Not sure what to title this blog. I know I don't ever have very creative titles, but I did warn you I am an engineer not a writer. Even attempting to write a blog is a HUGE step for me =)
Anyway, I was having a pity party for myself - mentally at least and maybe a little to Bo, my mom, and Amy - after taking EC to the pediatrician today.
10:30AM Yep, I broke down and took EC to the doctor. Her fever came back again last night. It was the third time in one week. She also had a slight rash develop on her chest.
I hate going to the doctor's office. I'm always worried we will pick up something. I think sick waiting rooms are disgusting. Please tell me I'm not the only one...
We were in there for 45 minutes. And of course every small child that walked by HAD to peer over at Annabelle. Some children even started coughing while gazing at her. Awesome.
12 PM We were finally taken to the back rooms. We waited another 20 minutes. Try entertaining two children in a tiny waiting room. I then thought about my friend Mary who has taken at least three, if not four children (all a year apart) to the doctor by herself before. Yeah, it could be worse.
Then they swabbed EC's throat for a strep test. EC was not a fan. After that they wanted a urine sample. The choices were to cath her or for me to attempt to catch it in a cup. Yes, really.
I toted EC on one hip and Annabelle in her carrier on my other arm to the bathroom and shut the door. Placed Annabelle in a corner. Finally convinced EC to take off her shorts. Placed her on the nasty public potty (okay, so it looked pretty clean, but we all know it wasn't). I eventually convinced her that she needed to peepee in the cup a little then she could finish in the big girl potty. Have you ever tried to catch someone else's urine in a cup? I hope you never have to and yes I know urine is sterile, but that didn't help. There are only two people I would ever do that for - Bo, you are not one of them =)
Why did they not have something for her to peepee in and then pour it into the cup?
Why did EC's Motrin have to wear off, so she would be so whiney and want to be carried everywhere? I rarely ever carry/pick her up any more.
I promise this post is not just me venting... I do have a point.
1PM Strep and UTI tests came back negative, so off we drove to the diagnostic center for a blood draw and an xray. Oh how I wished our parents lived closer so I could have called someone else to watch Annabelle. I finally broke down and called Bo - knowing he was in a meeting at work. He doesn't mind me calling and asking for help, but I hate interrupting his work day. He doesn't say I'm interrupting, ever, but I feel like I should be able to do this by myself. He's working at work, I'm working at home taking care of the kids. I sort of feel like a failure if I have to call him for help. I know. I'm ridiculous.
However, I had no clue what we would do with Annabelle while I took EC back for an xray. So Bo came to our rescue.
Getting lunch on the way to the diagnostic center was such a hassle. I'm so glad Amy called to talk.
Everything had been so frustrating, but in the back of my mind I kept telling my self that I had nothing to complain about. There are people out there with real problems and challenges that they wake up to every day. But it was all such an ordeal.
In the waiting room, a lady offered EC some of her crackers and she took them. Lovely. It was nice of the lady, but all I could think about were the germs...
2PM We finally got back to the area for the blood draw and the lady working the area was super backed up. She had just spent 45 min talking a 17 year old into letting her draw blood. So we took EC to another area for the xray. EC did okay considering it was "past my nap time" as she told the tech.
Back at the blood draw area we ran into a guy and his son. While the son (29 yrs old) was having his blood drawn, I was talking to his dad. Two weeks ago they found out his son, Michael, has Lupus. It took the doctors 7, SEVEN years to diagnose him. They are now struggling with Medicaid to work out a treatment program that is supposed to help him, since there is not a cure.
Okay, I'll catch my daughters urine in a cup every day of her life Lord if you will spare us an illness like that. Not kidding. Point taken. Quit your whining and put your big girl panties on Emily.
Do you ever have experiences like this? You know you shouldn't be throwing a pity party, but it just feels like you can't catch a break? Some things I do/think to try to change my perspective:
First things first, pray. Hand it all over to someone who can really handle it. I know I can't handle it without Him! And the thing is, He doesn't ask us too. Amazing!
Often, I think about what Lisa said at bible study, "If the Devil isn't coming after you, you need to ask yourself why." He is obviously coming after me, so I must be doing something right!!
I typically call my mom. She is a very good listener. She will tell me to go put my big girl panties on when I forget them, but she does it in a very empathetic and gently manner. She has had such an incredible life, full of so many challenges. I constantly wonder how she did it. Sometimes she tells us she got through everything because there "wasn't any other choice" or she "didn't know any better". She is a very strong woman and hopefully she passed some of that down to me!
For some reason I always start thinking about my blessings. Not necessarily "counting them", but certain things pop into my mind and I'll just continue down that road with my thoughts to push out anything negative I may have on my mind.
What do you do when you are having a bad day and you feel like you cannot catch a break?
You could check out this little thumb sucker =)
Or this girl taking her own temp =)
