That's Better

Hannah is doing really well now!  Sleeping well, eating better, and best of all, no fever!  I spent the day checking her yesterday with our new ear thermometer.  It never got over 99.1, which isn't actually a fever.  Especially not when you've just woken up.  She was off the couch most of the day, playing and coloring.  And boy those two girls could not have been happier that I had to go to work and Heather, Kayla, and Amanda were all here to amuse them. 

So hopefully this weekend will be more fun for her.  Yes christmas was great, but she's really been unable to play with any of her new things.  Hopefully now they can get some playing in, after they clean the playroom that is.

The Big P

Yesterday I took Hannah's temp, and it registered at 104.5 on my oral thermometer.  So we called the pedi and back we went.  I also took the thermometer to see exactly how accurate it is, which apparently it's reading 1.5 degrees too high, but still 103 is worrisome when you're on day 4.  Her doctor is wonderful and I'm glad that she's so helpful.  She sent us to the lab for bloodwork, and then had us wait for the results.  It came back with an elevated white blood cell count, and she was suspecting pneumonia.  So we were sent to the hospital for a chest xray, but she said to treat it as pneumonia and she called in the antibiotics before we even left.  Then we headed down to the hospital, and after a very short wait, were called in for a fast xray.  Now I'm no doctor, but the tech had me wait in the little room where it's "safe" from radiation, and I saw the pictures come up on the screen.  Even I saw the spot on her lung that's not supposed to be there.

So her doctor called me a few minutes after we got home to confirm the diagnosis.  And after one dose of the antibiotics, her fever was down and she was noticeably more like herself.  It's very encouraging!

Fever's still here

At this point it's been three days and I feel like it's never going away.  In the afternoon when it spikes up high, I always get worried because she gets pale and sad and tired, and basically doesn't move.  It goes away as soon as the ibuprofen kicks in, whenever she's ready to have it again.  I'm worried that this isn't the end of it, that it's going to last forever.  She's hardly eating, which isn't like her at all.  She ate less than a pancake for breakfast, almost nothing for lunch, no snack, and hardly any of her dinner.  Seriously, that's nothing... and according to the pediatricians scale, she's losing weight.  She was 43lbs yesterday.  I swear she was more than that at her last appointment.  At least she's drinking water.  She had a bunch of cups with ice today, so I at least can't complain about that.  I feel totally helpless.  There's nothing I can do for her except keep treating the fever.  And she's more than done with taking all the meds. 

On a brighter note, her pediatrician was scheduled to see her yesterday to talk about her asthma, and she changed her medicine.  So she's now taking singulair and flovent.  If the combination of the two don't help, the next step is a pediatric pulmonologist.  So now she goes back to be seen again at the end of next month.

Some sick scares me

Hannah's sick a lot.  Run of the mill colds, coughing, and endless snot.  I can manage that, it's annoying that it happens so much, but I can deal with it.  This morning Hannah woke up crying.  She's never done that, even when she was tiny, she always woke up coughing.  Then, a minute later, she vomited all over our bed.  So then we were up.  She basically lived on the couch all day, and when her fever hit 103.4, Steven couldn't stand it and called the pediatrician.  Fevers scare me too.  It's like you can't be too careful.  She perked up when I gave her some childrens ibuprofen, and a shower.  Of course that was now 3 hours ago, so I won't be surprised if she spikes a fever again tonight while she's sleeping.  I hate it, and I hope this is it.  The vomiting was a one time thing, but the listlessness, the long naps from someone who hasn't napped in nearly 3 years.... it scares me.

They changed it!

I've been anxiously watching the weather because they've been saying it's going to snow on Christmas.  Not that it's a HUGE issue, but we are wanting to travel up to my dad's, and I'm not comfortable driving far in the snow with the girls.  We did it when we were married, but no kids.  But this morning when we watched the weather, they've totally changed it, so now it won't snow on Christmas, at least according to the weathermen.  Which certainly makes it easier.  I'd much prefer to drive in the dark than the dark AND snow.  So all signs point to a fabulous Christmas all around, and I'm starting to get excited.  Now if all the mice around here would stop ruining my spirit.

Counting the days

Hannah reminds me every morning that we have however many days left until Christmas.  Like I don't see it there, looming at the end of the week on my calendar.  I love Christmas even more now than I did when I was little.  I love watching them open their gifts, and be extra excited.  This year, Hannah's getting exactly what she asked for.  A talking Woody Doll, from Toy Story.  It's the only thing she asked for.  She literally doesn't care what else she gets, as long as it's there somewhere.  So it's there... but I'm debating if I want to be the best mom ever and let her open it first, or the most evil, and make her open it last.  Or diabolical, and hide it in the closet until later and then say "oops, looks like we forgot one"  Man, I'm mean.

Trying new things

Hannah is not usually one to try new foods.  It's just not in her nature somehow.  I found a recipe this week for Mulligatawny Soup, which is an indian style soup made with curry powder.  It's not spicy, it's kind of earthy, and I think the soup came out very well.  When Hannah came home from school yesterday I told her I was making soup with it, and she smelled the curry powder and decided it smelled gross.  Though she must have changed her mind at some point while it was cooking, because when I had a small bowl, and asked her if she'd like to try it, she did.  And apparently liked it.  She's taking it to school for lunch today, so we'll see exactly how much she did like it when her thermos comes home.

Braids

I adore braided pigtails, they're TOO cute, in my opinion anyways.  Hannah has taken a liking to them also.  Most days she asks for them in the morning, and I'm happy to oblige, since with her being in school it will make things easier.  Especially since this is lice season, and it's much more possible for her to get it with loose hair swinging around.  Only problem is some days she comes home half undone, and has no idea what happened.  I don't know how she doesn't notice that the elastic falls out and it comes all out, but she doesn't. 

Sick Happens

And apparently it happens more here than anywhere else it seems.  Hannah woke up coughing again this morning.  We're not even a week past the last round of steroids, and she's already snotty and coughing, and extra tired.  She stayed home from school today and rested while I was at work.  Amanda was nice enough to come over and watch the girls while I was out this morning.  I'm seriously considering asking her pediatrician the next time I go in for her follow up if we can have a referral to see a pediatric pulmonologist.  I'm hoping she doesn't get much worse, or if she does that she can kick it quickly for a change, since Christmas is less than two weeks away.

Freezing!

Yes I realize I live in New England, and that by nature it's cold here in the winter.  And you know what, it's not the cold that's the worst.  It's the wind.  It has been WINDY.  And I don't mean a breeze, I mean WIND!  Nothing like standing at the bus stop in every warm weather gear I own trying not to freeze solid.  Norah already has it down that she will wear two pairs of mittens, her hat, and her warmest winter coat.  Hannah has to wear a hat, mittens, and I am sure to top it off with her hood, velcroed under her chin.  And we all still end up with pink cheeks and noses.  I actually wear a coat to the bus stop, which I'm sure comes as a surprise to many people.  In fact lots of my friends think I own a coat because I live in New England, not because I even plan to wear it.  Hopefully the wind is about finished, probably just in time for some of that four letter word that I dread so much about living here.

It has begun

Hannah's been reading signs on the highway and other signs randomly for a couple months now.  Nothing major, mostly words she's familiar with like the name of surrounding cities, and some small other words.  But she's taken the next step up.  She's able to read actual books with someone helping her with the unfamiliar words.  She sat last night and read all of "Green Eggs and Ham" with only minimal help.  We're all very proud of her, but most importantly, she's proud of herself. 

A long weekend

I have today off, since originally we had planned to take Hannah out of school and do something fun with the brand new Six year old girlies who had a birthday yesterday.  However, Hannah doesn't have school anyways, but the birthday girls can't skip school today.  Things are going on there that they need to be a part of.  So we'll hang out at home for the morning.  Then this afternoon we're going over for Pizza and Movie Night. 

Tomorrow the girls are going to spend the night with Meema, and Sunday we'll go up to pick them up and have a nice dinner.  Then it's back to work for me, and she's certainly working me harder than I thought I'd need to with my limited availability.  She's always asking me to work on my day off, or stay later even though I can't.  It's frustrating to have to say no, but I feel like she should respect what I have put out there as when I'm available.  I can understand asking occasionally, but not every time I get a phone call.  So Monday starts a long week where I'm working far more than I wanted to.  I know it will make Christmas easier, but it makes me sad still that I don't get to stay home and play with Norah all day.

Countdown to Christmas

The girls are pretty excited for Christmas this year.  Our month is busy with birthdays, parties, and getting ready.  I still have no idea what the actual plan is for Christmas, as far as visiting with family.  I'm sure we'll figure it out at some point, and Sara and Zach are going to try to come up for it as well, so I know everyone will want to see them.  Hannah's friend is having a birthday party next weekend, the girl want to visit Meema this weekend, and Steven's Christmas party for work is the weekend before Christmas.  I can't even figure out when we'll decorate our tree.  Shockingly it's not even out yet, which I think has more to do with Steven's apparent shoulder injury than a lack of motivation.  I need to get wrapping paper and finish getting Steven's gifts, and then we'll be all set.