I'm Tired!

As most of you have figured out, I am not doing a Food Fanatic Friday AGAIN this week. I just haven’t had the time or energy to even think about a food post. You know what’s on my mind? Sickness. Two week ago, it was the flu. Of course Macy was the one who got it worst. It was a stomach flu that took her out of commission for days. Our days consisted of clothing changes, vomit buckets, anti-nausea medication, sprite/Gatorade, and very worried parents. Last week, after thinking she was much better, she got a UTI. Well, we thought it was a UTI. After being doubled over most of the day in pain, gagging over and over, becoming very lethargic in the evening, and urine that looked less than desirable….our nurse practitioner diagnosed a UTI. The antibiotics sure seemed to perk her up by the next day….we were on our way to recovery. During all this, McKenna’s nose started running like a faucet. 3 days later our doctor’s office called, and Macy’s urine came back okay. What? The antibiotics worked…she was feeling better?!?!?! What??? We have no idea!

Last Friday, we got together with some great friends, who were visiting from Ohio. McKenna’s nose was still giving her some issues, and that night after drinking some milk, she vomited on the floor of their hotel room. Yuck! Saturday morning, McKenna woke up a mess, and Macy was coughing. Seriously?? Can’t we get a break in this house? So I dosed Macy with some cough meds, and drove her to her friend’s tea party, while Jeremy headed with Big Mac to the doctors.

This is where the fun starts. After 30 minutes into the tea party, the mother calls me to let me know that Macy started coughing, and coughed so hard she vomited. She said she was fine otherwise, and was not wheezing or acting abnormal. I let her stay, but did head back over about 15 minutes early to get her. I am not kidding when I tell you that when I walked in, they seemed too relieved to push her out the door. The other mom’s gave me the “oh, your Macy’s mom” look. I don’t know if any of you other mom’s of special needs children get this look, but I get it a lot. Then one mom felt the need to comment how the fact that Macy didn’t eat anything…..wanting some sort of response from me regarding her usually eating habits or her weight. I really wanted to tell her to “mind her own business”, but said “well that can be pretty typical for any child when they have a cough with lots of mucus”. And yes, I said it a snotty tone.

I am just tired. I am tired of the “look”. I am tired of the comments. I am tired of having to give an essay to explain why my child is the way she is. I am tired of the anorexic mom that feels the need to say (with a head shake), “Your girls are just so little”, EVERY time she see them at pre-school pick up. I heard you the first time lady, and if you even had a clue what my AMAZING little Macy has been through, you might just want to crawl under a rock. I am tired of feeling the need to apologize to people (other parents, teachers, doctors offices), for “putting up with Macy”.

“Putting up with Macy” has been the most amazing part of my life so far. Yes it may be challenging, but I LOVE every second of it, and I wouldn’t change one part of it! “Putting up with Macy” has made me who I am today, which I think is a pretty good person! This little girl has touched the lives of most people she comes into contact with. I say “most” because there are those few who are quick to judge, quick to make assumptions, and never take the time to really know about her. Those people like the old gentleman at Meijer who said to Jeremy, “Dad you need to feed that kid. Get some meat on her bones.” That old man is SO LUCKY he didn’t say that to me!

Okay, I have ranted enough. I am guessing you all get that I have a pretty high frustration level right now……wonder where that came from? Oh yeah…..the sickness. Anyway, back to my story. Jeremy and Big Mac find out at the doctor’s office that she has an upper respiratory infection and an ear infection. They started her on antibiotics and 3 times a day breathing treatments, which by the way, we also started with Macy. So for 6 days now, we have been doing 6 breathing treatments a day. Macy was still coughing all week, spiked a fever on Tuesday night, stayed home from school on Wednesday, was sent home from school on Thursday for coughing so hard she vomited twice, and stayed home again today. To be honest, we are pleasantly surprised at how well she is doing. This has not required steroids or antibiotics, YIPEE! By Day 3 of McKenna’s antibiotics, she still wasn’t any better, so they switched her to another stronger one. By Day 4 (yesterday) of not being significantly better, they sent us to the hospital to have a lab (respiratory panel) done. It checks for things like flu and RSV.

So far today, with help of good old Benedryl, McKenna has not vomited, and is actually playing some and eating again. We haven’t heard back about the lab yet, so I take it as no news is good news  To top it off, Jeremy was out of town for 2 days this week, which left a very tired Mommy at home alone. My wonderful mother-in-law called and checked on me a few times and offered to drop everything to come help when I needed it! I love her! Are we nearing the end of this sickness, I hope so! When a double whammy hits, it sure takes you for a ride. I know sometimes it can be easy to look at the negatives, and lately (as you could all see from my rant), that is what I have seen. But during those times of trial, I have learned to look at the big picture for some of those positives. I know it may sound crazy, but I see many in this! I will leave you will one statement, “BRING ON THE SPRING!”
Have a great weekend, tell someone you love them!