November 13, 2007

Hello everyone! I have to apologize for taking so long in between blogs. Last week was very eventful. Monday through Wednesday things were routine, dds appointments for Chase (no cavities); church events; water therapy; etc. Then, I woke up Thursday a.m. very sore and stiff. During the day I began to feel even worse, by Friday I was exhausted. Darrin took Deke to Dilly's so I could catch up on sleep, and also because, I knew that I couldn't have lifted him. I fell in the bathroom at some point on Friday, which luckily wasn't a bad fall, just that I landed on my rump and had my heart jump in my throat. After the fall my lower back, hips and shoulder girdle were beyond hurting. Late Friday afternoon I realized that I hadn't been taking the medicine Dilantin, which is for cramping, since Tuesday when I refilled my pill boxes and inadvertently left the Dilantin out. So while it was good to know why I'd been feeling so BAD, it sucked that I did it to myself..........sigh. It took until yesterday before the Dilantin leveled out in my system and I started feeling better.

The ALS patient rep, Linda, has had a walker delivered to the house. She had mentioned getting one for me during her visit, but I just blew it off, in the way that those who know me well, know how I do. After the fall and a talking too (in a nice way) by Darrin, I asked for the walker.

So, on a more positive note! I was considering getting a diaphragm pacer, which would help prolong my life by 18 months. In order to qualify for the placement your lung capacity has to be between 40-85%. We went yesterday for a pulmonary function test and my FVC (lung capacity) was 110%.....how's that for ya! Yeah, baby. That's more than a perfect score....oh yeah...I'm doing a little dance! I don't have to worry about no stinkin' pacer for a long while.

Of course, now that I'm feeling better, the kids aren't. Chase has had a sore throat for a week, to the point that he asked me Sunday when were we going to the doctor. Chase NEVER wants to see a doctor! Deke had a runny nose on Friday and it just started pouring. He woke up Monday a.m. and his eyes were closed with nasty drainage. It broke my heart! Off to the doctor we go. Both boys had a virus. Chase had nasty cold sores on the back of his throat and Deke's eye's and nose are infected. Since his ears were not infected, I elected to fore go any antibiotics. I did agree with some eye drops, because 1.) it looked so painful! and 2.) it's very contagious. Of course, when we got to the doctor's office Chase says, "my throat doesn't hurt anymore". Go figure! Any hoo, the doctor said it was probably viral, since the test for strep was negative. Chase was thrilled that he didn't get a shot OR have to take any medicine.

I've gotten a new laptop that has voice recognition software. I'm still navigating through it all, but so far it's fairly nifty (Thanks, JP!).

As soon as the little feller starts feeling better we'll be out and about again. Being home can be very isolating. My social soul needs to be out and about!