Ugh! I’m Sick AGAIN….

Good grief it seems as though I can’t catch a break.

I never did feel back to 100% after I finished the antibiotic. My cough got better though and that scary feeling of not being able to get enough air eased up a lot. I still had a little bit of wheezing sound when taking a deep breath, but the crackle was gone.

Late Friday night, the feeling of not being able to breathe was back. I used the inhaler my doc had given me and went on to bed. At 1 a.m. I woke up freezing. I thought it was strange considering I NEVER get cold at night, but after getting a drink of water I went back to bed. At 5, I woke up again freezing, my skin hurt along with my joints and I felt absolutely lousy. I knew then I had a fever, so I came downstairs and took my temperature. Yep, 102.9 – I was officially sick again and husband and I were planning on painting the damn living room Saturday and Sunday. Ughh.

Saturday I kept my fever down to around 99 to 100 with Tylenol. Without it, the fever would shoot back up. I made it to son’s football game that morning, but I only made it through the first half. I had to come home after that. I ended up sleeping pretty much the rest of the day.

Sunday, husband and I worked on painting the trim and getting all the small stuff out of there. The carpet comes on Friday, so sick or not, the painting had to be done.

Monday, my fever was still hanging on and I felt awful. I painted not quite half the room though. By 2 p.m. I felt even worse and broke down and called my doc’s office. I knew he was out of town, but thought maybe another doc in the office could call me in another antibiotic. Thankfully, they did. Husband picked it up for me after work and I’m hoping this one (Cipro) will knock out whatever this crud is.

Tuesday, I planned on painting of course. Unfortunately, I felt like I’d been run over by a Mac truck lol. When husband called to check on me after I’d taken the babies to school, he talked me into getting on the couch. I truly wasn’t worth killing.

Having totally wasted the entire day Tuesday sleeping on the couch, it left me only Wednesday and Thursday to finish up painting before the carpet is installed Friday. Wednesday morning, I was feeling better and got started not too long after taking the babies to school. Not too long after that, I was no longer feeling better lol, so I took quite a few breaks. I kept going though and was able to put the last bit of paint on the walls around 4 pm.

My plan for Thursday was to get up, clean the radiators, paint them and then paint the trim of the window the air conditioner is in and the side door. Having painted all day Wednesday, Wednesday night I was ready for bed at 11 pm. I knew the minute I got in bed I’d be asleep because not only was I tired, I was still feeling lousy and had a fever.

Of course, sleep was not to be. I swear it was like something out of the movie My Cousin Vinnie…only there were no trains, whistles or screech owls. No, what I had was a Siamese kitten in heat. Anyone who has ever heard a Siamese knows they have a tendency to sound like a baby crying. Apparently when they are in heat, they sound like a baby being tortured.

Long story short: No SLEEP. Yesterday was a bust. Not only am I sick and tired (and tired of being sick), I’m exhausted lol. I ended up sleeping since the kitten, having been up all night screaming, was tuckered out too. That left me with last night to at least get the radiators cleaned and painted. No way did I want to try to get them painted with the new carpet installed….so, I finished up the radiators while listening to the VP debate. I started around six painting and finally put the finishing touches on just as the debate was wrapping up.

Here’s a funny though. I get a call around 4 pm yesterday from the company that is contracted through Lowes to install the carpet. The nice lady says she has spoken with her installers and they have me scheduled for installation tomorrow, the 3rd. However, she has on her calendar the 13th. She says that she left me a message two weeks ago saying she had me down for the 13th and since I didn’t call back, she assumed her calendar was correct.

I thought I might come through the phone heh heh. I explained that our answering machine seems to be on the fritz and not saving every message, so I didn’t know she’d called. I told her that I hoped they were still planning on installing the carpet tomorrow because I’ve about killed my stupid self trying to get this room done before they arrived when I could have spent the past week in bed. She said the installers had the correct date down, so they would be able to be here in the morning.

Whew. Talk about wanting to come unglued lol. If they had canceled on me, when the installers and I had the SAME date and the office lady seemed to be the only one who couldn’t distinguish between a 3 and 13 on a calendar, I just might have had to use the little bit of energy I have left to smack her through the phone lol.

From what the installers had said when they came out to measure, they will move the furniture out of the living room – except for the entertainment stand. They don’t move those, which I can completely understand. Before bed last night, husband and I moved ours into the foyer. We’d planned to have the rest of the furniture out of there, but realized if we moved it all into the foyer, they wouldn’t be able to get in the front door lol.

This morning, I moved all the small stuff out of there, so all they’ll have to move is a couch, love seat, recliner and over sized chair. I’m hoping it won’t take them too long to get that old carpet (that is older than me) out and the new in. All I want to do is get my living room put back together, get comfortable in my chair and call it a week. I’m completely exhausted.

I did take some pictures this morning though. When they get the new carpet in, I’ll take some more. Sometime this weekend, once I get rested, I’ll post some before and after pictures.

I’ve Caught My Death…

Ok, so that’s a bit dramatic…but honestly I cannot recall being this sick in a long, long time. And to tell you the truth, I couldn’t even begin to explain what in the heck I have. Lets see – there’s the fever that is around 100.8 to 101.4 – if I can get it down below the 100.8, I don’t hurt so bad. Otherwise, everything I have HURTS. My neck hurts, my back hurts, my shoulders – even my legs and ankles of all things. Just feel like shit warmed over…. Other than the aches and fever, my nose is stuffy and that’s about it. I’ve had a cold for the past week – but starting Saturday night the fever kicked in with the body aches that feel as though I’m in some medieval torture device and being pulled apart at the joints.

Husband is doing his “get out of the Army” classes this week. So, he was home late this morning – not having to be on post until 9. So he took the babies to school. I got on the couch around 9:30 I guess. Before he’d left he said I should try to get some sleep since I sat up in the chair all night…just hurt too bad to think about laying down.

So after everyone left this morning, I took some Tylenol cold medicine, some sudafed and get covered up with one of the soft fluffy blankets we have on the couch. I almost get dosed off when the phone rings…it’s my mother. After listening to her bitch for half an hour about my step-brother – I finally get off the phone, use some nose spray and get back on the couch. I get good and asleep – apparently hard asleep since when the phone rang again, I woke up to drool (yep, I have no shame when I’m sick). This time it’s husband. I think, didn’t he tell me to go to sleep? How am I suppose to sleep with him calling? Figure if I hit silent on my phone and just roll back over, he’ll know I’m asleep and try again after lunch. So that’s what I do. Nope, just get back to sleep when the freakin’ phone rings AGAIN half an hour later….I answer it in a very friendly tone: WHAT?

Husband: You able to get any rest?
Bitch: Not with the freakin’ phone ringing every damn 30 minutes. No, can’t say I have…
Husband: I’m sorry, did I wake you? Just was worried and wanted to see how you are feeling.
Bitch: I feel like SHIT…I wish someone would take me out back and shoot me and put me out of my misery.
Husband: Well, I’ll let you go so you can get back to sleep…

Yeah, I was so friendly, but sheesh people. When someone I love is sick I try to give them some space. Not me – Mother’s problems are always more important than anything else, husband was just trying to be nice, but after dealing with my Mother – ughh.

I need a vacation lol. And yes, I called husband back later and apologized for being such an ass. Poor guy….

Of course it’s freezing here today with 15 mph winds. I got off the couch around two planning to go up, get a shower and get ready to pick our babies up from school. I pick up my coffee cup off the end table and start for the kitchen…get half way there and everything goes black. I just sat down in the middle of the dining room. I get back to my chair and sit back down. Standing to take a shower is out. I call my friend and ask if she would mind picking up my babies for me. I was so thankful I didn’t have to get out in the cold….

Now if I can just get a good night’s sleep tonight and hopefully get over whatever the heck it is that I’ve caught. Sheesh…I hate being sick…

Sorry (and other Ramblings)

I hadn’t realized I’d not updated my blog in almost two months. Sheesh I suck.

Sorry.

Lets see, what’s new? For the last month we seemed to have ran through every sickness the local school system has to offer. Son had the tummy flu – which was 24 hours of puking. Then he had the barking cough that lasted two weeks. Daughter then had her turn at strep…then this week she caught the cold from hell and was out of school a day. I’ve felt like crap, but I think it is just being exhausted from the two weeks I was up with son every night.

*sigh*

We made it through Halloween though. Son went as a football player and daughter dressed up as Hannah Montana.

That leaves us ONE MORE HOLIDAY to make it through before husband will finally be home. I’m certainly not looking forward to the three of us being alone on Thanksgiving, but the silver lining is knowing not long afterwards, our family should be together again. And, with retirement approved, I hope it is the last time we’ll ever be separated.

I’ll try to write more tomorrow…

New Look…

It was an accident to be honest. I’d read where you could preview templates now and I went to see what new looks they had. I guess I clicked the wrong thing and unfortunately there was no undo. So I had to find a new template and – I kinda like this one better. More organized or something….

My Favorite Bloggers

I’ve noticed that my favorite bookmarks are out of control. I probably have 200 blogs I’ve bookmarked and out of all of them, I visit only a few every day. I really need to take some time this coming week and delete a bunch of them off and downsize – some spring cleaning of my computer if you will.

I thought I’d share some of my favorites with you.  My Daily Reads are as follows…most are linked from the sidebar here, but one or two are new and I will be linking them soon.

My first stop each morning after reading Neal Boortz is Charming, Just Charming. GuyK, like my husband, is an early riser. As he enjoys his first couple cups of Jumpstart, he treats us to his morning observations on Sweetthing’s half acre. He’ll sometimes give us a few jokes or a rant or two about something he’s read in the NYT that morning. Often, he gives us a glimpse into his life – whether it’s the tree rats, birds or during the warmer months, how his tomatoes and other vegetables are growing.

Each morning, without fail, he’s there to greet us – and I, for one, am extremely grateful. As my morning gets started, I am able to sit down with my own cup of jumpstart and enjoy his view of the world. It’s like having coffee with an old friend every morning. I wish I was as dedicated a blogger and could write like he does every day. I do try, but I sit down and end up staring at a blank screen. When I surf around looking for something to write about, I either run out of time to blog something of my own or never find anything that I could elaborate on to add to the discussion. So, I truly admire how he does it and can only try to start doing a quarter of the job he does. Thanks Guy, for allowing us all to start our days with such great observations about life and politics over our morning coffee.

My next several stops are police blogs. I’d decided to read a few police blogs since husband has talked about joining a police force in a larger city just west of us when he retires. He’s already talked to the LT there and he seemed pretty sure husband would have no trouble getting on after he takes their test. Not really my idea of what I’d like him to do when he retires of course. A desk job that bores him to tears would make me happy since I’m a professional worrier lol. However, I know he’d be miserable, so maybe this is the type of job that would help him feel fulfilled after retiring from the Army.  At any rate, here are a few police blogs you might enjoy:

• The LawDog Files
• The Johnny Law Chronicles
• Negative, Ghostrider

Hammer’s blog, When Your Only Tool is a Hammer… is another daily read. Like Guy, he is dedicated to blogging, bringing us new stories to read and enjoy each day. From childhood memories to stories about his beautiful children and the love he has for them – there’s never a dull moment. In my opinion, anyone can be a a parent, but it takes someone special to really be a Mom and Dad. Among those, the truly exceptional are the Moms and Dads who adopt. They are as much blessings to the world as are their children and Hammer is one of these special people.

Big Dick’s Place is a recent find and has quickly turned into a daily read. Like my other favorite bloggers, he tells it like he sees it and makes no apologies – which is my kind of blogger. Having just recently found his blog, I don’t have a lot of details about how often he writes or anything, but thus far, I’ve enjoyed reading his opinion which is definitely NOT politically correct and is a blog to enjoy without your children looking over your shoulder (Fattie Friday for example heh heh). Be sure to check out the comments too – they are often hilarious. A lot of like-minded, say what you mean and mean what you say, non-politically correct folks sharing their thoughts. Being a newbie to the blog, I can’t help but to look forward to reading more and being another non-PC commenter.

PawPaw’s House is another recent find – having just found it a few days ago. I’m not really familiar with his writing or anything else for that matter, but what I’ve read so far has made this blog one I plan on visiting often.

There are more, but I’ll leave it here for now.

And a Sidenote: Dick suggests we have our links open in a new window within our posts. As a former web designer, I do agree. It’s one of the “tricks of the trade.” You have external links (links to other sites) open in a new window so you don’t lose readers. When the link doesn’t open in a new window, often, after reading the linked material, visitors will surf on to the next thing instead of hitting the back button to return to your site. When a link opens a new window, when the visitor closes out that window, your site is displayed – and they continue on reading. Unfortunately, when I include the target code in my links here on wordpress – when it saves my post, it strips out the links completely for some reason. So, until I figure out why that is, none of my links in my posts will open up a new window – which really irritates the heck out of me. Not important I guess, just wanted to elaborate….

What a Month

I readily admit that February is my worst month whether husband his home or deployed. I don’t ever remember being down in the dumps during February until we moved to Alaska. Each year we were there, my February blues seemed to only get worse. I thought once we moved from there, I’d leave that behind me. No such luck though. Like clockwork, the end of January gets here and February drags me down every darn year.

This year, I’ve been so busy with being sick and sick babies, I’ve not had a chance to toss too big of a pity party lol. I guess that’s one positive to us all being sick (just trying to find SOME kind of silver lining here lol).

Lets see, this month daughter came down with a tummy flu. Gosh the poor child. You could hear her tummy and all she could do was sit on the potty. Son skipped that sickness but got his yearly cough that sounds more like a bark. Only this year, it came with a 103.9 degree temp too. I ended up sleeping in the chair here in the living room while he slept on the couch those first few nights he was so sick. I just wanted him to be close so I could keep a good eye on him. The fever scared me so bad because nothing would bring it down at first. I had to get us all out in the freezing cold to get some Tylenol so I could give him Motrin, then Tylenol and the combination finally got it below 101. Motrin alone would only drop it a degree or two and usually Motrin will knock out his fever pretty easily.

I took him to the doc yesterday and it was a waste of time. Our appointment was for 7:45 in the damn morning. It was THREE degrees out with 20 mph wind gusts. Good heavens what a nightmare. The doc said he was going to give him an antibiotic because he had some “stuff” in his lungs and a cough medicine. When I get to the pharmacy, only the cough medicine. The pharmacy calls and can’t get an answer, so the babies and I walk back to the other damn side of the hospital and only THEN do we find out “the doc changed his mind about prescribing an antibiotic.” Gee – thanks. He’s only had this shit for 10 days and if he was going to get over it on his own, he would have done so by now. I know better than to take him on day 5 or 7 – they always say it’s viral and it’ll go away on its own. And, we always end up at the ER where they now think he has pneumonia and he has to have a breathing treatment, x-rays AND THEN get the antibiotic. So, I got us all out in the freezing cold at the ass crack of dawn (we had to leave here at 630 in the morning to make the appointment) FOR NOTHING.

I hate Army Doctors. I realize that antibiotics have been over-prescribed. LOOK AT HIS RECORDS THOUGH. He gets this every damn year and every year we go through this viral bullshit until we find a REAL doc who works in the ER. Just pissed me off that we could have just stayed home, stayed warm and nursed him with what I had – since they gave me the meds I was already giving him anyway. UGHHH!!!!

I’m just glad this month is almost over. Hopefully March will bring some spring-like weather where we can get out of the house, maybe work in the yard some. This has been the coldest it’s been in the four years we’ve called this place home. The local paper said everyone thinks it’s colder, but actually it’s pretty normal. I prefer the abnormal then lol. This single digit crap is for the birds for sure lol.