Kat817

LJM!!! Wasn't that Joshua sneezing in the background I hear??? He must be allergic, time to ship the dogs to Glouc!! TY for the well wishes for my DD and I. We have been to hell and back with this. What began as a swollen ear, was diagnosed as a terminal disease, and thankfully while the newest Dx will be severely disfiguring, it will not be life taking. She has been transferred to a hospital 200 miles away. I am keeping her 4 year old, and we are going to be making many trips to see Mama. Starting tomorrow. She was transferred on Sunday, and at that time had a teeny tiny horrid room, with a woman in serious pain as a roomate, she had undiagnosed abdominal pain. So while my DD is chock full of antibiotics, the granddaughter is not, so we hesitated taking her. But they now have DD in a large private room, awaiting surgery, so we will leave in the morning to take her to see her Mommy. Beth, Susan could give you a better idea of limitations before a thread is closed. But I know of one that was just done, so it DOES happen! And it was even given extra consideration, since advertisers were involved. So, while I don't know how far they will allow it to be pushed, I know they do have limits to what is acceptable. I don't say anything on FB that I wouldn't here. I do have some family photos, but they are not something I am ashamed of!! And I think I fall in the gray area, nothing I say is so amazing it needs quoted or repeated, nor hopefully nothing so stupid..... Personally I like my Dr. Kat

We have a King Size bed, and really no need for it, we sleep on about half of it, in fact there are some mornings the other half still looks made!!! BUT----maybe it will last longer if we rotate it right!!! And there are times with grandkids that we have company! Connor won't sleep on his own. Some days I really love my PCP!! Manda used to work for him, so I called and ask for him to call me in regards to my meds. He called, I told him what all was going on, he was so shocked--she never did get to see him, it began on a weekend, so she went to Urgent Care, then to the ENT. Anyway, explained what was going on, and he called my hives meds in and I did not have to try to fit a visit in to him in all this mess. Then he called back a short time later to tell me, that apparantly Manda had ask to have her records sent to him as well, but the office staff simply filed them and did not alert him. He wanted to apologize. Nice man. Too bad his wife is a witch!! LOL I got another PM from a lurker of our thread!! Brenda--lubterp also sent one to wish us well. I always know I can count on you girls, but it was so surprising to hear from those that I don't talk to everyday---I thought it very sweet. Now everyone tell me how good I did....LOL I went to the store and right inside the front door, are baskets full of leftover Valentines Day Candy 66% off. I resisted, even though there was a bag of Reeces hearts right on top that made my own heart skip a beat. Went and got my meds and left! Time to change the laundry see y'all later. Kat

These boys all claim to have spent the night with the girl in her home, on the weekends. So seems to me, the parents had no issue with it, regardless what they say. Never once did any of the boys say they snuck around under the bleachers, or the back seat of a car-----seems like this was not uncommon for her to have boys around. Alfie kept a spare school uniform over there? Didn't Mom & Dad notice he spent more time with her than the brothers??? Times have changed patty. Our kids have so many more opportunities. Even the girls!!! And as has been pointed out countless times before on the other threads this always gets brought up in, the bible is an interpretation, and time/years are not necessarily viewed the same then as now. I mean how many 900 year old women do you see giving birth today??? Kat

You know, I have no idea whatsoever what our local connection to God looks like. BUT....DH's ex wife talks to God too---however she can only talk to him when she wears a certain straw hat----and then she tries to baptise people etc. Anyway----for the life of me, when I read some posts-------I see the ex wife! Maybe that is partly why I personally find them offensive!!! LMAO Then Susan pulled a drive by posting, and left me to shake my finger just like Mom used to and say no more name calling, before we all got out of hand and unleashed on her!!! I figured out tho, that I can bash her posts easily, it doesn't even have to be her....the posts are ridiculous enough. My DD is in the hospital, and I am stressed beyond belief, and being able to release some of that stress by arguing with someone else, might just be what I need....... Kat

Let's try to get back to what the subject was....or at least disagreeing with one anothers posts,and thoughts or ideas as opposed to calling one another names, or the thread will end up closed. And I for one like being able to link the absurd articles relating to this bizarre woman! Thanks! Kat

Morning girls~ I am home today, going to attempt to get my house caught up some. Tomorrow morning I am leaving about 5:30 to go down to Albq. That will get me there about 9 depending on how rush hour is moving. Then we will stay til about 4, and head back home. Unless we get word today about a surgery or something. She said it is feeling cool to the touch now, where it had been hot....so maybe something in there is changing. Becky's soon to be DIL is a Wizard of Oz freak. They are getting married in May, and she even has bits of it in her wedding without being themed out. She is walking down the aisle to the hawaiian version of Somewhere Over The Rainbow. Anyway, she has that sign as part of all of her Oz stuff, and when I saw it, I thought, she has no idea what that means to some of us!! I was afraid the sign that Suzanne referred to was like the one in my kitchen that I am challenging daily. It is on a rough plank of wood, and is burned in, and it says "Thou Shalt Not Weigh More Than Thy Refridgerator"....I am trying to follow. I too couldn't get on when I first tried this morning. I got the nicest message from a girl named Kelly, her screename here is Shalee....something!!! My brain is bad under normal conditions, let alone this past couple of weeks!! Anyway she said she is a steady lurker of our thread because she loves seeing the support we provide with one another, that her monthly thread was not that way. She PM'd me to offer support and prayers for my family. I told her to post--we share our support. So if she shows up in my absence....say hi for me! I'll be back in and out through the day, doing laundry and housework trying to catch up.....which will never happen, but it is good to have a dream! Kat

Tracy if you fell off the wagon, then girl I jumped off head first. I have not even thought about my band, or my diet or anything related in 2 weeks I don't think! I know it is there, and when I can, I will get a fill, and lose it again, right now...I simply don't care!!! So.....give me a few and I will be right there with you trying to get it off again. If you gained every ounce of it back plus 50 pounds we would still love all of you. TracyK---SOOOO glad you had fun, you 2 deserved some time away together, what fun! I will try to get a picture of my flowers, they are so pretty, white spider mums and purple carnations and some other tall spiky purple flowers---I feel so loved! Seriously, I know it is exhaustion but they made me cry too this evening, I was sitting here and looking at them, and just cried, feeling overwhelmed with how lucky I am to have all of you pulling for Manda---and through her for me. Makes me realize TracyKS----even if we really did gain all our weight back, this band was worth every cent to have brought all of you into my life. Well I am off to bed. We have a situation that we have a friend of Rick's actually staying with us---and it really is a bad time, but what can you do??? I SAY I would have told him no, but in reality, I know where Rick was, and would have been the same way, so I am trying to be nice about it. Rick cooked, and is very good at helping out, and he has been phenomenal with us keeping Kinsey and all----so hope he plans on continuing to help since our load just increased more..... Will see y'all tomorrow, and hopefully have more news. Hugs!!! Kat

Who are they? They are the ones with the education that have taken the time to learn what all prematurity does to children. I am not making premature infants out to be lesser, as I say my own granddaughter was a preemie, and according to her pediatrician, she will always be at a higher risk of certain diseases, as well as SIDS, and respiratory infections, due to the underdeveloped lungs that most preemies are born with. Whether or not a medical specialist does abortions has absolutely ZERO to do with the prematurity issue, it is simply your way to introduce yet another religious issue into the thread, we are used to it. We were told that where they used to require a baby to be 5 pounds to leave the hospital, they no longer work on that premise. The baby has to show that it can regulate it's own body temperature, and oxygenate as needed, although some are allowed to go home on oxygen. And that is for ALL babies, not just preemies. Our granddaughter was home at 4 pounds 4 ounces, she never required any oxygen, and was home in 3 days---because she warmed up, and stayed that way, not requiring any heat lamp beds....Her temperature regulated normally. She had suffered from intrauterine growth restriction for minimally 2 weeks, so they figured she had developed strength during that time despite the size. On the other hand one of my best friends had a grandson recently who was born full term, and weighed in over 7 pounds, but was kept for 6 days because he could not keep his body temp up, and actually went home on oxygen for 2 weeks. I for one, with my preemie granddaughter, and a grandson born at a mere 5 pounds, and incredibly grateful for the knowledge of the professionals in the medical community. I cannot imagine the ups and downs in the future of these 8 babies! The risks for infants this small is huge. Shalee--I am so glad your DD's are well. We were told girls do much better at those weights than boys---they have a higher survival rate. Kat

Hey--good news is, they moved Manda to the surgical floor, and into a private suite, I think they were concerned about a law suit she said. The charge nurse was freaking out about the vomit smell in an 85 degree room!! Anyway the new suite is just that Manda said, it is similar to her room here, has a sofa, a desk a private bath etc. So she says if she has surgery there she will just remain in the room. We CAN stay with her if we need to. They also said they would give her a voucher for us to stay in the hospitality home they have if we want. So I am back to the original plan of Kinsey and I going down on Wed. and spending the day unless they plan a surgery before. So it is some better.....and hoping to continue that way. Thank you again for my flowers--you are all so special! XOXXO Kat

OK-- The initial pathology reports are back, and nothing is showing in them. Which is a HUGE dissapointment. And since he come back to talk to her, the Inf. Dis, Dr. thinks it is psuedomonas parachondritis. Which is a similar thing to the RP Dx, except it is an illness, rather than a disease. the psuedo is because it presents in a mocking manner. But it can be treated with medication and surgery, and will not relapse, and will not move to other cartiledge. Which is an ENORMOUSLY good thing--- Most cases are caused by trauma to the cartilidge. Like being smacked in the ear by a baseball, or a boxer or having the cartliledge pierced. She has done none of that....but that is his feeling of what is going on. He is putting her on 3 different antibiotics that will focus on this diagnosis, and see what difference they make, and they will attempt to locate a surgeon. He told her to talk to the charge nurse about being moved. Because while he was trying to talk to her about the Dx, the woman was puking over and over and over. Manda said she really feels bad for the woman, but enough was enough!! More phone calls---brb Kat So the Dr. printed out some case histories for her to read about the psuedo thing, and she said some of them are strikingly similar to hers. He said finding a surgeon to do this type of work would likely take another move, probably to Scottsdale AZ to the Mayo Clinic there. So.....for now I am sitting tight, going to see how she does with the new antibiotics.

Hi girls, Yep just as we pulled up so did the florist delivery van. The flowers are beautiful....thank you so much. I love you all. I spoke with Manda just before talking to Judy, and she was excited, she thought she noticed improvement, and was thrilled they were possibly eliminating the Dx of the RP. We were all feeling quite happy. Then she called a few minutes ago, and I could hardly understand her through the sobs. A new infectious disease Dr. come in, and he thinks the improvement is temporary and only due to some steroid response. He said in his 30 year career, he has only seen this about 5 times, and he compared it to getting Sadam Hussein (SP?) he said they went in and bombed the hell out of his country, just as they did with the potent antibiotics, and did not have any luck, so just like with him, they are going to have to just dig him out. He says they need to locate a surgeon willing to do such difficult work, and that it will be disfiguring, and will consist of 2-4 surgeries, and eliminating all the infected cartiledge and tissue. She is beside herself. The hospital is rated very highly, and the Dr.'s supposedly top notch, but the hospital is nasty! It is old, and crowded. She is now in a shared room, and the roomate is in for undiagnosed abdominal pain and moans non stop. She has her DH with her 24/7 who is loud and a nurse at another hospital, and he is actually sleeping on the floor in between the 2 beds. She is freezing, so they have the room at 80 degrees or higher. The room is so crowded that when they brought the roomate back from endoscopy, they actually ask Manda to wait in the waiting room so they had more room to manuever. So she has to leave, and worry about her computer, and her purse etc. or drag it all with her. Manda has no phone signal nor will her air card work. She is totally cut off, unless she leaves the hospital. She is completely upset not seeing Kinsey. So she just sobs. And here I am 200 miles away-------back home. Rick is changing the oil in my car, and Kinsey and I may head out and just get a room, and put myself in some serious debt! I don't know what to do. I keep telling myself, she is just on overload, and needs to sob for a little bit and she will recoup her fight, and we will move on, but it is so hard to hear. The first infectious disease Dr, did not say anything about surgery, and has been trying to get status on the pathology tests that should be being done today. The hope is that the lymph node they removed, has harbored some of the infection, and they will slice it and stain it to see what the infection type is. The internal medicine Dr, last night said with any luck it will show something quickly, because if it doesn't fungal infections take a long time to grow. So, we would again be in la la land with no Dx. The infection didease Dr. this afternoon was not brb she is on the phone again

The entire welfare/assistance program is screwy! I have a friend who received AFDC (Aid to Families with Dependent Children)for 3 years. Now keep in mind this was about 10 years ago. She was battling cancer in her lymph nodes. When she come out on the sunny side of things, and went back to work, she got notice that they finally located her ex, and had attached his Tax refund checks in an attempt to repay the amount owed the state. There was a meeting she needed to attend in regards to something related to this. So she went in, and found out that they are charging her ex with every dime she was paid---for the kids. The AFDC is broke down, and he is responsible for paying back the kids part. She ask if she needed to make arrangements on repaying her portion, and was told that was not required. Now she is a very fair minded person----so ask why he had to pay ALL of the kids back, as opposed to half (since they are half hers too) and why her portion was waived. They had no answers other than if he didn't pay, they would take away his drivers license, and continue to attach any lottery winnings, all tax refunds etc. Here was a woman willing to repay for the help provided, and the state had no program in place for her to do that, only ones to punish an absent parent. So stupid the way things are done!!! Kat

Well another day with little change, and what change we did have was for the worse. There is swelling, more redness, and it seems to be slowly coming down her neck. The ENT has several calls to try to find a hosp. to transfer her to. In order to transfer her, he has to have a Dr. to hand her off to, and they hear what all has been tried and tested, and are unwilling to take her on as a patient. He is trying both ABQ and Denver. Hoping to hear back from someone tomorrow, many of them are not available over the weekend. They are trying a new approach now. The medication they have been hitting her with so hard is a complilation of very potent anti bacterial antibiotics. She has been on 3 oral meds, and now 4 strong IV meds, for weeks with no response. So beginning today they are going to try some anti fungal meds to see if they make a difference. One of the things they considered was TB! But her test is not showing any results....which makes it negative. I want her to get help. I want her well. How I am going to do it if they take her out of town I have no idea. Having Kinsey puts a whole new light on things, not sure how I will handle it. If she goes to ABQ, I will go down for a night leaving Kinsey with my folks, then come home, and we will just make a couple of round trips a week----it is about 190 miles one way. If they get her in in Denver, I will just take off with her, and rely on family there to help with her and not worry....they have many kids in the general age range, she has lots of cousins up there. But my hope is that the fungal meds make a HUGE improvement overnight. The wierd thing is, the incision has never even bled! They closed it with 3 loose stitches in a 2.50" incision---so that it would be able to drain without causing additional swelling. It has never drained a drop or bled a bit...it is dry. The surgeon said cutting into her neck and those glands was like cutting wood. I am so confused, and scared, and lost it is impossible to even tell you. Valentines Day....whoopee! Actually I was sleeping soundly at about 7 this morning when I am woke up with Kinsey yelling "Granny!!!" It's Easter and the Easter Bunny brought me a big balloon and bears and candy! I laughed at her and told her it was not Easter it was Valentines Day and the balloon and one bear was from Mommy, and the white was from Papa and I. She wanted to talk to her Mommy------and Manda no sooner answered the phone and Kinsey was grilling her about leaving the "hostible"!!! Finally I told her that Mommy was too sick to shop so she gave me money and told me what to buy, but she did not leave. I guess she thought she left, went shopping, and dropped everything here, and just left without her. She settled down then! Not settled down enough to go back to sleep mind you! So we got up, and made some Rice Cripsy treats, and no bake cookies. We used a big silicone heart pan---and made Rice Crispy treats for Connor, and a no bake cookie one for Mommy. And she is a good cooker! She is spending the night with her Dad tonight....seems quiet without her here. Especially since now Rick is sick with the stomach crud...and sleeping on the floor in front of the fireplace! So, so much for going out! He tossed some steak on the grill, I steamed some veggies, and now I am eating ice cream! WTH........ Laura the nursery is adorable. I talked to my cousin who is pregnant with twins, today, she called to check on Manda. She said at first her DD who is turning 4 next month wanted to name both babies Lucy. Then when they found out there is a boy and a girl, she changed her mind and now wants to name the boy Spongebob and the girl Sandy!! LOL And her niece Gracie who is 7 is DEAD serious she wants them to name them Mat (her spelling) and Pat. Because my cousins given name is PATricia, and his is MATthew!!! She thinks because she said it, it should be!!! They really are thinking of Mattea and Patrick, twisting their names.....but like she said that is liable to change many times before they get here!! Well I am going to go clean up the kitchen, and throw in a load of laundry---------my usual schedule is shot to heck! XOXOX Happy Heart Day y'all! Kat

Someone who chooses to do day care, because they WANT to be with children and ENJOY being with children, while teaching them, and preparing them for school, is still FAR better for a child than being with a Mom who would prefer being challenged by a job SHE enjoys. Not everyone wants to be a teacher or a day care provider. It does not mean they love their children less. I was in second generation kids before I quit. The kids I cared for in the beginning, bringing their kids----and they did not grow up to be uncaring humans or anything because their parents worked. My DD is a single Mom, and I take care of my Granddaughter. If I were unable, we would do some serious research, and find her a stable, safe day care environment to spend her days in. It seemed offensive to me when you said you did not believe in day care. If you used it to support yourself and kids, then obviously you believed in it from one side. I will have to see what I can find, but I watched a 20/20 I believe it was that was focused on home schooled children, and as adults there was a large percentage of them who said they felt they were ill equiped in the college settings, in personal relationships, while their grades were comparable, the maturity levels were not. There are pros and cons to each side. But can you really see Octo Mom home schooling all 14 kids????? You (patty) thought the woman who signed over her entire check was missing out. Well Octo Mom has settlement money, but opts to be away from her kids, going to school to prepare for a job that will take her away from them as well. What is the difference? Kat

I'm home, no changes really. Manda is hurting, and the incision looks rough. It is a couple of inches long is all, but they only clamped it in 3 places, hoping it will drain...she is having trouble opening her mouth she is so swollen....so we ordered her some mac & cheese, and some mashed potatoes, I am sure dietary thought there was an idiot in the room! I am exhausted, but my Mom let Kinsey take a LATE nap, and now she is not wanting to go to sleep, she is calmly laying watching Disney----but not falling asleep. In my Moms defense, she is now down with the same stuff Kinsey has so she didn't feel good either, so they both slept awhile. Which is understandable. Rick stayed with Kinsey tonight while I did Manda's and my Valentines shopping. I got the kids each a stuffed puppet that sings love songs when you make his mouth move. Kinsey will love it....Connor might, not so sure. Choices were limited, I just simply have not been in the mood to Celebrate anything. Also picked up the flowers that Manda's friend had sent to her....he ordered them last week, so had them delivered to her work. So one of the guys brought them down from work, and I got them so I can take them to her tomorrow. I am so tired, but sleep is difficult, I cannot shut my mind down, and I am afraid to take pills because I need to hear if Kinsey wakes, and be alert enough to go in and check her fever status. It is down to normal tonight, hoping it stays that way, she is getting very whiny and upset about not seeing her Mama. It was easy with Manda today, she slept and zoned out all day due to anesthesia, so she didn't complain about missing the girl....tomorrow will be another story. Pamela---you WILL finish the diss, they are just messin' wit ya now! Sorry it is being a PITA. So tell us about Z......hell there is another letter, but I forget it! Thank you for the Valentines Cards for both myself and for Kinsey. Judy she went gaga over the Fairy stickers, has one on her nightgown as I type! Michelle she claimed my pink heart card as her own, and I could not tell her differently. That is like a commercial she watches that has the cool kid in the lunchroom getting a singing Hannah Montana card. She decided she wants a HS Musical card. They do not make them for Daughters or Granddaughters---so she got one for a friend, we figured she can't read it anyway!!! Suzanne, I took Manda her card today, but she was so woozy all day it is still on her bedside table, I am sure she will be thrilled with it tomorrow. Thank you for thinking of her. I wore my Terry earrings to the hospital today----and had 2 compliments on them. OH I have to tell you what I did! Originally Manda's surgery was scheduled with the grouchy Dr. at 1. Then during the pre surgery questions they discovered or reminded themselves of her heart issue. So they moved it up, because a cardiologist was going to be in house at the hospital until noon. Manda had ask me to stop and get a plastic spacer for her nose ring ( a tiny diamond chip), since she would have to remove it for surgery. So I was meandering around getting Kinsey ready and she calls that it has been moved up to RIGHT NOW!!! She does not want to lose her piercing, so I hauled butt! Farmington is about 11 miles away. So I flew. Sailed into a parking place and then I RAN!!!! I RAN from the parking lot, through the food court, to Hot Topic......breathed in there!!! Bought the spacer and RAN back to the car!!! Got stopped at every damn light possible! She calls and tells me to come straight to the OR holding! So I get to the hospital, and the only spot I see available quickly is not the last parking space in the row, but the 2nd to last. So I slammed her into park, and off I RUN again! I RAN all the way to the hospital, and at the front desk they escorted me to OR holding, where they were all waiting---and I got the spacer to her, and got to see her and kiss her before she went off to surgery! So she has surgery, the Dr. comes out and is talking to me, and I feel someone behind me, I look around, and it is an old friend, our parents were very close, we lived in a small very rural "camp". El Paso Nat'l Gas Co. had these camps all over, out in the boonies, where the gas had to be processed. The one we lived in until I was in 2nd grade, had about 35 houses, and a dozen mobile homes, a huge play ground, and a community center. It was 75 miles to the nearest town and 96 to a decent size place! IT was great for kids, because almost all the men working there were starting out their careers, and beginning families, so there were tons of kids, and always someone to play with. The only traffic was the people living there, and they seldom drove....a trip to town every couple of months. And in the winter the snow and mud would be so bad they would air drop supplies to us!! So anyway the woman standing over my shoulder was one of our old neighbors!! We played together for years. While we were talking, this couple walked by, and it was the guy that lived on the other side of me out there!!! He and his wife had their first baby the same day I had Manda, our Moms were best friends, and had their first grandbabies on the same day! Anyway so wierd, that we all 3 were there at the same time! Sorry I am rambling---I find myself doing that to avoid thinking about things. I am going to try to go to bed. Will check in tomorrow! Happy Valentines Day Violets---I love you all! Kat

Manda had surgery this morning. They did not find anything they thought they might, like an abcess or anything. They removed a lymph node, and tissue samples for pathology and cultures. There is a VERY high liklihood that she will lose her outer ear, which is sad, and very upsetting. BUT the ear lobe is now being affected, and while that indicates a higher possibility that the ear will be lost it is not at all indicative of the RP. I would much rather have her for years and years to come, ear or not. Anyway, I'll check in later from home. Hugs~~ Kat

Just a quick check in from the hospital---using Manda's laptop, so excuse my typos. She had surgery this morning. They removed a lymph node under the ear, and snipped pieces of glands and tissues. They are not sure, but are discussing, amputation of the outer ear. They are also discussing transfer to UNM Hosp. in ABQ---it is a teaching hosp. He said there was no puss or anything, but that cutting into the tissue was like cutting in to wood it was so hard. It will be 2-3 days for the pathology and the cultures. They cut from behind the ear down about 2 inches with a forward curve.....pretty ugly. We took a picture with her cell phone, so that she could see it, I will find out if there is a way to get it to here.... The good news, if you will, is that her ear lobe is now affected. It is swelling and huge. So.....while that indicates a spreading infection, and furthers the chances of her losing her ear, it is NOT indicative of the RP. We would give up that ear in a heartbeat to have her with us for many, many years to come. Not sure when to expect to see the Dr. again. The ENT's associate actually did the surgery, and we really liked him a lot. He come by to tell us that the original grouchy ENT was in ICU and would be by to see us, we kinda groaned, and as we expected the grouch never showed. Not sure how to go about it, but we want to change to the one who did the surgery. Kinsey had fever through the night, but it was mild. I left her with my Mom for the day, now I called to check on her, and my Mom has it. So I am going to sit with Manda for a while to make sure she is ok, then go on home, and let her rest for the night. Somewhere---sometime-----I need to get some shopping done. As has been pointed out tomorrow is Valentines, and I have nothing for my grandkids with all this. Connor was here with Ali when they brought Manda up, and he refused to kiss her bye bye, he kept saying Auntie Broken. LOL Manda wants me to buy something for her to have to give to Kinsey tomorrow too. Oh yeah, her former MIL was her OR nurse!!! Well I am going to go find some ice chips. Will check in tonight. XOXOX Kat

I hear ya! My DD is in the hospital now, and a couple of days ago I had it out with one of her Dr.'s. She was admitted with MRSA infection in her neck and outer ear. So she is being seen by a Communicable Diseases Dr. while she is in. There is a HUGE sign on her door that states WASH IN/ WASH OUT. So we do. We scrub going in and out. We take my granddaughter to see her Mommy and we scrub her hands, as we sing Happy Birthday 2 times, teaching her how long to wash. So in comes this CD Dr. she does not wash in, she examines my DD's wound, actually touching the ear, and she says she is going to go look at the CT with contrast scans and see how they look. And she walks out--without washing! I headed out right after her....and she would not even stop and talk to me, she kept walking. I told her we had been really following the Wash in and out thing, because there was a child in there we wanted to keep well, and that to touch her without washing was not acceptable, and to then touch the door knob---we might as well all be handling her ear. The moronic Dr. says to me "a hospital is not an ideal place for a child". Well no sh*t, but neither is keeping a 4 year old away from her Mommy for a week! She sat right down and began typing away on the computer! So all of us in the room were exposed to those germs on the door, and then all the nurses on the computer! I did file a complaint for all the good it will do. I told them in the complaint, that possibly since she is a Communicable Diseases Dr, she was just practicing job security! As it is we can barely understand her, there is a serious language barrier, but to not wash---I will not accept that! I think you should file a greivance on both counts. They will only improve if pushed I believe! Glad you are on the mend!! Kat

I ran a licensed day care for over 20 years. Beginning in my home, while I raised my own---and eventually moving to an independent center. There has ALWAYS been a battle between the SAHM, and working Moms. But there are really good and really bad in both segments!!! Some Moms are better Moms when they are with their kids because they get the outside stimulus of working. Other Moms have no choice but to work. Some stay home and resent the hell out of it, and would be better off both for themselves and their kids if they would take a job and a break. Others simply thrive as SAHM's. None is more right than another. We are all different, coming from different backgrounds and needs. I had one family with 2 sets of twins and a single, and she worked----but she would literally sign her paycheck over and write out a personal check to cover the remainder....she did not take home a single dime from working. But she CHOSE to do it, and was thrilled to see her kids each night, and they her. Many times we wondered why....but it worked for her. And SHE paid....what her check didn't cover her HUSBANDS did. Not a gov't. check! For about 3 years I did low income child care, where the state paid me. I saw more worthless parents in those 3 years than the other 17 + combined. The parents were often times being trained by the state, working in state offices, in an attempt to get them off welfare. And you could see it coming a mile away---when they forced them to go to work...they did go to work, at getting knocked up again! I eventually severed the contract with the state, it was horrible, kids coming dirty, and sick, and only a very few really working to better themselves. There were a couple of girls who were seriously trying, I continued to provide care for them for a dollar an hour.....less than I made in highschool babysitting! But they were trying! Not believing in day care is fine.....but what if heaven forbid something happened to your husband? Or in this economy you HAD to work outside the home? I find it an offensive comment, and a rather silly one. A vast majority of women who work do so to help support their family. Unlike the person this thread is about. Kat

I have been very vocal on the thread about the octoMom thread. The things she says and does just don't mesh. They took Manda for another CT with contrast this evening, and put her NPO. The plan is to go in tomorrow morning, and remove any abssess or dead tissue they see. The ENT said it is regressing as opposed to progressing, so they changed antibiotics again....and are readying her for surgery. He said she would not be going home any time soon. Kinsey's fever has bounced up and down all day....down to 99 or so and she feels pretty good, and gets giggly and plays with her beanie babies on the couch for a few minutes, then up it goes to 102 and she sleeps.....repeat. But when it goes up she complains her belly hurts. She finally had a normal BM tonight, so maybe her tummy will feel better soon. We just finished watching the Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice crossovers. It is so wierd to me, the men on the shows, if you see just one of them, you can look at him and think he is a nice looking man, then when another one of the actors shows up, it makes the original one look wierd!!! Like he has no lips, or he looks too scruffy. It is such a varied cast. Maybe I am just too tired! Was spitting snow earlier, I sure hope I don't wake up to another storm having dumped a bunch of snow on us. Terry, hope you feel better soon----I have been fighting the blues for awhile. Now they have taken up residence! Valentines Day......we will do something super romantic....we will probably grab fast food with a 4 year old in tow as we head home from the hospital....be still my heart! However, him being there with us through it all is the kind of romance I would choose---how corny is that??!! Laura, labor is not all fun and games---neither is motherhood, but it is worth it! I have one really strong memory of labor. The LaMaze classes taught to us at the time said to pick a focal point and block everything else out and focus on it. So the Dr. is standing there between my knees! I delivered Manda in a birthing chair---so was upright. And right at my eye level, hanging around the Dr.'s neck was a medicine bottle with tubes coming out of the cap. I had no idea what it was, I was concentrating like hell on it though!! Then I forgot about it 100% as she was born and all. So a few days later, we get our pictures back from being developed (waaaaaaay before digital and instant gratification pics!) and the first picture of her is right at birth, taken by my ex---and there is that bottle! And one of the tubes is in my babies mouth! So I remembered to ask him about it at my follow up. Manda was overdue, so my amniotic fluid was cloudy. He said in cases like hers they suction the fluid out of the babies lungs, so if they have breathing problems they have samples of the amniotic fluid to help determine what the problem might be! So there is a bottle with 2 tubes, one goes down the babies airway, and the Dr. gives a quick suction on the other, and it syphoned the fluid from her lungs! She never had an issue, but I remember that bottle plain as day, all these years later! I remember very little else about the delivery, mostly just her---and that danged bottle!!! Well I am off to try to wind down and go to bed so I can be at the hospital as soon as my Mom can get over here in the morning to be with Kinsey. Will let you know how it goes. Kat

Thank you so much, all of you, and Pat a super big hug and thanks to you for sharing things for me. As I told Pat, something about typing it, and seeing it in black and white made it just all too real. As of right now there is no real change in my DD's situation/condition. The preliminary blood work has come back, and the 2 Dr.'s involved are still differing in their opinions of the diagnosis. The ENT believes it to be a simple cellulitis/infection that led to MRSA and is still stubborn about healing. The Dr. in charge of communicable diseases is the one who believes it is the RP, and thinks that even though right now her numbers (SED rate, and a nuclear antibody # or something) are lower than usual for diagnosing this, she believes it is because the flare is easing up. Needless to say we are praying day and night that the ENT Dr. is right, not the CD Dr. When I get my email, and get the PM's from all of you, and the Jersey girls who no longer post, it literally reduces me to tears....I am so thankful to have you all, and know that the support is there. When I got the news I tried to call both Pat and Sherry, as I had their numbers in my phone---and got no answers! Finally got Pat the next morning. I have been home all day with my granddaughter down sick with a stomach bug---so have not been able to see my DD. I will go up this evening when Papa is here with her. I will keep you posted either here or in email----if I don't have your email, and you get missed, just let me know, and again---thank you so much for caring about us like you do. Hugs XOXOXO Kat

We did the same pic with my DD and my BIL, I just cannot size it to include it!!! Kat

Those 8 babies, your grandson, and my granddaughter who was a preemie will ALWAYS have health issues and additional health risks BECAUSE they were preemies! My granddaughter was a 4 pounder, and come home in days--BUT she is still at a higher risk for RSV, and many other issues due to her prematurity. And when your grandson was in the hospital for 2 months, did your DD have insurance coverage? Did she go to the hospital regularly to hold and nurture him? If this mom does that, her other children will be ignored. YOU may think it is ok for them to suffer for a couple of years because Mommy is selfish, I do not. Kat

Laura you might end up with a child like mine.....no matter where she was, when she puked it ALWAYS was in my purse! I swear she could have been spending the night elsewhere and it would have projectiled across town to my purse......and THIS child is now grown and has a serious purse "thing"....she loves them, she loves the NAME BRAND ones. Her closet shelves are filled with Bags..... It isn't always the back seat of the car... Then again, you are used to dealing with cat issues, and you will be AMAZED the things you would do for your child. The day you hold out your hand trying to catch what they are fixing to hurl, you get a new Mom badge! LOL Kat

I believe most people, be it a smaller family or this one, can and would behave well if they had a camera filming them. We have no idea who cared for these 6 or really how they were cared for until the spotlight hit due to the 8 babies. It has been an issue with the family obviously or the womans own Mother would not be so fed up with her! I know to receive disability is not always an easy task, it often takes legal involvement to obtain. She receives it for herself and assitance for 3 kids..... It just boggles my mind why she would allow 6 embryos to be implanted....when she knew she was not raising her existing 6 without assistance. And while no, I am not going to get a bill in the mail for my share of the goverment aid they will receive....the money still comes from somewhere, and it is not HER pocket--the ONE and only person who made this decision. The ONE and only person who SHOULD be paying her own way in this debacle! There is a saying that if you are not part of the solution then you are part of the problem.....and while that is very black and white, I feel this situation is too, and she is without question, part of the problem. Kat