So, back to Buttercup's issues. And I thought that was the worst of my week, ha ha. Anyway, that Friday, after eating lunch with Buttercup, I went back to her school for my usual weekly volunteer job in the library.
When Buttercup's class came in, she came right over to me, beaming, saying that the vice principal, Mr. Metz, had come and gotten her and her friend right after lunch and asked them what happened and told them to write everything down. He gave her a few tips on dealing with bullies. Then she went and sat down for the library lesson and I went back to shelving books.
A few minutes later, Mr. Metz came in, frowning, and motioned for C. to follow him out of the library. Buttercup said I turned red. Well, I wasn't expecting things to go down while I was there! C. never came back to the library.
I finished my job and went to Buttercup's home room. They were off to music and I was going to have a parent teacher conference with some of Buttercup's teachers. They came in, followed by Mr. Metz. Apparently, Buttercup's friend's mom (thanks again Jaimee) wasn't able to find her daughter's homeroom teacher's email, so she just forwarded it to the principal. Buttercup's home room teacher read my email and then immediately read the email forwarded from the principal asking them where they were on this. Helps to have friends with friends in high places!
So, they had handled it with the girls involved and were making sure there weren't going to be any repercussions about telling on them.
Today while I was in the library, Buttercup was back to chatting with these girls. Apparently there aren't any hard feelings. I am so glad we were able to take care of this. She has been dealing with this 'friend' for quite some time. I hope that next year they don't have any classes together. The less drama I have to deal with, the better.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
A Couple of Days Post Trauma
So, it's been a few days. Things are slowly calming down. After missing a ton of sleep Saturday night, I was hoping that Sunday night would be better. I woke up around 2am feeling sick to my stomach. After a miserable hour or so, I ended up throwing up myself. Luckily I have much better aim than TD. Still, I missed another few hours of sleep.
TD has been relegated to soft foods, so I have been racking my brain trying to figure out different things for him to eat that don't involve small seeds, spicy foods, or a lot of chewing. I wrote up a menu and just let him pick off the list.
I also couldn't leave him alone for a few days. Buttercup was given babysitting duties when Fiona and I went out a couple of times. I needed to pick up some of those soft foods. I think Buttercup was a bit nervous, probably worried that he would have a fit while we were gone.
This morning, I left him for the first time alone. I had to get out to the Y and work out some of this stress. Funny enough, I left Dukie in charge of him, who promptly sat on his chest and fell asleep. That is a good cat! He got some special treats when I got home.
I am still not feeling entirely myself. It's a combo of lack of sleep, severe stress and that darn stomach of my mine. I told TD it's because I don't trust him entirely any more. We aren't talking, other girls type of distrust, merely that if he told himself he could push through his dizziness, then I can't entirely trust him to take it easy. He said that it was a wake up call for himself. I guess we no longer have different standards for what is okay for me and what is okay him. He used to get away with all sorts of behaviors that he would never let me get away with, with regards to what it's okay for a body to do.
I have to think that this incident forever changes us. TD is no longer invincible. When I was being questioned by the paramedics about his medical history, there was nothing on it. Now, because he has had one seizure, he is more likely to have another. If he does have another, he will have to go on medication. If he goes for four years without another one, then his risk will be the same as everyone else's of having a seizure. I can't believe we have another countdown to get through.
Someone called us exciting. I don't know if that's the word for it. Exciting sounds fun and our weekend was far from it. I don't ever want to see what I saw this weekend ever again.
TD has been relegated to soft foods, so I have been racking my brain trying to figure out different things for him to eat that don't involve small seeds, spicy foods, or a lot of chewing. I wrote up a menu and just let him pick off the list.
I also couldn't leave him alone for a few days. Buttercup was given babysitting duties when Fiona and I went out a couple of times. I needed to pick up some of those soft foods. I think Buttercup was a bit nervous, probably worried that he would have a fit while we were gone.
This morning, I left him for the first time alone. I had to get out to the Y and work out some of this stress. Funny enough, I left Dukie in charge of him, who promptly sat on his chest and fell asleep. That is a good cat! He got some special treats when I got home.
I am still not feeling entirely myself. It's a combo of lack of sleep, severe stress and that darn stomach of my mine. I told TD it's because I don't trust him entirely any more. We aren't talking, other girls type of distrust, merely that if he told himself he could push through his dizziness, then I can't entirely trust him to take it easy. He said that it was a wake up call for himself. I guess we no longer have different standards for what is okay for me and what is okay him. He used to get away with all sorts of behaviors that he would never let me get away with, with regards to what it's okay for a body to do.
I have to think that this incident forever changes us. TD is no longer invincible. When I was being questioned by the paramedics about his medical history, there was nothing on it. Now, because he has had one seizure, he is more likely to have another. If he does have another, he will have to go on medication. If he goes for four years without another one, then his risk will be the same as everyone else's of having a seizure. I can't believe we have another countdown to get through.
Someone called us exciting. I don't know if that's the word for it. Exciting sounds fun and our weekend was far from it. I don't ever want to see what I saw this weekend ever again.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Everyone is Okay
My sister said when I tell this story, I need to start with that. Also, proceed with caution because it's not a story for the squeamish.
Yesterday Fiona and I were watching TV on the couch around 7:15pm. Buttercup was outside with the neighborhood kids and TD was mowing the lawn. Then, I heard someone scream outside. It didn't sound like the kids and I heard it again, so I told Fiona I was going to check it out.
When I got outside and around the corner, I saw TD, lying the gutter not moving. I ran to where he was. There were a few neighbors outside on the phone, including neighbor doctor lady. That's what we were calling her. Anyway, I got to TD's side and he was having a seizure. His face was gray, he was foaming at the mouth and some blood was tricking out of his mouth. There was a pool of blood around his head. I answered a few questions for the lady and took hold of TD's hand and tried to get him to not move around. We made sure the girls were back at the curb, about 50 feet away. After about a minute or so, he stopped seizing. He started breathing heavy and his eyes would flutter open.
It seemed that the ambulance was taking forever. The doctor asked him what his name was and he didn't say anything. He looked a bit frantically at me and I said what's my name? He said, LCM. He could then say his name and the girls names. He didn't know what was happening. The ambulance showed up and they put a collar around his neck and strapped him to the backboard.
I ran to get my purse and keys and reassure the girls. Our great neighbors took the girls home with them after I made sure they had their night clothes and a few things.
I followed the ambulance up to the hospital and luckily, I am almost always prepared. I know to have a jacket and reading material for the hospital. I was able to go right back with him. TD was already talking and joking and apologizing for scaring me so badly.
I hadn't had dinner yet and my stomach was killing me. I am not a stress eater. When I get stressed like that I just want to vomit. But I got a string cheese and bottle of water out of the vending machine because me passing out would not help the situation.
They got an EKG, to make sure he hadn't had a heart attack. That was normal. They drew some blood, they said he had low blood sugar when they had him in the ambulance. They finally took him off the backboard. It was killing his head and back. But the collar remained.
They took him for a CT to make sure he wasn't bleeding in his brain. During this time I wasn't really able to get cell service and I wasn't sure I could talk to someone without losing my composure. So, I texted my brother, the physician's assistant, who is, ironically, doing trauma training in Baltimore, Maryland. It was nice to just focus on the questions he was asking me and trying to make sure TD was okay.
His CT scan was fine. The doctor said, as he could figure it, that TD was dehydrated. He played ball Friday night, didn't drink much Saturday and went out to mow the lawn in 85 degree weather while trying to fight off a migraine....I was listening to all of this and I was just getting mad. Meaning, if I would've brought him out some water, we could've avoided this? Anyway, he passed out from that and fell on the curb and hit his head. He hit his head so hard that it caused a seizure. The doctor said he didn't cut his head, he literally busted his scalp. When they cleaned everything off, you could see the jagged flaps. (Told you, not for the squeamish. Me? I was watching the whole thing up close.)
We got home right before midnight and got the girls back from the neighbors. The girls were able to see that he was up and okay. I tried to sleep, but I just couldn't. He ended up throwing up around 4am, not entirely making it, so I got to clean that up. I think I slept straight from around 5am to 8am, when Fiona got up.
She and I had to go get his antibiotic prescription filled. He was lying with an open head wound in a Houston gutter.... When we got back, he said he thought he might need stitches in his tongue. (Squeamish part again) He showed me a flap sort of hanging off the back, left side of his tongue. We had neighbor doctor lady and my brother weigh in. They both said it could go either way. So I ended up taking him to the neighborhood urgent care where he got two stitches to tack his tongue together.
I am just about to the point where my stomach is unclenched. I told him that he had better heal well because when I got scared, I got mad and when I found out we could've prevented this, I got more mad and now I just need to hit something. Hopefully we can all get a good night's sleep tonight. I don't think I can take much more.
Yesterday Fiona and I were watching TV on the couch around 7:15pm. Buttercup was outside with the neighborhood kids and TD was mowing the lawn. Then, I heard someone scream outside. It didn't sound like the kids and I heard it again, so I told Fiona I was going to check it out.
When I got outside and around the corner, I saw TD, lying the gutter not moving. I ran to where he was. There were a few neighbors outside on the phone, including neighbor doctor lady. That's what we were calling her. Anyway, I got to TD's side and he was having a seizure. His face was gray, he was foaming at the mouth and some blood was tricking out of his mouth. There was a pool of blood around his head. I answered a few questions for the lady and took hold of TD's hand and tried to get him to not move around. We made sure the girls were back at the curb, about 50 feet away. After about a minute or so, he stopped seizing. He started breathing heavy and his eyes would flutter open.
It seemed that the ambulance was taking forever. The doctor asked him what his name was and he didn't say anything. He looked a bit frantically at me and I said what's my name? He said, LCM. He could then say his name and the girls names. He didn't know what was happening. The ambulance showed up and they put a collar around his neck and strapped him to the backboard.
I ran to get my purse and keys and reassure the girls. Our great neighbors took the girls home with them after I made sure they had their night clothes and a few things.
I followed the ambulance up to the hospital and luckily, I am almost always prepared. I know to have a jacket and reading material for the hospital. I was able to go right back with him. TD was already talking and joking and apologizing for scaring me so badly.
I hadn't had dinner yet and my stomach was killing me. I am not a stress eater. When I get stressed like that I just want to vomit. But I got a string cheese and bottle of water out of the vending machine because me passing out would not help the situation.
They got an EKG, to make sure he hadn't had a heart attack. That was normal. They drew some blood, they said he had low blood sugar when they had him in the ambulance. They finally took him off the backboard. It was killing his head and back. But the collar remained.
They took him for a CT to make sure he wasn't bleeding in his brain. During this time I wasn't really able to get cell service and I wasn't sure I could talk to someone without losing my composure. So, I texted my brother, the physician's assistant, who is, ironically, doing trauma training in Baltimore, Maryland. It was nice to just focus on the questions he was asking me and trying to make sure TD was okay.
His CT scan was fine. The doctor said, as he could figure it, that TD was dehydrated. He played ball Friday night, didn't drink much Saturday and went out to mow the lawn in 85 degree weather while trying to fight off a migraine....I was listening to all of this and I was just getting mad. Meaning, if I would've brought him out some water, we could've avoided this? Anyway, he passed out from that and fell on the curb and hit his head. He hit his head so hard that it caused a seizure. The doctor said he didn't cut his head, he literally busted his scalp. When they cleaned everything off, you could see the jagged flaps. (Told you, not for the squeamish. Me? I was watching the whole thing up close.)
We got home right before midnight and got the girls back from the neighbors. The girls were able to see that he was up and okay. I tried to sleep, but I just couldn't. He ended up throwing up around 4am, not entirely making it, so I got to clean that up. I think I slept straight from around 5am to 8am, when Fiona got up.
She and I had to go get his antibiotic prescription filled. He was lying with an open head wound in a Houston gutter.... When we got back, he said he thought he might need stitches in his tongue. (Squeamish part again) He showed me a flap sort of hanging off the back, left side of his tongue. We had neighbor doctor lady and my brother weigh in. They both said it could go either way. So I ended up taking him to the neighborhood urgent care where he got two stitches to tack his tongue together.
I am just about to the point where my stomach is unclenched. I told him that he had better heal well because when I got scared, I got mad and when I found out we could've prevented this, I got more mad and now I just need to hit something. Hopefully we can all get a good night's sleep tonight. I don't think I can take much more.
Friday, April 23, 2010
When it Rains...
it pours! Yesterday Buttercup came home from school and said the girl that picked on her earlier in the year picked on her at lunch recess. Apparently the girls were all talking in a group and for some reason C. shoved her twinkie in Buttercup's face. Buttercup's really good friend came over and asked why she did that and got a pickle shoved in her eye for her efforts.
Seriously? What is up with this girl? So I called her friend's mom (thanks Jaimee!) and talked things over. I emailed her teacher and told her I wanted to speak with her. While I am doing this, Fiona is walking home, just across the street. I see her and notice she is holding an ice pack to her face. Apparently some kid decided to do a flip in the middle of the playground and ended up kicking her in the face! All the while I am trying to get ready for the church group of girls ages 8-9 who are headed to my house.
Then this morning, Buttercup went to wait for the bus and Fiona and Dukie went out with her. I hear some commotion on the front porch and open the door. Dukie streaks in and Fiona is backed up against the front door. Apparently our neighbor, whose daughter also waits at our bus stop, couldn't control his large dog on a leash and was on our front walkway, about 6 feet from the door, with the dog menacing Fiona!!
This guy has always brought his dog, on a leash, to the bus stop, which I hate! He has little control over the dog and he often lets the boy at the bus stop try and handle the dog. Buttercup has come in several times to change her clothes after the dog jumps on her with dirty paws. This morning was the last straw. He was so close to our front door and the dog was in a frenzy I was worried Fiona could've gotten her face ripped off.
So I email the transportation supervisor for the district and she calls me back literally within minutes. Unfortunately, she says that this is more of a neighborhood problem than a bus stop problem...
So, Td is going to talk to him and tell him to keep his dog away from the bus stop. He and I also went and ate lunch with Buttercup, which I am really glad I did. She wasn't sitting at her usual table, most likely because this is where C. and her cronies sit. I am glad she took herself away from that. We did end up sitting next to C., but she didn't stay long. Then I have an appointment with Buttercup's teachers today. Hopefully we can get this straightened out so that Buttercup isn't uncomfortable for the rest of the year.
Seriously? What is up with this girl? So I called her friend's mom (thanks Jaimee!) and talked things over. I emailed her teacher and told her I wanted to speak with her. While I am doing this, Fiona is walking home, just across the street. I see her and notice she is holding an ice pack to her face. Apparently some kid decided to do a flip in the middle of the playground and ended up kicking her in the face! All the while I am trying to get ready for the church group of girls ages 8-9 who are headed to my house.
Then this morning, Buttercup went to wait for the bus and Fiona and Dukie went out with her. I hear some commotion on the front porch and open the door. Dukie streaks in and Fiona is backed up against the front door. Apparently our neighbor, whose daughter also waits at our bus stop, couldn't control his large dog on a leash and was on our front walkway, about 6 feet from the door, with the dog menacing Fiona!!
This guy has always brought his dog, on a leash, to the bus stop, which I hate! He has little control over the dog and he often lets the boy at the bus stop try and handle the dog. Buttercup has come in several times to change her clothes after the dog jumps on her with dirty paws. This morning was the last straw. He was so close to our front door and the dog was in a frenzy I was worried Fiona could've gotten her face ripped off.
So I email the transportation supervisor for the district and she calls me back literally within minutes. Unfortunately, she says that this is more of a neighborhood problem than a bus stop problem...
So, Td is going to talk to him and tell him to keep his dog away from the bus stop. He and I also went and ate lunch with Buttercup, which I am really glad I did. She wasn't sitting at her usual table, most likely because this is where C. and her cronies sit. I am glad she took herself away from that. We did end up sitting next to C., but she didn't stay long. Then I have an appointment with Buttercup's teachers today. Hopefully we can get this straightened out so that Buttercup isn't uncomfortable for the rest of the year.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Never A Dull Moment
In a house that has either kids or animals. This morning I got up to make sure Buttercup got off to the bus okay. I went to the back door to let in my kitties. They go out at night, this is when they go potty and also to keep them from doing kitty run bys while we are sleeping. Anyway, I opened the door and the cats streaked in. Tessa seemed to be carrying a yellow flower, looked like a rhododendron. Then I realized, after I shut the door, that the flower was actually a yellow breasted bird! I walked over to her to get her to release the bird and then I realized the bird was ALIVE! Seriously, my cat brought a live bird into our house this morning. She let go of it and the two cats figured it was chase the prey time. I am screeching at them to let the bird go, so I can get it out, but they are determined to finish the job of killing the bird.
I realize that I am getting nowhere chasing the cats chasing the bird and I put Tessa in the powder room and throw Dukie into my bedroom and shut the door. I grab my small broom and start trying to corner the bird. I realize I need back up, so I start hollering for Buttercup. She starts squealing, not that I can blame her, and I hand her my small broom. I open the back door and keep it open while I go to the garage for another broom. Buttercup is valiantly trying to corner the bird while it flutters all over the house. TD doesn't realize what is going on, so he gives in to Dukie's screeching and lets him out of our bedroom!! I am shocked he doesn't hear all of the noise that Buttercup, the bird and I are making. I grab Dukie back up and throw him into the study and shut the doors behind him. Our study doors are glass paned and I am sure it is making him even crazier that he can see everything that is going on without being able to touch the bird.
Buttercup and I spend a good 10 minutes playing field hockey with the bird before we manage to get it out of the front door. I slam the door shut and we survey the damage. There are bird feathers all over the house. Fiona finally wakes up and comes out, complaining about all of the noise we have been making. That is, until she sees all of the feathers and starts laughing. I go into my bedroom and explain to TD, who is still in the shower, what has been going on. He comes out shortly and starts complaining about all of the feathers. I tell him to man up, they are just feathers and the avian flu was so five years ago.
So, instead of cleaning the bathrooms today, I give in to TD's heebie jeebies and clean the floor. I still need to bust out the vacuum because the bird went into a few carpeted areas and left feathers there too. When Buttercup left for the bus, the cats went out the door too. I have a feeling they went to find the bird and finish the job.
I realize that I am getting nowhere chasing the cats chasing the bird and I put Tessa in the powder room and throw Dukie into my bedroom and shut the door. I grab my small broom and start trying to corner the bird. I realize I need back up, so I start hollering for Buttercup. She starts squealing, not that I can blame her, and I hand her my small broom. I open the back door and keep it open while I go to the garage for another broom. Buttercup is valiantly trying to corner the bird while it flutters all over the house. TD doesn't realize what is going on, so he gives in to Dukie's screeching and lets him out of our bedroom!! I am shocked he doesn't hear all of the noise that Buttercup, the bird and I are making. I grab Dukie back up and throw him into the study and shut the doors behind him. Our study doors are glass paned and I am sure it is making him even crazier that he can see everything that is going on without being able to touch the bird.
Buttercup and I spend a good 10 minutes playing field hockey with the bird before we manage to get it out of the front door. I slam the door shut and we survey the damage. There are bird feathers all over the house. Fiona finally wakes up and comes out, complaining about all of the noise we have been making. That is, until she sees all of the feathers and starts laughing. I go into my bedroom and explain to TD, who is still in the shower, what has been going on. He comes out shortly and starts complaining about all of the feathers. I tell him to man up, they are just feathers and the avian flu was so five years ago.
So, instead of cleaning the bathrooms today, I give in to TD's heebie jeebies and clean the floor. I still need to bust out the vacuum because the bird went into a few carpeted areas and left feathers there too. When Buttercup left for the bus, the cats went out the door too. I have a feeling they went to find the bird and finish the job.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Slacker
I know, I know, it's been forever since I posted last. There are so many potential reasons why not.... It could be because I have been hanging out with some fun ladies, and so, my need to talk is all talked out. I don't have to come on here to say stuff because it's already been said. Do you find yourself saying that to people? Either worried about repeating a story or asking if they have already read the story on your blog? More big girl interaction has been great.
Another reason? If I am not hanging out at the Y, talking to people or helping out at the girls' schools, I am probably asleep. Seriously. I mean, I have given up fighting it and just crawl into bed if I need to take a nap. I got into my primary care physician and she took tons of blood and said that my thyroid levels are fine (thanks to that lovely medicine I have been taking for 11 years). I am not anemic, no thanks to the birth control pills that went awry. Thank heavens that seems to have worked itself out, oddly enough by stopping them for a week. Go figure. She says that my problems are probably related to out of control female hormones and I should probably call my gynecologist. Um, no thanks. I am not sure what shelling out $50 is going to get me. Most likely nothing. Maybe she will come right out and tell me I am a wuss. Sometimes I do feel like it. Saturday TD and I went to the Y and took a body pump class. Check out my guns! LOL. Anyway, I came home and decided I needed a nap. Two hours later and TD was about ready to come in and poke me or hold a mirror in front of my mouth to check my breathing. It's not like I am not going to bed on time. I usually sleep 10:30pm to 6:30am. That is a good 8 hours. But I was sick of dragging around, so now, if I feel like I need to sleep, I lay down for a while. It can't hurt.
So, that's pretty much where I have been and what I have been doing. I am sure something will come up and I will have several posts in a row, but for now.....snore
Another reason? If I am not hanging out at the Y, talking to people or helping out at the girls' schools, I am probably asleep. Seriously. I mean, I have given up fighting it and just crawl into bed if I need to take a nap. I got into my primary care physician and she took tons of blood and said that my thyroid levels are fine (thanks to that lovely medicine I have been taking for 11 years). I am not anemic, no thanks to the birth control pills that went awry. Thank heavens that seems to have worked itself out, oddly enough by stopping them for a week. Go figure. She says that my problems are probably related to out of control female hormones and I should probably call my gynecologist. Um, no thanks. I am not sure what shelling out $50 is going to get me. Most likely nothing. Maybe she will come right out and tell me I am a wuss. Sometimes I do feel like it. Saturday TD and I went to the Y and took a body pump class. Check out my guns! LOL. Anyway, I came home and decided I needed a nap. Two hours later and TD was about ready to come in and poke me or hold a mirror in front of my mouth to check my breathing. It's not like I am not going to bed on time. I usually sleep 10:30pm to 6:30am. That is a good 8 hours. But I was sick of dragging around, so now, if I feel like I need to sleep, I lay down for a while. It can't hurt.
So, that's pretty much where I have been and what I have been doing. I am sure something will come up and I will have several posts in a row, but for now.....snore
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