Whirlwind of A Week!

Wow!  This past week has been a whirlwind!  On Thursday, a week ago, Madi started getting sick.  High fever, head ache, really bad cough, and no appetite.  On Saturday, Brooke decided to join in the fun with a sore throat, and the same high fever, bad cough, and lack of appetite that Madi still had.  Monday, I took Brooke and Madi to the doctor.  Brooke had a strep test done that came back negative, so the doc essentially called hers a virus/cold.  And, the doctor, based on my description and Madi's symptoms, determined that Madi had Croop - a complication of the same cold/virus that Brooke had.  We were hoping that this would all go away soon, and that it would keep away from Taylor because of its terrible respiratory symptoms, but it didn't.  On Monday, the nasty bug started presenting itself in Taylor.  She had a cough and a fever, but since she is fed by G-tube, the lack of appetite didn't exist - nor did the headache.  All were absolutely MISERABLE unless the "magic drug" (ibuprofen) had been in their system for an hour or so.  Once it started working, it was like they were brand new children... sorta tricked us, actually, into thinking Brooke could go back to school on Wednesday.  But, we were wrong... when that night came around she had yet another temp of 102.6.  No school for her!  So... no school for Madi or Taylor at all this week, and we are waiting until the morning to see if Brooke goes today (Thursday) or not.

It has been a week and Madi is still miserable.  Fevers every day.  She didn't go to bed until 11PM tonight. While we were at the doctor, she was prescribed Albuterol every 4 hours and Pulmicort twice a day.  Brooke was prescribed Pulmicort twice a day.  I think the fact that we caught, and started treating, Brooke a bit earlier than Madi has helped her in kicking this thing a bit faster.  But, I am hopeful Madi will turn the corner soon.  Taylor, on the other hand, is have a rough go at it.  Her sats are low (dropping to 87) and her heart rate is extremely elevated (160-180 when awake).  She is coughing and has a fever of 103.8.  When ibuprofen isn't in her system, she is very tired and wants to sit on my lap.

So... some other things about the week:

I uploaded Madi's birthday pictures yesterday... be sure to take a look if you want to!

I took my RN entrance test on Friday (the TEAS test for RNs).  I was a bit nervous when I sat down and heard others talking about the "online study guide" which I knew nothing about.  However, I did pretty well.  I got a 91% National Ranking and passed with flying colors. I would have done better if I had known that Physics, Earth Science, and actual Chemistry were going to be on it, but everything turned out OK in the end.  One last step remains before I am officially "in the school of nursing", and that is the application being submitted.  I don't think I will have a problem with this part since my GPA is a 3.7 now, but I guess time will tell.  They pick the top 60 students with the best GPA and the application period is the beginning of February.

I had my first class for the second part of my Anatomy and Physiology course this past Saturday.  I have it from 9am - 1pm every Saturday for the next 16 weeks.  I chose this class so that I didn't have to worry about finding a babysitter on Tuesday and Thursday nights when Kenny was out of town (that is when the other class was available).  I'm excited about this class, actually, as it is so interesting.  It won't be easy, but none-the-less, still interesting!  I am taking it with a different professor than I had the first semester, so that will be challenging - adjusting to different teaching styles, and testing styles, etc.  This professor gives 4 exams:  says he gives about 2 hours worth of essay questions and then grades it in class so that we can go over it the same day.  The other teacher gave 12 exams (almost 1 per week):  75-100 hard multiple choice questions/matching/diagrams, and took a week or so to grade them.  I HATE essays, but I think I'll manage just fine :) That same day I went to work at PBK from 3pm - 7pm after class.  I was SO bummed because it was an "on call" shift, and when I called they told me I needed to come in.  I was hoping to stay home and relax, but oh well!

Nursing has been a bit crazy.  Last Friday and Saturday our day nurse didn't come in because she was sick.  Tuesday night our night nurse didn't come in because she had a bloody nose.  And, tonight - Wednesday, our other night nurse simply didn't show up.  I texted her 2 hours AFTER she was suppose to be here and she told me that the agency had put her on a different, and full-time, case and that she wasn't coming.  I was LIVID that the agency didn't call to tell me this.  I was so happy to actually be up doing homework/studying, or I would have never known... and we would have had a REALLY SICK Taylor with NO nurse, and she would not be getting her food that was scheduled, her meds that were scheduled, her diaper changed, her leg brace changed, or rolled over every two hours.  That is some SERIOUS liability on the agencies part, and they will definitely be hearing from me in the morning (well, 5 or 6 hours from now).

Today, I went to the ENT doctor.  I have, what I call, a nodule on the right side of my throat/neck that moves up and down whenever I swallow.  It is a bit sore and a bit painful.  It had been going on for about 2 weeks, so I figured enough was enough.  The doctor didn't seem terribly concerned about it, but did offer that it might be "Eagles Syndrome".  He said it was pertinent to do a CT scan today, but that if I wanted to know for sure we could.  I said that we could wait, and he said that I should reschedule for a month from today... and that if it got worse to come in sooner.  In a month, if it is still there, they will do a CT scan.  If it has gone, I won't go back as we have a $6,000 insurance deductible that we need to meet before they cover anything at all!  Yippee!

Tomorrow we are getting a hitch put on my van so that we can transport Taylor's powerchair wherever we go, whenever we need to take it!!!!  I am so excited, as this will give her such a feeling of independence and freedom when we go out.  And, I am more than happy to give that to her - ecstatic, actually - as long as she LISTENS while in her Mister Purple (we fondly call her powerchair "Mister Purple").  We shall see how it all goes!

Well, I am exhausted and must sign off.  I apologize if any of this is not coherent enough to understand or if there are way too many misspelled words... But, I know  you'll get over it, so thanks for your understanding!

Good Night XOXOX