Infectious Disease Update

Oy vay.

What a long day. I decided this morning that i would not go to work since my foot looked worse and now, not only my foot, but my left knee really hurt. Hmmm?? Infection spreading? I went into see my family doctor who was really perplexed that i would get an infection while on antibiotics. He referred me to an infectious disease doc. Quite the specialty. Hadn't thought of that one before.

This guy was great. Very nice, very thorough and very smart. He gave me his theory as to what was going on (an antibiotic resistant bacteria) thus explaining why the abx I am on might not be getting to the root of the problem. He wasn't overly alarmed, which was nice (I'm sure he's seen MUCH worse). He suggested I do a course of IV antibiotics with a specific drug known to get those resistant bugs. So, i agreed.

After four sticks, they finally got my IV in (helloooooo! i have beautiful, plump veins!). They told me my veins "roll" and "blow." Hrmph. I'm not a big fan of blaming the patient for a failed IV. I apologize and tell them it was operator error. But I digress. Anyway, i got my first dose of abx in the office and was sent home with the IV in and instructions to give myself 3 more doses. I ran into a few neighbors when i got home and watched as they literally recoiled from me when i answered their question about the big bandage on my arm...Lovely.

I am so grateful that this is not that big a deal. Hopefully these super-antibiotics will kick in and kick butt soon so i can start feeling better. I am so grateful for my usual state of good health and hope to keep it that way. As i was getting my abx infusion i thought about all the people in the world who have stuff like this done all the time for more serious conditions (i.e. cancer and dialysis patients) and how hopefully this is just a small blip on my radar screen.

I Want Your Flesh

I woke up at 3AM today to terrible pain in my left ankle, right at the joint of the foot. I got up and couldn't bear weight on that foot and saw that it was red and bumpy and swollen. Instead of thinking, "hmmmmm, maybe i got a massive bug bite or maybe my sandals really rubbed me the wrong way" i thought, "great, i've got flesh-eating bacteria." That tells you the mind of a nurse. We care for and treat patients all the while wondering when we'll get "it" next, whatever "it" may be. While this might sound fatalistic, it can be a positive thing. It can make you appreciate your health and that of your family and count your blessings on a more regular basis.

Flesh-eating bacteria came to my mind in large part because I've been on antibiotics for a strep infection and strep is one of the flesh-eaters. The pain and redness came so suddenly that I was really alarmed. I called the ER hoping i could just talk to a nurse and see if my situation raised any red flags in her mind, but she said she couldn't triage me over the phone. I convinced myself that i was overreacting (all the while hearing my sister's word echo in my head about the fate of those who don't ask questions or take care of problems when they're small). I took some Tylenol and went back to bed.

I woke up a few hours later and was able to bear weight on it, although it still hurt quite a bit. I finally called the nurse advice line at the hospital when it opened. I was told that I should go straight to an ER, "not an after-hours clinic," but an ER. I was told I should have gone in the night. Not very reassuring.

Off we went, the whole family, to the ER (since I am a rules-follower and was told by the nurse NOT to drive myself). Luckily we were able to go to the ER at my hospital since it's slow and nice (slow in a patient census sort of way). I checked in and was seen immediately. The boys enjoyed the magnetic sandbox for the majority of time I was being seen (I think if i asked Doug one more time if he'd washed the boys hands...). The ER doc came in and asked what i'd been doing yesterday and he said i probably got a bug bite while hiking and now it's infected. I commented that that happened awfully fast and he said it can happen. How i got a bug bite where my shoes and socks covered my ankles, well, yes, anything can happen. I'm kind of doubtful but what other explanation is there? I did ask (feeling somewhat silly) about the possibility of flesh-eating bacteria. He very casually said, "It's possible." I guess the treatment is the same right now. Since I'm already on Keflex for the pre-existing strep, he lengthened that treatment. He added Bactrim to cover what other bacterium Keflex doesn't kill (including staph, the other flesh-eating-offender) and then i got a lovely shot o' Rocephin in my rear.

So now I just have to "wait and see" if the antibiotics help. If the redness and swelling spreads any further (the pic doesn't show it well) I've been instructed to return to the ER. With all of these antibiotics onboard it should stop growing and eventually go away. Hoorah for modern medicine!...

We are Siamese If You Please

We just returned from a wonderful outing to Garden of the Gods. I love that place. It's a city park and was donated to the city of Colorado Springs back in the early 1900's. Whomever donated it did it with the purpose of keeping it free and open to the public. No buildings were to be built on it (except for those needed to run and maintain the park). I love that. It's so beautiful--just a stretch of red rock amongst the snow-capped mountains. Seems out-of-place, but perfectly placed. A nice escape. Anyway, it's a gorgeous day here--HOORAH! Doug got up this morning, looked outside and said something to the effect of, "Now this is why we moved here" with a look my way. And then said he was very glad that I didn't pack up the kids and move back to DC...Idle threat, I know.

Oh, what a nice way to spend a day. We met our friends, Kristen and Matt and their kids Kate and Jack at the trailhead of a perfect little one-mile loop. The loop takes you up and around to the Siamese Twins and back. Bode is such a great little hiker. Lots of jumping over cracks and mud and horse poop. He and K and J have such a cute relationship. They all play so well together and they are the only children who Bode willingly hugs. Well, maybe he'd hug Zeke, too, but that's probably it. They all just really seem to like each other and it's very fun to watch. Keegen was totally content hanging out in the backpack.

/

We had a lovely little picnic after our hike. It's so nice to have a family to hang out with that we enjoy so much. Too often I have a girlfriend but her husband is sort of a dud, but in this case it just works out great. Sounds like one big happy love-fest, eh? SO happy the weather is gorgeous so we can plan more outings! Woo hoo!!

Grand Opening

Just wanted to note that Memorial Hospital North opened on Wednesday, April 25th. I worked today (what will be my usual 11A-7:30P shift). It's starting slowly and building up. We had 11 patients in the OR/outpatient surgery on Weds and six today. It's a beautiful facility, I like my co-workers and bosses and I think it's a good fit for me. Being on the slow side can make the hours creep by, but I think soon enough it will be very busy, so I should just enjoy it for now.

As a side note and something i want to remember, we went as a family to the community openhouse before the hospital opened back in March. They had clowns and food and music. The Chik-fila cow was there and the Colorado College tiger too. Now, whenever we drive by the hospital, if i ask Bode, "Hey! What's that building?" His response is, "That's mommy's workplace. That's where all the aminals are!" At first I didn't understand this aminal stuff until I remembered the mascots! Makes me wonder what he thinks I do all day?

Reasons I (Still) Love My Husband

He:

• puts up with my crap--meaning my attitude, crabbiness, rude comments; etc.

• is an incredible dad. Truly.

• supports me 100%. When i decided to go back to work, he was there with me figuring out logistics. Definitely a team player and i couldn't do it without him

self-portrait from many moons ago

does the dishes almost every night

is such a hard worker. At work, at home, wherever. Very strong work ethic. I hope that rubs off on our children

has a positive attitude (thus offsetting my negativity)

tries really hard to get something else done while taking care of the boys--meaning, he tries to clean a bathroom or make a bed, too

tells me he "doesn't know how I do it" when he takes care of the kids all day

truly appreciates me, warts and all (I guess that means he loves me unconditionally)

doesn't mind (or let on if he does) that i rarely make dinner

says, "I can make that!" in response to many of my "wants." And he can. He designed and built the window seat in our old house, in addition to the multitude of other fixes that house needed. So far in this house, he designed and built our built-in entertainment center. He has, no doubt, many other designs and plans swirling around in that noggin of his... who can find the baby keegen in this pic?

is super-smart and always thinking about better ways to do things

is the kind of dad who gets down on the floor and plays with the boys--trucks, trains, makes forts and tunnels, wrestles; etc.

is a bit of a kid, himself

is a problem-solver

still thinks to bring me flowers on occasion

encourages me to take time for myself (i.e. girls' nights, a pedicure, a spin class; etc.). I think I need to take him up on that more often...

makes a big deal out of birthdays, Christmas and Mother's Day

is easy on the eyes

only has eyes for me

I guess I could keep this in my "drafts" and work on it for awhile. I could certainly think of many more reasons. But I think this is a good snapshot of Doug. You get the gist. I often wonder how I got so lucky?!

Keegen 12 months

Keegs, at 12 months you...

• swat away any food on a spoon, presumably because you think it's that yucky baby cereal/baby food mix?? The one exception is yogurt. You cry for more YoBaby yogurt. Maybe it's like ice cream to you?



• like to feed yourself salmon, cheese, black beans, pears, avocado, cheerios, crackers, pasta & peas. Your favorite seems to be gnawing on a big strawberry



• are sippy cup resistant. A friend of mine assured me you won't be going to kindergarten with a bottle, but that's what people said about using the potty for a certain older brother, and i now have my doubts...



• FLY when crawling. i swear you are so fast. You're fast when cruising the furniture, too. You can stand alone for a second or two



• still take two naps. Probably to make up for the fact that you are still NOT a stellar nighttime sleeper. You typically wake up SCREAMING at 4-5AM for a ba-ba. You don't wake up slowly and increase the volume. You are immediately LOUD and will not stop



• love to play with Bode. He's psyched that you are getting better at that!



• giggle with your brother which makes me laugh too. Pretty dang cute, the two of you



• are a non-stop mover. You're still cuddly, but for just a brief second, then off you go



• like Crocs. To chew on. Pretty gross considering where mine have been, but i assume they are nice and lightweight and feel good on your gums?



• have 5 teeth. Two on bottom and three on top, but you chew like you've got a mouthful



• still put everything in your mouth--mulch, rocks, crud you find in the carpet, anything that may be a choking hazard



• will be playing just fine until you see me. Then you cry and whine to be picked up. I guess that's love, baby!...

Oh the Weather Outside is Frightful

So i called my mom up today and told her i was very seriously considering packing the boys up and moving back to DC. For a brief second she sounded kind of excited (and confused). I proceeded to tell her about the current blizzard conditions we are in and how fed up I am with it! It is the end of April and we are getting a foot of snow. Come on! In all seriousness, if this is how Colorado winters are going to be, I don't know how long I can do this. One consolation is that I don't have to live through the hot and sticky summers in DC, but this is not a fair trade!! What's the addage about not being able to control the weather? I know, i need to get over it. But it really does affect my mood and attitude.

We (me and the boys) ventured out today to get gas and with plans to go downtown to pick-up a CPR dummy for the class I'm teaching the girls going to camp. I got to the gas station here and after getting pummelled by the snow and wind found that the pumps were down due to the weather. Literally frozen. As well as the electronic system was down somehow related to the weather, too. And I am completely on "E." I never let it get that low! So after waiting around awhile I finally just coasted home with the kids. I called and made sure the CPR class was going to be canceled anyway due to the storm which it is. That was our big outing for the day. So the TV has been on A LOT...Some days I just am not motivated.