drug use.  "Did you know there are different kinds of drugs?  Some are in needles, some are pills, and some you inhale.  When I grow up, I'm going to use drugs I can inhale cause I don't like needles or pills."

Monday was camouflage day.  Neither of my kids own anything camo.  I jokingly explained to Savannah that they couldn't support being drug free because of all the medications they're on.  She was NOT amused.

I haven't really delved into the crucifixion, instead focusing on the fact that Jesus loves us.  Noah knows that Christmas is Jesus' birthday and was asking me about his age.  I explained that Jesus was 2009 years old, that our calender is based on his birth.  Later, he was imparting his newfound knowlege to Savannah.  I did not hear her response, but I can guess at the basic information.  All we hear in the next room is Noah's scream "Jesus is DEAD?!?"  Matt's response: "Does Santa know?"

Noah likes to run around in just his underwear.  It was cold, so I'd already told him several times to put on jammies.  A short while later, a police officer pulled over a truck in front of our house and the lights were flashing in the window.  Matt told Noah the police were coming to get him cause he was hanging out in just his underwear.  Noah ran into his room and was pulling on shorts as fast as he could, hollering for Matt to "hurry get me a shirt!"  Yes we are evil bad to find this so amusing.

As we were picking out our pumpkin, we came across one that had a big rotten hole in it.  Noah looked into the hole, then declared he did not want that one.  "That one has a scarey face insie it.  We don't want that one.."  Yeah, we got one without scarey holes and drew a friendly kitty face on it.

After Noah's doctor appointment, I treated him to McDs.  The guy in front of us had been really rude, so I was trying to be nice and friendly when I ordered.  "We'd like a chicken nugget Happy Meal with extra happy!"  The cashier glared at me, "We don't sell 'happy'."  Apparently they don't give up free smiles either.

And then...

Noah had pneumonia twice last year.  Savannah has a compromised immune sytem.  I am almost frantc to prevent them getting the flu, especially after my recent experience.  I made their appointment in September, as soon as our pediatricuan opened them up.  My pediatrician's office called this morning at 7:15 to tell us they were out of the flu vaccines that my kids had an 8:45 appt to get.  She suggests going to health dept, they'll accept medicaid.  We're not on Medicaid, we're on JPS Connections.  Oh, then they magically DO have some flu mist vaccines for those children.  My son has asthma and cannot take flumist.  Well, they *might* have an injection vaccine for him in their super secret private pay stash, bring him on in.  Don't wait till your appt time, cause it is first come first serve and they only have ten left.  Great!

AND THEN...we showed up to a crowded waiting room.  Savannah got her flu mist, #8 of their last ten.   Her vaccination was free.  They did not have an injection vaccine for Noah.  The nurse had already called the other pediatric clinics and they were all out as well.  She suggested hitting the streets to get him one.  I drove the kids to school first.

AND THEN...I spent two hours calling every pharmacy chain in the phone book.  All the office staff and a few teachers kept popping up with random suggestions to help me with my hunt.  Did you know the AT&T yellow pages and white pages no longer have county service listings?  I had to get the health department's phone number from the school nurse.  They had pedatric shots BUT they had dispensed the day's allocation already.   If I'd like to show up around 6:30am tomorrow, I *might* stand a chance at getting him one.

AND THEN...school nurse was chatting about needing an independent radiologist that accepts private pay.  I remembered doing Savannah's foot xray that way, so I called our old doctor.  They helpfully gave me the info she needed.

AND THEN...I thought to ask if they had the vaccine.  Yes, they had pediatric and adult both!!!!!!  I pulled Noah back out of class at 10am to boogie him over for it. 

AND THEN...we found out 6 yr olds actually receive ADULT dosage.  I'd spent two hours making repetitive phone calls looking for pediatric when he needed adult. *bang head against brick wall*  Nurse was iffy about the injection due to Noah's egg allergy, but agreed his asthma made it a necessity.  Noah got his flu shot *happy dance* then sat in the waiting room for 30 minute observation to make sure he suffered no ill effects.  His vaccination was also free.   They offered to give me one, but it hasn't been 30 days since I had the flu.

AND THEN...Noah returned to school around noon.  I stayed to make sure he didn't have any ill effects.  One great perk of volunteering is you can stalk your kids like that.   I did some laminating, made a few copies.

AND THEN...I checked Savannah back out of school for her dentist appointment.  She behaved beautifully for the dentist, stayed perfectly still for her filling.  We were there for two hours.  Total, I spent 5 hours visiting three different doctor's offices.  Crazy.

AND THEN... I came home to update you guys!   I was up most of last night with Noah, so I'm thinking a 6pm bedtime sounds pretty darn smart.

Whirly

I hate that.  I like life to be peaceful and serene, or to at least contain just one blip at a time.  Right now, it seems someone puked on the radar.  I just want some quiet time.  Peaceful days for us all to laugh and love and enjoy ourselves without looking over our shoulders at the stressors waiting on us.  And they're lurking, a whole gang of them.

We went to see Meatballs for my niece's birthday.  It was cute.  Not great, but cute.  Probably won't waste money buying it on dvd.  I think I could become a 3D junkie though.  Toy Story 1&2 were awesome in 3D.  I loved watching Noah trying to catch the snowflakes on the screen.

Matt sees the ENT about his throat today at 3pm.  Still having the terrible pain, especially when he sings.  Singing kinda is required for a good music teacher to function, so we're hoping they find something easily fixable.

Noah is having daily asthma attacks again, most of which are at night.  This sucks.  The breathing difficulty ends up causing him to throw up every time.  I'm wondering if he has an ulcer again or if this is just normal after-flu effects.  Pedi was not in the office on Monday.  Noah already has an appt Monday (next) to get his flu shot, but I don't know if that is actually with the doctor or just the nurse.

My PCP said last week that I needed an echocardiogram done within 7-10 days to determine what damage may have been caused to my heart.  I received an appointment card for December 3rd.  Umm...7-10 weeks?  What do I say.  I still haven't got my fasting bloodwork done either.  Thursday  I was too sick to go, Friday I forgot and drank some juice at 6:30am.  Saturday we slept too late since they closed at noon.  Yesterday I was actually good (yay me!) then found out they were closed.  At least I called before we drove over.  I've already given up this morning and had some coffee to help my headache.  I should be sleeping, but I feel worse when I'm laying down.

Angelbutt

Wrestling and rough housing seem to be the sport tonight in the Huitt house.  Both kids, dogs and hubby are enjoying themselves thoroughly. Chewy bit Savannah on the butt.  Savannah tooted on Noah.  "That's why they call me Angelbutt!"  They both keep chasing Matt around, all enjoying themselves thoroughly.  Savannah slapped Matt.  "Was that supposed to hurt?"  "No, that was only 1%."  She tooted on him and declared "5%!  Now I'm going to show you 100%" and waylaid into him.  Matt finally popped Savannah back and she yelped "Oh, be carefiul!  I have sensitive skin!" 

She just came back in the room and slapped Matt in the stomach.  "Do you still have sensitive skin?"  "Nope." and walloped him again.  I remember fondly the days of tiny ruffled pink dresses instead of Angelbutt the Wrestler.

Beck and Call Mama

I spend my days just waiting for my children to require something of me.  Noah is convinced of this.  Tuesday I parked at the side of the school and walked them as far as the flag pole.  Normally I walk them inside but I can't enter the school right now, so I just watched them till they made it in the door.  That afternoon, I parked in the same area then waited by the flag pole for themso they could find me easier.  They came running out to me awhile later.  Noah sees me by the pole, races over then asks "Did you stand here all day waiting for us?"  "Of course I did."  "Interesting.  I must have walked right by you when we went to recess."  It seems quite acceptable to his lil 6 yr old brain that Mama stood outside in the wind and rain for 7 hours just waiting for them to get back out of school.

I spent Tuesday night with Matt in urgent care.  My kiddos crashed at my parents' house.  We were there 7 hours, from 9:30p to 4:30a, just to confirm that he had flu so he could get a Golden Ticket to keep him out of school for a few days.  The doctor freaked when she heard he was am elemenary school teacher.  So between us, I contaminated one entire school by volunteering, he's taking out the other through music classes.  I think for Halloween we should dress as germs.   He also has a nasty sinus infection on top of it. 

After a two hour nap, we picked up the kids from my Mom's house and took them to school.  We then drove to my new PCP.  She is very ticked off at how ER treated my case on Friday.  My EKG results were irregular so I should've been strapped to monitors and kept for at least 24 hrs of observation.  The 15 hours in the lobby doesn't count.  She is ordering a stress test for my heart to see what is or isn't going on in there.  She says I should not be taking any b/p meds, that it isn't high enough yet to justify medication.  She agreed the heart seizures could be from illness but most likely a reaction from tamiflu.  Except for being fat, I'm incredibly healthy and doing great.   So glad to hear that.  I'm having some random labwork done, but not too worried any more.

After my next 90 minute nap, I picked up Noah from school for his allergist appointment.  Those nurses just adore him.  I think we had 9 stop by to see how he was feeling since he missed last week.  Apparently the private number that called twice last Thursday was one of the nurses calling from her cell to check on him.  Very nice of her.  We had to stay in the main office during his observation since he's been having daily asthma attacks this past week.  They let him play with the electron microscope, which he absolutely adored. 

Last night was a difficult choice.  Matt was running a raging fever and started shaking, then his breathing got irregular and rough.  As we were getting the kids bundled up to go out to the car, Noah started wheezing and went in to one of his really bad asthma attacks.  Stay with him or drive Matt?  I knew Mat couldn't drive in his condition and his ragged breathing was scaring me.  I hooked Noah up for a nebulizer treatment, then left all his meds with Daddy with explicit instructions to bring him to me if he got worse.  Mama stayed awake all night watching him.  Do you know he snores louder on his stomach and talks in his sleep?  Why yes, I do know since I stay up staring at him during his bad episodes too.  Many sleepless nights around here.  My parents said they could handle Noah, but it felt so wrong to drive away without him.

I should be sleeping now, but Matt and Noah are both having breathing issues.  Always awake, always alert, standing by the flag pole waiting to be needed again.