Going From the Flu to Pleurisy

Well, It's been over 2 months since I last wrote. To be honest I've been a bit depressed and it's been hard to even think of writing. However, I really should do an update over the last 8 weeks. 

Back in late September I decided to try to join the workforce again. I did billing for a repair company. It started out nice enough but then this crippling depression set in. I began to get ill very easily (more on that in a bit). I started having to work nights and weekends. I was really missing out on the home front, I got to see my kids for maybe 90 minutes per day. I made the call that being at work just isn't for me and quit about 10 days ago. I might try again as the babies get older. Who knows?

In the middle of December I came down with a bad case of the flu. That turned into laryngitis, quickly followed by bronchitis. All of which made me unable to speak for over a week. Things took a turn for the worse and I developed pneumonia. That's when the weird stuff started. 

I woke up one morning unable to breath and suffering horrible chest pains. Seriously, every time I exhaled I felt like I was being stabbed between each rib bone. I was in tears. Literally, I was holding my breath knowing the unbearable pain would soon hit once I breathed out. I was so weak that sitting up was a chore. I figured the pneumonia had spread and should get it checked out ASAP. 

I was shocked when the ER staff diagnosed me with pleurisy in addition to the pneumonia. Pleurisy means the tissue lining my lungs was inflamed. I also learned that your lungs are packed with nerve endings, causing this to be almost unbearable. The doctors gave me some strong pain killers, but it didn't even touch the pain. They ran some tests, told me to rest for a few weeks, gave an RX, then sent me home.

Imagine my surprise the next morning when the ER called back and said I needed to return due to some of my test results. There was concern that the inflammation had begun to due harm to my heart. The EKG and a blood test showed it was suffering from stress. Further testing showed I might have a blood clot in my lung. After a series of expensive tests CT scans, MRI, blood work and echo cardiograms, the blood clot was ruled out. No surprises from my heart either, luckily it's just a tad stressed out. 

I had a follow up with my Primary Care doctor the next day. He took one glance at me, stating "You look extremely ill. I'd send you to the ER, but you just came back from there!"  He gave me stronger antibiotics and medications to reduce the inflammation of the lining surrounding my lungs. I just took my last dose and I'm able to breath without the horrendous amount of pain I was in just 10 days ago. (Yeah, unfortunately this stuff can stick around for a few weeks).  

I also wanted to thank members of my church. On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights they brought homemade dinners for the kids and me. Char had to work those nights and I couldn't even make those cheap raman noodles without suffering greatly. That helped me out so much.  

January Recap!

Unfortunately, this post isn't in a chronological order the way I prefer, but something is better than nothing. 

We decided that it was time for Anastasia to get a better trim. (Her first hair cut back in October left much to be desired). Even after you brushed her hair it still looked messy. Anastasia sat so nicely on Daddy's lap that the stylist added some bangs to her hair.  She looks more like a little toddler now. She's even starting to allow me to do her hair with piggy tails and little bows.  (I adore this outfit on her!)

 Char took the Littles to go to the aquarium this month. They meet Grandma, Aunt L, Cousin G & Baby E. Anastasia and Rowan had a fun time. They got to go see lots of fish and other critters. Both of the Littles were fascinated with all the sites. (Notice Anastasia's messy hair? This was before the trim and the picture that helped to make the choice to cut her hair a little.). 

After they finished exploring everyone went to go play in the jungle gym room since Grandma is a member. There is a little playground meant for 6 months to 2 years old. Anastasia decided to climb up and promptly slide down the stairs.

Rowan has made a lot of progress. His teachers are starting to think he has a photographic memory. He adores vehicles of any kind. You'll hear him in the back seat yelling out the things he can see. "Bus!!" "Cement Truck!" "Excavator!" He got a pillow with a backhoe on it for Christmas. He HAS to have it in order to sleep at night. In addition to the usual group of toy trucks, cars, etc. 

We've started doing the assessments for his special needs preschool, which if accepted he'd start in March. In home Early Intervention ends at age 3. However, that's when they can start going to public special needs preschool. Speech, OT, and physical therapy are part of the curriculum. He would attend public preschool 2 days a week in addition to ABA / preschool another 2 days a week. He's going to love all the time in class. He really loves school. Every morning (sometimes even after a nap) he wakes up and asks "School?" He has a new ABA therapist due to the new year. Sadly, she doesn't do daily notes like Shay did. 

Rowan and Anastasia get along great. Well, most of the time. Anastasia just adores her big brother and wants to be around him constantly. Sometimes she likes to just sit by him.  He tolerates it pretty well, but when he wants his space he would climb onto the higher couch. That didn't work for Anastasia. (Honestly, how dare he take a break from her?) She learned how to get up the sofa by standing on top of pillows to give herself a leg up.