Caleb and his weird medical problems...

A couple of years ago, we thought Caleb had appendicitis and rushed him to the emergency room.  He had EVERY symptom (minus a fever) of appendicitis.  He was in so much pain that he was doubled over and sobbing in agony.  They took him in for a CAT scan and lo and behold, it was NOT appendicitis!  They didn't know what it was actually.  After several visits to the Dr. and having every Dr in the clinic examine him, they couldn't come up with ANYTHING!  They did blood tests, ultrasounds, pulled out medical books to see if they were missing something, everything you can imagine to figure it out.  Let me tell you, there is nothing scarier than having your child doubled over in pain and having no diagnosis.  They finally decided that it was probably a pulled muscle because he is so athletic and active and that it would heal in time, $1400.00 later...actually I think it was more like $2200.00 now that I think about it.  But it did eventually heal up, after about 2 months.


So in July, Caleb showed us what appeared to be a swollen gland.  We figured it would heal in time and just kinda forgot about it.  Every once in a while he would complain that it hurt but I figured it was just inflamed because he has really bad hay fever.  ALL.THE.TIME.  Allergy meds only help a little bit, he's pretty much congested year 'round.  But after discovering that he's had this swollen lump since June, I decided to take him to the Dr., just to be on the safe side. 


So we go to the Dr. the other day, they got us right in because of the length of time that it's been going on. (Thanks Red Rock Pediatrics!!!)   He pokes and prods at it and even appeared baffled for a minute after examining his mouth and throat.  That's because it didn't have the normal symptoms that it should present with, of course.  Caleb doesn't do anything the easy way.  He finally tells me that it's probably a infected saliva gland.  HUH?!  I didn't even know that was possible!  So he prescribed him some heavy duty antibiotics and then told me to have him eat lots of pickles, lick lemons, basically eat sour things so his mouth would water a lot and that would help alleviate the infection because the saliva gland is probably clogged.  BUT, if the antibiotics and they sour foods therapy (ha ha) didn't help, then he needs to come back.  


So we're keeping our fingers crossed  that this works because I don't want to think of what the alternative problem could be.  As a matter of fact, I'm completely burying my head in the sand about any other problems, because I can't even begin to deal with any other possibilities that it could be.  

I knew it would happen, it was just a question of when.

Carson got staples in his head last night. He is the most accident prone kid ever to walk the earth so I knew it would happen eventually. Surprisingly it wasn't really his fault, it was Cooper's. They were playing and Cooper knocked him into the coffee table.

Have you ever watched something happen to your kid and it was in slow motion? You saw it happening and you just couldn't stop it in time? That's how it was last night, it was CRAZY!! I tried to grab him but I just wasn't fast enough. So we took him into the kitchen and tried to get the bleeding to stop (if you've ever dealt with a head wound you know what I mean, blood everywhere!!) and then we saw the cut. Totally deep.

So we loaded Carson into the car and away we went to Instacare. They were super nice there and it put Carson at ease immediately. They didn't even give him shots for the staples, they used a numbing gel. Much better than shots, let me tell you! Then they put 3 staples in and we were done. It took less than an hour, it was amazing how quick they were. Carson came home and he was totally fine, like nothing ever happened! He played the Wii and then went to bed. He woke up and its been like any other day, thank goodness!

I was impressed by Caleb and his friends last night. They were really concerned about him and defended him when some other kids were laughing about it(they were playing night games when this happened and so I left Caleb with his friends and my friend Lisa watched out for him, thanks Lisa!!). When I talked to Caleb when we got home, he was really sweet and had to talk to Carson just to make sure he was OK. Then Caleb's friend Cody had to talk to Carson too. I'm so glad he has good friends! They got so mad at these other kids for laughing at Carson that they wanted to leave. So they called me and I went and picked them up and they hung out with Carson until it was time for Cody to go home.

Needless to say, I'm glad it's all over!

Carson, cheesing it up right after we got home from Instacare.

The staples.

My son is an alien, I'm thinkin' it could be true!

I really think that Carson could be an alien. I mean what kid in this world has a double ear infection and has absolutely no symptoms?! No fever, he doesn't get lethargic, NOTHING! He was literally running around all day long, helping in the garden, playing in his sandbox, riding his bike. And then POW! He is screaming that his ear hurts. At 8:00 at night. So we went to instacare and waited forever (not a complaint, better than the ER!) and found out he has a double ear infection, an extremely red throat and an upper respiratory infection. As a mother, I looked like a neglectful, deadbeat, loser who doesn't pay attention to her sick little boy. But if they are running around like a wild banshee, would you think they were sick? Me neither.

Then I went to get his prescription filled and it was over an hour long wait. However, all the same people who were at instacare were there, so we all chatted while we waited. It was really funny. All the moms there, comparing symptoms, expressing sympathy, entertaining each others kids. It was awesome because instead of being annoyed at the people in front of you, you're actually happy for them when their name is called. "Oh yay for you! You can finally take your little one home and get some rest. Poor little thing. I hope she sleeps well tonight!" and so on and so forth. And the best part of it all, the prescription was 75% less than the last time I had it filled! YAY!

We got home, got Carson all medicated and then put him to bed. Then, of course, I can't sleep because I'm all wound up. I stayed up until 2 a.m. waiting for the inevitable crying and misery that comes with the ear infection. It never came. He slept all night. It was awesome. Well, I probably should have just went to bed but yeah, that didn't happen. I did, however, do a rough draft on a birthday invite for my grandma and complete a whole 8X8 album (free through CK and Shutterfly, I missed the last freebie and I wasn't going to miss this one!) because of my insomnia. So at least something good came of my night!

Now I'm going to finish reading a book because Carson is doing this:



I hope you have a fabulous Saturday!

Super Bowl Sunday...pain and suffering and I'm not talking about the Cardinals!

This year, we decided to take a break from our annual Super Bowl party and just chill as a family. We totally slept in and missed church (oops! But kinda worth it.) and then did a bunch of stuff around the house and yard. I really didn't feel like doing anything but Allan guilted me into helping him. So we organized the garage, got our flower beds ready for spring planting, put all of the Christmas up and out of the way and then Allan took the boys and let me have a few minutes of silence. It was nice.

After they got home, I started to make snacks for the Super Bowl. I made Little Smokies, wrapped in bacon, covered them with brown sugar and then baked them until they browned. I think this is quite possibly the unhealthiest thing you could ever eat but since I had decided to have a free day from dieting, I figured I should make it worth my while! They ended up very tasty.

After I made those, I made up a batch of cookies that were pretty disgusting. I'm not sure what I did, but yuck! I had to have missed an ingredient somewhere which is quite possible since my kids would not leave me alone for a second when they got back home! At one point, they followed me to the bathroom and waited outside the door until I yelled at them to leave me alone for a minute! Seriously, it was annoying. And it ruined a batch of cookies.

Then, while I was making guacamole, I managed to cut in between my index finger and my middle finger with a serrated knife. Deeply cut would be more accurate. I hurried and grabbed a towel and wrapped my hand and then promptly laid on the kitchen floor because I was either going to pass out or puke. It hurt so, so, so much! Allan came over and tried to get me off the floor but every time I tried to sit up, I got completely dizzy. LAME! I finally crawled to the couch and let Allan take a look at my hand. He looked at it and announced that I was fine and to toughen up, I had given birth to two kids after all! (Yes, those were his words. Not kidding.) No sympathy for me! Since there was no way I was going to the ER on a Sunday, (I probably should have gotten stitches, I have realized in hindsight) I let Allan clean it and bandage it up. And now I have a 1/2 inch deep gash in between my fingers that I can't get wet or dirty. Which is great news for me because I was going to clean bathrooms but now I get to delegate instead. But really inconvenient because I can't do my hair because it hurts to have my hand above my head for too long. Oh well! This too shall pass. Hopefully, tomorrow will be a less painful day!

Random Stuff.

I hardly ever go to the movies. I rent DVD's all the time. But I never go because it just a process. Either I have to find a babysitter or I have to take the kids and most of the time both of these things are a pain. But apparently 2009 is the year to go to the movies for me! Two weekends in a row, baby!

I went to Gran Tourino, which was and awesome movie and I love, love, love it. But it is full of foul language and racial slurs so if these things are completely offensive to you, I would recommend that you stay away. However, since it just sounded like racial slurs aren't offensive to me, let me just say I really, really don't like them! In the end, the movie redeems itself, foul language and all! It is one of the best movies I've seen in a long time. Clint Eastwood was amazing and the storyline was riveting. I can't even tell you too much about it because it will ruin the movie if you go. But take my word on this! It was awesome.

I also saw Bride Wars. It was cute and it reminded me all over again why I hated planning my wedding. Although I would hope that people weren't really like that about their weddings, it was funny to watch. We went for a Girls' Night Out and we had a blast! I always say there's nothing better than a $3.25 Icee at the movies. They just don't taste the same anywhere else. So I have had $6.50 worth of Icee's this month of Icee goodness!

On the home front, I got a call from the speech therapist the other day. Caleb failed his hearing test at school. So I'm a little freaked out but I'm trying not to stress too much about it because I'm sure that the tests at the school aren't too accurate, right?! So we have an appointment tomorrow to have it checked again just to make sure.

Did you know that Facebook is really cool? I'm lovin' it! I have been finding my family and tons of my old high school friends, plus all the cool friends I talk to all the time. It's the adult answer to myspace. OK I have a myspace account too but I don't love it like I love Facebook!

I watched the inauguration this week too. For the first time, I have a little hope for our new president. Maybe it is because of the lack of respect shown for George Bush for so long. I was really disgusted with the crowds of people at the inauguration that were boo-ing him and singing na-na-na-na, hey-hey-hey, goodbye. Like him or not, he was still our president and he deserved more respect than that. So for that reason alone, I'm going to give Obama a chance to see what he will do for us. I'm not holding my breath or anything though. But I have to admit when the Bush's hugged the Obama's when they were leaving to fly back to Texas, I did gain a little respect for him. It really impressed me that they could be so decent and kind to each other after such a nasty election. I think that George Bush will always be my favorite president. He will be a tough act to follow. Someday I hope that he is given the credit that he deserves because I think he got ripped to shreds in the press. But I won't get started on that! I'll just leave it as this: He made me feel safer in an unsafe world. OK, I'll get off my soapbox now.

Seriously. I'm Psychotic. Seriously.

Because Caleb is in a soccer tournament this weekend, we are home for Thanksgiving. And, we are having it at our house. So, I'm cleaning and getting ready to bake and all things domestic, right? WRONG!! I'm a crazy lady who has volunteered to make 100 invitations for the R.S. Christmas party and 250 invitations for the Ward Christmas party. And I decided that I was going to do them all today. And I did. Oh and let me add that Carson has gone and gotten sick too. However, I would like to add that someone was watching over my sanity today because my house isn't really too messy. Which is a miracle becausee we had a birthday party for my niece Kenzi at my house last night. And they decided that it would be hilarious to smash cake in each others faces. It was pretty funny actually. Its just not a birthday party at my house until someone is covered in cake and frosting! I was going to post pictures but I can't get them to download. Very annoying.

Oh and check this out:

This is my swelled up face this morning. I hope that spider is dead. Stupid spider. I said this earlier and Carson said "but its a cute spider" and I asked him why and he said "because all spiders are cute". Well, I'm gonna have to disagree. I think they suck. And they are creepy too.

Anyone else out there feeling psychotic this week? Its probably just me. As usual.

What I've been up to.

Well, lets see. I'll start with the most recent event. I'm pretty sure that last Monday I was bitten by a spider. And all I had was a little red mark next to my eye where I was bit until Saturday. That is when my eye started to swell. Sunday, even more swelling going on. Today, my eye is almost swollen shut. So I'm going to the Dr. in an hour because this is ridiculous! Oh, and my glands are all swollen too. Its lovely. I really should take pictures, its quite halirious!

Sunday. I refused to go to church with my freakish eye problem. No way, no how! Way too many questions will be asked and I have no answers.

Saturday. We hung Christmas lights and they look great! It makes me so happy to have pretty sparklies all over my house. I'll post pics later.

Friday. Recovery day after staying out all night for Twilight premiere.

Thursday. Had a fab Girls Night Out (GNO) to watch Twilight. Went out to a yummy dinner then went and waited in line for 3 hours to see the movie. Everyone there was so fun and friendly and it was like everyone in line was long lost friends! We all had a common bond and we just talked and giggled like teenagers.

Flash forward to the movie: I had to keep laughing because most of the women (only a few men there, they seemed to know to stay away, LOL) there were my age and they were acting like love-struck teenagers! Everyone either in love with Edward or Jacob. Giggling every time they saw them. LOVED IT! It made me feel young again. I loved the movie and could even forgive the cheesy parts (there were a few)because over all, it was really good! Go see it!

Well, I'm going to have to post more of my going-on's later because its almost time to head off to the Dr's office.

How was your weekend?
Are your Christmas lights up?
Do you hang lights every year?
Has your eye ever swelled shut?