Now Kate is on Antibiotics!

Illness has been going through the family. Scott had influenza. I have my weird glands and just finished my antibiotic and am feeling better so far. Now, Kate is the one taking her turn. 

On a side note - before I get to the real point of this post (Kate being sick), I must document (because I don't think I can put it to words enough) that I am amazed with Kate. She is the coolest kid. She is so much fun right now. She loves school (Thank you Mrs. Juarez and Mrs. Ridges!). She is going through this "research" kick and loves to search for animals on the internet and in library books. She has been compiling a "report" about each animal in a Word document. She is so cute about it. As she is doing it she thanks me for helping her and tells me how much fun it is. We've learned some cool things together. We've had some good laughs looking at pictures of giraffes trying to spread their front legs so they can bend down for a drink of water. You should have seen that girl try and mimic the giraffe. In the process of mimicking the giraffe, she got herself stuck in a bar-stool and took 3 minutes trying to get herself untangled from it! Kate is great in every way and this week, her and I have had some wonderful, quality time together.

So, on with my real topic of the day... Kate is sick. She woke up early Friday morning - around 4:30 - and told me that her tummy, neck, and head hurt. She was cute about it. I think it was her first headache and she couldn't understand what she was feeling. And the way her tummy hurt, she couldn't decide if she was going to throw up or if she was hungry. This was all unusual for Kate, who is usually a healthy girl and a terrific sleeper. She's had a few bad dreams here and there and she's wet the bed a dozen times but those days are long gone. I can't remember the last time she's had a sleep disturbance.

So I spent some time with her, trying to help alleviate her symptoms. I rubbed her tummy, neck, and head with diluted peppermint oil. I put a cool rag on her head. I gave her some ice chips and offered her a slice of bread. After an uncomfortable hour for her, she went back to bed with a bowl in case she felt like throwing up. I couldn't sleep knowing that she was feeling crummy. A few hours later, when she normally woke up and prepared for school, I asked her if she felt better. She claimed that she did. She said her legs hurt. I wondered if she was going through growing pains and that maybe her tummy hurt earlier because she was hungry and needed more food. Yet, at breakfast she barely touched her cinnamon toast. But she said she felt great. So, off to school she went. I even had a friend come over to play with her after school. After her friend left, I noticed Kate hadn't eaten her Doritos from her lunch, very odd. Before dinner, she complained that her neck and stomach hurt again. But after she ate (again not as much as usual) she claimed she felt better.

I started to worry about my diagnosis. If she really had "growing pains" she would be ravenous.

Earlier that day, I had spoken to my sister and mentioned that I thought Kate was going through growing pains and my sister had thrown out that maybe it was strep throat. Strep sounded absurd to me. But after hearing Kate say that her stomach and neck were hurting again I began to really put it together. I told Scott that I thought we should consider taking Kate to the Kids Care Clinic right after dinner.

Then I thought about the money and I wondered if I was overreacting. But Kate is always so tough. If she is mentioning something, it's big. She doesn't act like this. I started putting everything together and we headed out. But even on our way there we second guess ourselves again. We stop and look up the symptoms of strep on our phone. We were literally going in circles. Finally we both decide, enough! And we drive to the Kid's Care. We decided that it's worth $35 just to know for sure and put it behind us.

Even the doctor was iffy about the diagnosis when she was examining Kate and talking with us about her symptoms. Nothing really screamed Strep to her either but it was fishy, nonetheless.

Much to the doctor's surprise the strep culture came back positive. Scott and I were so relieved to get it right. Knuckles all around (note to self, always listen to my big sister).

So it's 8:00 p.m. ish and we head to Wallgreens to fill our after hours prescription.

We explained to Kate that she needed to stay away from people for 24 hours so the medicine could clear out the bacteria, otherwise she would be contagious and get other people really sick. Kate started crying and realized that she would miss her friend's birthday party she was invited to go to Saturday afternoon. She was crazy-sweet about it too! She was worried because she knew that some of the other girls invited couldn't attend and she couldn't bear to think that her friend wouldn't have anyone at her birthday party. But she was sad for herself too. She'd already missed the last birthday party that she was invited to in December because we went out of town. She just didn't want to miss this and I could tell that she understood that she was supporting her friend by attending. And then she said, "She's like my BFF! I have to go!"

So, Kate is on her 10-day stretch of antibiotics the same day I finish mine! Yogurt anyone?

Tribute to Mr. Beast

How do I say 'thank you' to a truck?
How do I give him the gratitude he deserves?

We have had our 1997 Ford Powerstroke, F250, 4-door, turbo-ed truck (aka Mr. Beast) going on nine years, I believe. We bought him from Scott's Dad. And all these years, Mr. Beast has served us incredibly well. This winter in particular, because of it's extreme nature, Mr. Beast has proved his worth beyond our capacity to communicate.

Especially with the new tires Big O put on this fall, that truck has never been more amazing in extreme conditions as now.

I have a feeling that our truck has gone through a bit of winter depression in past years. He has felt a lack of excitement. He has felt his worth deteriorate and lost enjoyment in his usual activities. But this year, with all the snow and ice and tough road conditions, I know that our truck has felt a new sense of joy and worth. It's like he knows he is needed and he realizes his value to us more than ever. All the challenging, winter road conditions have renewed his sense of purpose and well-being. He has never felt better. I can feel it when I start him up in the morning to take Kate to school. I can feel it when he gets a good washing or a fueling. This is his finest year. This is the year he was made for. I know he has hoped for a winter like this, all his life.

I think our truck struts around town. I think he looks at all the other vehicles and beams with pride at them. I'm sure he smiles politely at the cars and trucks covered in snow from being left in the elements. But inside, he probably says to himself, "I have a garage all to myself! I only share it with the snow-blower and a few tools." When the new trucks and cars roll, bumper-to-bumper or strut-to-strut from him and mock his age, size, sound, smell, or style, he just revs on and thinks to himself, "Ha! Just you watch. You think I'm old... You think I'm outdated... Old ways are better, kiddos. My body is 100% real - no fiberglass fabrications on me. My people bought me the very best kicks out there and I can MOVE! I can haul a massive load. I can carry 6 in seat belts. I can do any dirty job and still shine up nicely for a date on the town. You can listen to my turbo whistle as I speed on past. I'm faster than you think. I'm big enough to push anybody around. And I can get through anything."

Yes, he smells. He is loud. He provides a warning of our arrival at least a minute before us. I am certain he pollutes the air proving it with a long, black cloud of smoke when we accelerate. His ride is recklessly bumpy and nearly amusement-park-like. He requires agility just to hop in. He has nearly unsightly, maroon interior. But he protects us. He gets us anywhere we want to go. And he is ours. 


I'm still not sure how to show adequate appreciation to Mr. Beast, but I don't plan on upgrading or replacing him anytime in the future. That guy has a place in our family as long as he can hang on.

Update on the Glands

Follow-up post to: Swollen Glands and a CT Scan

I saw the ENT today as a follow-up to my CT scan two Fridays ago. He hasn't seen the scan but read the review from the radiologist, which said that I do have swollen glands and lymph nodes on the right side and they are more pronounced than the left. Amazing. {Yes that is sarcasm. This is information I already had just by looking at myself or feeling my neck.} The radiologist also suggested that no reason for the reaction could be seen from the scan. This is only partially good news for me. I am grateful that nothing horrible was found but I feel frustrated that I still don't have answers.

The ENT gave me a script for antibiotics and asked me to go to my GP to run some blood tests to screen me for any autoimmune disorders. He felt that if I do not have an infection, an autoimmune disorder could be a possible reason for all the swelling. He also asked me to request a copy of my scan and to bring it with me, as well as the test results for the bloodwork, on my second follow-up appointment scheduled for next month.

I am angry that the doctor recommended a CT scan with all the expense and worry that follows. And now I'm mad that he made me pay another $50 for something that he could have easily done with a phone call. I don't appreciate him at this point. He was little help with Scott's questions. He offered no hope and made it sound like this is just how I am, lumpy and swollen.

Is This Only Funny to ME?

Kate is in the tub and she isn't doing what I tell her, nothing new. I am asking her to wash her hair. I go in the kitchen and do a few things and come back and her hair is still dry. I laugh and tell her to wash it. She says a few things and I feel a little annoyed so I tell her I am ignoring her. But then she says something and I respond. She says that I am not doing a good job of ignoring her. I remember and I laugh and say that she is right. I start getting ready for church in the bathroom and she says a few things and I ignore her and she says, "NOW you are ignoring me," as if to praise me. I laugh. She says, "Laughter is a response." I laugh some more. Clearly ignoring is not my strong point.

Now Kate is in the tub hollering out, "Are you typing what I said?"

Laughing Now and Later

I'm laughing inside as I think about what Scott did last night!

He came home from work around dinner time and got the keys for our truck and told me he was going to fill it up with fuel and run it through the automated wash at the gas station. I was just getting dinner going and trying to help Kate with homework and I really didn't want him to go. I knew we had some fuel and I knew he could wait until Saturday or even later. So, I whined and begged him not to go out but to stay with us and have dinner. He said the car wash closes early and he doesn't always get home in time to get it done. I begged again. He said he would be right back. Meanwhile I got dinner ready and read off Kate's spelling words. I was frustrated that he wasn't there and really missed him after a long day without him.

Dinner was minutes from being ready and I received a call from Scott. He told me he should have listened to me and not gone to get gas or wash the truck.

I thought, "Oh, no! Did he get in a wreck?"

He said, "I just did the most boneheaded thing ever!"

I braced myself...This was sounding expensive.

"I just put unleaded gas in BOTH tanks of our diesel truck," Scott said, humiliated.

After a gasp from me, Scott told me that he already spoke to our repair guy and he told Scott to have the truck towed to his shop.

NOTE: If you start a diesel engine with unleaded instead of diesel it can completely blow the engine and require costly repairs. Luckily Scott caught his mistake before starting up the truck. But the gas would still need to be purged carefully. He already arranged for his brother to come pick him up and tow him to the auto shop. He was delayed at least an extra half hour.

I was miffed just because I almost never beg him to stay. I try to be supportive of him. He even acknowledged how nice it is that I rarely beg him to stay when he needs to leave.

I was also upset because just the day before, he was complaining about how much money I am costing the family with my $700+ CT scan that the doctor recommended and several $50 co-pays to a specialist. He made me feel really rotten about that. I know that he was just feeling the weight of expenses and being the sole-provider but it still hurt that he was even complaining about the costs of my health.

I was also frustrated because I had plans. I was really hoping to take the truck that night to do a Zumba class with a friend. And I wanted to drive Kate to school in the morning because it's so cold. Plus, I had plans to use the truck after dropping Kate off at school. I was thinking this was really an inconvenience that could have been avoided.

But I was grateful that he is so responsible and helpful. He always gasses up the truck and washes it and even though he rarely drives it, because he most always drives his work van, I still never have to worry how much gas I have or if the truck needs service or anything.

I also felt grateful that I don't have to work and that we live so close to things that I could walk if I had to.

It is really funny, actually. I know Scott will never live this down. In fact, while I was on the phone with Scott, his little brother, Todd, pulled up to tow him to the shop and I could hear him laughing at Scott. That was priceless.

So, I was miffed. But before Scott came home, Kate and I decided to forgive him and be nice to him when he finally returned. 

I love that Scott was so humble about his mistake. I love that he immediately told me that he should've listened to me. I love that he called himself a bonehead. I love that he laughed at it and apologized for being so tight about money the day before. I love that he allowed the leveling that fate or God gave him to take effect and change him just a little. Because he was such a good sport about all this, I felt much better. This will be a fun memory for both of us and I know he will put this in his list of most embarrassing moments.

Julie's Thousand Island

I made Thousand Island dressing yesterday! Scott has one particular Thousand that he loves called Marie's. I can only buy it at Target. After messing around with my bottled Poppy seed dressing adding equal parts vinegar and lemon juice to give it more of a zing and stretch it out a bunch, I got thinking about Scott's Thousand. I mean it's basically ketchup, mayo, and sweet pickle relish. So I mixed those ingredients together. But would Scott like it?

I put his Marie's dressing in a dish and my concoction in another dish for a side-by-side comparison. I had a bowl of lettuce for taste testing. I was excited. I do this kind of stuff to Scott all the time and usually wind up disappointed because he has such discriminating taste. He takes one look or lick of whatever experiment I put before him and shakes his head. BUT this time, HE LOVED IT! He had it on his salad and it passed the test! Amazing!

Swollen Glands and a CT Scan

A couple of my glands have been swollen for most of 2012. Then in November, I noticed several of the nodes in my neck swelling and staying that way. After fretting over it for several months, I finally decided to call and schedule an appointment with an ENT. With a month to wait before the appointment, I started second-guessing myself. "Do I really need to see a specialist?" I thought about the $50 copay and felt even more stupid for calling in a specialist. I worried he would just laugh at me and tell me it was no big deal, take my money, and send me out the door.

Despite my fears of being ridiculed, to the ENT I went today. To my surprise, he seemed concerned. When he started examining my neck and feeling all the swollen glands and nodes he said, "Yes, they are rather large." And then he had his assistant schedule a CT scan for this Friday.

He said once he looks at the scan, he will know whether he will then go forward with a biopsy.
Weird stuff, right?