Strep A, I Wish I Could Cut You

Mar 27, 2012

It’s not so much that i jinxed myself, but that I spit in the face of ill health and it responded with a vengeance, shoving me back down into my place among mere mortals who don’t know better than to cower against The Universe and all it brings.  Like super germs.

We, as in the whole family, as in ALL FIVE OF US including my mom, have Strep again.  The day after I posted about being better, Gabi was diagnosed, and then the rest of us succumbed in one fell swoop soon after.

What the freaky frick?

I don’t even know what round this is.  Five?  Six?

Oh, and our swabs weren’t even in the dish 24 hours before the microbiologist called to say that we all had raging 4+ Strep A.  That’s some nasty Strep.  Our antibiotics pills are BLACK.

So now we have to figure out if Gilberto and I should get our tonsils out, if we should leave them in and get the kids’ tonsils out, or if we leave as is and just keep medicating until none of us get sick anymore.

I think I’m leaning more towards getting ALL of our tonsils out, because I recently read an article about how the overuse of antibiotics is rendering them ineffective because germs are smarter than we thought and preparing for a war on mankind like we’ve never seen before.  Or like they saw before antibiotics were created.  Either way, you get the picture; living in a world without effective antibiotics is ugly.

I’ve always been cautious about antibiotics, so I’m really happy that this new anti-antibiotic use thinking is spreading, even if it might be a bit too late (check out Moms for Antibiotic Awareness for some great info).  But it also has me super freaked out!  It’s enough to make me want to have surgery that is apparently really difficult for adults to recover from, just so that we don’t have to keep dosing ourselves with meds that we might need for something way more serious later in life, but sorry, we’re screwed.

We’re still looking at all of our options.  Including homeschooling the kids in case school is where the exposure is coming from.  I’m totally kidding.  Kind of.  With out luck we could buy one of those self-sustaining bubble environments and still catch us some Strep.

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Pack Mule

Nov 7, 2010

We leave for Brazil early early tomorrow morning, I’m exhausted after a whole day of packing.  Hallelujah that it’s finally done!

At 4:00 this afternoon I made everyone change into pajamas so that there wouldn’t be any confusion about what clothes were going or staying.  It was the most comfortable I’ve ever been packing.  I see pajama wear happening quite a bit in our future. 

We packed four giant suitcases, five carryons (not sure how we’ll finagle that, but we’ll try) and a purse.  In addition we’ll be lugging a car seat and a stroller.  

About half of that stuff will be staying in Brazil.  As soon as people find out we’ll be heading down south, the orders start pouring in.  While services are super cheap there, things are not, and we buy a lot of stuff here and get reimbursed for it on the other end.

We stopped taking last minute requests last night after we got back from a store we’d gone to three times in two days, and we couldn’t bear the idea of going again.

Here’s our final list:

• 2 laptops
• 1 projector
• 1 XBox
• 1 PS3
• 4 PS3 games
• 1 digital camera
• 1 iPhone
• 1 iPhone charger set
• 1 iPod
• 5 different perfumes
• 1 perfume set
• 6 Victoria’s Secret lotions
• 3 Oakley hats
• 1 calculator
• 6 purses
• 2 pairs of Nikes
• 2 toys (the loud, obnoxious kind)

On top of that, we’re bringing clothes that Gabi and Mason have outgrown for a niece and nephew.  It’s a miracle we had any room for our own clothes!  I wouldn’t be surprised to find out we have to pay for exceeding the per bag weight limit.

A friend loaned me her minivan so we wouldn’t have to take two cars to the aiport, two hours away.  Friends like that deserve super cool gifts upon my return.    

It takes 24 hours of traveling door to door.  Our journey starts at 4:30 tomorrow morning.  See you in a few days!

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Weaned

Nov 6, 2010

A few months ago, Mason decided that the he’d join lots of other babies and do a nursing strike.  I hear it’s pretty common at around 8 to 9 months old.  He’d see my boob coming and SCREAM.  It’d be incredibly comical if I wasn’t so bummed.

Due to my thyroid problem, I had a really low breast milk supply.  SUPER low.  I tried everything imaginable to get it up, and nothing worked until I started taking a medicine called Domperidone, that I had to order from a pharmacy in New Zealand.  I was so excited about being able to give Mason more milk, but even then I still had to supplement about half of the time (luckily, half of that came from another nursing mom who had an overabundant supply!).  When Mason decided he’d had enough, I wasn’t able to pump enough to keep up, and my supply slowly dwindled.

I stopped pumping a few weeks ago, and it’s become a weird morning ritual to see if I could squeeze any more milk out.  Gilberto laughed about it looking like I was milking myself, but one time I accidentally squirted him and you’d have thought he was the Wicked Witch melting!  No more laughing after that.  For some reason it made me feel better to know I wasn’t completely dried up. 

This is the first morning I didn’t have a milking yield.  It’s over.

I have a hunch that while Gilberto was behind the breastfeeding 100%, he might be a little happy about the turn of events.  But he might be in for a surprise.  I don’t know what to make of my boobs now. They’re suddenly so squishy.

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Head Games

Nov 2, 2010

I saw Gabi sneaking out of the garage this afternoon, stuffing a handful of Christmas bows under her shirt.

Gabi: Hey, mom.  Guess what I have in my shirt!

Yes!  I get to play the Guessing Game!

Me: Ummm, let me see. A bike? A bike pump? A helmet? Knee pads? A wheel? A flower pot? Flowers? Hmmmm. A bowl? A plate? A spoon? A fork? A knife? A spatula?

Gabi: No! Let me just show you…

Me: A soda can? Cheese? An apple? An orange? An eggplant? How about… I know! Is it a balloon? A kitty?

Gabi: No! Geez, it’s not a KITTY!

Me: Well, that’s good, because eating a kitty isn’t a very good thing at all! Is it a fish? A step stool? A bell? A rock? A book? Some paper? A pen? A pencil? A crayon?

Gabi: Mom, it’s not ANY of those things. Now let me show you…

Me: No! Hold on! I think I can get it! Is it a present? Tape? Wrapping paper? Scissors?

Gabi: You’re so close!

Me: Yay! Okay, is it a purse? A wallet? Keys?

Gabi: Mom! Oh my gosh, just look already!

Me: Oh, it’s BOWS. I never would’ve guessed THAT.

I love messing with her head. 

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Coming Up For Air

Oct 30, 2010

Even though I haven’t written here for over a year, not a day went by that I didn’t have Blogger Brain.  Something crazy would happen, and I would start to write a post about it in my head.  I had so much going on that it never made it to paper, but it’s the thought that counts, right?  

It feels damn good to be writing again for real, outside of my head.  I’ve been gone from here for way too long.

There’s no easy way to sum up the last 16 months, but I’ll give it a whirl.

1) I grew a baby!  It was a really rough pregnancy, though, and I was so glad when it was over.  I had pneumonia twice, was sick with one thing or another the rest of the time, and developed gestational diabetes.  At the end I got sciatica so badly I couldn’t walk (and had to be wheeled to Dr. appointments!).   

2) Our son, Mason, was born after 36 hours of labor. 36.  Without medication.  Oh, that’s a lie.  I did have a jab or two of something that gave me quite a lovely buzz when I hit transition.  It was a little sketchy because the nurse gave it to me after I told him no, but once I’d had it, I was like, I’ll have more of THAT, please.

3) Gabi started Kindergarten and is now in the 1st grade.  It’s so weird to have a kid in school.  If anything has made me feel like a full fledged mom, that’s it.  The minivan in our near future will seal the deal.

4) On the work front, Gilberto injured his back at work and has been home with me this entire time.  We hated each other in the beginning, but it’s all good now.  I don’t know how much longer I’ll be able to be a stay at home mom (which I LOVE), but we are making it work for now by living simply.  Getting laid off has been a true blessing in the Learning To Live On A Tight Budget department.  Now that we’ve learned how to handle money, God can bring on the big lottery win.

5) In addition to my wheat allergy, I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism and Fibromyalgia.  That may seem like a bummer, but I’m just so happy to be able to put an identity to what I’ve been going through.  Now I know how to try and make things better.   

6) I’ve become addicted to non-classy reality TV.  Classy being The Amazing Race and Survivor.  Non-classy being The Jersey Shore and Money Hungry.  My DVR list is shameful.

7) I’ve lost my memory.  After two babies, all hope is gone that I’ll ever regain the brain I once had.  This could be problematic if I ever get an interview, but it helps me not feel like an idiot after baby talking to a nine month old all day long. 

Last but not least, I’ve started to drool in my sleep.  Why my mouth has started to betray me in this way, I have no idea, but it’s gross.  With the snoring, co-sleeping, and now drool, our bed is now the least romantic spot in the house.

It may take me a while to get my groove back, but I’ll keep writing until I do.  An upcoming teaser- we’re heading to Brazil again in a week and a half.  I should have some fantastic in-law stories.

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Betsy Wetsy

Jun 29, 2009

A cold that turned into bronchitis has knocked me flat on my back. Well, flat on my bed in an upright position, since I can’t breathe when I’m laying down. It has zapped every ounce of energy from my body, and apparently my bladder control. Sneezing, coughing and even just blowing my nose cause me to wet myself.

It’s gotten to the point that whenever I feel a sneeze coming on, I run for the toilet, because simply crossing my legs isn’t doing the trick anymore.

It wouldn’t be so bad, because I have over 30 pairs of underwear, but then I went and peed myself in my doctor’s waiting room during a violent coughing fit. Talk about embarrassing! Grown women don’t usually have to carry extra pairs of underwear in their purses, though I might consider it if I go out again before I’m better. I do not want THAT happening again.

Oh, and I’m pretty sure my new found incontinence has more to do with an in utero baby pushing on my bladder mixed with sudden spastic pressure and not so much to do with getting older, as a dear friend is trying to convince me. No Depends for me just yet! Well, seriously hoping not.

So for now I’m firmly planted on my bed, propped up with every pillow in the house, trying not to whine too much (I’m wimpy, I whine!), with a surprisingly sympathetic Gilberto waiting on me hand and foot (I’m usually told to suck it up). He grew up with a super human mother who never let a little sickness stop her from taking care of her house or family, and I don’t think he even knew women COULD get sick until he met me.

I have another doctor’s appointment tonight because the antibiotic I’m on isn’t working. I need for the healing to begin! Gabi has gotten away with a magnitude of stunts because I haven’t had the energy to watch her like I should, the house is a mess and we’re running out of clothes. I NEED to get better.

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I’ve Lost All Control

Jun 19, 2009

You know those cute little tiny containers of Ben & Jerry’s? I got three of them at the grocery store a few days ago. I thought, this will be a great way to indulge in a little ice cream without overdoing it!

That night I ate the Chocolate Fudge Brownie one. And even after licking the inside out with my tongue, it wasn’t enough. Not nearly enough. So I grabbed another (also Chocolate Fudge Brownie), and would’ve eaten the third if Gabi hadn’t thrown a fit about how it was supposedly HERS. Whatever. I didn’t really want her Strawberry ice cream after such delicious chocolate anyway.

Not being able to satisfy my chocolate craving lit a massive chocolate craving fire under my quickly enlarging pregnant butt. The next day I made super rich brownies, with dark chocolate frosting. Whoever invented brownies has done this world an incredible favor, and these brownies did not disappoint in any way.

When that was all gone, I went and got all the stuff to make Chocolate Fudge Pie. Which was amazing! Each creamy, chocolaty bite melted in my mouth and tasted like heaven.

But now I have an extra crust and I can’t bear to let it go to waste, so I’m going with my gut and making a Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie tomorrow (anyone have a super great recipe?). And some Banana Bread with Ghiradelli chocolate chips because if I’m baking, I might as well make some bread, too. And I have the stuff for Chocolate Chip Cookies, the thought of which are making me salivate. So that’s a definite yes on the cookies.

The lesson here? DO NOT BUY THOSE LITTLE CONTAINERS OF BEN & JERRY’S. Go for the big container and just get it over with in one go.

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Knocked Up

Jun 16, 2009

I’ve been keeping a secret for the last six weeks and I FINALLY get to spill the beans! Which is such a relief, because I’m the worst secret keeper ever.

Well, here you go.

I went for my first appointment this morning. Besides the never ending nausea, sore boobs and crying for no reason, I haven’t really felt pregnant (I know, I’m a loon), so I was half expecting the midwife to tell me I was mistaken.

Midwife: Mrs Kay, it’s just that you’re, um, NOT pregnant. Not in the least.

Me: But what about the uncontrollable sobbing I did over Grey’s Anatomy?

Midwife: Well, emotional issues aren’t really my specialty, but I can give you the number of a really great psychologist.

Me: But my pants aren’t fitting anymore!

Midwife: Yes, I noticed that. I can also recommend a really great weight loss specialist.

So to see my baby squirming on the ultrasound screen was not only reassuring, it really drove home that I am, in fact, pregnant with a REAL LIVE HUMAN BEING inside me.

Amazing.

As for stats, I’m 10 weeks along, due January 11th, and settling into some very intense cravings.

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18 Hours Straight At The Casino

Jun 1, 2009

Gilberto and I celebrated our anniversary over the weekend. Six years! Woohoo! Since my mom offered to watch Gabi overnight, we decided to get out of town for a relaxing night to ourselves.

We went here.

Most couples head off for full weekend getaways at the beach or in the mountains and stay in a lovely little bed and breakfast and drink wine, or go into the city and have a fabulous dinner at a four star restaurant followed by a day at the spa. We opt for the loudest, smokiest hotels on earth with packages that include a variety of gambling and buffet options. Two free dinner buffets and a $20 slot credit, or a voucher for Continental breakfast in the cafe with a $50 slot credit? Pick whichever one works best for you!

We’re just classy like that.

San Diego is the Land of Casinos, and it’s actually a great way to get a nice hotel room for a steal. If we’d stayed local, our money would’ve gotten us a Motel 6 in a place where Domino’s Pizza won’t deliver after 9:00 at night.

At the casino, our room was really REALLY nice, with a king sized bed so decked out it screamed Oprah. I’m probably going to spend the rest of my life trying to recreate it.

And THE TUB! I was so enamored I took a picture before filling it up for a soak. Check this baby out.

I spent a good hour in there with water up to my chin.

Everything was pretty much perfect until this morning when we were woken up by the little old ladies in the room next to us, whooping it up about something at 7:30 in the morning. We could hear them clear as a bell through the shared door. I think they were doing impersonations.

I tried to convince Gilberto to do a little impersonating of our own.

Me: Hon! Let’s stand next to the door and make sex noises!

Gilberto: WHAT?

Me: It’ll be fun! Put a little pink in their cheeks.

Gilberto: You’re insane!

Me: I’ll say, Give it to me like the stud you are, baby. And you’ll say, I’m going to pound you silly, you dirty vixen. Then we’ll just make lots of noises and go Oh Yeah a bunch! It’ll be so funny!

Though he wouldn’t do it (I don’t think he was all that impressed with my script), I did have him laughing pretty hard.

Our little trip was a total success.

Just a word to all women who find themselves packing for a night away. Don’t think that you can go without your tweezers for even 12 hours. It’s the time you don’t pack them that you’ll find a surprise hair that you need to pluck. Like, on your boob.

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Goldie Meets Her Maker

May 25, 2009

Memorial Day took on a new meaning in our house today.

In addition to remembering the brave men and women who served our country, we also mourned the death of our beloved pet, Goldie the Goldfish, who passed away this morning.

(This is not Goldie, she was much MUCH fatter)

Once she was discovered belly up, we realized that the bubbler thing had been unplugged. Official cause of death: suffocation.

I was immediately suspected in bringing on her demise with some foul play, since everyone around here knows how much I hated that fish, but we soon figured out that Gabi had accidentally done the unplugging when she was playing with Gilberto’s power drill. (It sounds worse than it was, I swear. And, no, we won’t be telling her about her role in Goldie’s death.)

Gabi’s actually taking it quite well, though she won’t let us flush Goldie down the toilet. I tried to get her all hyped up on sending Gabi back to the ocean Nemo style, but she wouldn’t hear of it. We have to have a funeral, complete with coffin, and bury her beneath the tree where our other two fish are resting. We put it off until tomorrow, when all of the neighbors will be back at work, just in case there’s some HOA rule about burying pets in public places.

I’m so over having pets, even ones as easy as fish. I just can’t do it. Heaven forbid we move and I have to fulfill our promise to get Gabi a dog.

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