Well, I guess I have a longer road ahead of me trying to recuperate from this antibiotic, Cipro. I thought by one week I should be back to feeling well. Guess I was wrong. So far it has been two weeks. I looked on line for any issues with allergic reactions to Cipro and was astonished to find so many complaints-and pretty much the same symptoms I have been having. Not to mention that some people complained of having symptoms for a year after taking the medication. I think that was more for the ones that were told to keep on taking the antibiotic even after they reported adverse affects. It seems their infections were worse and they did not have much of a choice. I just took two doses and am amazed at the affect it has had on me.
Here I was again having to go home from work on Friday because the symptoms were so bad. I don't usually work on Fridays, but the kids were both off on Monday for Presidents Day and Allison was scheduled to work and needed a ride. Also, I had promised Scott a play date at the rollerblade rink with his friend Sammy. So I switched my day off and was scheduled to work in two different clinics on Friday. I had parked in the back of campus, and by the time I had walked uphill to the other side of campus(about a 15 min walk outside), hauling my laptop behind me, I was out of breath, dizzy, and nauseous. My heart was racing, my mouth was dry and my hands went numb and were shaking so I couldn't even type my notes on the computer. I started itching again and had muscle cramps in my legs to the point where I could barely walk around the clinic. I managed to treat one patient and told the staff I was done for the day and had to go home. I was just glad I was able to drive myself home. I also decided I still can't handle caffeine which I had in my morning cup of coffee. You are not supposed to mix the antibiotic with any caffeine drinks so I still must have enough of this drug hanging around inside me to react again. I had to switch to decaf coffee for my morning breakfast which I seem to handle better.
But once again I was very limited by what I could do for the entire weekend and mostly I slept because my head felt so foggy. I did manage to sit down at the computer and fill out a formal complaint to the FDA concerning my reaction to the medication. The pharmacy actually provides you with the FDA hotline to report any problems. Most comments online report that Cipro ruined their lives. They report they were all healthy before they used this drug and that it is pure poison and most of the reports came from people in their 20s to 50s . So I am a little surprised that it is still being prescribed. Guess there are not enough people complaining yet. I just hope I never get Anthrax because that is the drug they prescribe!
Fortunately we had a pretty slow weekend and Tom was around to play chauffeur. He took Allison to an SAT review session on WEds. night. Allison had taken a practice exam a few months ago, so they provided the results and made recommendations on how to take the test and boost your score(which Allison needs to do). She actually did pretty well, but would benefit from a higher score for college applications. I already have her signed up for a review course starting next week since she plans on taking the real test in March. By the way, the SAT comes in 3 parts now-Math, English and an Essay. Allison also had to work Saturday night and Sunday afternoon, so Tom was able to let her practice driving as he took her to work. She also had a full day Saturday to get some homework done. Friday night we had a few girl scouts over to prepare for our Up All Night weekend this coming March 3-4 at our local Mall. My girls are manning a craft table all night long for Junior Girl SCouts starting at 10 pm until 530 am on Sunday morning. The girls have helped run this program since they were in 6th grade and they really have a lot of fun(then we just sleep the next day). They especially enjoy eating chinese food at 3am.
Scott had his first Up All Night event this past weekend with the boy scouts, but he actually went to sleep around 3am. The boys were guests at a local firehouse and had a tour and then watched movies and ate snacks. Tom picked Scott up at 7am and he came home and slept until after noon. Sadly he missed his last swim lesson, and since I did not get a chance to sign him up for the spring session we found out that all the classes are full. (of course). Scott had a pretty light weekend for homework and studying since he just finished his second school semester, but he still had a few projects and tests to prepare for next week. Tom also spent some time with him working on his Science FAir project. I had him studying for his most recent novel, The Master Puppeteer. We had some cramming to do with his studies last week for a few tests since the semester was coming to an end. But it looks like he will be bringing home a nice report card once again, and he actually improved in several of his subjects. He is just counting the days until summer vacation!
I did manage to get out with Allison for hair cuts on Saturday(I think I slept through mine!). February was hair cut month for the entire family, including the dog! I was just very sad to find out that the woman that has cut my hair for the past 8 years just quit. And I can't get anyone to tell me where she went or if she is still even working. So Allison and I had to switch to a new stylist that has cut Allison's hair in the past. She was fine, but not like the girl I used to have. I also had to go back to the dentist last Monday to show them my broken crown. They were shocked as apparently this rarely occurs. Of course the lab did not keep the original mold of my tooth, so now I have to reschedule and have the whole process repeated after they cut this broken crown off(which is cemented to my original tooth). What fun I am having. I go back to start the process all over again this coming WEds. I also spent Presidents Day at the doctor's office to have Scott checked out since it has been several weeks since he wiped out skiing and he was still complaining that his chest hurt. Tom was concerned that he might have a cracked collar bone or rib. Turns out the doctor believes he actually bruised the cartilage by his ribs and sternum since nothing seemed to be helping for muscle pain. I also think he kept reinjuring himself with gymnastics and swimming, but the doctor felt it was more important for him to keep up with the exercise. So we are killing ourselves trying to stay healthy!
I even managed to get Allison out Sunday morning before she went to work so we could shop for Prom Dresses at a fundraiser sale for the American Red Cross at the YMCA. She has a short dress already purchased, but wanted something a bit longer. She found a beautiful fuscia colored, ankle length dress with a black cremlin skirt underneath. Unfortunately there were not a lot of dresses in her size, but it was fun to look, and she is excited about this dress. It is also a very good brand for a good sale price. I just found out though, that the the prom date is the same weekend I was going to take the girl scouts camping for a 100th anniversary event. I just crossed that off my list. Instead I may be staying up all night anyway that weekend since they have an Up All Night After Prom party scheduled there at the Y for the high school students following the dance and they are always looking for parents to help out.
So I hope to survive another week! Big Happy Birthday wishes go out to Caroline and Clayton Bozyk who hit the Big 16 this past week on Presidents Day! And another Birthday wish to Susan (Seitz) who celebrates today! Also, I mailed out boxes to Dan and Dave so keep an eye on the mailbox this coming week.
Kathleen
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Sunday, February 19, 2012
I have spent the entire week detoxing from my Cipro antibiotic allergic reaction. I don't think my doctor was terribly happy to add "allergic to Cipro" to my medical record when I saw her last week. She insisted I have a stress test to make sure my heart was working properly. I was pretty sure all my troubles started when I took the medication, but I agreed to get the test.
I hadn't scheduled the appointment yet when I returned to work on Monday. According to the doctors at the emergency room, I was able to return to work on Monday. How wrong they were! I attempted to go to work on Monday. I made it to lunch. Of course my schedule had me running around to 2 different clinics as well as visiting a patient in their apartment. All that running around made me dizzy and sick to my stomach. I also checked my heart rate which was running around 106 beats per minute(I usually get to 82 bpm after an hour of cardiac aerobics!). Instead of heading back to our large out patient clinic, I walked right to my van and drove myself back to the doctor's office. They agreed my heart rate was high and still insisted I get my stress test done. They also told me to switch to drinking water only, and watch my sodium intake and no chocolate(it has caffeine). I tried to talk them into giving me a leave of absence from work for the rest of the week, but they only gave me an excused day off for Monday(big help). I made an executive decision and decided to stay home on Tuesday. Mostly I just slept on the couch, but I did manage to get up now and again and work on the computer, throw some laundry in the wash, do the dishes and scheduled my stress test for Friday. Each day I felt a little bit better but I wasn't sure what my stress test would look like if I started my exercise level with a 106 heart rate. And how cruel not to be able to eat chocolate on VAlentine's Day!
Actually, Tom and I celebrated VAlentine's Day on the Saturday before. I had already purchased concert tickets, so I figured I could handle just sitting listening to music and eating munchies and desserts with our neighbors who joined us for the evening. Tom did buy me a black and white photo of birch trees with our wedding anniversary date carved in the side of one of the trees which was kinda cool. I had picked him up a dozen roses. But this was the first year that I really didn't have to go all out for the kids. Allison received a few Valentine cards and candy, but did not give any out. Scott's class stopped giving out Valentines too, but he did exchange a box of chocolates with our next door neighbor's daughter(same age). She had him over last weekend for dinner and a movie! Her live in grandmother made them both dinner, and they watched "The Mask of Zorro". I think this was Scott's first official date! Oh no, I am not ready for this.
So Valentine's Day was pretty low key. I did manage to make heart shaped pasta and red pepper sausage for dinner, and Tom bought cannolis with chocolate sprinkles(which I couldn't eat until after my stress test). We did break down and made chocolate chip cookies with candy hearts just for ourselves(still couldn't eat them myself because of the chocolate). But they disappeared pretty fast anyway.
Tom helped me out on Thursday by taking Allison to a long piano lesson so she could make up for the one she missed last Thursday when I went to the hospital. He also had Friday off, and so did Allison, but she had to work. Tom ended up taking Allison to work and I went off to a very large hospital just north of Baltimore. I was hooked up to the heart monitor and met the cardiologist who ran my test and wanted to know where I was from(he recognized my midwestern accent since he was from Chicago himself). I did not hold it against him that he did his premed at Uof M either!. They figured I had been on a tread mill before, but I never actually had. (I don't trust them, and I would rather go for a walk outside than on a moving belt-plus I don't run). So that was a first for me. They keep increasing the speed and the angle of the treadmill though so you have to hold on. I finally asked to stop when he had me jogging on an incline-only because my arms were beginning to hurt holding on and my mouth was unbelievably dry that I could no longer answer his questions. He said my heart was in great shape and that I was dehydrated. So much for just drinking water! He told me to go home and drink Gatorade. I did get my heart rate up to 170 which freaked me out. He said it was probably due to the dehyrdation. So all weekend I have been drinking Gatorade and feeling much better every day! I am still a bit dizzy and itchy, but mainly my headache is gone. So in the words of Mark Seitz "Just say No to Cipro!"
And speaking of medical issues, I would like to thank Mom Seitz for the great newspaper articles on shingles. I did take the most recent articles into my doctor and read the part to her that says the FDA has now approved the medication for those 50 years and older. She said it must have just been changed this year as Kaiser was still following the 60 yr rule. However, I am still too young for the 50 year old cut off. She said they can't just give me the vaccination-they would get in big trouble and it could actually be worse for me. So for all of you 50 and over, I would recommend checking with your doctor to see if you can get the vaccination. Not so sure if the insurance companies and medical clinics have caught up to the new age recommendations yet though.
I had dropped SCott off to school on Friday before I went to the doctors. Scott had an outing that day to our local original church in Olde Ellicott City. OUr church is 90 years old-the original church of St Paul. Same place where Babe Ruth was married. They were celebrating mass there and also acknowledging the elevation of our Baltimore Bishop Edwin O'Brien to Cardinal in Rome this weekend. Cardinal O'Brien will be heading back to Baltimore to maintain his residency. He is the Bishop that oversaw Allison's confirmation. Since Scott is in the choir, they got the balcony seats and sang for the mass. Scott was in school, but Allison was off for Parent Teacher Conferences. Tom took her to work and afterwards they both went to see the new Chronicles movie. They both enjoyed it(about 3 teens who develop super human powers). While they were at the movies, I had Scott at gymnastics. Not so sure I should keep taking him though cause he is still very sore from his tumble while skiing and complains of his chest muscles hurting. Plus he has swimming on SAturday mornings. Tom took him to his lesson and then they were both off to a birthday party at DAve and Busters. Turns out the kids at SCott's birthday party had such a great time, they all wanted a Dave and Buster birthday too! That's both of my boys-trend setters. So Tom had SCott and the two of them were busy playing video games, but they took a break to eat at the new Wild Wings and watched the new Ghost Riders movie. Tom thought it was so bad, he fell asleep.
Meanwhile, Allison had her last customer service class in the morning, and then I took her home to work on her modifications to her Girl SCout Gold Award project. She turned in her proposal last summer but it was rejected. She then had to meet with the teen advisor for recommendations on modifications. She finally had some time to sit down and type up the changes. The GS Gold Award board members only meet once a month, and sadly we missed the February deadline. WE will have to wait until March now to hear if she has the approval to rebuild a handicap horseback riding ramp. She also had to contact her mentor for Shadow Day. I was hoping she would be able to spend a day during her Easter break, but the woman CEO wants to meet in two weeks. She has a busy schedule planned for Allison including several federal meetings, a tour of the Chemical company, a visit to the shipping docks and a sales pitch. She sounded very sweet-she was on the phone with Allison for quite some time, and even called back(before she headed out to Williamsburg with her mom). Allison was just concerned about getting done in time to make her SAT class. The woman assured her that they would be done before 6pm as she had her own Spanish class to attend. Allison is looking forward to playing hooky that day for the opportunity. Then in April she will attend the gala and have to present a report on the days events.
Sunday we spent the day studying with the kids while they worked on their homework projects and Tom and SCott started his Science FAir project. Cousin Eric's photos on his blog of his trip to India came in handy since Scott is studying the history of India and it's origins in Hinduism. We love the sacred cows!
I'll be off on Monday since it is President's Day and the kids are off of school. Allison has to work and needs a ride and Scott thought he'd schedule a play date with his friend Sammy and rollerblade too. I just hope he is up to it. Tom wants me to take him to the doctor to get an xray. Meanwhile I will be heading to the dentist in the morning to remove my broken crown. It only lasted a day and a half. I am falling apart!
And I see some of the daffodils have started blooming-about one month too soon! Tom wanted to know if it was St Patty's day next week(his internal clock is off too!).
Kathleen and family
I hadn't scheduled the appointment yet when I returned to work on Monday. According to the doctors at the emergency room, I was able to return to work on Monday. How wrong they were! I attempted to go to work on Monday. I made it to lunch. Of course my schedule had me running around to 2 different clinics as well as visiting a patient in their apartment. All that running around made me dizzy and sick to my stomach. I also checked my heart rate which was running around 106 beats per minute(I usually get to 82 bpm after an hour of cardiac aerobics!). Instead of heading back to our large out patient clinic, I walked right to my van and drove myself back to the doctor's office. They agreed my heart rate was high and still insisted I get my stress test done. They also told me to switch to drinking water only, and watch my sodium intake and no chocolate(it has caffeine). I tried to talk them into giving me a leave of absence from work for the rest of the week, but they only gave me an excused day off for Monday(big help). I made an executive decision and decided to stay home on Tuesday. Mostly I just slept on the couch, but I did manage to get up now and again and work on the computer, throw some laundry in the wash, do the dishes and scheduled my stress test for Friday. Each day I felt a little bit better but I wasn't sure what my stress test would look like if I started my exercise level with a 106 heart rate. And how cruel not to be able to eat chocolate on VAlentine's Day!
Actually, Tom and I celebrated VAlentine's Day on the Saturday before. I had already purchased concert tickets, so I figured I could handle just sitting listening to music and eating munchies and desserts with our neighbors who joined us for the evening. Tom did buy me a black and white photo of birch trees with our wedding anniversary date carved in the side of one of the trees which was kinda cool. I had picked him up a dozen roses. But this was the first year that I really didn't have to go all out for the kids. Allison received a few Valentine cards and candy, but did not give any out. Scott's class stopped giving out Valentines too, but he did exchange a box of chocolates with our next door neighbor's daughter(same age). She had him over last weekend for dinner and a movie! Her live in grandmother made them both dinner, and they watched "The Mask of Zorro". I think this was Scott's first official date! Oh no, I am not ready for this.
So Valentine's Day was pretty low key. I did manage to make heart shaped pasta and red pepper sausage for dinner, and Tom bought cannolis with chocolate sprinkles(which I couldn't eat until after my stress test). We did break down and made chocolate chip cookies with candy hearts just for ourselves(still couldn't eat them myself because of the chocolate). But they disappeared pretty fast anyway.
Tom helped me out on Thursday by taking Allison to a long piano lesson so she could make up for the one she missed last Thursday when I went to the hospital. He also had Friday off, and so did Allison, but she had to work. Tom ended up taking Allison to work and I went off to a very large hospital just north of Baltimore. I was hooked up to the heart monitor and met the cardiologist who ran my test and wanted to know where I was from(he recognized my midwestern accent since he was from Chicago himself). I did not hold it against him that he did his premed at Uof M either!. They figured I had been on a tread mill before, but I never actually had. (I don't trust them, and I would rather go for a walk outside than on a moving belt-plus I don't run). So that was a first for me. They keep increasing the speed and the angle of the treadmill though so you have to hold on. I finally asked to stop when he had me jogging on an incline-only because my arms were beginning to hurt holding on and my mouth was unbelievably dry that I could no longer answer his questions. He said my heart was in great shape and that I was dehydrated. So much for just drinking water! He told me to go home and drink Gatorade. I did get my heart rate up to 170 which freaked me out. He said it was probably due to the dehyrdation. So all weekend I have been drinking Gatorade and feeling much better every day! I am still a bit dizzy and itchy, but mainly my headache is gone. So in the words of Mark Seitz "Just say No to Cipro!"
And speaking of medical issues, I would like to thank Mom Seitz for the great newspaper articles on shingles. I did take the most recent articles into my doctor and read the part to her that says the FDA has now approved the medication for those 50 years and older. She said it must have just been changed this year as Kaiser was still following the 60 yr rule. However, I am still too young for the 50 year old cut off. She said they can't just give me the vaccination-they would get in big trouble and it could actually be worse for me. So for all of you 50 and over, I would recommend checking with your doctor to see if you can get the vaccination. Not so sure if the insurance companies and medical clinics have caught up to the new age recommendations yet though.
I had dropped SCott off to school on Friday before I went to the doctors. Scott had an outing that day to our local original church in Olde Ellicott City. OUr church is 90 years old-the original church of St Paul. Same place where Babe Ruth was married. They were celebrating mass there and also acknowledging the elevation of our Baltimore Bishop Edwin O'Brien to Cardinal in Rome this weekend. Cardinal O'Brien will be heading back to Baltimore to maintain his residency. He is the Bishop that oversaw Allison's confirmation. Since Scott is in the choir, they got the balcony seats and sang for the mass. Scott was in school, but Allison was off for Parent Teacher Conferences. Tom took her to work and afterwards they both went to see the new Chronicles movie. They both enjoyed it(about 3 teens who develop super human powers). While they were at the movies, I had Scott at gymnastics. Not so sure I should keep taking him though cause he is still very sore from his tumble while skiing and complains of his chest muscles hurting. Plus he has swimming on SAturday mornings. Tom took him to his lesson and then they were both off to a birthday party at DAve and Busters. Turns out the kids at SCott's birthday party had such a great time, they all wanted a Dave and Buster birthday too! That's both of my boys-trend setters. So Tom had SCott and the two of them were busy playing video games, but they took a break to eat at the new Wild Wings and watched the new Ghost Riders movie. Tom thought it was so bad, he fell asleep.
Meanwhile, Allison had her last customer service class in the morning, and then I took her home to work on her modifications to her Girl SCout Gold Award project. She turned in her proposal last summer but it was rejected. She then had to meet with the teen advisor for recommendations on modifications. She finally had some time to sit down and type up the changes. The GS Gold Award board members only meet once a month, and sadly we missed the February deadline. WE will have to wait until March now to hear if she has the approval to rebuild a handicap horseback riding ramp. She also had to contact her mentor for Shadow Day. I was hoping she would be able to spend a day during her Easter break, but the woman CEO wants to meet in two weeks. She has a busy schedule planned for Allison including several federal meetings, a tour of the Chemical company, a visit to the shipping docks and a sales pitch. She sounded very sweet-she was on the phone with Allison for quite some time, and even called back(before she headed out to Williamsburg with her mom). Allison was just concerned about getting done in time to make her SAT class. The woman assured her that they would be done before 6pm as she had her own Spanish class to attend. Allison is looking forward to playing hooky that day for the opportunity. Then in April she will attend the gala and have to present a report on the days events.
Sunday we spent the day studying with the kids while they worked on their homework projects and Tom and SCott started his Science FAir project. Cousin Eric's photos on his blog of his trip to India came in handy since Scott is studying the history of India and it's origins in Hinduism. We love the sacred cows!
I'll be off on Monday since it is President's Day and the kids are off of school. Allison has to work and needs a ride and Scott thought he'd schedule a play date with his friend Sammy and rollerblade too. I just hope he is up to it. Tom wants me to take him to the doctor to get an xray. Meanwhile I will be heading to the dentist in the morning to remove my broken crown. It only lasted a day and a half. I am falling apart!
And I see some of the daffodils have started blooming-about one month too soon! Tom wanted to know if it was St Patty's day next week(his internal clock is off too!).
Kathleen and family
Sunday, February 12, 2012
So here are the last two weeks in a nutshell(a very big nut I may add!) First off, Happy Ground Hog's Day! Happy 6 more weeks of winter. I think I can handle this winter. We have just had a bit of dusting of snow and mild temps all Winter. The worst is the ice actually. Last Saturday I took the kids to visit the snow! We headed to PA, about 1.5hr drive west of Baltimore to ski at Whitetail on Scout Weekend. Scott had his friend SAmmy sleep over after a 1/2 of school last Friday, and our neighbor's son joined us for his first time skiing. I figured this was the best time to go for him since he would receive a lesson. The hill was packed and everyone had a great time, but it started to snow big, wet flakes when we arrived. I was a bit worried about the drive home by myself. But it all turned out well. I knew it was time to go home when SCott wiped out, head over heels and complained that his chest hurt. I was simply wiped out. We skied from 10 am to 6pm with a lunch break, and actually had passes up until 10pm. I was just too pooped for more snow.
On Sunday I had to get Allison to work and Scott and I spent the day reviewing for a weeks worth of tests and getting his homework done. Then it was off to our friend's house for the Super Bowl game. I did not find it so Super, but it was fun to visit with friends, eat chili and catch a few commercials inbetween. I was cheering for the Patriots(time spent in Boston) and even had my last Super Bowl champion sweathsirt on in support, but it was not meant to be. ONly Scott and I enjoyed the night out since Tom was still in San Francisco and Allison had a paper to write and tests to study for-she stayed home. At least she did not have to play Field Hockey that night. And she is managing to have a bit of fun as she joined a group of friends from school that play a Dungeons and Dragons type game. She really enjoys just spending time hanging out with the group(and not having to study).
I have been wearing that poor girl out. Our GS Leader council asked her to give a presentation of the trip to Houston. She has been busy working on a power point presentation, on top of classwork. She put together some great photos and I had her write up a presentation. She did not get much time to practice, and unfortunately our video clips did not work at the GS facility(no internet connection there). But it was a great chance for her to practice making presentations. And I think she may have to present again in May at our annual Board meeting. She did a great job, even under a tight schedule. I had to run her to our GS meeting that WEds night just after I ran her out to a management class for work. She attended the WEds night management class instead of Saturday morning since we had planned on skiing that day. At least she gets paid for the classes!
And Congratulations to Allison for being chosen as one of the Girl Scout Distinguished Woman's shadow girls! She will spend a day with a women company CEO, following her around the work place. Allison has been chosen to follow a woman who owns a Chemical Company here in Baltimore. In April, Allison will have to present her day and her mentor.(See, practicing presentations comes in handy since you never know when you will have to speak!).
This weekend Allison had class again on Saturday morning(it is a 6week program) and then off to work on Saturday and Sunday afternoon. Friday night I dropped her and another scout off to work on projects for the Orioles game on June 24th, but I did not stay. I decided SCott had missed too many gymnastics classes. I wasn't terribly excited about the girls progress at their meeting though and I would have liked to have joined them(seems as if the in charge adults are holding them back).
NOt only his gymanstics class, but SCott also managed to get in a swim class on SAturday morning(since Tom returned home on Friday, there is extra help for the transportation issues). Scott also spent Saturday afternoon working on a school project at a friend's house. Sunday was dedicated to working on math with Tom(geometry) and his Dog Care Merit badge for boy scouts. I even got Tom and I a job at boy scouts(patrol supervisors) since the boys seem to have a bit of difficulty concentrating when they are working together at their meetings. At home, Scott had a huge report to type up that he has been working on for the Dog CAre badge since last summer. WE figured we might as well take advantage of having a dog. Scott even joined Cookie and I on her trip to the vet office last Friday. Cookie was due for a few shots, and seems she has an infection in her back paw. She cut it on the ice while we were playing in the yard and it developed an infection, so she is on medicine.
And speaking of medicine, I have had my fill lately. Last week I had a follow up doctor's appointment for my yearly bloodwork. I was also having a lot of pain in my foot, so I thought I would double check the possibility that I had developed gout. Turns out it is just good old arthritis. My doctor had given me prednisone since my neck was still bothering me from the whiplash. The prednisone really helps out aches and pains, but you can't take it very long. It was a godsend for a day of skiing though. I also seemed to have developed a bladder/yeast infection, so I was given two antibiotics. I had taken all my prednisone and my first antibiotic, and this week I was working on my second antibiotic, cipro. Seemed a bit extreme since that is the same medication they give for anthrax. But I started it Weds night and had another dose Thursday after a light lunch. I should not have had the caffeine in my coffee that morning, the two don't get along. My heart was racing and my blood pressure rising by 2pm. I was also itchy and had numbness in my mouth, feet and hands. Seems I was having all the worst side affects you can get. So my worried coworkers called for an ambulance and off I went to the Emergency room at the local hospital where I used to work. I was even cared for by a girl that used to work in our rehab dept. They kept me until 9pm that night and I went home with a horrible headache. I had to go back to the doctors office the next day for a check up. No more cipro for me! I still have to get a cardiac stress test to make sure I am in good shape. I am not so sure it is worth me going back to the doctor's office! Seems like I come out worse than I go in! And hearing about Whitney HOuston's death at the same age did not make me feel any better. Not to mention we just lost a mom in her 40's at the school this past week of a heart attack. Too close for comfort.
Since Tom was out of town, I had to rely on our wonderful neighbors to help out with the kids while I was lying in the ER-getting the kids to and from school, dinner. Allison kept everyone connected with facebook and I spent the evening texting on my cell phone. It's good to have a back up plan.
On top of all that, I finally had a follow up dentist appointment and I got my new crown put in place. Unfortunately, the crown broke two days after they put it in. So I will be going back there too!
I did also have my yearly review and it looks like I am at least keeping my job for another year(along with a raise and my yearly bonus). That is always nice.
On top of all that, I was busy making lots of pasta salad for the teachers during CAtholic School week, as well as for the Super Bowl Party(and the work staff enjoyed some too). I have also been busy registering SCott for summer camps!(yes summer camps).
So I am happy to say I am feeling much better. A big Happy Birthday to Eric Seitz who celebrated his 22nd birthday on Super Bowl weekend! Happy Birthday Eric. And sorry to hear of the loss of Stacey and Matt's two ferrets. Too sad.
I am sending along a few photos of the Lego Club (headed up by Tom)and their robot, along with ski pictures(SCott after a wipe out) and Allison and Alex hit the slopes.
Baltimore Blog-Kathleen
On Sunday I had to get Allison to work and Scott and I spent the day reviewing for a weeks worth of tests and getting his homework done. Then it was off to our friend's house for the Super Bowl game. I did not find it so Super, but it was fun to visit with friends, eat chili and catch a few commercials inbetween. I was cheering for the Patriots(time spent in Boston) and even had my last Super Bowl champion sweathsirt on in support, but it was not meant to be. ONly Scott and I enjoyed the night out since Tom was still in San Francisco and Allison had a paper to write and tests to study for-she stayed home. At least she did not have to play Field Hockey that night. And she is managing to have a bit of fun as she joined a group of friends from school that play a Dungeons and Dragons type game. She really enjoys just spending time hanging out with the group(and not having to study).
I have been wearing that poor girl out. Our GS Leader council asked her to give a presentation of the trip to Houston. She has been busy working on a power point presentation, on top of classwork. She put together some great photos and I had her write up a presentation. She did not get much time to practice, and unfortunately our video clips did not work at the GS facility(no internet connection there). But it was a great chance for her to practice making presentations. And I think she may have to present again in May at our annual Board meeting. She did a great job, even under a tight schedule. I had to run her to our GS meeting that WEds night just after I ran her out to a management class for work. She attended the WEds night management class instead of Saturday morning since we had planned on skiing that day. At least she gets paid for the classes!
And Congratulations to Allison for being chosen as one of the Girl Scout Distinguished Woman's shadow girls! She will spend a day with a women company CEO, following her around the work place. Allison has been chosen to follow a woman who owns a Chemical Company here in Baltimore. In April, Allison will have to present her day and her mentor.(See, practicing presentations comes in handy since you never know when you will have to speak!).
This weekend Allison had class again on Saturday morning(it is a 6week program) and then off to work on Saturday and Sunday afternoon. Friday night I dropped her and another scout off to work on projects for the Orioles game on June 24th, but I did not stay. I decided SCott had missed too many gymnastics classes. I wasn't terribly excited about the girls progress at their meeting though and I would have liked to have joined them(seems as if the in charge adults are holding them back).
NOt only his gymanstics class, but SCott also managed to get in a swim class on SAturday morning(since Tom returned home on Friday, there is extra help for the transportation issues). Scott also spent Saturday afternoon working on a school project at a friend's house. Sunday was dedicated to working on math with Tom(geometry) and his Dog Care Merit badge for boy scouts. I even got Tom and I a job at boy scouts(patrol supervisors) since the boys seem to have a bit of difficulty concentrating when they are working together at their meetings. At home, Scott had a huge report to type up that he has been working on for the Dog CAre badge since last summer. WE figured we might as well take advantage of having a dog. Scott even joined Cookie and I on her trip to the vet office last Friday. Cookie was due for a few shots, and seems she has an infection in her back paw. She cut it on the ice while we were playing in the yard and it developed an infection, so she is on medicine.
And speaking of medicine, I have had my fill lately. Last week I had a follow up doctor's appointment for my yearly bloodwork. I was also having a lot of pain in my foot, so I thought I would double check the possibility that I had developed gout. Turns out it is just good old arthritis. My doctor had given me prednisone since my neck was still bothering me from the whiplash. The prednisone really helps out aches and pains, but you can't take it very long. It was a godsend for a day of skiing though. I also seemed to have developed a bladder/yeast infection, so I was given two antibiotics. I had taken all my prednisone and my first antibiotic, and this week I was working on my second antibiotic, cipro. Seemed a bit extreme since that is the same medication they give for anthrax. But I started it Weds night and had another dose Thursday after a light lunch. I should not have had the caffeine in my coffee that morning, the two don't get along. My heart was racing and my blood pressure rising by 2pm. I was also itchy and had numbness in my mouth, feet and hands. Seems I was having all the worst side affects you can get. So my worried coworkers called for an ambulance and off I went to the Emergency room at the local hospital where I used to work. I was even cared for by a girl that used to work in our rehab dept. They kept me until 9pm that night and I went home with a horrible headache. I had to go back to the doctors office the next day for a check up. No more cipro for me! I still have to get a cardiac stress test to make sure I am in good shape. I am not so sure it is worth me going back to the doctor's office! Seems like I come out worse than I go in! And hearing about Whitney HOuston's death at the same age did not make me feel any better. Not to mention we just lost a mom in her 40's at the school this past week of a heart attack. Too close for comfort.
On top of all that, I finally had a follow up dentist appointment and I got my new crown put in place. Unfortunately, the crown broke two days after they put it in. So I will be going back there too!
I did also have my yearly review and it looks like I am at least keeping my job for another year(along with a raise and my yearly bonus). That is always nice.
On top of all that, I was busy making lots of pasta salad for the teachers during CAtholic School week, as well as for the Super Bowl Party(and the work staff enjoyed some too). I have also been busy registering SCott for summer camps!(yes summer camps).
So I am happy to say I am feeling much better. A big Happy Birthday to Eric Seitz who celebrated his 22nd birthday on Super Bowl weekend! Happy Birthday Eric. And sorry to hear of the loss of Stacey and Matt's two ferrets. Too sad.
I am sending along a few photos of the Lego Club (headed up by Tom)and their robot, along with ski pictures(SCott after a wipe out) and Allison and Alex hit the slopes.
Baltimore Blog-Kathleen
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