Why Old People Should Never Be Left On Their Own

I have been sick. I neglected my children and the Hubby (and facebook and my blog) while I tried to battle whatever it was threatening to hold me under and strangle me in my sleep.

Seriously, I was sick.

It probably didn't help that I stood in the rain for an hour and a half to watch one of the boys play football. That was day 8 of a throat so sore I had to take Motrin an hour prior to eating anything, just so that I could eat.

Have you ever read the back of medicine bottles (you know, NyQuil, Tylenol Sore Throat etc...) ? All say that if you have a sore throat for more than 2-3 days, you should see a doctor.

So day 9, I saw a doctor. That doctor sent me to the lab where they drew enough blood to feed the entire Cullen family for a week (maybe I'm exaggerating slightly).
I honestly couldn't tell you what the tests were for, but I do know that he called me to say that all of those tests were negative (the type of penicillin he prescribed me treats strep --which he already said I didn't have-- pneumonia, tooth abcesses, and Gonoreah. (Yeah, Hubby, we're not infected!)

He did say my white blood cell count was high and that IF I showed any signs of becoming worse, I should go to the emergency room immediately.

Okee Dokey.

That was Monday. By weds. I was exhausted, but felt like I was improving. By Friday I could talk again and wasn't taking Motrin so that I could eat. Saturday I solo-hosted a birthday party for my son, six guests and and his three siblings and then grocery shopped immediately after.

I went to bed knowing I was in trouble.

Sunday I was discouraged.
I hate being sick, but worse, I hated that my hopes of the medicine kicking whatever it was that ailed me were washing down the drain with my gargled salt water.

The whole time I've had this prescription, I have been amazed that there was no "end" date. How many days was I supposed to take these? The last prescription picked up on base (2 years ago) was a lethal antibiotic and even though the doctor had specifically told me NOT to take it for more than three days, he had written the prescription for 10. oops.

I can't tell you how many times I read the paper work with this stuff. And the bottle.

I can't eat 2 hours before or 1 hour after taking it, but have to take it three times a day. That's nine hours of an empty tummy! I dwelled on that part. I arranged my pill times not to affect the kids eating schedules. I KNEW this bottle better than I know the poems I was required to memorize in college.

Last night after my friends finally convinced me to go back to the doctor today for a stronger medicine, I looked at the bottle again thinking maybe the end date would miraculously be there...

this is what I saw, eight days after beginning these meds.:





Oh. I'm supposed to be taking TWO tablets three times a day and not ONE tablet?
Oh. oops.

Another reason why it's a bad idea to send my Hubby to Iraq...just in case any AF people are reading this.

My Favourite Things Swap

Do you remember me telling you that I signed up for another Mamarazzi's Favorite Things swap? Well I received my box yesterday from my Swap Partner, Granny Annie (Annie Kelleher*) of Writers & Witches & Words...Oh My! *I'm assuming it's ok to say her name here since it is on her blog and she is famous ;-)

It was great timing too, since I have been ill and getting really sick of being sick.

What I really love about the swap is gathering the things I like so much. I find myself having to calm down a bit since I apparently have so many favourite things-- most of which can be eaten and begin with "Ch" and end with "ocolate." But one thing I love almost as much as Cadbury is reading and Annie is an author. She included two of her books in my box.



Candles to chase out bad viruses from my house (no? ok, I like them anyway).


It's so fun getting a glimpse into someone else's likes and having a chance to meet new people. Thank you Annie, for a fun box and to Hollee Ann for coordinating these little get togethers!

Someone To Watch Over Me

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek


When we first found this house,
we were giddy with what the google map showed us about it.

It's away from the other houses.

It has it's own, long, hidden drive and a massive garden full of trees for fairies and football crazy kids.

But there was water. A lot of it. Water features everywhere.

"I don't care how great that kitchen is, if the pool is not fenced off, we won't live in it." I boldly stated.

Then I met the aga.

We looked over the unfenced pool
and we hit the internet hard for what would work to keep our kids safe in this house that had our names etched into the bricks.

There's a special clause in our lease that allows us to drill holes in the tiles surrounding that pool for installing a safety net (that will have to be shipped in from the U.S. and installed by someone from across the UK). But it couldn't be properly taken care of before the Hubby left.

So, we've drilled the children on the importance of locking the doors and knowing where Miss Ky (and A2) are at all times. I hate to scare my children, but truth is I'm scared. The few times she's left my sight and didn't respond to my voice, I felt my heart slip down behind my knees.

A few days ago, A1 who is older and has had three years of swimming, became invisible and when I searched for him in his room, throughout the house, in the back garden, in the front garden... the panic rose in my throat. I found him playing behind a bush by the pool.
Today I removed the cover. The one I've feared would hold down my children who do swim well.

I've been terribly ill. Near-hospitalization, blood-work-is-our-friend ill (you're welcome that I haven't been on here whining about it). Yesterday was the first day I stopped worrying about who would watch my children if the doctor insisted that I occupy a hospital bed. The sun was shining.

I wandered around the garden and out into the field snapping pictures and frightened a pheasant (who in turn scared the carp [fish] out of me with his insane screeching).

As I entered the opening in the hedge where the children were playing,
I caught A2 in all of his big brotherly glory,
holding Miss Ky's hand and telling her the dangers that lurk in the drainage ditch.

I think she listened to him.

.

Wordless Wednesday-- Some Photos Need No Explanation

Guess who.

The Year 2000

We all waited for the Millennium Bug.

Some prepared for Armageddon.

Some prepared for WW III.

Most held their breath in anticipation as the clock hands hit midnight that exciting
1999 New Year's Eve.

But really nothing happened that made the world news.

Nothing overly exciting happened in most people's lives.

But nine years ago today,

in the year 2000,

a falling star came to the Earth.

On it, was a little angel-spirit hitching a ride.

And our lives have never been the same.

Happy Birthday, our sweet, kind-hearted boy.
We love you.