I need to start with a huge THANKS for the prayers and well wishes. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you family and friends!!! Without all of your support, I would never be able to make it through all of this. And also without God and all the angels, I couldn’t get through each day without checking myself into the funny farm.
So, I have still been up since 12 midnight Friday and it is almost 11 pm Saturday, so about 24 hours straight awake and sick. But, I will TRY to go to bed after typing this post. It’s soooooo strange, I am not tired and still mentally full of positive energy to get things accomplished. I know I need to rest my body, but my mind won’t slow down. Would love to have a drink or take a sleeping pill, but Billy does not hear alarms at night and I need to be sure that Ally stays safe.
Long sumary of my day….
Ally woke up at about 7 am when I was going to lay down. Wearing a mask and gloves, I changed her diaper, gave meds and suctioned her a little. I also put on her DVDs and then got out of the room as quick as possible.
The “lovely” doc I saw on Friday never returned my emergency call last night, so I decided to have my mom drive me to the Walgreens Clinic to have tests ran to see what I really have. Ally’s pulmonary team at Childrens strongly recommended this so we could know what I’m dealing with and treat Ally pro-actively with tamiflu or whatever needed. She is doing REALLy well still, actually above her baseline, but we all know there is a very good chance she was exposed to this bug before I even showed signs of being contagious. I am very pleased with how well the fellow pulmo at Childrens and the attending care about Ally and how much they are on top of this.
We woke up Billy at around 9 am and headed 15 minutes away to the clinic. Unfortunately there was going to be about a 90 minute wait with only 2 or 3 patients ahead of me, so we decided to run to Childrens Place kid store which was across the parking lot. Got some absolutely amazing deals off their clearance racks and some spring sweaters for Ally, which are always difficult to find. No dresses for her birthday though. I spent WAY too much $$$ (please don’t tell Billy I even went shopping), but I was paying $3.99 for items regularly priced $20 or more. We really didn’t have the money to spend, but a bill or two can wait an extra week.
We still had about 30-45 minutes to spare, so decided to go to the nearby post office to mail 2 boxes worth of medical supplies and goodies to a special family in IA. The line at the post office was super, super long, and I started to get hot, dizzy and sneezy, but it was worth it to help out another family who pays out of pocket for some items I have extras of. Most of the people at the post office were super friendly, which was nice. One person in line was super rude, but the others were nice and good entertainment.
After the post office, I decided that I really did NOT want to spend $80-$100 at Walgreens for an exam and tests. We are struggling this month and Ally hasn’t shown any signs of illness, so I thought it would be okay. Also had spend the $$$ on better things/clothes for the girls. We did not return to Walgreens Clinic. Our next stop was Staples to buy Turbo Tax (need our refund now), some office supplies, and I gave them my old laptop for a FREE exam and tune up. The employees there were angels and so helpful.
When I got home, the Pulmonologist from Childrens called to check on Ally and me. This is VERY impressive!!!! I think his name is Dr. Kumba. He was concerned that I didn’t get tested but understood. He and the attending, Dr. Nevan, decided it was probably best to start Ally on tamiflu. He also encouraged me to call the doc I saw again to at least get tamiflu for myself. This time, my “new” doc called back, but I must say, he was an absolutely A$$hole!!!!! He was very arrogant and said he doesn’t believe in the rapid tests, he thought I would be fine with just the antibiotic and he was POSITIVE I don’t have a flu or H1N1. I got snippy with him, telling him that there is no way to know that and these are the exact signs I had in June, when Ally and I had H1N1. He refused to prescribe me tamiflu too. I got nastier and he caved. Then I hung up quickly. I will have a new doctor group on Monday and don’t need to deal with him anymore. Thank God for the fact that I was allowed to switch as of the 1st of each month, with our HMO.
Kristyn needed a ride to her friends and had to get two new books from her new favorite teen series at Borders, so my mom agreed to drive us there and to Walgreens. I also found a food swap book that I really like to make better choices for me and the kids. The script wasn’t ready yet, since Ally’s was a compound. My mom had a craving for Chinese food (and neither of us had eaten all day) so we went and picked some yummies up. Then the scripts for tamiflu for Ally and I were ready and we could go home and eat.
Since then, I have been busy on the computer and doing stuff around the house. Gotta get it done while I have the energy. Also had a great conversation with another muscular dystrophy mom. At 10:30 pm, I decided to soak in the hot tub to relax before taking an amazing shower. Thanks again Make a Wish and CRASH of Chicago. I really needed it and switched to all three seats for water massages. Took my shower, doing my blog, and will probably have a piece of Bakers Square pie before bed. I know that is a “bad, unhealthy” choice, but I deserve it.
Billy and my mom did a wonderful job with Ally today. Billy also drove 10 teens to and from Laser Quest tonight to help out one of Kristyn’s friends for her 14th b-day. Luckily, we have our big, handicap van. I have barely seen Ally today, and I miss her smell and hugs soooo much. She looks at me, like “why are you ignoring me? I need you to play with me mommy!” I’ve explained to her that I am too sick to touch her without gloves and a mask. She’s alseep for the night and still no signs of illness (knock on wood).
Hope you enjoyed my little story/journal.
Off to get my pie and then some ZZZZZs.
Thank you again for your prayers and support,
Tina, Ally and Krajewski Family
PS – My sister Tammy went shopping today at the Disney store and got Ally an amazing princess dress for her birthday. She bought her tons of other goodies too. So we are all set. Thank you to those who offered to help.
PSS – I WILL be having a small birthday party for Ally on Saturday 2-6-10 at 2 pm. It will just be pizza, salad and cake. We want as many friends and family possible to attend. If you are reading this blog, you are welcome to come (if you live nearby of course). Ally really doesn’t need any presents, cards are fine, or I’ll shoot out some ideas soon. Guests are invited to bring a dessert or appetizer, only if they’d like. PLEASE, Please let me know if you’d like to joing us. Only germless guests are allowed. I will have on my mask if still sick, but it BETTER be BETTER by then.
Wow you got a lot done today. So what did Walgreens say or did I read too fast. did you get your treat?