Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Tornado Warning
I can handle crazy forest fires that burn huge swaths of my home state.
(These pictures only represent one fire...off the top of my head I can think of like 12 that I saw/drove near/had school shut down for/needed to wipe the ash of my car before driving/lost hiking trails to, etc.)
I can handle blizzards that shut down the nation's capitol for weeks on end.
I can even handle a 6.9 earthquake whose epicenter was 40 miles away from my home (Don't have personal pictures - I was four and all I remember is running down our hallway, which was wiggling like a fun house, screaming until my sister grabbed my hair and pulled me into the doorway).
I learned yesterday that I cannot handle tornado warnings. The sirens went off at Southern Seminary (highest point in the area or something) and I had the craziest adrenaline rush. I grabbed Rose and was scared. Ah, productive. My good friend Jess grew up in Ohio, is used to tornado warnings and watches, and lives in our complex. I called her and was like, "What. is. that. noise." And she was like, "Sirens. Have you ever been through this before...?" She and I talked on the phone probably four times through the scariest half-hour ever. Augh. I now know you are supposed to get on the bottom floor, inner-most part of the house, and into the tub with pillows and crib mattresses if they tell you to on the news.
Nothing touched down. But I was very scared. I think it's way worse than earthquakes because there is this sick anticipation...will it come?! :Shivers:
Just hoping we won't have too many of those in the next two years. But...we'll be preparing as best we can (wind-up radio, camping stove, food).
And sorry, there will never, ever, ever be pictures of a tornado. : )
(These pictures only represent one fire...off the top of my head I can think of like 12 that I saw/drove near/had school shut down for/needed to wipe the ash of my car before driving/lost hiking trails to, etc.)
I can handle blizzards that shut down the nation's capitol for weeks on end.
I can even handle a 6.9 earthquake whose epicenter was 40 miles away from my home (Don't have personal pictures - I was four and all I remember is running down our hallway, which was wiggling like a fun house, screaming until my sister grabbed my hair and pulled me into the doorway).
I learned yesterday that I cannot handle tornado warnings. The sirens went off at Southern Seminary (highest point in the area or something) and I had the craziest adrenaline rush. I grabbed Rose and was scared. Ah, productive. My good friend Jess grew up in Ohio, is used to tornado warnings and watches, and lives in our complex. I called her and was like, "What. is. that. noise." And she was like, "Sirens. Have you ever been through this before...?" She and I talked on the phone probably four times through the scariest half-hour ever. Augh. I now know you are supposed to get on the bottom floor, inner-most part of the house, and into the tub with pillows and crib mattresses if they tell you to on the news.
Nothing touched down. But I was very scared. I think it's way worse than earthquakes because there is this sick anticipation...will it come?! :Shivers:
Just hoping we won't have too many of those in the next two years. But...we'll be preparing as best we can (wind-up radio, camping stove, food).
And sorry, there will never, ever, ever be pictures of a tornado. : )
A Case That Makes OBs Hair Turn Gray
Southern Seminary, where Bobby goes to school, is well-equipped to serve the student body and their families. They have a great health and recreation center, fun (and free!) on-campus events, and a very reasonable, well-staffed health clinic. Rose is getting all her vaccinations there ($2 a shot vs. our insurance $20 a shot co-pay) and today I got my iron levels tested and only had to pay $5 for the appointment. They have nurses and doctors who work there (a rotation of three doctors and I don't know how many nurses), and the doctor I saw today was awesome.
He asked why I wanted to get my iron tested (since it wasn't an outside order from another physician) and I explained that I was anemic and it'd been six months since my levels were checked...and then he kept listening so I kept telling him my entire story.
Turns out my doctor was an OB/GYN full-time for 30 years before working at the clinic, and he was...stunned. And asked a lot of questions. And helped me piece some things together. He said he's delivered around 5,000 babies and my case is one of the top two most complicated/puzzling he's ever heard.
We discussed the abruption at length, talked about the illeus that probably led to the 'perf' as most doctors seem to call bowel perforations. He was both sympathetic and completely, utterly fascinated with what had happened. All the usual questions - "No hypertension? No car accidents? No acts of exceedingly heavy lifting? No intense pain? No extreme fetal distress?" No, no, no, no, no...and no, I don't use cocaine. Not that he asked - I volunteered it - but high blood pressure and coke addiction are the two leading causes behind the type of abruption I had.
We also talked about the future- - as I already know, I will be 'watched like a hawk', with ultrasounds that check placental placement and blood flow and a planned c-section - 'no home-births for you!!" and hopefully, because I Lord-willing won't have another abruption with all of it's side effects, won't need to worry about any bowel problems.* It was funny, too, he asked about my incision scars (basically, I have two scars that doctors always call the 'anchor' - up and down, side to side), my N/G tube, not being able to breast-feed - he just knew what to ask.
It was so nice to talk about the experience with him. I do like talking about everything that happened. It was the longest two weeks of my life and it was so recent. I remember so many little random medical details that I like talking to someone with a medical background because they both A) understand and B)realize the severity of what happened. It was a hard, hard time. The doctor today totally understood, which I appreciated, and then told the nurse I had a crazy story, that kind that turns OBs hair gray and makes them not sleep at night (I'm sure Dr. Cunningham experienced both). Speaking of Dr. Cunningham, the doctor today (who's name I forgot!!) said both Rose and I received excellent care (he kept nodding as I told him everything my OB and the NICU did). I am so grateful for doctors who saved my life (and Rose's!) and grateful to move and find doctors who listen, interact and rejoice with me. I wish he was still practicing full-time so if we had another baby in the next few years he could be my doctor. I do have recommendations for a perinatologist in the area. If we should need it, I hope she is as friendly as the doctor was today!
*Lots of blood loss plus a lot of medication really slows down the bowels, which can result in an illeus, the strain/pressure of which can make the bowel perforate. If I didn't lose a lot of blood and had just a regular, routine c-section it's unlikely the same thing would happen. ::Prays that this will be so::
He asked why I wanted to get my iron tested (since it wasn't an outside order from another physician) and I explained that I was anemic and it'd been six months since my levels were checked...and then he kept listening so I kept telling him my entire story.
Turns out my doctor was an OB/GYN full-time for 30 years before working at the clinic, and he was...stunned. And asked a lot of questions. And helped me piece some things together. He said he's delivered around 5,000 babies and my case is one of the top two most complicated/puzzling he's ever heard.
We discussed the abruption at length, talked about the illeus that probably led to the 'perf' as most doctors seem to call bowel perforations. He was both sympathetic and completely, utterly fascinated with what had happened. All the usual questions - "No hypertension? No car accidents? No acts of exceedingly heavy lifting? No intense pain? No extreme fetal distress?" No, no, no, no, no...and no, I don't use cocaine. Not that he asked - I volunteered it - but high blood pressure and coke addiction are the two leading causes behind the type of abruption I had.
We also talked about the future- - as I already know, I will be 'watched like a hawk', with ultrasounds that check placental placement and blood flow and a planned c-section - 'no home-births for you!!" and hopefully, because I Lord-willing won't have another abruption with all of it's side effects, won't need to worry about any bowel problems.* It was funny, too, he asked about my incision scars (basically, I have two scars that doctors always call the 'anchor' - up and down, side to side), my N/G tube, not being able to breast-feed - he just knew what to ask.
It was so nice to talk about the experience with him. I do like talking about everything that happened. It was the longest two weeks of my life and it was so recent. I remember so many little random medical details that I like talking to someone with a medical background because they both A) understand and B)realize the severity of what happened. It was a hard, hard time. The doctor today totally understood, which I appreciated, and then told the nurse I had a crazy story, that kind that turns OBs hair gray and makes them not sleep at night (I'm sure Dr. Cunningham experienced both). Speaking of Dr. Cunningham, the doctor today (who's name I forgot!!) said both Rose and I received excellent care (he kept nodding as I told him everything my OB and the NICU did). I am so grateful for doctors who saved my life (and Rose's!) and grateful to move and find doctors who listen, interact and rejoice with me. I wish he was still practicing full-time so if we had another baby in the next few years he could be my doctor. I do have recommendations for a perinatologist in the area. If we should need it, I hope she is as friendly as the doctor was today!
*Lots of blood loss plus a lot of medication really slows down the bowels, which can result in an illeus, the strain/pressure of which can make the bowel perforate. If I didn't lose a lot of blood and had just a regular, routine c-section it's unlikely the same thing would happen. ::Prays that this will be so::
Monday, October 25, 2010
Sleeping Through the Night
Last Tuesday I officially entered the 'Mom Guilt Club.' I took Rose to the doctor for her nine-month 'well' visit (just a check-up) and wasn't expecting any surprises. As I undressed her to get weighed, I noticed a bunch of dried gunk around her left ear - and it didn't look like dried banana oatmeal (likely) or dried tears/spit-up. I remarked that THAT was odd, and the nurse had the doctor look at it right away.
And, da-dum, he told me Rose had a burst ear drum. Cue me: WHAT?!?!??!
Thankfully, it sounds a lot worse than it is.
So Rose had a horrible double ear infection in August (h.o.r.r.i.b.l.e.). I was at my parent's house because Bobby was moving all our stuff in a big truck down to Kentucky, and Rose and I were having a great trip until she didn't go to sleep one night (the whole night...) because she was screaming. My mom and I took her to urgent care the next day, and she got lots of anti-biotics to combat the infection. I did a follow-up at her current pediatrician in Louisville ("Hi...yes, my daughter is a new patient and she needs a follow-up appointment...") and they said her ears were clear.
Apparently not! The doctor I saw last Tuesday is pretty sure she had some sort of low-grade, under the radar ear infection SINCE August.
See also: uncharacteristic night waking - sometimes three times a night - since double ear infection in August.
Anyways, besides feeling like the lamest mom ever (which I don't anymore, since I've entered the club...both my mom and mother-in-law didn't know their kids had broken bones, another friend's son's ear drum burst, plus lots of friendly assurance that all kids handle sickness differently, and Rose didn't really display anything out of the ordinary, etc) I was grateful to the Lord that that appointment 'just happened' to be scheduled the morning after the burst ear-drum.
The doctor assured me her ear drum should heal (in fact, they used to purposely rupture ear drums to treat chronic ear infections before anti-biotics) and gave me a prescription for anti-biotics and ear drops.
The anti-biotics were reasonable ($10), but the ear drops...Bobby joked they cost more per ounce than gold (which they don't. I just checked). Anyways, that was a bummer, BUT - I am very grateful that she seems to be doing a lot better.
How do I know this?
For the last two nights, for the first time in TWO MONTHS, Rose hasn't needed someone to help her fall back asleep in the middle of the night. Before she would be wide awake in her crib or crying, and wouldn't fall back asleep without being rocked or comforted.
On Saturday night, she woke up, moaned a few baby moans, and went right back to sleep. Yes!
Last night, she didn't wake up at all (at least that we heard). This is how she used to sleep before the ear infections, and we're super grateful that it appears the medicine is allowing her ears to heal, and in turn, she is sleeping better. (It also makes me sad that she was probably waking up because her ears were bothering her!).
I am hoping the sleeping well continues, because I was going rather batty waking up so much. Thankfully these last two nights (plus a 2 hour nap on Saturday!) have really helped catch me up, for which I am grateful.
As for all the regular parts of her well visit? Our skinny minnie string bean is in the 97th percentile for height, and somewhere between the 50-70th percentile for weight. She is developing well, and the doctor thinks she'll probably start crawling in the next couple months.
I'll also try to get a video of her new favorite game: emptying her toy basket, checking each piece, and then trying to look through the books she pulled out. So cute.
And, da-dum, he told me Rose had a burst ear drum. Cue me: WHAT?!?!??!
Thankfully, it sounds a lot worse than it is.
So Rose had a horrible double ear infection in August (h.o.r.r.i.b.l.e.). I was at my parent's house because Bobby was moving all our stuff in a big truck down to Kentucky, and Rose and I were having a great trip until she didn't go to sleep one night (the whole night...) because she was screaming. My mom and I took her to urgent care the next day, and she got lots of anti-biotics to combat the infection. I did a follow-up at her current pediatrician in Louisville ("Hi...yes, my daughter is a new patient and she needs a follow-up appointment...") and they said her ears were clear.
Apparently not! The doctor I saw last Tuesday is pretty sure she had some sort of low-grade, under the radar ear infection SINCE August.
See also: uncharacteristic night waking - sometimes three times a night - since double ear infection in August.
Anyways, besides feeling like the lamest mom ever (which I don't anymore, since I've entered the club...both my mom and mother-in-law didn't know their kids had broken bones, another friend's son's ear drum burst, plus lots of friendly assurance that all kids handle sickness differently, and Rose didn't really display anything out of the ordinary, etc) I was grateful to the Lord that that appointment 'just happened' to be scheduled the morning after the burst ear-drum.
The doctor assured me her ear drum should heal (in fact, they used to purposely rupture ear drums to treat chronic ear infections before anti-biotics) and gave me a prescription for anti-biotics and ear drops.
The anti-biotics were reasonable ($10), but the ear drops...Bobby joked they cost more per ounce than gold (which they don't. I just checked). Anyways, that was a bummer, BUT - I am very grateful that she seems to be doing a lot better.
How do I know this?
For the last two nights, for the first time in TWO MONTHS, Rose hasn't needed someone to help her fall back asleep in the middle of the night. Before she would be wide awake in her crib or crying, and wouldn't fall back asleep without being rocked or comforted.
On Saturday night, she woke up, moaned a few baby moans, and went right back to sleep. Yes!
Last night, she didn't wake up at all (at least that we heard). This is how she used to sleep before the ear infections, and we're super grateful that it appears the medicine is allowing her ears to heal, and in turn, she is sleeping better. (It also makes me sad that she was probably waking up because her ears were bothering her!).
I am hoping the sleeping well continues, because I was going rather batty waking up so much. Thankfully these last two nights (plus a 2 hour nap on Saturday!) have really helped catch me up, for which I am grateful.
As for all the regular parts of her well visit? Our skinny minnie string bean is in the 97th percentile for height, and somewhere between the 50-70th percentile for weight. She is developing well, and the doctor thinks she'll probably start crawling in the next couple months.
I'll also try to get a video of her new favorite game: emptying her toy basket, checking each piece, and then trying to look through the books she pulled out. So cute.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Favorite Toys
Rose loves these little friends: Lamby (whose ears are already starting to look and feel 'loved' aka chewed), Ellie (thanks Grandma!), and...to top off this naming originality, Pillow (thanks, Great*-Omi!)
However, when not going to sleep, she loves to play with...Hamper!
*How do you say great-grandma in German?
However, when not going to sleep, she loves to play with...Hamper!
*How do you say great-grandma in German?
Cherokee Park
Early Saturday morning we loaded Rose in the car and drove for...five minutes! We were on a planned excursion to Cherokee Park, a beautiful wooded park right in the middle of Louisville. It has forest trails that run through it, play-grounds, a golf course, and a 2.5 mile looped walking/jogging/biking trail. While it isn't the same as driving to the ocean, we really appreciate the beauty of this outdoor open space. We parked at a top of a hill, put Rose in her stroller and headed off. I got some great pictures of the leaves changing color, mist rising out of the valley, and of course, the Rose E. Bear.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Apple Picking and Book Reading
Rose has had lots of fun in the last few weeks. Her highlights were seeing Grandma Jane two weeks ago and Omi and Gramps last weekend. When Jane was here we all went apple-picking - pics below. Also enjoy some sweet pictures of Rose picking toys and books out of her basket. She's pretty deliberate about what she picks to play with, and it is super cute to watch!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
