Well this was a red-letter weekend. We celebrated Olivia's birthday(her 11th) and one year
since Tim had his last chemo treatment. I have a combination Mother's day and
birthday party every year which went well and Olivia is enjoying her new trampoline. Unfortunately, we had a bad incident happen that put a damper on a lot of this. Olivia got the
worst teacher in the school this year. It's not that he can't teach, it's that he is a miserable person who seems bent on making everyone around him unhappy as well. He actually seems to get some kind of sadistic kick out of insulting his students, many times using sarcasm or double-talk
to see if they even realize they have been insulted. His students are denied many things that all
the other students have(like indoor recess when it rains) and I finally had enough. My daughter
has come home on several occasions with hurt feelings either because of what he said to her or
one of her classmates and making the kids work without speaking while the rest of the school is
having recess this rainy spring put me over the edge. He has a long-standing reputation in our
district as being horrible and my husband has done flooring jobs for several of his co-workers
(one just last week) who come right out and tell him they feel bad that Olivia got him as a teacher. I had a talk with the principal on Thursday about this. He tried very hard to side-step
and tell me that I should be talking to the teacher before getting administration involved.
I answered that the last time I went to him with a problem, he just denied doing something that
he was clearly doing and that since this man has made his own rules and been complained about
so often and for so many years, this was something that needed to be solved and could not be solved by me. "He works for you" I said. "You are supposed to be managing your employees." It's a long story but basically he told me he would talk to the teacher but was not happy when I said I did not want my name mentioned for fear he would take it out on my kid. There
are several other parents I have met this year who have felt the same way. The next day, I
dropped off a child who was so excited to be celebrating her birthday with her friends. I picked
up a child who was upset and extremely disappointed. It seems Mr. Adkins passed out the snacks that Olivia brought in and let the children eat them while Olivia was in another classroom
and not yet returned from another subject. The children were not permitted to sing happy birthday or even wish her that it seems as a few kids whispered it to her when she returned and that was it. Her birthday "celebration" happened without her. Can you see the smoke coming out of my ears from where you sit? Olivia told me this after
we left her classroom(I met her there to help carry the food containers) and I was outside the
principal's office when she finished the story. I could not believe what I was hearing. I stopped in my tracks and made her repeat it to be sure. I told a woman in the office to get the principal for
me. She asked what it was in reference to. I said, tell him my name, he'll know.They found him and he walked up to
me and I gave him a talking to he won't soon forget. I told him what happened and his face visibly dropped. It was such a drastic expression change that the first thing that popped into my
mind was he told the teacher who complained. Whether he did or not, I told him that the reason
a teacher gets away with behaving like this despite so many complaints is that someone is dropping the ball and that someone was not me. He again stated that this is supposed to be handled with the teacher first before coming to him and I told him again that it was not my job to manage his staff and there's no way that I can solve the problems with this teacher(without being sued or put in prison, and no I didn't say the prison part but I did say the sued part was why
I was not in his classroom right now). Can ya tell I was pissed? I can't remember the last time I was this furious.
I told him 364 days is a long time for a 10 year old to wait for her birthday. This was inexcusable and he had better deal with it. Either way, the damage is done. My daughter was so
hurt. I told that principal that in my mind, I don't care how smart or experienced this guy is,
the rule is, FIRST DO NO HARM. The mean and self-esteem damaging remarks he makes to
these kids is unacceptable. I kept my voice as controlled as possible during this conversaton
and I had sent Olivia outside to hang out with her friends but I was spittin' nails and this guy got an earfull from me. This morning, my kid was afraid to go to school. It's one thing when he does something to the whole class. This was directed at her personally. When Tim got
home right after I did from picking Olivia up on Friday, I was in the back yard pacing. I told him
what happened and he wanted to get back in his truck and head back to the school. Ya know, I've said it before that the circumstances in my life have left me feeling like I have had a lot of
bad luck. I don't want my daughter's life to feel like that to her but unfortunately, she is only
11 years old and that sweet little girl has had way too many bad things thrown at her. It's very
hard to see as a parent. I have people telling me it's time to start a petition on this guy. Judging
by his widespread reputation and the stories I've heard from other parents, it just may work to
force some change but I don't need another job. I would be doing it for other kids at this point which was largely why I came forward to complain anyway but I already have so much to do
to try to take care of my own family. I told Olivia I would take care of this and I am but is it only going to
make her life worse if I take this further. You rat out a bully and they get revenge. I'm not afraid of him, but our daughter is. Ya know, I am not a combative person. I really do not thrive on this
kinda thing but you mess with my kid or my man and I just can't stand by quietly and let it happen. This teacher lost a daughter at some point. I don't know how. I heard one story that she
was hit by a car and was older and another that she died of cancer at 8. However it happened, I would fault no
parent who has gone through that if they spent the rest of their life mad at the world. But if this
is the reason he is so miserable, it's still not fair to take it out on a bunch of innocent kids who
had nothing to do with what happened to his child. And it is certainly not a good way to have her live on through him by abusing others with his anger. Do something positive with that emotion. I have said before that I am angry at what has happened to my husband and our daughter with his MM diagnosis. If it were not for the fact that I have forced myself to find
small little positive things to do as a result of this intruder in our life, I think I would have lost my mind
by now. Mostly I find comfort in trying to help others through support, sharing knowledge or
whatever I can do to ease someone else's burden. I am part of a group of MM patients and caregivers and loved ones and we need each other. Whether we know each other personally or through an internet site, they help me and I try to help them. It is essential and it is healing to
the soul. One man who recently passed from MM was a teacher. His wife got so many comforting letters from former students saying how positively her husband had influenced them to the point that some had become teachers because of him. How wonderful to have a legacy like that.
To live your live touching others like that is powerful and you live on in those people and the deeds you have done. Olivia's teacher is doing the opposite with his time here and while I do not
think it's fair in any job that a good and long-standing employee is let go without good reason and
there should be some protection against that, tenure is responsible for keeping some very bad
teachers on the job and affecting our children's lives sometimes for far longer than just the 10 months they spend with them. That just shouldn't be. Well, I just had to get this off my chest.
I don't know where this is headed but that man owes our daughter an apology and based on
how he reacts to my e-mail to him and the principal's actions, he just may get himself in for more than he bargained for with me.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Q: Can I help? A: I don't know, can you?
It's kinda enlightening to see the different ways people react to our "situation." It can
also be really disappointing too but as always, you learn so much in the hard times. You find
that sometimes complete strangers or folks who know you but not that well can be more helpful than your own DNA pool. You find that some people claim to want to help but it's only lip service or something they want to represent to others that they "did" for you. I've always been fascinated by "human nature" and watching behaviors and listening to people. There's this
Oprah saying that she actually got from (oh what's that poet's name? I've read her books. It'll come to me). Anyway, it goes "when people show you who they are, believe them." It's something I try to remember. The fact is people do show you who they are and usually quite effectively. Many times, folks try to read things into people because it's what they prefer to believe instead of the truth. Sometimes ya just have to accept people for what they are and move on. If you find yourself having to keep giving the benefit of the doubt to someone, it may
be time to just doubt. We have had many acts of kindness happen to us in the last 2+ years.
There's no doubt there are some really good people in this world. We have also been stung at times when we have had to face the truth about some folks especially when you thought they
would be among the ones that would be "there" for us. People who really are helpful are the kind
of folks who ask what they can do and mean it. They do not have a pre-conceived idea of what they are willing to do(which is many times what you don't need) and they don't do it just so they
can run out and brag that they did. Sometimes they understand how hard it is for us to accept help so they just show up when they know we need a hand. Others just tell us, you call us whenever you need us or come out and ask if they can cut our lawn or whatnot. We do live in a
neighborhood of some wonderful people and it is a blessing to know how many of them would
help with Olivia or whatever we needed with just a phone call. What gets me down sometimes
is the people who ask how Tim's doing and even though you were only gonna have a 15 second
answer to that question, you realize 3 seconds into it that they are not even paying attention to
your reply. They just asked cause that's the thing to do and my answer is supposed to be "fine"
and that's it. I have a new thing where I just stop mid sentence and do not finish. Why waste my breath. They usually don't notice that I stopped and then I know they just wanted the "fine". Then there are those who you are counting on to help with Olivia or something and
when the time comes, they have other things to do or their own agenda always comes first. This seems to always happen at the most important times and boy does it stink. You'd like to tell this
person just what you think of their "help" but can't. I think in some ways, my own actions are part of the problem. I am a "handler." Something needs to be done, I do it. I have been with Tim every step of the way and he even told me that most people think I do not need help because of how I have dealt with everything. Not true but there are times that I just do it all cause I guess
I have trouble accepting help and can't trust that certain people are gonna really do what they
said they would anyway. The funniest part about this whole deal is that it is the people who do the very least(or nothing at all) that give themselves the most credit! Brag the most about them "being there" for us. Ah yes. It's not who you are, it's what you can convince people you are.
Maya Angelou!!!!! I knew it would come to me. That's the poet. Anyhoo, as always in life, having
both ends of the spectrum teaches you to appreciate the good. I am so appreciative of my family and friends and neighbors and those strangers who do something so kind, you could just cry with the humanity of it all. When Tim was first diagnosed, I really thought we were headed for financial ruin. We had just bought a rental property 10 days before he was hospitalized and taken out a mortgage on it of course. He is self-employed and I am a stay-at-home mom. I was panicked thinking of what could happen to us. I had just signed up for a yoga class with my sister that only cost about $100 or so and was an 8 week series. I called a man who ran this out of a local high school(there are lots of different classes) and explained that my husband had just been dx'ed with cancer and that I had no idea if I could make the classes and financially couldn't spend the money. It was past any refund date and they usually take a
$20. administration fee out of refunds anyway. The man sent me a note with the FULL amount
back to me and told me that he would like me to come to whatever yoga sessions that I could
make it to as their guest(thinking correctly that I could really use the relaxation and escape of it all) and wished me well, etc. I was so touched. I called him and than goodness got his voicemail
cause I never would have made it through a conversation without bawling. His kindness to a stranger just bowled me over and I told him that. It may seem like a small thing but when you
are in those really tough spots, sometimes that's all it takes is a small act of kindness to really help a person. More than the act itself is that it restores your faith. I try to remember that in my dealings with people everyday. You never know when your small act of kindness may be just what someone needed at that moment.
also be really disappointing too but as always, you learn so much in the hard times. You find
that sometimes complete strangers or folks who know you but not that well can be more helpful than your own DNA pool. You find that some people claim to want to help but it's only lip service or something they want to represent to others that they "did" for you. I've always been fascinated by "human nature" and watching behaviors and listening to people. There's this
Oprah saying that she actually got from (oh what's that poet's name? I've read her books. It'll come to me). Anyway, it goes "when people show you who they are, believe them." It's something I try to remember. The fact is people do show you who they are and usually quite effectively. Many times, folks try to read things into people because it's what they prefer to believe instead of the truth. Sometimes ya just have to accept people for what they are and move on. If you find yourself having to keep giving the benefit of the doubt to someone, it may
be time to just doubt. We have had many acts of kindness happen to us in the last 2+ years.
There's no doubt there are some really good people in this world. We have also been stung at times when we have had to face the truth about some folks especially when you thought they
would be among the ones that would be "there" for us. People who really are helpful are the kind
of folks who ask what they can do and mean it. They do not have a pre-conceived idea of what they are willing to do(which is many times what you don't need) and they don't do it just so they
can run out and brag that they did. Sometimes they understand how hard it is for us to accept help so they just show up when they know we need a hand. Others just tell us, you call us whenever you need us or come out and ask if they can cut our lawn or whatnot. We do live in a
neighborhood of some wonderful people and it is a blessing to know how many of them would
help with Olivia or whatever we needed with just a phone call. What gets me down sometimes
is the people who ask how Tim's doing and even though you were only gonna have a 15 second
answer to that question, you realize 3 seconds into it that they are not even paying attention to
your reply. They just asked cause that's the thing to do and my answer is supposed to be "fine"
and that's it. I have a new thing where I just stop mid sentence and do not finish. Why waste my breath. They usually don't notice that I stopped and then I know they just wanted the "fine". Then there are those who you are counting on to help with Olivia or something and
when the time comes, they have other things to do or their own agenda always comes first. This seems to always happen at the most important times and boy does it stink. You'd like to tell this
person just what you think of their "help" but can't. I think in some ways, my own actions are part of the problem. I am a "handler." Something needs to be done, I do it. I have been with Tim every step of the way and he even told me that most people think I do not need help because of how I have dealt with everything. Not true but there are times that I just do it all cause I guess
I have trouble accepting help and can't trust that certain people are gonna really do what they
said they would anyway. The funniest part about this whole deal is that it is the people who do the very least(or nothing at all) that give themselves the most credit! Brag the most about them "being there" for us. Ah yes. It's not who you are, it's what you can convince people you are.
Maya Angelou!!!!! I knew it would come to me. That's the poet. Anyhoo, as always in life, having
both ends of the spectrum teaches you to appreciate the good. I am so appreciative of my family and friends and neighbors and those strangers who do something so kind, you could just cry with the humanity of it all. When Tim was first diagnosed, I really thought we were headed for financial ruin. We had just bought a rental property 10 days before he was hospitalized and taken out a mortgage on it of course. He is self-employed and I am a stay-at-home mom. I was panicked thinking of what could happen to us. I had just signed up for a yoga class with my sister that only cost about $100 or so and was an 8 week series. I called a man who ran this out of a local high school(there are lots of different classes) and explained that my husband had just been dx'ed with cancer and that I had no idea if I could make the classes and financially couldn't spend the money. It was past any refund date and they usually take a
$20. administration fee out of refunds anyway. The man sent me a note with the FULL amount
back to me and told me that he would like me to come to whatever yoga sessions that I could
make it to as their guest(thinking correctly that I could really use the relaxation and escape of it all) and wished me well, etc. I was so touched. I called him and than goodness got his voicemail
cause I never would have made it through a conversation without bawling. His kindness to a stranger just bowled me over and I told him that. It may seem like a small thing but when you
are in those really tough spots, sometimes that's all it takes is a small act of kindness to really help a person. More than the act itself is that it restores your faith. I try to remember that in my dealings with people everyday. You never know when your small act of kindness may be just what someone needed at that moment.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Sometimes nice guys(gals) don't finish last
Tim and I are coaching our daughter's softball team this year. We assisted for 4 years prior
which was not easy as the head coach was my neighbor, not a good coach, and defensive
as hell if I(a lowly woman) ever made so much as a suggestion. It got to the point that we really couldn't stand being around him, he was so obnoxious. His daughter then started to treat Olivia very badly as Olivia was a better pitcher than her and that turned out to be a
real pain too. So this year he stepped down, I took over and put his daughter and him on
the other team. GOOD riddance. Unfortunately the coach of the other team and I got together
to draft the 2 teams and it's a long story but he knew a lot more of the girls than I did(they come
from different elementary schools and ours has a lot less players than theirs) and he stacked his
team with all the strong players he knew and lied to me about the skills of the players I wound
up with. All the while, we were saying we could do this fairly, it's all about the girls etc. I was pretty disappointed with this guy. What a schmoozer. I was ticked at myself for falling for his big "nice-guy act" too. When will I ever learn? Well a woman who runs the softball association and coached many of these girls in the past caught this
and went to town with him on the phone several times. She knew exactly what he and his assistant coach were up to and she took 2 weak players off my team, gave them to him and took
2 girls off his team and gave them to me. Well, he still was no idiot, as he knew there were issues
with these 2 girls too. 1 decided not to play after all as her schedule was too full and the other used to play baseball with the boys, she's so good but struggles to hit cause she is too choosy
about pitches and swings for Kentucky everytime. ANYhoo, we had a scrimage with them a few weeks ago. Tim had to stay home with Olivia as she had her strep recurrence and I went and
coached by myself against this team which is coached by a total of 6 men incuding my jerk
neighbor. It was the boyz against "lil 'ol me! Bring it! I felt compelled to wear my Harley Davidson shirt to the game just to bring out the TAWANDA in me so I did. Well we beat their butts. At one point one of his
girls asked if they were winning and he said "this is a scrimage, we're not keeping score."
He was full of bull dinky. He was darn sure keeping score. We thrashed 'em. I tell ya, I could
have bought every one of my girls Jonas Brothers tickets, I was so pumped. NOT that I let
this show. ;o) So yesterday was our first game. It was time to play ball for real. Olivia got up
to pitch with no warm up and I also used another pitcher whose parents now bring her
to the same lessons I get for Olivia. I have worked really hard with my girls and have a lot of fun with them too. Well I could buy my kid a new car I tell ya. That brat that
was being so mean to her last year(the neighbor's kid) got up to bat. Olivia struck her right
out!!!!! THAT'S MY GIRL!!!!!!! Then we proceded to beat them again and this time, it counts.
YEE-FREEKIN'-HAW!!!!! Honestly, I love coaching these girls. It's all about building their self-esteem and having fun. Nothing makes me happier than to see one of my poorest players get
a hit and stand on 1st base grinning ear to ear. I was even helping the pitcher from their team. But I cannot say that there was no pleasure in what happened yesterday. They coach
their girls so intently. They HATE to lose. Hey we all like to win but I just expect my girls to
try their best and I am no nut case or sore loser. This was just a situation where 2 men tried to
do something really unfair(and against the rules), got caught, and then got their come-uppance.
Man it feels good!!! GIRL POWER!
which was not easy as the head coach was my neighbor, not a good coach, and defensive
as hell if I(a lowly woman) ever made so much as a suggestion. It got to the point that we really couldn't stand being around him, he was so obnoxious. His daughter then started to treat Olivia very badly as Olivia was a better pitcher than her and that turned out to be a
real pain too. So this year he stepped down, I took over and put his daughter and him on
the other team. GOOD riddance. Unfortunately the coach of the other team and I got together
to draft the 2 teams and it's a long story but he knew a lot more of the girls than I did(they come
from different elementary schools and ours has a lot less players than theirs) and he stacked his
team with all the strong players he knew and lied to me about the skills of the players I wound
up with. All the while, we were saying we could do this fairly, it's all about the girls etc. I was pretty disappointed with this guy. What a schmoozer. I was ticked at myself for falling for his big "nice-guy act" too. When will I ever learn? Well a woman who runs the softball association and coached many of these girls in the past caught this
and went to town with him on the phone several times. She knew exactly what he and his assistant coach were up to and she took 2 weak players off my team, gave them to him and took
2 girls off his team and gave them to me. Well, he still was no idiot, as he knew there were issues
with these 2 girls too. 1 decided not to play after all as her schedule was too full and the other used to play baseball with the boys, she's so good but struggles to hit cause she is too choosy
about pitches and swings for Kentucky everytime. ANYhoo, we had a scrimage with them a few weeks ago. Tim had to stay home with Olivia as she had her strep recurrence and I went and
coached by myself against this team which is coached by a total of 6 men incuding my jerk
neighbor. It was the boyz against "lil 'ol me! Bring it! I felt compelled to wear my Harley Davidson shirt to the game just to bring out the TAWANDA in me so I did. Well we beat their butts. At one point one of his
girls asked if they were winning and he said "this is a scrimage, we're not keeping score."
He was full of bull dinky. He was darn sure keeping score. We thrashed 'em. I tell ya, I could
have bought every one of my girls Jonas Brothers tickets, I was so pumped. NOT that I let
this show. ;o) So yesterday was our first game. It was time to play ball for real. Olivia got up
to pitch with no warm up and I also used another pitcher whose parents now bring her
to the same lessons I get for Olivia. I have worked really hard with my girls and have a lot of fun with them too. Well I could buy my kid a new car I tell ya. That brat that
was being so mean to her last year(the neighbor's kid) got up to bat. Olivia struck her right
out!!!!! THAT'S MY GIRL!!!!!!! Then we proceded to beat them again and this time, it counts.
YEE-FREEKIN'-HAW!!!!! Honestly, I love coaching these girls. It's all about building their self-esteem and having fun. Nothing makes me happier than to see one of my poorest players get
a hit and stand on 1st base grinning ear to ear. I was even helping the pitcher from their team. But I cannot say that there was no pleasure in what happened yesterday. They coach
their girls so intently. They HATE to lose. Hey we all like to win but I just expect my girls to
try their best and I am no nut case or sore loser. This was just a situation where 2 men tried to
do something really unfair(and against the rules), got caught, and then got their come-uppance.
Man it feels good!!! GIRL POWER!
Monday, April 20, 2009
Back from Chincoteague
Well, we finally got away on a vacation. The last 2 were scrapped due to illness and this one nearly was but we sqeaked it out. Olivia began having rashes every night even on the second
antibiotic so the docs made me bring her in the morning we were leaving for Virginia. We will have to consult with an allergist soon. The
hospital was an hour away from where we were staying and I was pretty nervous about that.
All three of us have drug allergies now and I am all too aware of how dangerous they can be.
However, you can not leave strep untreated. So, on top of the antibiotic,
I wound up having to treat her with benadryl or zyrtec while we were down there and take
her off them to give her dramamine for the car trips. OY!!!!! I felt bad for her. The benadryl makes her really tired and a bit grouchy which is rare for her. Despite this, we had a wonderful
time. Unbeknownst to me, they round up the wild ponies for a vet check this time of year and
we got to see this round up from a great perspective. At one point, they ran right by on
a sandy path just 8 feet from us. AMAZING. Olivia got to see ponies everyday, a brand new foal take
its first steps and visit a place from right out of the book she just read"Misty of Chincoteague."
I got to relive a piece of my childhood and we all had a great time. The people are so friendly
down there. There's just nothing like the south for friendly, warm folks. Makes me not want
to come home sometimes. Chincoteague has retained its small town charm. The locals all know each other and the prices of things
had me stunned, they were so cheap. I am so used to going places where the prices are insane. So many people around where we live have so much money and they're willing to pay these ridiculous prices
for t-shirts and stuff. I can't remember being at a tourist location and being able to shop and
eat as reasonably as this. We did not want to leave this little haven yesterday. With the exception of the lack of nearby healthcare, we could get real cozy in a place like that. Now,
it's back to the old grind. I am so grateful for the terrific memories made in these last 5 days though. Magical stuff.
antibiotic so the docs made me bring her in the morning we were leaving for Virginia. We will have to consult with an allergist soon. The
hospital was an hour away from where we were staying and I was pretty nervous about that.
All three of us have drug allergies now and I am all too aware of how dangerous they can be.
However, you can not leave strep untreated. So, on top of the antibiotic,
I wound up having to treat her with benadryl or zyrtec while we were down there and take
her off them to give her dramamine for the car trips. OY!!!!! I felt bad for her. The benadryl makes her really tired and a bit grouchy which is rare for her. Despite this, we had a wonderful
time. Unbeknownst to me, they round up the wild ponies for a vet check this time of year and
we got to see this round up from a great perspective. At one point, they ran right by on
a sandy path just 8 feet from us. AMAZING. Olivia got to see ponies everyday, a brand new foal take
its first steps and visit a place from right out of the book she just read"Misty of Chincoteague."
I got to relive a piece of my childhood and we all had a great time. The people are so friendly
down there. There's just nothing like the south for friendly, warm folks. Makes me not want
to come home sometimes. Chincoteague has retained its small town charm. The locals all know each other and the prices of things
had me stunned, they were so cheap. I am so used to going places where the prices are insane. So many people around where we live have so much money and they're willing to pay these ridiculous prices
for t-shirts and stuff. I can't remember being at a tourist location and being able to shop and
eat as reasonably as this. We did not want to leave this little haven yesterday. With the exception of the lack of nearby healthcare, we could get real cozy in a place like that. Now,
it's back to the old grind. I am so grateful for the terrific memories made in these last 5 days though. Magical stuff.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Can't judge a book....
OK Ya GOTTA check this out!! I apologize for my computer illiteracy. I know my blog is probably a shoe-in for the most boring blog in myeloma history. I don't know how to get
links on here or pictures but I just saw this on another myeloma blog and it gave me goosebumps to listen to this woman sing. If this does not prove just how much people judge
by appearances, I don't know what does. The audience and judges took one look at her and wrote her off. They laughed at her before she even began.
She opened her mouth and SHAZAM!!! A cinderella story for sure.
Do a search on Susan Boyle-singer-britains got talent 2009. You will see a youtube
come up on her performance on this show. I'm willing to bet this woman will become famous for this.
links on here or pictures but I just saw this on another myeloma blog and it gave me goosebumps to listen to this woman sing. If this does not prove just how much people judge
by appearances, I don't know what does. The audience and judges took one look at her and wrote her off. They laughed at her before she even began.
She opened her mouth and SHAZAM!!! A cinderella story for sure.
Do a search on Susan Boyle-singer-britains got talent 2009. You will see a youtube
come up on her performance on this show. I'm willing to bet this woman will become famous for this.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Keeping me on my toes
Well, it was right back to the pediatricians' office again today. Seems Olivia has developed
an allergy to another antibiotic. YIKES! She had a reaction to a penicillin drug at 4 and has
used another drug safely ever since. I knew there was a small chance of cross-sensitivity with
this other drug and would only give it to her after school on school days just in case. Despite
using it about 4 or 5 times now in the last 6 years, last night she broke out in a Trifecta of
rashes. She had a sunburn type rash all over her trunk and a prickly rash in the middle of
her chest. This was accompanied by a fever and my first thought was scarlet fever, which
can happen with strep. This morning though, I could see hives were also present in the mix.
Poor thing was itching like a monkey. I made a doc appointment and gave her Benadryl.
My first reaction was "for crying out loud, isn't anything gonna be easy in this family?"
I really get ticked at times at the constant medical things going on. Before Tim's dx, I had
years of my own issues so it really feels sometimes like we never get a break but I have to stop
when my mind goes there. I take a breath and put things into perspective immediately.
It's not great to have drug allergies but look at all those kids, my niece is one, that have nut
allergies as well as other foods. Those parents live with constant fear. No one is gonna give
my daughter penicillin or omnicef at a birthday party and put her life in jeopardy. Sometimes
when I am reading some blogs that I follow, I link to other blogs and this week I stumbled
onto blogs about kids with neuroblastoma. Some have died. I cannot sit here and go to pieces
over some freekin' hives. The misery these people are living every second of every day had
me crying at the computer yesterday. So our wonderful doc made a plan to use something
safe that will put my mind at ease while we are on our vacation and we will hope it clears this
strep effectively. No biggie in the big picture of things. We make adjustments and we keep moving on. And we remember all kids with cancer, and their families, in our prayers at night.
an allergy to another antibiotic. YIKES! She had a reaction to a penicillin drug at 4 and has
used another drug safely ever since. I knew there was a small chance of cross-sensitivity with
this other drug and would only give it to her after school on school days just in case. Despite
using it about 4 or 5 times now in the last 6 years, last night she broke out in a Trifecta of
rashes. She had a sunburn type rash all over her trunk and a prickly rash in the middle of
her chest. This was accompanied by a fever and my first thought was scarlet fever, which
can happen with strep. This morning though, I could see hives were also present in the mix.
Poor thing was itching like a monkey. I made a doc appointment and gave her Benadryl.
My first reaction was "for crying out loud, isn't anything gonna be easy in this family?"
I really get ticked at times at the constant medical things going on. Before Tim's dx, I had
years of my own issues so it really feels sometimes like we never get a break but I have to stop
when my mind goes there. I take a breath and put things into perspective immediately.
It's not great to have drug allergies but look at all those kids, my niece is one, that have nut
allergies as well as other foods. Those parents live with constant fear. No one is gonna give
my daughter penicillin or omnicef at a birthday party and put her life in jeopardy. Sometimes
when I am reading some blogs that I follow, I link to other blogs and this week I stumbled
onto blogs about kids with neuroblastoma. Some have died. I cannot sit here and go to pieces
over some freekin' hives. The misery these people are living every second of every day had
me crying at the computer yesterday. So our wonderful doc made a plan to use something
safe that will put my mind at ease while we are on our vacation and we will hope it clears this
strep effectively. No biggie in the big picture of things. We make adjustments and we keep moving on. And we remember all kids with cancer, and their families, in our prayers at night.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Making memories
Well, if I can get everybody well, we are going to head south to Chincoteague Island,
Virginia on Wednesday. Tim still has the remnants of a 2 week old cold he can't shake
and I had to pick Olivia up from school today. Seems the strep she was just treated for
is back just 3 days after finishing the antibiotic. I was at the mall doing some (spoiler
alert) Easter Bunny shopping when I got the call to pick her up. We have missed our
last 2 planned vacations due to the flu and colds and now I am trying like heck not to
let the wheels fall off this one. When I was a kid, I loved horses. Misty of Chincoteague was my favorite
book and I think I still have it floating around here somewhere. We went to Chincoteague
twice and saw the ponies swim across the channel. I remember it as such a nice, small towny
type of place and have wanted to bring Tim and Olivia there for years. I rented the movie of the
book and we watched it after Olivia and I read two of the Misty books from the library. I am
so excited to share this with Olivia, the books and the trip. I am an avid reader and I also love
how having kids is like getting to be one yourself all over again. I want to make some memories
with Olivia like I have from travelling the country with my family. It won't be long at all until
she would rather be with her "peeps" than go travelling with her parents so there's no time
like the present. We have not given in to the temptation of getting her a puppy so we are free
to come and go as we please. Tim's business is no where's near as slow as most of the wood flooring guys around here, but it is off a little so that may help us this summer. Normally,
summer is the busiest time of year for him which stinks as that's when Liv is off school and Tim
is a beach bum kinda guy so he hates being so booked all summer. This year, we are just planning our vacations and the work will have to fit in around them instead of the other way
around. I'm excited. I'm trying to stay on top of all my paperwork this year so I can go away
with no worries of what's waiting at home for me. Well, back to playing nurse here. I actually
had one of Tim's nurses try to convince me to become one. I've been mistaken for one about 30 times in the last 2 years. I could not do that for a living. I have all the respect in the world for those that do, or I should say -do it well. I am just too much of an empathizer. It would tear me
apart every day. The "nursing" I do is out of necessity, not choice. I do it cuz I gotta. Well onto
Easter. Spring has sprung in Jersey. That means crocuses, daffodils and freekin' rain. We actually had snow flurries yesterday. Someone's idea of a joke, no doubt.
Virginia on Wednesday. Tim still has the remnants of a 2 week old cold he can't shake
and I had to pick Olivia up from school today. Seems the strep she was just treated for
is back just 3 days after finishing the antibiotic. I was at the mall doing some (spoiler
alert) Easter Bunny shopping when I got the call to pick her up. We have missed our
last 2 planned vacations due to the flu and colds and now I am trying like heck not to
let the wheels fall off this one. When I was a kid, I loved horses. Misty of Chincoteague was my favorite
book and I think I still have it floating around here somewhere. We went to Chincoteague
twice and saw the ponies swim across the channel. I remember it as such a nice, small towny
type of place and have wanted to bring Tim and Olivia there for years. I rented the movie of the
book and we watched it after Olivia and I read two of the Misty books from the library. I am
so excited to share this with Olivia, the books and the trip. I am an avid reader and I also love
how having kids is like getting to be one yourself all over again. I want to make some memories
with Olivia like I have from travelling the country with my family. It won't be long at all until
she would rather be with her "peeps" than go travelling with her parents so there's no time
like the present. We have not given in to the temptation of getting her a puppy so we are free
to come and go as we please. Tim's business is no where's near as slow as most of the wood flooring guys around here, but it is off a little so that may help us this summer. Normally,
summer is the busiest time of year for him which stinks as that's when Liv is off school and Tim
is a beach bum kinda guy so he hates being so booked all summer. This year, we are just planning our vacations and the work will have to fit in around them instead of the other way
around. I'm excited. I'm trying to stay on top of all my paperwork this year so I can go away
with no worries of what's waiting at home for me. Well, back to playing nurse here. I actually
had one of Tim's nurses try to convince me to become one. I've been mistaken for one about 30 times in the last 2 years. I could not do that for a living. I have all the respect in the world for those that do, or I should say -do it well. I am just too much of an empathizer. It would tear me
apart every day. The "nursing" I do is out of necessity, not choice. I do it cuz I gotta. Well onto
Easter. Spring has sprung in Jersey. That means crocuses, daffodils and freekin' rain. We actually had snow flurries yesterday. Someone's idea of a joke, no doubt.
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