So, things have been a little strange around here with illness...mine and Reggie's in particular. They finally, after many tests, ruled out Malaria for me...and TB and other things. They settled on pneumonia and loaded me up with the appropriate meds and I started feeling better within 6 hours of the first dose. It has taken it's toll. I started feeling unwell on the night before Easter Sunday. I saw the doctor a week later, and he told me it was probably viral. I struggled with breathing, lethargy, dizziness...I'd walk up 1 flight of stairs and have to hang onto the wall to catch my breath. I had so many things that needed to be done, including a wedding and me being the mother of the bride, and photographer etc...I HAD to just do it! Afterwards, I'd crash and wonder how I'd get out of bed in the morning. Last week, the principal of the little kids' school even called (he's a good friend and knows the family well) to check up on us. He called because the kids were getting to school late every day. Well, that was of course because I couldn't get up out of bed very quickly and certainly not as early as usual because I wasn't sleeping well at night. Even if I was up at 7, I couldn't get them to school by 9! So they were showing up at 9:30 or 10. So I said "ahh...you're the principal AND the truant officer!" Good to know he's doing his job. See, I could've told Dennis or Jenna and Lewis that I was having a problem, but that would mean THEY would have to miss work in the morning or be late for seminary/school and I didn't want that. In the end, when I didn't need to explain because I literally couldn't get out of my bed, of course Dennis would stay to get the kids off to school and cut his day short. In the meantime, Jenna and Lewis missed some seminary and school to make sure I had food (not that I wanted any) and all at the same time as Jenna's incredible dance schedule because her final show was approaching AND she herself got her wisdom teeth out! In the evenings, they stepped up to help with suppers, bathing kids, reading to kids, doing homework with kids and tidying up the house.
As of today, my coughing is a lot less, and my 1st round of the right medication is done...but I cracked my rib during a coughing fit and now my lungs are clearing up, but my breathing is shallow because it hurts to breathe...again. lol Because I never get sick, this is truly a gong show and it's been way hard for me to be 'not in a good way' as they say in Oz and have to have others do for me. I am writing this because it is a fact in history and I print my blog to a book each year. I want to thank my people (you know who you are!) and my 'other people', (you know who YOU are!) for all of your help and support during this time. I'm still not allowed to do anything...doctor's orders...and because I didn't listen the last time he told me, it's dragged on longer than I'd like. So this time, I will obey.
While this was happening, of course, as Debbie pointed out to me with great accuracy, something else had to go wrong. Can't be too simple you know. So yes, the Reggie saga (a post on this is already here!). The doc said that the swab came back negative...and I was puzzled because his rash was TEXT BOOK Scarlett Fever, and his symptoms were TEXT BOOK Scarlett Fever (which, if left untreated can become Rheumatic Fever...which can lead to lots of other problems like heart issues etc.) So, I got a call 2 days ago from the doc's office asking me to bring him in. Low and behold, the test results...which he THOUGHT were negative, were indeed positive. Because of all the allergy discoveries, I think everyone was thinking the rash was due to the allergy. Well, nope. The annoying thing is, I was too sick to take him to the ER that night so Dennis did (bless his heart for doing so and waiting so many hours while they ran tests) and I, of course would have demanded a throat swab (that's just what I do...lol) but they only took his blood. AND, I might mention, that when I saw the results from blood work, they even noted that his white cells were high! I guess they assumed it was because of the reaction...which is stressful to the entire system. So at THAT point (our doc had a med student working with him, who was really good actually) I kept pushing the strep thing and that's when they did the swab. Okay, long story short. He is taking meds for strep throat and he carries an epi pen everywhere he goes.
I must add here that our Doctor is the best I've ever had. We've had him since we moved here (almost 9 years) and he is very, very good. I think because of the allergy thing and he was so afraid for Reggie and us...it was the primary issue on his mind and the ER doc had given his 'opinion' that the rash was due to the allergy. The moral of the story is, always go with your gut...but as nicely as you can. ;o) Thank-you Reggie, for being such a tough guy through it all. He really never complained once. Okay, well, maybe once...at the hospital when they put in the IV. But that's allowed.
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