I got the idea of "Slash with a side of Smiley" from an incident at work last week. Funny how life experiences give us the very topics for which to write about. The story goes like this: I sent an mail asking for communication to include me. It was a very simple, polite request that made complete sense for the situation in which it was intended. What I got back was some really harsh and stinging words followed by a smiley face. I felt like I had been slashed with a knife! Here's the deal...a smiley face doesn't ease the pain, nor does it negate the ugliness of the words. The lesson here is that we all need to be careful what we say. There's no need to be ugly to people. Words, both written and spoken, cannot be taken back so be careful what you write and say. Choose your words wisely. Most importantly, use smiley faces appropriately. Let's reserve them for happy words!
We will be taking a day-trip to Albuquerque Tuesday for a follow-up with the dentist. This is the visit to determine if the tooth knocked loose during our last appointment can remain or if it has to be pulled. Mike can't go so my mom will be making this stressful trip with us. Please pray for our safety there and back and a successful appointment. Pray for Brooke to be as tolerant as possible with the process, for lessened stress, heightened tolerance, and no sedation issues. Pray for minimal bleeding, no more x-ray cuts in her mouth and most importantly for no infections or complications. There are no words for just how stressful dental appointments are for Brooke. Please pray for mom and I for patience, tolerance and strength. Other than surgeries, dental appointments are the most stressful things we have to endure. May God be with Brooke, holding her hand, letting her know she is never alone.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
Hmmmm....
Hello friends. It's been a while since my last blog so here goes...
Good day at work. MADE IT HAPPEN. Willed it to happen. I decided that today was going to be a good day so it was. Should I try two for two?
Do you ever wonder why some people have quirky pet-peeves? I usually don't mind them as long as they keep they're kept to themselves. I had one "thrown at me" today that has left me scratching my head ever since it happened. Actually, it's left me devising ways to purposely drive this person nuts. Ha. I was nice...I obeyed and kept my mouth shut, but I wanted to say, "What does it matter? Does it affect how I get things done?REALLY! Guess some folks just feel better nit-picking their way through life. Whatever floats their boat. Do you feel like a bigger person now? Woooo. ***INSERT SARCASM***
Ok, so I just learned that my 85 year old grandmother has a date in a few weeks to an event I will be attending. Serious. She has a date. How odd will that be? Something I keep reminding myself of...no one deserves to be alone. Hope she has lots of fun!! You go Granny!
Brookie is still feeling well - Praise God! She is so much fun. She's has been a hugger, a toe kisser, a noggin rubber, a birthday song singer, the boogey-woogey queen, and a chronic giggler for days and days and days. It's cute. Entertaining too! I invite all friends to our house for a good dose of BROOKE. She's just the ticket for whatever ails you!
Prayers out to the sick, the hurting, the lost...
Good day at work. MADE IT HAPPEN. Willed it to happen. I decided that today was going to be a good day so it was. Should I try two for two?
Do you ever wonder why some people have quirky pet-peeves? I usually don't mind them as long as they keep they're kept to themselves. I had one "thrown at me" today that has left me scratching my head ever since it happened. Actually, it's left me devising ways to purposely drive this person nuts. Ha. I was nice...I obeyed and kept my mouth shut, but I wanted to say, "What does it matter? Does it affect how I get things done?REALLY! Guess some folks just feel better nit-picking their way through life. Whatever floats their boat. Do you feel like a bigger person now? Woooo. ***INSERT SARCASM***
Ok, so I just learned that my 85 year old grandmother has a date in a few weeks to an event I will be attending. Serious. She has a date. How odd will that be? Something I keep reminding myself of...no one deserves to be alone. Hope she has lots of fun!! You go Granny!
Brookie is still feeling well - Praise God! She is so much fun. She's has been a hugger, a toe kisser, a noggin rubber, a birthday song singer, the boogey-woogey queen, and a chronic giggler for days and days and days. It's cute. Entertaining too! I invite all friends to our house for a good dose of BROOKE. She's just the ticket for whatever ails you!
Prayers out to the sick, the hurting, the lost...
Friday, August 13, 2010
Rough Day
Yesterday was just one of those days. There are really no nice words to describe it. It started out with Brooke having a seizure early yesterday morning. I don't think it was a grand mal, but I can't figure out exactly what kind it is? She has had 3 or 4 like this now and they all pretty much mimic each other. Either the sound she makes or the shaking wakes me up and I find her propped up on her right elbow jerking. It typically lasts anywhere from 10 seconds to maybe 25 seconds and then stops. She usually breaks a sweat and has labored breathing for a minute or two following it. She is coherent within a minute or so and the entire process from onset to totally ok is less than 5 minutes. These are very odd.
The day proceeds with communication issues regarding the respite providers which led to other issues which still have not been resolved. My people tolerance is pretty much gone by this point in the ballgame. Now it's time for the bi-weekly trip to the cancer center for a Neupogen shot. Ok, this was the first time I've taken Brooke with the shot being done in the treatment room. Was not mentally prepared for this! My nerves were already frazzled so it's easy to understand my sadness with seeing the 3 people who were in there undergoing chemotherapy. And while I'm wondering about their situation, I got the sense that they were just as curious about ours. After all, a trip to the treatment room at a cancer center for any reason can't be good. And there we sat. Just a note here to say that these guys are awesome. So patient, and compassionate. So, the shot was given and we walked out of the room. I was fighting back the tears and Brooke managed not to...she proceeded to grab a hold of the bathroom door handle and throw a big fit. It was all I could do to pry her away. In fact, it wasn't until the nurses brought her the basket of goodies that she did give in. Not exactly sure what was up? We fInally made it to the car where I fell apart. Just "one of those days."
The rest of the day was shot for me, I didn't know whether to hide under my desk or cry all afternoon. So...I did what unfortunately seems to come so easy to me these days...I gripped. (Thank you L and D and T for being such a captive audience.) Mike came home exhausted from his first day of school and Brooke's stomach hurt from the high-powered antibiotics she's been on for the past week. We all spent the evening chilling out, which is exactly what this family needed!
The day proceeds with communication issues regarding the respite providers which led to other issues which still have not been resolved. My people tolerance is pretty much gone by this point in the ballgame. Now it's time for the bi-weekly trip to the cancer center for a Neupogen shot. Ok, this was the first time I've taken Brooke with the shot being done in the treatment room. Was not mentally prepared for this! My nerves were already frazzled so it's easy to understand my sadness with seeing the 3 people who were in there undergoing chemotherapy. And while I'm wondering about their situation, I got the sense that they were just as curious about ours. After all, a trip to the treatment room at a cancer center for any reason can't be good. And there we sat. Just a note here to say that these guys are awesome. So patient, and compassionate. So, the shot was given and we walked out of the room. I was fighting back the tears and Brooke managed not to...she proceeded to grab a hold of the bathroom door handle and throw a big fit. It was all I could do to pry her away. In fact, it wasn't until the nurses brought her the basket of goodies that she did give in. Not exactly sure what was up? We fInally made it to the car where I fell apart. Just "one of those days."
The rest of the day was shot for me, I didn't know whether to hide under my desk or cry all afternoon. So...I did what unfortunately seems to come so easy to me these days...I gripped. (Thank you L and D and T for being such a captive audience.) Mike came home exhausted from his first day of school and Brooke's stomach hurt from the high-powered antibiotics she's been on for the past week. We all spent the evening chilling out, which is exactly what this family needed!
Monday, August 9, 2010
Our Brookie is Back!
Hooray...Brookie is back! Yesterday was her turning point. She's back to being silly, giggley and bossy. Ha. She set out all of the usual cake-making ingredients last night and insisted I bake her a spice cake. Plus, she's taken over my iPAD. What's up with that? She is hooked on You Tube videos...she watches totally G-rated things like: Wheels on the Bus, If You're Happy and You Know It, and Itsey Bitsey Spider. OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER!! It looks like Santa may have to start saving up to buy her one of her own! OUCH.
First day of school for Mike today...NOPE, HE'S NOT HAPPY TO BE BACK. Usually I make fun of him since I work year-round and he doesn't have to, but life really is easier when he's home with Brooke taking care of things that I don't have to while he's off. I love that! I also get bummed now because it means winter is around the corner. Winter bums me! I don't like cold weather nor the illnesses that come with it! It scares me with Brooke's health problems.
Had some friends asking for WDW info last night on FB. Little did they know that their request was right up my alley! This psycho trip-research girl was all over that request! I sent them 8 emails. Seriously. I apologized in advance, but I LOVE planning trips! I really think I missed my calling...should be a travel planner. The downside to tonight's trip down Disney lane is that now I want to go back. My dream is to go at Christmas so I can see all of the decorations. I hear it's gorgeous. Maybe some day. It's on my bucket list! T & C...send me a postcard in December!
Prayers to Tina's mom, the baby who shot himself with a brad-nailer, the 14-year old with a brain tumor, my co-workers friend with a mass in her kidney and anyone else who is suffering, struggling or lost. May God bless and comfort everyone.
Night all and God Bless.
First day of school for Mike today...NOPE, HE'S NOT HAPPY TO BE BACK. Usually I make fun of him since I work year-round and he doesn't have to, but life really is easier when he's home with Brooke taking care of things that I don't have to while he's off. I love that! I also get bummed now because it means winter is around the corner. Winter bums me! I don't like cold weather nor the illnesses that come with it! It scares me with Brooke's health problems.
Had some friends asking for WDW info last night on FB. Little did they know that their request was right up my alley! This psycho trip-research girl was all over that request! I sent them 8 emails. Seriously. I apologized in advance, but I LOVE planning trips! I really think I missed my calling...should be a travel planner. The downside to tonight's trip down Disney lane is that now I want to go back. My dream is to go at Christmas so I can see all of the decorations. I hear it's gorgeous. Maybe some day. It's on my bucket list! T & C...send me a postcard in December!
Prayers to Tina's mom, the baby who shot himself with a brad-nailer, the 14-year old with a brain tumor, my co-workers friend with a mass in her kidney and anyone else who is suffering, struggling or lost. May God bless and comfort everyone.
Night all and God Bless.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Post- dental appointment week
Monday:
Nothing went right at the dentist. They have gone digital so x-rays of Brooke's entire mouth had to be done, while she is screaming at the top of her lungs. This process (and I'm not sure they finished it) took an hour. Brooke screamed so hard and violently that I was afraid she'd throw a clot or have a stroke. It was pretty intense.
The bite block they used, along with Brooke's resistence caused a tooth to become loose so the dentist was called in to evaluate. An x-ray was taken of that tooth and to make a long story short...that was the end of the process. Her teeth didn't get cleaned except for some scraping on one side nor did the two teeth that have holes in them get evaluated. We have to go back in 4 weeks to re-evaluate the loose tooth to see if it has healed or if they'll have to pull it.
Brooke was angry with Mike and I (more so than usual) but we did manage to somewhat buy her forgiveness in the toy isle at Target later that day. She slept all the way home with mom sitting in the backseat with her rubbing her with her hammar.
Tuesday:
Swollen right cheek, extremly sore mouth, fat lip, cuts at both corners of the lips, drooling, no energy and just feels bad.
Wednesday:
Called the dentist because the swelling is not getting better. Dentist relays message to me that we need to bring her in. WHAT? I nicely told the receptionist who was acting as the go-between that I'm not driving 4 hours for a fat lip. I just need to know what to do to help relieve some of her discomfort. So...a different antibiotic than the one she was on was called in and we started "trying" to rinse her mouth with warm salt water.
Thursday - Today:
Still somewhat swollen, lip still big, drooling only at times, no energy and still doesn't feel well. Sometimes we wonder why we bother? I mean, I know we have to do our best to try to maintain her oral health, but if maintaining it brings her down this low - is it worth it? Brooke's mouth is a mess anyway and I figure the x-rays probably cut it all up inside. And for a kid without the ability to fight ANYTHING or HEAL...the process is a super slow one.
I'm really working at not being angry. Prior to this dental appointment Monday, she looked and felt great. She was happy. Now we're back in worry mode. Please pray for the ability for her to fight. For healing. For comfort. And for our Brookie to return back to her sweet, happy self soon.
Love you all.
Nothing went right at the dentist. They have gone digital so x-rays of Brooke's entire mouth had to be done, while she is screaming at the top of her lungs. This process (and I'm not sure they finished it) took an hour. Brooke screamed so hard and violently that I was afraid she'd throw a clot or have a stroke. It was pretty intense.
The bite block they used, along with Brooke's resistence caused a tooth to become loose so the dentist was called in to evaluate. An x-ray was taken of that tooth and to make a long story short...that was the end of the process. Her teeth didn't get cleaned except for some scraping on one side nor did the two teeth that have holes in them get evaluated. We have to go back in 4 weeks to re-evaluate the loose tooth to see if it has healed or if they'll have to pull it.
Brooke was angry with Mike and I (more so than usual) but we did manage to somewhat buy her forgiveness in the toy isle at Target later that day. She slept all the way home with mom sitting in the backseat with her rubbing her with her hammar.
Tuesday:
Swollen right cheek, extremly sore mouth, fat lip, cuts at both corners of the lips, drooling, no energy and just feels bad.
Wednesday:
Called the dentist because the swelling is not getting better. Dentist relays message to me that we need to bring her in. WHAT? I nicely told the receptionist who was acting as the go-between that I'm not driving 4 hours for a fat lip. I just need to know what to do to help relieve some of her discomfort. So...a different antibiotic than the one she was on was called in and we started "trying" to rinse her mouth with warm salt water.
Thursday - Today:
Still somewhat swollen, lip still big, drooling only at times, no energy and still doesn't feel well. Sometimes we wonder why we bother? I mean, I know we have to do our best to try to maintain her oral health, but if maintaining it brings her down this low - is it worth it? Brooke's mouth is a mess anyway and I figure the x-rays probably cut it all up inside. And for a kid without the ability to fight ANYTHING or HEAL...the process is a super slow one.
I'm really working at not being angry. Prior to this dental appointment Monday, she looked and felt great. She was happy. Now we're back in worry mode. Please pray for the ability for her to fight. For healing. For comfort. And for our Brookie to return back to her sweet, happy self soon.
Love you all.
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