H1n1 Flu

Wow...can't believe I haven't been on here in a while but hopefully now after having a baby (Alison was born on July 1st) and getting back on track I have some time to Blog.

Didn't think too much of this virus and the fact the media has blown it WAY out of proportion (I know it can be deadly for people who aren't in the best of health so this is by no means a non-cautious post) but YES, our family has gotten the ugly Swine Flu. No- we aren't a household who isn't hygienic or doesn't wash our hands (trust me--my kids get sick of listening to me ask when their hands were washed last) but somehow it managed to sneak in and plan it's attack.

It started with my step-son and I over the weekend. The onset of a tight-chested cough with AT FIRST no other symptoms other than maybe a little fatigue. Next thing I know (12 hours later...) and I am awakened in the middle of the night with a "run over by a truck" feeling and an achy feverish body. I struggled most of the night to keep warm (thanks DH) and by morning awoke sweating. Yes--sweating! Very strange indeed but over the next day the symptoms worsened. The extreme fatigue I felt was horrible for the matriarch of the house to endure. The Mom, cook, maid, driver's ed teacher (teaching my 16 year-old how to drive :0, work 40+ hours, bather, grocery shopper, banker AND the boo-boo kisser of the house. Oh, DH will read this and wonder what he does :)

Early that morning a text message came across my phone from Shane's mom. It had been confirmed at the local ER Shane had the H1N1 virus. I immediately became panic stricken! After all, the Media has made this one horrible flu and there is no cure...on and on....and on.

I soon called the Dr. and was in the room telling him of my aches and such when unknown to me the worst was yet to come. OK...not for the squeamish here...but after having a nose culture done where they swab your brain (yes, I swear it hit my brain) I was allowed to leave with a script for my horrible chest congestion and a note to return to work in a week. The following day I did start to feel better but only slightly. Mind you, I am not a napper but I must have slept over 20 hours that day alone. I am NEVER in bed especially with a 4 month old and nightly feedings.

Well, it's now later in the week and after being fever-free for the past 48 hours...I can say I am no longer "contagious" and feeling much better. HOWEVER...my 16 year-old visited the Dr too and is also in bed for much needed rest. I don't think the course of this beast is yet done-- as now my infant has a fever of 100.6 degrees. Is there such a thing as "mercy"??? :0

Pregnant...with #4

It seems happy news travels fast and my husband and I couldn't wait any longer to tell everyone we are expecting another child. Most of you know this will be my fourth child and every pregnancy for me has been different.

I am about 12 weeks along and I will be so happy when I move into the 2nd trimester. This time I have been feeling strong morning sickness (or should I say ALL-DAY sickness, hee hee) met with terrible exhaustion. I can't get enough sleep and our youngest, Alexandra...is like the energizer bunny and has no sympathy for tired ol' mommy. Thank goodness she takes after me and has a creative bone so we have spent many a night coloring in her coloring book to keep her "low-key". Hopefully this week will pass and within another week I will regain some energy and start to feel a bit less nauseous.

My daily intake of pretzels is starting to get to me as well!!

Free Personal signatures - cool!

TEXTAREA_ID

News...but not what I wanted to hear

Well, after a visit to the Dr. yesterday I went in thinking positive (not too positive mind you) that I would be able to rid myself of these metal appendages I call crutches soon and begin the next phase of my recuperation--physical therapy. They took another set of X-Rays and to my chagrin I saw a weakness in the one break which the Dr said would need a few more weeks of crutch help. So...I am looking at yet another 4 weeks (a month, 28 days...an eternity it seems). I was told I could put 50% of my body weight back on my leg...how much is that exactly?? LOL
I asked the question of physical therapy and the Doc said he thought maybe one-two weeks worth and that's it. Good deal as I can't be like this too much longer!! I am going crazy not being able to drive!!!

Follow up to a Tumble...

Well, it's been almost 7 weeks since my mishap with the broken leg and coming up next week is the "much anticipated" visit to the Orthopedic Dr.On the 13th of November I am going in for the last set of X-rays to see how well the bones have healed and hopefully hear good news. I know from speaking to others I will need physcial therapy to retrain the muscles in my foot (atrophy sets in quick when you don't use your muscles) and I know I still have a few weeks of struggle ahead.I think I have complained quite often about using my crutches--I will be glad to see them go--but in reality it has made me appreciate what fine creatures we are. I will never take walking for granted ever again, nor will I refuse someone who is handicapped help. Mind you, I am not the type of person who would NOT help them...but now I will go out of my way to offer assistance.I will try and make a new post next week after I visit the Dr. to give an update on physical therapy, etc. HAPPY BLOGGING and please, don't break a leg :)

A tumble...

Well, I wish I could have posted this sooner but those who know me and know what happened--they understand why!
A few weekends ago our immediate family (my mother & father-in-law, sister & brother-in-law, my oldest boys and my husband and I) decided to go ATV and dirtbike riding a few hours from home. We arrived with anticipation and excitement of what the day full of riding might bring!!

After unloading bikes, 4-wheelers and gear, my husband unloaded my YZ 125 (used bike but purchased it a few weeks prior so it was still "new" to me) and then unloaded his YZ 250 as well. Gear bound, backpack with drinks, etc we hopped aboard our dirtbikes and started riding. I was so excited to ride and try my dirtbike out among a place other than our 12.5 acres of property where I had been riding weeks beforehand.

My husband, not new to riding his dirtbike ( he competed into his late teens winning many trophies and not until a broken wrist with pins did he really think about the risks of continuing) warned me about the terrain and it being rocky, etc. I said I would be fine and would start out slowly. Well, I started out slowly alright (mind you I was in first gear when the accident occurred) and within 10-15 minutes had layed my dirtbike over--my bike went one way and I the other--and needless to say a painful exit incurred.
I remember saying "I am so sorry to ruin everyone's day"...

I had fallen twisting my lower right leg and unannounced to me had broken both bones in my leg. Unable to stand or even shift my weight made that "machine" I was riding a fierce to be reckoned with. Likely one I won't attempt to ride once I can walk again!!!
We rode home in our truck, me laying with my broken mangled leg across the back seat and my husband saying " I shouldn't have raised the seat up" ( I wanted him to) and me in pain with over an hour ride to the hospital. Once we arrived at the hospital and X-rays were taken the same Orthopedic Dr. who placed pins into my husbands wrist some 15 years ago was now telling me I had 3 choices in order to put my leg "back together" :)

After looking at my X-rays (I couldn't look at them for fear of just how bad it really was) my husband said--wow, that's really bad. The Dr. said "you broke it alright" I was presented with
3 options for how he could fix it.

Option 1: Set the leg, cast it and check on it after a few weeks to see how it's healing.

Option 2: Place a metal plate and some screws into the leg and set the other bone--cast it up and after 6 weeks it should be healed.

Option 3: Place a metal rod from the knee down to my ankle and no cast would be needed (this required major surgery and 16 weeks of limited mobility.

I accepted Option 2. I think I made the right decision but after 2 weeks of pain and not being able to do much except sit on the computer and rest--the last 4 weeks can't be over soon enough!!!!!!

I have an appt. with my Orthopedic Dr. tomorrow afternoon and I hope the prognosis is going as planned. I soooo look forward to getting back to work and off these crutches! I bet there are some of you out there who can so sympathize with me. Send me a note so I can hear your experiences--I could use all the encouragement I can get :)

Oh! A huge hug and many thanks to my husband for working full-time and taking care of the grocery shopping, laundry, cooking, cleaning, the care of our kids and last but not least--ME!
I LOVE YOU!

I will try and post something this weekend and let everyone know how I am progressing.

Quote for the day:
Don’t cry because it’s over, SMILE because it happened. :)

Where has the summer gone?

I can't believe the summer is almost over. School started last week for my fifteen-year old and he wasn't thrilled but as the week progressed he realized just how much he missed his friends. Over the summer we celebrated 3 birthday's: Emma, my oldest girl turned 10 on July 4th, my oldest-Ehrik turned 15 on August 18th and I am so not ready for him to be driving in less than a year (look out!!) and last but no least--Alexandra-- my youngest turned 3 on August 29th--What an Energizer bunny!!! Oh, and of course, not that I want to admit it--but I also celebrated a birthday--34 years young. Wow, where does the time go!

On a different note, I hope everyone checks my website often (www.rusticstarprims.com) as I have just recently placed another ad in Country Sampler for a unique "pouting chair" which my youngest has already been sat in as a "time-out" chair :) I love it when items serve as dual purpose!! LOL

I will soon be updating my site with a few fall items and hopefully some Holiday ones as well.

Talk soon!