Friday, December 31, 2010

Let's Go Surfing

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I went surfing today, Internet! Wow. The waves were pretty weak, but it was fun enough to produce the euphoric peaceful feeling in every cell of my body.

Yes, even when the waves are bad, surfing is still good. I did feel a bit weird being in the ocean for the first time in weeks. But thanks to wii tennis and boxing my timing wasn't too far off, from when I surf everyday.

I have to say I probably wouldn't have surfed today without the help of my surfing BFF.

"Hey, if you surf out in my direction can you pick me up first, please?" I text.

"Yep start getting ready!" she texts.

She knows how slow I am. I was almost ready when she got here, too.

When we got to the beach I started making excuses.

"The tide is too high," I say. "It's really cold. Wow, it's probably better somewhere else."

But like the great friend that she is, she ignored me and said, "Let's go surf!"

And we did. Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Which is a good thing because tonight I looked at Vinny's flushed face and said, "Why does he look like he has a fever?"

Hubby got the thermometer out and took Vinny's temperature.

"It's 99.1," says Hubby.

Ugh. Ugh. Ugh.

At least it's a low grade fever. We aren't supposed to be on alarm until it hits 101, but after what he's been through it's impossible not to worry.

For the next few days, we'll be keeping a close watch on Vinny's temperature, and running blood work if the fever continues as per Saint Super Ped's orders.

And I will be incessantly repeating, "I trust Vinny's body to do the right thing."

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Gio Claus

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Somehow, unbeknownst to me, Gio has taken acting lessons. He's been in character all day long.

"So how are you doing elf?" says Gio Claus to Hubby.

"Fine, how are you Santa?" asks Hubby.

He kept referring to me as Mrs. Claus and then had to hurry off up the chimney, "Well, I'm off to deliver some presents," says Gio Claus.

Vinny on the other hand seems like he's back to himself.

"We have to clean you up and let the hole, where the tube came out of your body, air dry."

Air dry? I'd much rather put a cork in the hole myself, but Saint Super Ped assured me if I did, "the hole will be there FOREVER, like an earring."

"You really have to take a shower, now," I say.

"I will take a shower later," says Vinny

"No video games until you take a shower," I say.

"Okay, fine, no video games," says Vinny, and he went to work building the roller coaster for the rest of the day, perfectly content. Anything to avoid a shower.

Eventually he did take a shower. Hubby took care of the hole, for some reason I'm feeling a bit squemish today.

"It looks fine," says Hubby.

"Good," I say working up the nerve to have a look.

"Oh, hey it's already healing," I say.



I probably could have used some surf, but the ocean didn't cooperate today. Maybe tomorrow. I'm feeling the residue of being on guard the last month, read scatter brain. I have no vision.

My surfing BFF assured me, "You just need to get in the water."

"I hope so, I feel so bleh," I say.

Hubby seems to have developed a case of gastritis, probably from all the stress he's been under the last month. He goes back to work Monday.

Monday!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm sure the kids will be fine, but the Parents need a do-over on Winter break. The abscess wasn't the only thing that got drain over break.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Bloody Bill Is Outta There!

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I am happy to post the drain has been removed. The abscess is gone!

He's recovering in PACU,  peri anesthetia care unit.

"How are you doing?" asks Nurse Nancy.

"I'm still awake," says Vinny, not realizing he's drain-free.

"The drain is out," says Nurse Nancy.

"The drain is out?" asks Vinny confused. 

Anesthetia will do that.  Then suddenly he came to his senses.

"The drain is out!" cheers Vinny.

JP Drain Study

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We are on our way to ucsf children's hospital, and hopefully leaving the drain there. It's still dark.

"Mommy will you sit in back with me?" asks Vinny.

"Sure," I say.

"Thanks," says Vinny.

One last surgical procedure requiring anesthetia, for the third time this month.. Hopefully it's the last.

Thanks in advance Prayer Warriors <3.

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Tomorrow's The Big Day!

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Hey Internet I'm so excited! Tomorrow's the big drain. I mean big day! We are heading up to University of California, San Francisco Children's Hospital at 5 a.m. for a JP Drain Study. In other words, if the abscess is gone, the drain goes hasta la vista, baby.

Yes, it would have been easier to spend the night, rather than waking up at 4 a.m. But right now, if I don't have to leave Nay Nay Kitty overnight, I'm not going to. Her Nana is going to come and check on her tomorrow while we are gone.

"Make sure you make little triangle piles of food so she can eat," I say to my Mom.

"Yes, I know," assures my Mom.

Gio is spending the night with his Aunty and Uncle. I'm having a slight panic attack being separated from him again, so soon. But the choice was his.

"Do you want to go to the hospital with us?" I ask.

"No it's too far, I'm staying with Aunty Ri and Uncle Joe," answers Gio matter of factly.

If all goes well, we will be back tomorrow night. Vinny's feeling much better. We're back to business as usual, with me constantly saying, "stop teasing him!"

"Mom, you know I'd give my life for him," says Vinny.

Okay. I guess that makes sense in guy land. But I'm not a guy so I don't get it. Though I've watched the surfer dudes play this game for almost 25 years. Can everybody just get along?

I am under enough stress these days, without sibling rivalry adding to my list. Epsecially since I've gone cold turkey off of my surfing medication.

"I'm not surfing until you're better," I say to a surprised Vinny.

"I need to get better, so you can go surfing," says Vinny.

Monday, December 27, 2010

Flagyl Is The Devil

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The Bucket View.


"The medicine will heal you, if it doesn't kill you first."

I'm sure someone said this before me, probably thousands of folks. As I had been posting, Vinny was getting sick from the antibiotics he was taking. With each passing day, he grew sicker, and ate less.

Yesterday, was Vinny's worst day yet. Hubby and I were sick with worry.

"I feel horrible," says Vinny.

"Do you have any pain?" we ask.

"No I just feel bleh," says a motionless Vinny from the couch.

Hubby and I both look at each other and say, "Let's call the doctor."

He dialed, and got the doctor on the phone.

"He's really sick," explains Hubby. "He just threw up again. He can't move without getting nauseous. He's hardly eating or drinking."

"Go ahead and take him off the Flagyl," instructs the doctor. "It's probably the one making him sick."

"Really?" I ask. "Is that a good idea with the abscess?"

"He's been on it 10 days, that's long enough." assures the doctor. "Just keep giving him the Cipro."

It was at this point I took a turn for the worse, or at least the sleep deprivation kicked me upside the head and in the stomach.

I don't do well with change. Suddenly being told to stop one of the medicines we were sent home with, sent my head spinning.

I laid down on the couch, put on my sleeping mask and fell fast asleep around 5:30 p.m. letting Dr. Hubby take charge.

It was exactly what I needed. I woke up after 9, but I just laid still, not moving. Vinny was not feeling great, but he wasn't barfing either. About an hour later we all went to bed.

Today, I'm happy to report, he's feeling better, pretty good, even. He ate and drank more than the last three days. He's moving without getting motion sickness.

Amen!

And if he feels better, than so do I. Though I'm sure getting the first good night's sleep in two weeks helped a lot.

Two more days to December 29th!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Get Behind Me, Vomit

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Right now, in my eyes, vomit is the devil. Vinny threw up not once, but twice yesterday. Christmas Day.

The second holiday episode of fluid coming out the wrong end, unfortunately, was right after his 5 p.m. dose of FlaJill.

"Do you see the pill?" asks Hubby, as I swirl the bucket of barf around, like I'm panning for gold.

"I do!" I say, reaching in and scooping it out deftly.

I dash to the sink carefully rinsing off the yellow stomach juices, gently placing the FlaJill in a Ziploc baggy for safe keeping, afterwards.

"We need to go home," I say. "We have to get this medicine in him and it's not working here."

Our Christmas Day celebration was cut short. Vinny spent most of the day in a recliner, sick to his stomach, celebrating nothing. If only I had remembered to bring the loaf of Beckman's Sourdough Bread, it was the one thing he'd been keeping down all this time.

But I didn't. So away we drove in the car. With Vinny in the backseat, and The Bucket situated strategically between his legs. We made it home, without incident, and by without incident I mean no vomit.

Shortly after arriving home, I fed him some sourdough toast sprinkled lightly with Cinnamon and brown sugar. Next, I successfully dosed him with the rescued FlaJill. But we still had two more doses of antibiotics to get through, and my hairs were standing on end.

Fortunately, both doses went well. But I'm left feeling like I've been kicked in the stomach, and sucker punched in the kidneys. Vomit why you gotta be so mean?




Each vomitous setback, is like a pin pricking my balloon filled with faith and hope. Faith - that the doctors are right about this drain business clearing the abscess. Hope - that my son is really getting better.

I keep telling myself, "he's getting better, it's just the medicine making him sick. He has no pain. He has no fever. And that's a good thing."

But the problem is, I'm not that convincing. And I'm sleep deprived. Tonight I'm going to take a Benadryl just to see if I can get more than four hours of sleep.

Until then, I will be counting down the days to Wednesday December 29th.

"We are almost there," I say to Vinny. "I'm so proud of you for hanging in there."

"I just want to be better," replies Vinny. "Appendicitis has given me a lot of trouble."

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Merry Christmas

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Nay Nay was a birthday present over 15 years ago.
She's been a true gift to all of us.



We are not exactly having the holiday season I envisioned. Last night, on our way in the car, to celebrate Christmas Eve with family, nausea was the victor.

"I don't feel good," says Vinny, about a minute before we arrived at my cousins' house.

The next thing out of his mouth was vomit.

Good thing we brought the bucket along for the celebration.

No kid should have to throw up on Christmas. It's just wrong, but that's our sad reality right now.

Of course, the vomit, once again arrived in an untimely manner, one hour before his next antibiotic dose. My hair was standing on end wondering if the next dose would stay down, but fortunately the rest of the evening was upchuck free.

Last night almost felt normal. Words don't express how awesome it was to gather with loved ones and celebrate Christmas.

Christmas morning is going well, so far. Opening presents is always fun, and uplifting. But who knows what unwelcome surprises the day will bring?

A friend recently sent me a message that has been serving as a grounding reminder for me, "This has been tough and you are getting through it---you are a really solid family."

Seems like a simple thing to say, right? But her words are getting me through it, because in times like these, times we need it most, it's easy to forget inner strength. Especially during our many moments of setback.

We can get through this. And we will. Though none of us will ever be the same, again.

Besides being our family being back together, the best Christmas present for me this year has been all the support we've received.

When I think of EVERYONE who has helped us, either through action, prayer or kind words, it makes me feel tender hearted and loved, literally bringing tears to my eyes. Thank you!

"Honey, are you okay?" asks Hubby, seeing my tears, again.

"Yeah, I'm okay," I say. "But it's been a hard month."

"Yeah, it's been goofy," he says, kissing the back of my neck.

May everyone have a blessed Merry Christmas. Here's a little Christmas song, I hope you enjoy, I know I will.

Friday, December 24, 2010

Misdosage

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If you've ever been in charge of taking, or giving another being, more than one type of medicine, you've asked yourself the question, "Was that the right pill?"

Ever since Vinny has been on two antibiotics I've been asking myself this question nine times a day. I've been giving him doses and checking them thrice.

"It's time for FlaJill right?" I ask Hubby.

"Yeah, FlaJill," answers Hubby.

"Okay, I'm giving him FlaJill," I repeat.

Then I check the pill timer, to verify, I have the correct pill at the correct time. Last, I check the pill schedule. But I figure in two weeks, at nine pills a day, a mistake is inevitable.

"Oh sh*!" exclaims Hubby. "I just gave him Cipro! He's supposed to get FlaJill! What do I do? What do I do?"

"Stop cussing?" I suggest.

Of course, men never listen and he proceeded to drop the F-bomb multiple times.

"Honey, you NEED to calm down," I say, trying not to laugh.

When the only other option is crying, I choose laughter. Sure I know it's serious, but honestly, one mis-dose isn't going to cause a huge problem. Is it?

Even Vinny had to chime in, "Just stop talking. Gio's going to hear you. It's not a big deal. Is it?"

Wanting to help, I say, "Just call the doctor. She can tell you what to do."

And he did, thank goodness.

"Don't worry about it another minute," says the UCSF Doc. "Just skip the 8 o'clock dose of Cipro tonight. And wait an hour to give him the FlaJill."

"So I didn't royally mess up?" asks Hubby.

"Not at all," assures the UCSF Doc.

Phew. Poor Hubby. As if he isn't under enough stress without adding misdosage to his list. And I don't help by laughing at his mishap. But, I'm sure it's better than both of us FREAKING OUT.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Rollercoaster of Love Red Hot Chilli Peppers

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So I have to say today was going really well. Until about 4 o'clock.

"I don't feel good," says Vinny.

"What do you mean, 'don't feel good?'" I ask.

"I NEED a bucket!" Vinny shouts.

Oh that kind of I don't feel good. Now I get it, barf doesn't really beat around the bush, now does it?

I started massaging Vinny's feet, and especially working on acupressure points specifically for nausea. We were facing an impending 5 o'clock dose of antibiotics, an empty stomach was not going to cut the it. I had to get some food in him, asap.

If there's one thing I've learned in all of this is, Do Not dose Vinny on an empty stomach. Two or three bites of bread helps the medicine go down, the medicine go down.

Vinny successfully ate enough food over an hour to take his 5 o'clock antibiotics. And it's already been over an hour since he took the medicine, so we're in the clear, phew! Hubby and I both agree, the vomit was probably due to the probiotics we gave Vinny this afternoon.

Don't worry we won't give him anymore, since they aren't critical to getting rid of the abscess.

And as I'm writing this, Hubby pokes his head in from the garage and yells, "We have overflow!"

"Okay," I say, acknowledging his reality, but offering no help whatsoever.

By the way, he's referring to the sink, the washing machine drains into, oh joy. I'm too tired to really care about plumbing problems at this point. I'm just going to sit back, tighten my seat belt, and hold on until this roller coaster ride is finished.

I was going to curse Mercury Retrograde in my next sentence, but Goddess knows I wouldn't want to tick whoever is in charge of this astrological menace, even more. So I am just going to surrender to the madness. What other choice do I have?

"Bless you," I say to Vinny. "Bless you."

Oh no, Vinny just sneezed twice. Code dREaD. Code dREaD, Code dREaD.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Laughing Parrot

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No real changes for Vinny today, except I have noticed he's teasing his brother a bit, so he must be feeling better. I do think his nausea has improved due to spacing the first two doses of antibiotics two hours apart, instead of one.

Nay Nay kitty is hanging in there. Her tongue isn't fully functioning so we are helping her eat, by piling up her food, so she can bite it. I think she's going to need sub cutaneous fluids soon, too, as I haven't see her drink any water.

I would like to thank everyone who has been sending us good vibes, prayers, text messages, emails, and phone calls. It's nice to know folks are thinking about us. Actually it's more than nice it makes me smile. :) See?

Anyways, I need a good laugh so I'm posting a video, my friend sent me, of herself and a parrot, whom she came across randomly in a parking lot. It makes me laugh especially the last few seconds when the parrot imitates her breathe in laugh, "Huh!"

They say laughter is the best medicine, and based on the way I feel, exhausted, I'm going to need a lot of it.

"Hehe, hehe, hehe, snort, hehe, hehe."

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

I Wanna Be Sedated

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The soundtrack to my life.

Well, life it turns out, is not getting easier. Vinny's not getting worse, but the nausea still rears its ugly head, especially in the morning. He had more dry heaves when he got up this morning around 9:30ish, but he didn't vomit. Yay!

He's probably more nauseous in the morning because the first two doses of antibiotics are only one hour apart. Tomorrow I will try moving his first dose from 7a.m. to 6 a.m., hopefully it will help.

Also, he's not eating as well as he did yesterday, so that's a bit disappointing considering how much he ate yesterday. I guess he was stocking up. Funny, though, because squirrel doesn't run on either side of our family. On a positive note, his water in take is great, and that's a huge relief.

We're making him get up and walk around every 15-30 minutes, except after he takes his antibiotics in which case we strap him to the sofa so he can't move. Just kidding, but it's probably a good thing the sofa doesn't have straps.

And now onto the sad news of the day. Throughout some of Vinny's appendicitis saga, our beloved kitty, Nay Nay, hasn't been well. Her third eyelid has been up since December 10th. We washed it out and have been applying warm compresses to her eye. There hasn't been any discharge. Then yesterday we noticed her tongue hangs out, and to the side, when she meows.

My friend, who's a vet, stopped by to give her a look yesterday.

"She's dehydrated," says BFF Vet. "She needs a full blood workup to see what's going on......"

Around 11 a.m. today, Stefan took Nay Nay to our vet. He hadn't been there long when the home phone rang.

"How's Vinny?" Stefan asks, in a far too somber tone.

"He's fine," I answer to give him some relief. "What's wrong with Nay? It's not good is it?"

"No, it seems like she has a tumor under her tongue," answers Stefan. "It's pretty nasty. It looks like cauliflower, and it's about the size of the end of my index finger."

"I knew it!" I shriek, and then break into sobbing tears for the next five minutes.

I knew something was wrong with her, especially when her breath suddenly became horrid overnight, about two or three months ago. Sick breath pretty much means your sick whether you're a human or a cat. I changed her diet at the end of summer, and I was conveniently blaming her sick breath on her fishy morsels. Obviously, I was in denial. Also, she's lost some weight, which I also attributed to the food change.

The good news is she isn't in pain, or hiding out. She's hanging out with all of us, and especially Vinny. The vet says as long as she isn't in any pain, she's fine. We just need to keep an eye on her. Eventually she may not be able to eat and drink. Ugh.

Stefan came home with IV fluids for Nay Nay, in case she gets dehydrated, and he knows how to use them. I'm impressed! Between Vinny and Nay Nay the man is going to have some sort of hybrid medical degree.

There is a chance Nay Nay has a bad infection, so the vet is treating her with antibiotics, just in case. And that's what I'm voting for because cancer sucks.

However, when I spoke to my BFF Vet and she agreed with our Vet's diagnosis.

"I feel bad," I say. "We should have taken her in sooner."

"It wouldn't matter, with this type of cancer there's nothing you can do," comforts BFF Vet. "No matter what you do the outcome will be the same."

In the meantime, we are all going to enjoy our time left with Nay Nay, the most perfect kitty ever. And who knows maybe with some prayers she'll make a miraculous recovery.

Monday, December 20, 2010

"Abscess Boot Camp!"

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Meet my new best friend, Zofran.
Vinny's medicine for the medicine.


No fever. No pain. No vomit. That's all good, right? Yes, it is.

But Vinny's been very nauseated from the antibiotics so many days it's making me cry. This morning he had the dry heaves when he got up just to go to the bathroom. The nausea is most severe when he moves.

As a result of the motion sickness, Vinny didn't move much yesterday. That's not great for his healing. The body needs skeletal muscle movement to pump the lymphatic fluid, a component of the immune system, through his body. Without movement the body stagnates. Think mucky pond water.

So when I got a text from Super Ped this morning saying:



"Today, is a good day for movement! Stretches, standing up, walking around....let's start the real recovery! Abscess boot camp! Small movements around the house every hour---complaints not listened to (unless it is really painful--and then, call me!!!!!!!"


I was worried. Oh well, I guess he'll be walking around with "the bucket," between doses of antibiotics.

First he started walking from one end of the house to the other every hour . But he's progressed to getting up and moving every 30 minutes. He seems to be feeling better, and by better I mean he's not screaming, "I need the bucket!"

YAY!!!!! Once again, Super Ped saves the day!

We are still very careful to make him lie still with no food or water, for one hour after he takes his antibiotics. An hour should be enough time for his stomach to absorb the medicine. The last thing we want is him barfing up doses of the bug killers, though the entire Internet knows I'm not afraid to get a little vomit under my finger nails.

We need to make it to December 29th, the date of Bloody Bill's hopeful departure. And at this rate I see we can make it. Yes, I see we can, I see we can, I see we can.

Who knew a train could be so inspiring?

Thanks for all the messages and cards. They really do help. And please keep the prayers coming. Angels are real, both Heavenly and Earthly varieties.

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Super Ped

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Last night went well. Today so far, so good. Hubby got up at 6 a.m. to give Vinny his anti-nausea medicine. Then I got up at 7 a.m. fed Vinny a few bites of sourdough bread and gave him his first anti-biotic, Flagyl, hidden in a snowball of lemon sorbet.

Yesterday, I felt so strongly we were on our way to the hospital that I packed our bags. This is an extreme reaction for me. But thanks to our pediatrician, who I will forever more refer to as Super Ped, we are still home.

On one of her multiple check in-s yesterday, on her day off, she advised us to give Vinny the anti-nausea medicine. I had a call in to the pediatric surgeon but she was in surgery and didn't get back to us for over an hour.

Her timing was perfect, as is typical for super heroes. She stopped the vomiting just in time to keep us from going to the Emergency Room in San Francisco! Pretty heroic in my book.

Now that Vinny's up, he's still having nausea, and asking for "the bucket," but no vomit. His 11 a.m. dose went well, too. Phew.

Our job today is to get him hydrated, in between doses of antibiotics. The last thing we want is him throwing up his meds. If he starts missing doses of medication the bacteria could get stronger.

Keep praying, please. It helps us so much. All the support, kind thoughts and words is what's getting us through difficult time.

We aren't out of the woods, yet. I can't quite tell from here, but I believe I see a light at the end of the tunnel.

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Saturday Evening Vinny Update

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So far the antinausea medicine we gave Vinny at 4 p.m. is still working. No vomit. Yay! He took his 8 p.m. antibiotic without incident. Another yay! And he got fluids and food before hand. Also, he has no fever or pain, so those are both pluses.

We have one more dose of antibiotics to go at 10 p.m.

I am hoping for the best, but prepared for whatever may come next. As Vinny would say, "Aye, yi, yi."

This Too Shall Pass

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"This too shall pass," I chant in my head. "This too shall pass. This too shall pass.........."

I keep telling this to myself, and right now I hope it's true. Vinny has already vomitted three times today. With vomitting comes the worry of dehydration, and the concern that he won't be able to absorb the antibiotics completely, if he keeps them down in the first place.

I spoke to the pediatric surgeon, "if he vomits one or two more times, you need to come to the ER to get him evaluated."

By ER, she means the ER in San Francisco, which is two hours away. Ugh. I've already started packing my bags.

We did give him anti-nausea medicine around 4 p.m. And he took his 5 o'clock antibiotic. So far no vomitting. But he hasn't ingested any water since then either because we don't want him to throw up his antibiotics.

Please pray. Thanks.

Friday, December 17, 2010

How To Get Kids To Swallow Pills

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A spoonful of icing helps the medicine go down.
The medicine go down.


It's good to be home! I think?

We all slept great. No one came in and turned on the lights to take Vinny's temperature or dispense intravenous antibiotics. There were no babies wailing in pain, or suffering, sick children.

But then we woke up to our ongoing medical reality.

"It's 7:30," I say. "We're late on the antibiotics."

"Rrrrrrrriiiiiing! blares my Emergency Response Nervous System. "Let's bring this baby up a few levels. Ready, set and release the adrenaline!"

A totally inappropriate response in my opinion. We're talking pill swallowing here Internet. It isn't as if I'm being chased down by a hungry lion. My nervous system needs an upgrade. Or a massage.

At 7:30 I made the mistake of dosing Vinny with his first antibiotic, he's taking two, on an empty stomach, because I was in a hurry. That won't happen again.

"I feel nauseous," says Vinny. "I think I'm going to throw up."

"Nooooooo," I say. "You can't throw up, you still have an abscess. No throwing up, unless you want to end up back in the hospital."

And that worked, he didn't vomit. That time.

I wait 15 minutes then ask Vinny, "What do you want for breakfast?"

"I don't feel good," says Vinny. "I don't want to eat."

Those are the last words any parent wants to hear out of their kid's mouth the day after being discharged from the hospital. If I never step foot into another hospital, it would be too soon.

"I'll make some toast," I say. "It will make you feel better."

He ate and kept down the toast. He seemed fine. At 8:00 a.m. it was time to give him Cipro, the second antibiotic, which he only takes twice a day. The other antibiotic, Flagyl, has to be taken four times a day. That's a lot of pill swallowing in most people's books, especially a 9-year-old's.

I thought I'd make it easier for him by cutting the pill in half. Wrong.

He swallowed both halves. Shortly thereafter the trouble began, and by trouble, I mean vomiting.

Thinking quickly, I scan the vomit and see both halves of the pill, somehow they ended up attached to each other, though they were swallowed at different times. Weird, I never thought of vomit as being organized. Like attracts like, I suppose.

Swiftly, but gently I reach in and scoop out the reunited lovers with my fingers.

Then I delicately rinse the barf juice off the squishy pill halves. Wow, stomach acid is fast-acting! Those babies were hard as a rock when Vinny swallowed them.

I mixed the antibiotics up in soy milk, which by the way Cipro should not be taken with dairy OR calcium fortified drinks. Too late.

"It tastes terrible!" shouts Vinny. "I can't drink it."

"You have to," I say.

"I can't," he says.

We went round and round like this for five minutes, but eventually he drank it down. At this point I was ready to order an IV machine and hook him up to it myself.

With the help of our Angelic Pediatrician we came up with a cheaper, less barbaric solution, though I doubt her advice came from anything she learned in med school. But who knows, maybe?




"A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, the medicine go down, the medicine go down," sings The Pediatrician. "Give him the pill in apple sauce or honey."

Vinny doesn't like apple sauce. I had honey in the cupboard. Hubby went to the store, and picked up squeezable chocolate icing, in case the honey wasn't palatable.

At 11 a.m. it was time to take the day's second dose of Flagyl. After Vinny ate a pancake, I put some chocolate icing on a spoon, next the pill, then smothered it in more chocolate icing.

"Okay, are you ready to swallow it?" I ask.

"No, no, no," says Vinny. "I'm not ready. I don't think I can do it."

"Yes you can," I say. "If you don't want to end up back in the hospital, you will. Come on, just swallow it."

And he did. Phew.

The 5 o'clock medicine dispensal didn't go as well.

"No, I'm not taking it," refuses Vinny.

Eventually he did, but if things keep going this way, December 29, the date of Bloody Bill's hopeful departure, won't come soon enough.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Going Home!

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Long story short. We. Are. Going. Home!  ........ with the JP drain aka, Bloody Bill,  of course.  

"I have to empty it?!" shrieks Vinny.

"No, I'll do it for you," I say.

"Mommy, I love you," says Vinny.

Yep, he's going to owe me big time. I'll take my payment in good behavior.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Vinny Update

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Thanks everyone for the prayers, kind thoughts and pictures. I feel like I'm on a rollercoaster ride. Up. Doooooooown. Up. Doooooooown.

Vinny has made some good progress today. His pain has gone from a seven to a four, thanks to a couple of doses of Tylenol. Phew. The insertion site of the JP Drain was checked and it looks free of infection. Yay!

His fever is down. They checked his urine and it's clear. Boooyah! He's walking around a bit. He's still fighting the absess, we need it to drain baby drain.

More Prayers Please

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It's easy for me to be in the moment when I am surfing, or just hanging out at home with mi familia. Yes. It. Is.

But right now, in the hospital, where we still don't know if Vinny's making progress because the drain takes time to drain, not so much. He's in more pain today, which is a huge concern because that may indicate a secondary infection.

And I am at the point, where, when I think of Gio, I start crying. I know he's being well taken care of, but the separation anxiety is really getting to me. I'm so sad that I'm going to miss his first Christmas Program tonight. Ugh.

I guess I am expecting this to get easier. But it isn't. If anything it's getting harder.

We need more prayers, please. They really do help us. We can feel the love. I've been reading all of them to Vinny. He is deeply touched by all your kind thoughts and prayers.

Picture messages would be much appreciated. Email me if you need my cell, or just email them to me, please. Thanks!

Breathing in, one, two, three, four..........

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

JP Drain

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I want to give everyone an update on Vinny. He's still having pain when he moves, but he's laughing and joking, so his spirits are coming up. Yay!!!!!!

Vinny walked around today, and he's eating more and more each meal. The doctor took him off IV fluids this afternoon.

He is running a fever around 100 degrees. Without Tylenol, it would be even higher. I don't feel like we're out of the woods yet, but I hope we're close.

He needs to be fever free for 24 hours before we can leave the hospital. Honestly, we don't want to leave the hospital prematurely, only to end up back here again, except to get the drain taken out.


JP Drain, or just "The Drain"

Speaking of the drain, it will be coming home with us, as an unwanted, but necessary appendage.

"I don't want to see it!" says Vinny. "It's disgusting."

"I'm sure no one does, but it will suck out the rest of the infection," I say. "Don't look at it."

"Ahhhhhh!" exclaims Vinny. "There it is! Hide it!"

Monday, December 13, 2010

Vinny Update

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At 11:00 p.m. last night Vinny and I were transported from our local ER, via ambulance to University of California, San Francisco Children's Hospital.

There's an absess at the surgical site, and that thing is gynormous. So not yay. Anyways, it has to be drained. Oh my word.



We are waiting for the drain to be put in, basically it will be done by a Pediatric Interventionist Radiologist using, either, ultrasound or CT scan as their surgical GPS. We are praying for the ultrasound navigation system, as it is sans radiation. We will see.

We are hoping, wishing and praying this all happens this morning, since Vinny hasn't eaten since 11 a.m. yesterday.

His pain is fairly low, "about a three," says Vinny. Thank you everyone for all your thoughts, prayers, love and help. As my friend says, "it takes a village."

Gio is being well taken care of by ANGELS, and is having the time of his life, I'm sure. It's a relief to know so many people are looking after him. Such. A. Relief. Thanks be to Angels. But we miss him.

Keep praying please. Thank you <3

Sunday, December 12, 2010

ER Again

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Anybody need me to pick something up for them at the hospital? Looks like we'll be spending the night. Please send prayers.

Saturday, December 11, 2010

All I Want For Christmas

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All I want for Christmas is a healthy, happy family. Also, a lower health insurance deductible would be nice, too.

Internet, both boys had fevers last night and are sick with something. Gio has the barking seal bug. Vinny has the fever and exhausted feeling bug.

Oh my goodness, just when Vinny was recovering from appendicitis, this happens. Speaking of recovering, I'm still speechless from the hospital bill, 27,000 plus dollars. We were barely there for seven hours.

Good thing for insurance. Bad thing for deductibles. Oh well, I guess the kitchen remodel will have to wait a bit longer.

It isn't as if I'm not going to die from looking at pink formica counter tops. And they only bother me on days I don't surf. I just need to surf MORE.

Let's not even talk about the roof.

Roof? What roof?


Overall, what really matters is our health. I hope the boys are well soon, and their wellness doesn't involve any more hospital visits.

Friday, December 10, 2010

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals Paris

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"Who's that?" asks Vinny.

"Grace Potter and the Nocturnals," I answer, in my best Professor McGonagal voice.

"Well, she has nothing to do with Harry Potter," states Vinny. "Do you really like her?"

"Yeah, I love this song," I say. "Oooh la la la la lala," I sing.

"She screams a lot," says Vinny. "And she's kind of intimidating."

"Uh, huh," I say.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Salt Water Therapy

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I completed my first, of many scheduled daily sessions of Salt Water Therapy, since Vinny's return to school, today. I'm sure it's going to be a long, wet road to my recovery, but I'm fully committed to my healing.

In fact, I can't believe how much better I feel after just one treatment.

I water-logged three hours, and barely got out in time to get Vinny to his post-op visit with the surgeon.

Bad surf Mommy, hehehe.

It was hard to get out of the water.

The surgeon was pleased with Vinny's speedy recovery.

"He can be back to his regular activities in five to six days," says The Surgeon.

I'm glad I don't have to wait any longer to be back to mine. Phew.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Harry Potter 7 Part 1

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Vinny Potter

Long story short. Vinny is feeling better. He probably could have gone to school today, but we didn't have an official release from the surgeon. ***We do have one for Thursday and I can't wait to release my stress into the salt water***

Yesterday

"Hey Vinny do you want to go see Harry Potter tomorrow?" I ask.

"Yeah!" he says excited.

Later that same day, Hubby arrives home.

"Vinny, I don't want you playing video games all day tomorrow," lectures Hubby. "I want you to read these," Hubby says, handing him some non-fiction books.

"I won't need those, me and Mom have plans tomorrow!" says Vinny. "We're going to see Harry Potter."

He was really excited. Last night.

Today in the theater was an entirely different story.

"It's too loud!" he shouts over the scary previews. "Let's leave, now."

"Uh, we just got here," I say. "Let's give it a chance."

But he didn't hear me because his hands were glued to his ears.

"These are just previews," I assure him. "I have some earplugs in the car. Let's go get them."

"Okay," says Vinny.

On the way out to get the earplugs I see a movie attendant.

"The movie is way too loud," I say. "My son is ready to leave. I'm running out to my car to grab earplugs."

On our way back into the theater the movie attendant concurs, "it is too loud in there. They're adjusting the volume right now."

Well, by the time Harry Potter started Vinny was pretty revved up, and all I could think was, "MISTAKE, MISTAKE, MISTAKE, MISTAKE."

I put the earplugs in his ears. Thirty seconds later he says, "Here hold these."

"What are they?" I ask.

"Oh, the earplugs," I say, answering my own question.

Ten minutes into the movie he asks, "Is it almost over?"



Ugh.


After a while, he settles down to enjoy the movie. That's when I start in on him.

"Who's that?" I ask.

"What just happened?" I question. "I'm confused."

"Oh my gosh, no, not Doby!" I shriek, grabbing his leg. "That is so sad."

He sat there, patiently explaining all the plot intricacies, careful not to give away too much. Good thing the only other person in the theater was sitting far, far away from us. We must have been pretty annoying, well, I know I was.

"What did you think of the movie?" I ask afterwards.

"It was awesome!" he shouts, forgetting his fright. "But the book is better, and doesn't leave you in suspense, like the movie," Vinny says.

"Well, good thing you read the books (four times) because you already know what happens in the end," I remind him.

"Yeah," he says.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Paramore The Only Expception

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Wow, this performance by Paramore at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, part of VH1 Divas Salute the Troops, brings tears to my eyes. The looks on the troops faces, many who are serving multiple tours, makes me want to bring them home, now.

There are no easy answers. I'm all for the military. I can't imagine the courage it takes to fight for your country.

But couldn't we use the same military to keep peace, educate nations, build infrastructure, thereby, improving the world? There's got to be a better way. Praying for a solution. ()

Monday, December 6, 2010

Hotline 7 mm Internal Split Toe Booties

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I recently picked up two new pairs of surfing booties. Hotline 7mm, internal split toe booties, from Sunshine Freestyle.

Thanks guys!

"You wear 7 mil booties?" remarks every surfer I've ever told. "Why don't you just wear hi-tops?"

"My feet are warm," I say. "How are yours right now? Let me guess. "You can't feel them because they are frozen, right?"

"Yeah," they always answer sheepishly. "But still."

" 'But still,' all you want," I say. "Because I will be surfing stronger and longer."

Now I will always have a dry pair to wear surfing. When neoprene, material wetsuits and booties are made of, is dry, I've noticed I stay warmer, much longer. Wet gear tends to be cold when it's forty something degrees. Just putting on wet gear makes my hands icy and frost bitten, before I even paddle out for some choice waves.

Since it's practically Winter, this will be especially nice.

I love Hotline's redesign of this year's booties, moving the strap from well above the ankle, to the top of the foot. This gives the booty, a high performance feeling, due to the adjustable, snug fit of the arch.

I have never had two brand new pairs of booties before. It's going to be a warm, make that, tolerable, Winter, after all. Especially when my new wetsuit arrives. Yep, a new and newish wetsuit are just what I need. Woot! :)

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Good Advice

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As much as I love surfing, which is a ton and then some, it's hard leaving my family to surf. The easiest days for me to surf are when they are all at school.

I prefer they go with me to the beach, on their days off, but they aren't dedicated like me, so I am usually forced to go without them. Today was especially hard to leave, with Vinny being on the mend and all.

"I really don't feel like surfing," I say. "I don't want to leave you."

"You should go," encourages Vinny. "You'll feel better."

He was right. I do.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Getting Well

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A get well card from Vinny's friends at school.

Last night.

"Why is this happening to me?" asks Vinny. "I feel terrible."

"The doctor says you'll feel better tomorrow," I say, trying not to let my voice crack.

"Yeah, right," he says hopelessly.

Today

"Hey, I feel so much better," revels Vinny. "I can walk by myself!"

"I told you the doctor said you'd be better today," I remind him.

"Yeah, she's awesome!" rejoices Vinny.

Friday, December 3, 2010

Emergency Laparoscopic Appendectomy

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Unfortunately, two nights ago Vinny was not keeping more than two sips of water down.

Our pediatrician prescribed an anti-nausea medicine. We gave him a dose that night, and one yesterday at 6 a. m. He didn't vomit after that, but his pain was worse. And the pain had moved from his navel area down to to the lower right region of his abdomen .

The exact area where the pediatrician said to "call immediately" if the pain moved there.

I rang her cell, "Make him get up and go pee, and before that, have him jump up and down," she instructs.

"Vinny get up, " I say. "I need you to jump up and down."

"I can't," says Vinny.

I put the pediatrician on speaker phone, and somehow, magically, he listened to her. Must have been her Pediatric Super Powers.

"Ow," he shouts. "It hurts!"

He hardly jumped. In fact, his feet barely left the ground.

"You need to get him to the emergency room," orders The Pediatrician.

And she was right. An ultrasound was performed in ER and the ER Doc swiftly recommended, "a laparoscopic appendectomy, " based on the fact, the imaging showed a fecalith, hard stone of fecal matter, in the appendix. And by fecal matter, I mean, there was rock poo creating a blockage in Vinny's appendix. Another important note is, a fecalith can lead to appendicitis.

"Or you could do a CT scan?" offers the Emergency Room Doctor. "But that's a lot of radiation, when it seems obvious he needs his appendix taken out."

Easy for him to say. I felt light headed and flushed when I heard the ER doc's words of an impending surgery.

"Put your head between your legs," commands The Nurse. "You'll feel better."

Once I recover from Surgical News Today I ask, "He had a CT scan of his appendix about a year ago, could you please look at that, again?"

After a bit of haggling the ER doc agreed. And by haggling, I mean I had to nicely ask him to look at the previous CT scan three times.

"The scan, in June of 2009, showed a fecalith, as well, " says ER Doc coming back into the room ten minutes later.

Aha!

Though at that time, the ER Doc (a different one) told us his scan was normal and Vinny was good to go. To suddenly learn our son was most likely having recurring Appendicitis was all we needed to make the decision for surgery. Especially since, this episode was by far, the most severe and painful for Vinny.

The docs all thought, based on the CT scan, this was not the first time Vinny had grappled with Appendicitis, and he would likely have more recurring bouts.

His pediatrician, who joined us at the hospital, bless her heart, felt it was, "text book appendicitis." And the surgeon agreed with her, "I don't care what the ultrasound says, he has appendicitis."

Once inside Vinny's abdomen, during the operations, their suspicions were confirmed.

"It was acute appendicitis," says the surgeon post surgery. "There was an abscess.

The surgeon also said he discovered scar tissue on the appendix, indicating a prior Appendicitis episode.

Mind boggling.

Phew, we made the right decision. And we could not have done that without the constant support guidance, and hand holding of Vinny's pediatrician. She explained everything that was going to happen to Vinny in terms that he, and we, could understand. Thank goodness for angels.

Overall, we had an awesome team beginning with our pediatrician, to the ER doc to the nurses, to the surgeon.

And we have an awesome son. He was amazing through the whole thing. They poked him four times to get his IV in because he was dehydrated, and not once did he flinch. I'm not sure how he handled it. I would have been crying, at the very least.

The only indication Vinny ever gave of discomfort was anytime a nurse or doctor touched his abdomen, his eyes grew big as saucers. Though when asked his level of pain from one to ten his answer was, "nine."

And prior to going in for the actual surgery he said he was, "a bit nervous."

To which his Pediatrician comforted him with some wise words, "It's normal to be nervous, but your doctors are not."

He must get his bravery from his Dad. I'm not that brave, especially when it comes to hospitals.

Today: Post Appendectomy:

He's doing well today. He's eaten a piece of bread, some bites of rice and turkey. He's drinking water and he's drank some broth and Pedialyte.

However, he can't move without a lot of pain. He scoots along slowly, like a little old man, with my assistance, only getting up to go to the restroom.

"This is the worst day of my life," Vinny says.

"Shiza," he moans, when I move too fast.

"I'm going to let that slide, since you're feeling miserable," I say.

Seems like the pain is punishment enough. After all, he isn't just my son, he's human.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Ditto

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I'm so ready for bed.

Oh my goodness!  What a day!  A day I would have never gotten through without serious drugs,  er,  I mean my friends. Thank you!  Friends are like drugs,  though,  cause they make you feel better.

Short story.   Vinny ended up needing an emergency lapriscopic  appendectomy,  and thank goddess his pediatrician recognized it as such, sending us to ER right away this morning.

I am too tired to explain all the details tonight,  but I will say,  he is recuperating happily at home (already) with his Nintendo DS,  though he's pretty sore and needs assistance getting in and out of bed.

And now I'm going to bed.   More tomorrow, I promise.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Dairy Overdose

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This is what it looks like when Vinny overdoses on dairy.

"You ate how many croissants?!" asks Hubby.

"Three," moans Vinny.

"Do you know how much butter is in croissants?" says Hubby, directing his lecture at me. "They're practically all butter."

I have a strong feeling Vinny's not going to eat another croissant for a very, very long time. Poor little guy. Sadly, he gets his lactose intolerance from me.


Then Hubby turns his full attention on me, practically blinding me with his scrutinzing interrogation lamps.

"What did he eat for dinner last night?" Hubby asks.

Uh oh.


"Chicken and french fries," I say softly, hoping he won't hear me.

"Greasy French fries!" exclaims Hubby.

"I didn't get them from Burger King, which is where YOU would have gotten them from," I say. "I baked them in the oven. They weren't greasy."

Right after I peeled them by hand. Not really. But I think Ore-Ida did? Maybe. Besides, I was single parenting last night because YOU were at a meeting. Thanks for going!

I needed something easy. The French fries didn't make me sick, and Lourdes knows everything else does, so they couldn't have been that bad. It wasn't like I knew he was going to get sick at 3 a.m. And by the way, thanks for getting up with him five times. You. Are. The. Best. Husband. I. Ever. Had.



Looks like it's going to be a day of no surfing for me, and of sipping water for Vinny. One sip every 15 minutes, increasing by a sip, if he keeps the last sip down.

And the sipping plan was working fine until Vin Vin got up to three sips of water.


"Wretch!" coughs Vinny.

Back to one sip. I'm glad I surfed three hours yesterday. I thought I was being overindulgent. But I was just making up for today. Turns out, I'm a much better nurse when I'm surfed out.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Blessed

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I may not have all the riches in the world. But I feel blessed, that on my way home, upon seeing there's going to be an amazing sunset, I can be at the beach in minutes, soaking up heaven's awe inspiring canvas. Now if I could just remember my camera.

Monday, November 29, 2010

Doodling

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I haven't surfed in four days! So I've pretty much been sitting around doodling my wet dreams.

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Skating Party

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It wasn't that I didn't want to take Gio to his first ever roller skating party, at the same rink I skated in, as a kid. No. The problem was, his party would interfere with my ability to sit on the couch, in my pajamas, all day long.

However, guilt got the better part of me, and off to the shower I marched, to get ready for the par-tay. Since Gio had no previous roller skating experience, I assumed the party would be a complete disaster.

We arrived 30 minutes late, about the time, it seemed everyone else showed up, too. Yay! I'm not the only one who follows the rule, "arrive late, leave early," for kid parties.

When we walked into the rink, we were immediately instructed to, "go get skates in the back."

As I laced up his skates, Gio confidently sang, "this is going to be so easy."

"Don't worry kid, I'll peel you up off the floor, when you fall down," I thought to myself.

I offer to hold his hand as we walk over to the practice area, but he insists, "I can do it myself!"

And he could, but we were still on the carpet.

He agreed to hold my hand when we got to the practice area, but only for a three or four passes.

He wasn't exactly gliding on the skates. However, he was happy clunking along the hardwood floor, and therefore, so was I.

At the end of the day he joyously claimed, "I only fell ten times!"

He wasn't bothered one bit by any of the wipe outs, though, on one occasion, he asked, "did you bring my knee pads?"




I, on the other hand, was tormented by the noise. The mobs of happy people, and the mysterious smoke.

"They must be burning frozen pizzas in those toaster ovens," I thought to myself.


"Why is this place so smoky?" I ask another Mom.

"Smoke?" The Mom asks confused. "No, they don't allow smoking here."

"Don't you see the smoke," I say, wondering why she thinks I'm talking about cigarrette smoke?

"Yes............I see it, but I don't smell smoke," The Mom says.

"Well, you probably don't smell smoke because you've gotten used to it," I say.

"Used to it?" The Mom asks perplexed. "Nobody smokes at home."

Again, with the cigarette smoke? I'm talking about toaster oven kitchen smoke, lady. Maybe she's a closet smoker, the way she keeps going back to cigarrettes.


"No, I mean used to smelling smoke, here, for the last 30 minutes," I clarify.

"Oh right," The Mom says and walks away.

"Hmmmm, maybe it isn't smoke, afterall. "Maybe it's mist!"


"Do you think they have a mist machine here?" I ask a Dad feebily.

"Chaaaa, yeah," he says, in the cool sea turtle voice from Finding Nemo.



Upon hearing his words, I could breathe better. My smoke inhalation headache was gone in a flash of, er, mist. I quit fretting over how I would remove the smoke smell from my favorite purple jacket.

"Mom, can we go back to the skating rink tomorrow?" Gio asks.

"Oh no," I say.

Even guilt can't make me do that two days in a row.

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Hershey's Chocolate Syrup

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"It's yucky!" shouts Gio, from the kitchen.

"Just eat it," says Hubby.

I was eavesdropping from my bathroom hideout. I didn't have to be in the room to know it was time to intervene.

"You tried to give him Silk Soy Nog with his cereal?" I ask walking into the kitchen. "Gross."

"We're out of regular soy milk," explains Hubby.

"Well, I hope you warned him before you gave him soy nog, in his cereal," I say.

"I told him, and that's probably why he wouldn't eat it," Hubby theorizes.

"Oh trust me, he would have known," I say.

But while we were "discussing" the issue, Gio was rummaging through the fridge, searching for an alternative solution.

"Look!" exclaims Gio, licking his lips. "I can have Hersheys with my cereal!"

Friday, November 26, 2010

Confessions Of A Shopaholic

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Now on DVD and Netflix Instant Viewing.

Me, laughing out loud.

"Hey what are you watching?" asks Hubby.

"Confessions of a Shopaholic," I say
"It looks funny," says Hubby.

"It is," I say.

"Well, how come we aren't watching it together?" he asks.

"I don't know," I say. "You looked busy?"

"Wait a second," he hesitates. "Are they shopping?

"Yes," I say, hoping to get rid of my interruption.

"Never mind," he says.

Whatever. It isn't as if I like shopping.

But I'd give it four out of five surfboards for it's humorous slapstick comedy.

The movie is adapted from the Shopaholic book series by Sophie Kinsella, which I haven't read. The leading lady, Isla Fisher, is charming and physically comical in a Lucille Ball kind of way. A light movie, that is laugh out loud funny, who can go wrong with that? Probably, not even the most macho anti-shoppers.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving!

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A perfect song, Thankful, by Mary Mary, for the holiday. Music is the meditation.


Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

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I'm so glad I don't live in place where it gets really cold because I'm
f-f-f-frezing! I don't think the temperature made it past 50 degrees today, which on paper isn't terribly cold, right?

Surfing wasn't too bad, until I got out of the water. In fact, I kept paddling back out to catch "one more wave," just to avoid the cold while changing out of my wetsuit, into clothes. When the water is in the low 50s, yet feels warmer than the air, I know I'm in hypothermic trouble.

"Is it cold out there?" asks a tourist as I get to my car, dripping wet, hands burning from the cold air.

"Not as cold as it is up here," I answer, through chattering teeth.

"Well, I know it's got to be colder out there," she says to me in disbelief.

"Sure lady," I say to myself.

There wasn't any point in arguing with her, since it wasn't going to make me any warmer.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Lucky Custard

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Some lucky surfer has the surf and sunrise all to himself. Until I paddle out, anyways. Good thing I know how to take turns.

Monday, November 22, 2010

T-Shirt War by Rhett and Link

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"Blah, blah, blah," says Hubby.

"Uh, huh," I say.

"Well, don't you think it's true?" asks Hubby.

"Yeah, I'm not really listening to you because I'm trying to come up with a blog," I say.

"You should post a Rhett and Link video," suggests Hubby.

"Yeah, but if I post their video then I'm going to have to write about how you have a man crush on them," I warn.

"That's okay, they're video mastermind geniuses!" shouts Hubby.

"Wow, you really do have a man crush on them," I say.

"They even have Rhett and Link shoes that you can buy," says Hubby. "I'm gonna buy a pair."

"Uh, huh," I say.

"Have you seen their latest and greatest pillow video?" says Hubby star struck. "Doo, do you remember back in middle school......" sings Hubby.

"Wait a second, you know the words to their song?" I ask incredulous.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

The Bad Girl

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The Bad Girl by Peruvian author Mario Vargas Llosa is a saucy, dysfunctional love story. And honestly, who doesn't love that, especially when it involves someone else's life?

The book starts out in the 60s and spans through the 80s of and on-and-off love affair between the saint-like good boy and the materialistic bad girl, taking place in Peru, Spain, but mainly in Paris.

The novel more than makes up for it's heady Peruvian revolutionary ideas with plenty of sensual love scenes. Though Ricardo, who provides the narrative, goes through a roller coaster ride with the bad girl over decades of her literally cuming and going, I found the story touching and endearing.

Apparently, The Bad Girl, has a similar storyline to Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert, which I just download for FREE from Amazon on my kindle app for droid. I am going to read it, to see if The Bad Girl is a blatant rip off of the 1856 novel. The book was considered obscene at the time it came out, so who knows, I may even enjoy it.

While the relationship between Ricardito and the Bad Girl is one, I would never want to be in myself, I highly enjoyed reading about their cyclical attractions and repulsions, which are akin to what it must be like to split an atom.

I found myself talking to the Bad Girl, "Noooooo, don't leeeeeeeeeave. Why can't you be happy with a nice guy? That gangster is just going to make you his sex slave."

But, alas, she never listened to me.

My heart ached and I shed tears for the ever loyal Ricardito, who was the Bad Girl's personal yo-yo. Ricardo never knew what to expect next from the Bad Girl, who reinvented herself, more times than Madonna.

While the Bad Girl is oh so bad, she is likeable, not unlike a stray animal who longs for connection, yet never gets close enough to be touched. She has many redeeming qualities, in and out of the bedroom, though her free spirit causes her to take flight and not necesarily to greener pastures.

Oh Bad Girl, why you gotta be so bad?

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Jennifer Nettles Surprises Fan

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My friend sent me a text last night:

Jennifer was on the Nate Berkus Show today.


Then I googled, "Jennifer Nettles Nate Berkus watch."

At first I was disappointed with the results, "Jennifer Nettles surprises fan."

"That's not very exciting," I thought to myself.

But being the exceptionally open minded person I am, I watched the video anyways. To my surprise the clip was touching, sweet and it brought tears to my eyes. I love it when people are nice.

Nate Berkus is such a cutie. And by now, I believe everyone knows how I feel about Little Miss Nettles, who is shockingly taller than Nate.

Friday, November 19, 2010

Carry On My Wayward Son Kansas

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Gio and I are singing along to "Carry On My Wayward, Son."

"Don't you cry, don't you cry no moooooore," we sing.

Then Gio gets creative and starts ad libbing his own lyrics, which, unfortunately, were autobiographical only five minutes before.

"Don't you cry no more, like I was," sings Gio.

Isn't that the great thing about kids? One minute, they're driving us crazy, and the next minute they're cracking us up, which I'm sure accounts for the survival of our species.
 
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