Monday, March 21, 2011

I'm Impressive!

I just got back from a Dr. visit and found out that I'm impressive. Yup, this time I had to go to the doctor. I fought a really, really bad sinus infection all on my own. The pain was so bad at times that I used labor breathing to get through. And yes, I did take Tylenol, but because of nursing I didn't want to take anything else. I also told Mike that I kind of thought it might hurt less if someone would punch me in the cheek because if the bones were crunched then the pressure would be relieved. Crazy talk, huh? It was not fun.

Then the pressure got better and the pain subsided. That is when I realized that there were other issues brewing as well. My right ear was ringing and really plugged up. I've never had such an odd sensation in my ear. There was pain sometimes, but not much and nothing compared to my sinus issues. I figured it would clear up as the sinus issues cleared up.

But it didn't. It has stayed the same and sometimes feels even worse. And it has been over a week now. Ten days of worrying about my hearing. Ten days of wanting to have the ringing just stop already. Ten days of hoping I'd get up in the morning and would be back to normal. No doing...it has persisted.

So today I went to the Dr. and was told that I was impressive. Turns out it is very rare to see an ear infection in an adult. It is even rarer to see one that is as severe as mine. All in all the doctor declared my case to be impressive. And I'm starting antibiotics shortly. Here's hoping I can go back to being normal soon!

Happy Monday,
Heather

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

The Wee Hours

The best part about sinus infections? There is no best part. There is pain, pressure, mucus, and lack of sleep. Today I'm putting that lack of sleep to work checking in on my favorite blogs and decided to put something up here too. But really being awake during the wee hours is not really fun no matter how you spin it. I *think* we are on the down side of this crazy virus, but am knocking on wood as I say it so that I don't jinx things. We are praying for spring to come quickly!

While checking my e-mail this morning I found a forward from one of my aunts. She likes to send on all manners of things and I thought today's was pretty interesting. I'd like to remember some of these ideas (since I tend to 'file' forwards) so I thought I'd post them here. Some of these seemed pretty genius to me!

Better than paper towels and a lot less expensive...COFFEE FILTERS

Who knew! And you can buy 1,000 at the Dollar Tree for $1.00, even the large ones.
1. Cover bowls or dishes when cooking in the microwave. Coffee filters make excellent covers.
2. Clean windows, mirrors, and chrome... Coffee filters are lint-free so they'll leave windows sparkling.
3. Protect China by separating your good dishes with a coffee filter between each dish.
4. Filter broken cork from wine. If you break the cork when opening a wine bottle, filter the wine through a coffee filter.
5. Protect a cast-iron skillet. Place a coffee filter in the skillet to absorb moisture and prevent rust.
6. Apply shoe polish. Ball up a lint-free coffee filter.
7. Recycle frying oil. After frying, strain oil through a sieve lined with a coffee filter.
8. Weigh chopped foods. Place chopped ingredients in a coffee filter on a kitchen scale.
9. Hold tacos. Coffee filters make convenient wrappers for messy foods.
10. Stop the soil from leaking out of a plant pot. Line a plant pot with a coffee filter to prevent the soil from going through the drainage holes.
11. Prevent a Popsicle from dripping. Poke one or two holes as needed in a coffee filter.
12. Do you think we used expensive strips to wax eyebrows? Use strips of coffee filters..
13. Put a few in a plate and put your fried bacon, French fries, chicken fingers, etc on them.. It soaks out all the grease.
14. Keep in the bathroom. They make great "razor nick fixers."
15. As a sewing backing. Use a filter as an easy-to-tear backing for embroidering or appliqueing soft fabrics.
16. Put baking soda into a coffee filter and insert into shoes or a closet to absorb or prevent odors.
17. Use them to strain soup stock and to tie fresh herbs in to put in soups and stews.
18. Use a coffee filter to prevent spilling when you add fluids to your car.
19. Use them as a spoon rest while cooking and clean up small counter spills.
20. Can use to hold dry ingredients when baking or when cutting a piece of fruit or veggies.. Saves on having extra bowls to wash.
21. Use them to wrap Christmas ornaments for storage.
22. Use them to remove fingernail polish when out of cotton balls.
23. Use them to sprout seeds. Simply dampen the coffee filter, place seeds inside, fold it and place it into a zip-lock plastic bag until they sprout.
24. Use coffee filters as blotting paper for pressed flowers. Place the flowers between two coffee filters and put the coffee filters in phone book..
25. Use as a disposable "snack bowl" for popcorn, chips, etc.


I know I've seen some pretty amazing wreaths made out of coffee filters and I've used them in making gift baskets as well. Anyone have any other ideas for coffee filters? Other than for making coffee, that is...

Happy Early Morning!
Heather

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Want to Laugh?

Tell God (or your blog) your plans!

So why haven't I been around in a while again? Well, Peanut was sick. Then she seemed to be getting better, but nights were rough again. Then we were getting ready for a few events, one being a get together of our Bradley class from when Little Guy was born. One family had to back out at the last minute due to a sick 2 year old and 9 month old. But the other 6 two year olds and 4 other little siblings plus parents were able to make it. It was crowded in our little house, but it is so great to see these kiddos grow up and hear other parent struggles and successes. We had so much fun!

Until about 24 hours later when our Peanut was sick AGAIN. I'm so hoping no one else came down with anything since this has been one heck of a week. Called after hours and got our Ped...wonderful! She was vomiting and 103 degree temp so he gave us some advice and said he'd probably see us in the morning. Grateful things seemed under control and we didn't go in. But on Tuesday we added Little Guy to the mix. Fever, coughing, a couple of clean up in aisle 3 episodes. We just kept on top of fluids, rest, treating fever in Peanut when it got really high and doing our best to keep our patience in tact with two sick kids. Little Guy has never really been sick like this so it has been a learning experience to find out that he gets VERY whiny and emotional and frustrated and demanding. Couple that with lack of sleep and things have been interesting.

So Friday things were just really bad. Peanut was really fussy (not normal at all for her) and I called the nurse. After hearing where we were at after fighting this all week she suggested we come in. And based on how they kept acting we were glad we made that decision. Turns out Little Guy had really, really bad ear infections that were making his eyes water and mat up as well as contribute the river of snot and probably contributed to his vomiting. Peanut is still just in virus stage, her ears and eyes are okay. We are praying that it doesn't change! Little Guy is on antibiotics (normally I'm not a fan, but he has been sooooo miserable that I really hope it makes the difference) and Peanut is just nursing a ton and trying to work through it.

Fun stuff, huh? And a big lesson for this mom. I've had such healthy babies and two winters with nothing significant. I cannot imagine the stress that having a very sick child generates. I've been a wreck more than once because of this goofy virus. And hopefully next year will be better. I've had two nurses and our Ped tell us that this year is crazy bad. And based on how nuts the waiting room was on Friday I have no doubt that is the case! Oh, and to add to the fun Mommy is now having significant symptoms and Daddy thinks he is right behind her. I guess five days of being coughed on, sneezed on and just handling baby virus was just too much for my immune system too.

Just wanted to also let anyone reading this know that there is a great giveaway going on at Maple Valley Farm's blog. This family is pretty fascinating. They left behind a house (that looks like a mansion) to buy a farm that is totally off-grid. And yet they blog! Isn't technology something else? And now they are giving away some Tattler canning lids. I got some for Christmas from my mom and my mother-in-law...it was a big item on my Christmas list. I'm hoping to build up enough that I'll do away with disposable lids altogether, other than for gift purposes. I love things that can be reused! Check out the giveaway here.

Take care and hope everyone out there is healthy!
Heather