Sick of sick

The last week has been insane around here!  Sick sick sick, I am so sick of all this sickness.  My back ache is never ending, Cole had the poops, then the pukes, then Brody got the poops, then Bill got the pukes, I got a sinus infection, Brody had the pukes and poops again and then last night topped it all off.  I had been home wiping Brody's butt all day and listening to Bill puke and puke his guts out, poor guy, so I woke up with an extremely sore back.  Nothing unusual lately, so I took some Tylenol, and did my exercises, which usually do stretch me out, stop the spasms and get me up and moving so by noon I can usually function. 
By noon yesterday I was pretty sore.  I snuck into the bed room while Bill was out puking and laid on my back massager and hoped to get some relief.  I came out to the living room and did more stretches and the pain just kept getting more and more intense.  Cole got home at 4 and by 5 I had enough.  I went to the bedroom and begged Bill to let me trade him places for awhile.  I was hurting so bad I needed a pain pill, and you know how I am with those damn pain pills, I am OUT like a light with them.  I took one and laid down in bed.  Within minutes I was up and in the bathroom.  I felt like I had to poop, pee and just terrible pressure.  I was in pain. 

Bill insisted that I had caught the "flu" like he had and that I was being a wussy and just couldn't handle the pain.  I knew it wasn't the damn flu.  I was hurting in one spot in my groin and one spot in my back.  Straight through.  I couldn't sit still, I vomited twice from the pain and the Vicodin didn't touch my pain.  After two hours of not sitting still I called my mother in law to come get me and take me to the ER.  Bill stayed home puking and caring for the kids.  Thank goodness they were little angels for him.  Brody slept most of the time I was gone.  Thank goodness. 

Dr.Ramen was on call.  She ran labs on me and a urine.  My WBC count was elevated and my urine had cells in it and lots of blood.  Pretty certain I had another kidney stone.  She gave me 5 shots of different muscle relaxers, pain medicines and then 2 full of antibiotics.  My hips are a bit sore today from all the shots, but they kicked in and the pain finally let up so I could sit still and get comfortable.  I was ready to come home and go to bed.  I got sent home with a pee strainer and had to catch my stone when I passed it.

I woke up in terrible pain again at 2 am.  I popped another pain pill and some Tylenol for my fever which was 101.  I tossed and turned and tried to get comfy.  Never happened.  I got Cole on the bus at 7 and then Brody and I fell back asleep from about 8 till 10 a.m. It felt so nice to finally sleep.  I woke up and was still in severe pain.  I had to pee so bad.  By the time I walked to the bathroom my pain had sort of disappeared?  Weird I know, but it did.  So I was peeing, felt something weird and then got done and looked in the strainer and there it was, the stone.  It looked like a bacon crumble actually.  Kinda like a bacon bit, weird.  So I got Brody dressed and we headed to town to the pharmacy to get my prescriptions.  I also had to take my stone to the lab at the hospital for analysis. 

I came home and felt like a million bucks being finally pain free.  I did up my kitchen, and some laundry and cooked supper.  It was a productive day after all the pain I'd been through. 

Worst case is I might have to go through this again 2 more times.  We knew I had 4 stones, hoping that I'd passed two or three last time, and then this one but there could be another one or two in there if I only passed one the first time.  I am not looking forward to this pain again, but now that I know what to expect I can get to the Dr faster and get better pain control to pass it.  That pain is worse than having a baby for sure.  It's horrible.  I can't imagine even being a guy.  I hear stones are bad for them too.

Today Bill's guts haven't been right, but he is feeling better and not throwing up, he just spent the morning off and on in the bathroom.  The boys both seem fine today and knock on wood I won't get this flu crap.  I could do without it actually. 

We need to all get well.  I am sick of sickness!

Back pain sucks

I feel like I'm finally getting somewhere, after all this pain and suffering hopefully after next Monday we will know some answers.  I have been to the chiropractor numerous times in the last 4 months, my back keeps causing me major trouble.  Yesterday I woke up and could hardly move.  I finally got limbered up just a bit, and then by evening it was causing me bad muscle spasms.  I couldn't sit still.  Nothing was working.  I had taken Vicodan here at home and a Xanax trying to relax and get to sleep, neither worked for me.  Finally at 11 I called my momma and she came out and got me and drove me in to the hospital for some relief. 

The ER Dr. Bell was super nice.  He did a bunch of tests on me and ended up giving me a shot of Morphine and a Toradol shot.  Within a half hour my spasms finally eased up a bit and they let me go home to bed.  By this time it was after 2 am.  I got almost home and mom had to pull over.  The morphine hit me and made me sicker than a dog.  I felt sick.  I finally just rolled the window down, and let the cool air hit me the last mile to home.  I got home and ended up dry heaving a couple times before I could fall asleep.  Then I literally was OUT like a light till about 5:30 a.m. when I woke up to wretch and heave again.  After that I felt better.  Bill woke Cole up, thank goodness and got him ready for school.  He is my life saver.  I just sat here in my chair and dozed and slept till 9:30 when I finally woke up and realized I needed to call Jeff and get in to see him.

Jeff got me in at 10:30.  He did a bunch of tests and questions and we decided to do another 3 day treatment with the toradol shots and then set up an MRI so that I can start getting some epidural shots.  This is the next steps I have to take in order to ever see the Surgeon.  I got my shot today, came home, cooked up some lunch for Brody and I and then we both took a nice nap.  I have been pretty out of it today.  Lots of cat naps.  I haven't had much good sleep lately with the sickness and my back.  It feels nice to sleep and not have horrible pain.  I am planning on taking a pill tonight and getting another good nights rest.  I have to be back at Jeff's at 9 a.m tomorrow for my third shot.

Of all days, today's the day Brody decides to be a little turd.  He climbed up on the changing table, opened up the baby powder and dumped half the brand new container out all over the place.  What a freaking mess.  Ugh.  I had to get out the mini oreck vac and suck all the dust up.  I then had to take and wet mop up the floor and dust off all the furniture so we weren't busting our butts on the wood floor.  It was so slick even after running the sweeper on it. 

Cole's a blessing.  He helped me take out the trash today, and then clean up that mess and helped me pick up all Brody's toys and mess in the living room for the day.  Without being able to bend over it really ruins what I can and can't do for myself.  It's impossible for me to bend over right now.  I am hopeful that this MRI will show something and we can get to the bottom of all this major pain.  It just makes me so frustrated to have gone through all this with losing weight, just to suffer so bad every day of my life with this back pain.  I am just aggravated by it all. 

I love Bill.  He's so helpful.  I don't know what I'd do without that man.  He really does take good care of me.  He spoils me rotten.  I am truly blessed to have found him!  I am also blessed that he can put up with me and my crap!  I think he loves me too!!!

Well I am off here to go scoop up some ham and beans for our supper.  I actually got my crock pot ready for today, yesterday morning, so it worked out nicely that I had to just put it on the crock pot this morning and now it's done.  I even had my corn bread baked, so all we have to do tonight is eat.  I must have really been super smart planning ahead yesterday, when actually I was just thinking I'd use up the leftover ham and Bill asked for Ham and beans and it's super easy to do so I did them up!  They smell so yummy cooking now!  Hope they taste just as good!

Happy 2012

I am shocked how fast 2011 flew by.  It's been 11 months since my surgery.  This time last year I was gearing up for a lifetime of change.  I am down 188 lbs.  I am creeping down slowly now.  I only lose about a pound a week.  Maybe a  1/2 a pound?  It depends on the week.  I could have done better, but chose to eat holiday food with everyone else and now that the holidays are over, I am starting to get back on track and only eat regular meals and healthy snacks!  I took the last of the candies, cookies and holiday treats into my Grandma Trone for her to enjoy.  If they aren't here then I can't walk by and take a nibble of something a few times a day.  I realize it was just a nibble, but those nibbles add up and hence the slow weight loss.  Not to mention the carb overload for the holidays, starchy soups, mashed taters, noodles, dressings, those carbs don't agree with my surgery.  For me to successfully lose the weight I have to stick to high protein and low carb, low fat.  Too many carbs will absorb well in my new system.  Too much fat and I will get the poops!  I try to avoid that at all costs!

People are asking about New Years Resolutions.  I've made a few for myself this year. 
1. Keep current and more organized with my book work and keep better track even when things get crazy.   I have my office all set up since the move, things are now organized and in place and I should be able to pull this one off!  Let's hope so!!

2. Show and tell people how much I truly appreciate them more.  I usually do try to do this as often as possible, but there's always room for improvement.  I just want people to know when the little things they do for me don't go un noticed!  I think it's important to let people know how much simple acts of kindness mean to me!

3. Cherish every single moment of this new life and "gift" that has been given to me.  I can never even begin to explain how truly grateful I am for this chance at a life I've never dreamed of because I always thought it was just a dream.  I am living it  now and going to live it up! 

Those are my resolutions for 2012.  I sure hope I can live up to them this year.   I tried to make them totally do-able!  Hey, guess what... for the first time in like 25 years LOSING WEIGHT isn't on that list!  WOW!!!!

BIG things are in store for this year.  I have a couple friends going in for weight loss surgery themselves.  I am so excited for them and their new leases on life.  I can't wait to help them through with their success.

We are settled into our new home and going to take advantage of my new energy to make it even better than it was last summer!  I am feeling so much better now.  I can't wait to fully enjoy this place this year.  I imagine my back patio will see a lot of me!  I can't wait to plant more flowers, do more landscaping and shape this bland place up!  I need some vibrant colors out there!!!

Today I fully put my house back in order from the holiday re arrangement.  I moved back my kitchen table into the kitchen.  It was butted up with the dining room table.  I finally got the leaf out of it and put back to where it belongs.  I also scrubbed down the kitchen, cleaned out fridge, swept and mopped kitchen and dining room floors.  I then did up dishes, and some laundry and gave Brody two baths, he's addicted to water!  I cleaned Brodys room, I do a daily sweep where I always once a day pick up all his toys, just so I know once a day they are all picked up.  I stripped the boys beds and changed sheets.  I then called it quits for the day.  My back is aching. 

Tomorrow I am going to Keokuk with Mom and Grandma.  We are going to Missouri and then Keokuk shopping.  I need some stuff from Dollar tree, Wal Mart and Aldis.  Should be a fun time with us!  I love days like that. 

Sunday I am having Chasity and Kyra out for working on the diaper cake for Kyra's shower.  Just something fun for us to do to prepare!  Fun times. 

Well I better get going.  Got a ham in oven and working on scalloped taters and green beans.  Smelling good in here!  Boys are getting hungry so I better get it done!