RT UPDATE

[amand_r]

For those of you who don't know, kidlet has been struggling with some illness or another since the beginning of September, and Friday we had our third doctor's appointment when they finally decided to do a chest x-ray. In the meantime she was started on some prednizone for her crackling chest, and we are continuing to try to use the inhaler.

Saturday morning the doctor called to say that the chest x-ray revealed pneumonia, so she has also been started on a z-pak. So.

I haven't really been on my best game, and I'm sorry. Nano has fallen by the way side. I was up every two hours last night to check on her respiration, and TBH, it wasn't because I set an alarm, but that I just keep waking every 2 hours, have been for the last few weeks.

I'm slightly worried because my insurance, it sucks, so we had to go to an urgent care and they just sent me a bill for 155 bucks, etc, and since her doctor visits aren't preventative care, I have to pay like 100 bucks per visit, not to mention whatever they're going to charge me for the breathing treatments. The bill for her inhaler and last antibiotic (which apparently didn't work) in October was about 80 bucks.

That said, I have the money. I just don't like to dip into it.

I was driving home from the doctor's, worrying because they said that if this doesn't clear up, or if it comes back next year we'll have to have the asthma talk, and I was thinking about what THAT would cost, etc etc, and I realised that this? This is nothing. I have the money to pay. It won't be nice, but I can pay it and it won't be on credit. This is not the end of the world. She has pneumonia, not leukemia or something else. We have a roof over our heads. My job is raising my daughter, and I get paid for it. I have been writing, and my first story is coming out next Monday (non-profit, no biggie, but nice). These bad things will pass, and they're not really a big deal. It's not cholera. It's not a hurricane.

I love my girl. And I am thankful every day that we have each other, and everything will be all right.

I'll be back on track later.

FIRST BATCH ON LEFT. BETTER BATCH ON RIGHT???


THE STRAWBERRIES ARE BLEACHING, AND THE SUGAR IS COMPLETELY DISSOLVED.


LOOK WHAT I FORGOT ABOUT:


Bye.

Comments

[wildeagain.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry for the cost and the stress and the uncertainty. Hang in there, like you state you are.

Is the prednizone helping? Is Kidlet still on doses of it?

Lovely food.

[amand-r.livejournal.com]

She just started the prednizone friday, so she'll be done around wednesday. we'll play it all by ear.

[pocky_slash.livejournal.com]

Were they able to hook you up with one of those inhaler spacers? I had pneumonia a few times as a kid and asthma... well, always, though it's been better in recent years, and I couldn't use a regular inhaler until I was sixteen or something. (I don't know, I'm an idiot, whatever.) The spacer (which is like a long tube with a facemask on one end) really helped when I was wee, though YMMV.

Like you said, raising your kid is your job. We're here to help or distract or whatever if you need it, but you don't have any obligation to be present or active or "on" if you've got other shit going on. THE INTERNET UNDERSTANDS.

Anyway, I hope that Viv starts feeling better soon (not being able to breathe is like, the absolute worst. And really hard to explain to anyone who's never been through it before.), and that things calm down a bit for you guys ♥ ♥ ♥

[amand-r.livejournal.com]

Yeah, we have a spacer and a mask! she's still a little iffy on it, but we try. Thanks! :D

[dremiel.livejournal.com]

::hugs to you both::

It such a crap feeling when your kid is ill and there is only so much you can do. Even without concerns about money (and yes, easier since you have it but still adds up).

Sam had asthma as a kid - mild but still kinda scary - Advair and Albuterol and one time that I had to call 911. He outgrew it all and is FINE. Sometimes there little tiny airways just need to get big enough that a little inflammation isn't a big deal.

I hope the antibiotics and steroids help her kick this. I know it is exhausting for you both!

[amand-r.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the pneumonia is concentrated in her left lung, so I am hoping all this will blast it out of there, and that we can stay away from asthma.

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

You are awesome, and damn good at your job. Vivi is beautiful and happy and WILL get healthy under your care. I know how hard it is, and many a time when things were rough I'd pull myself up and think about what is good, how yeah, the kid is sick or hurt but she (or he :) would get better. Damn, you made me tear up. Love you lots Mander.

But one thing. EWWW COFFEE POT!!!

[amand-r.livejournal.com]

YOU LOVE MY COFFEE POT. IT WAS GREAT.

ILU TOO, BB.

[blue-fjords.livejournal.com]

Hey, sweetness. Oh, my dear Vivi. Take heart. I know each person is different, but I've had asthma since I was five, and pneumonia and bronchitis at various times, and I am a PERFECT VISION OF GOD'S LOVE AND UNICORNS. I know it's wicked scary to be a parent and unable to fix what's wrong w/ your kid, but speaking from the kid's perspective, we don't blame you and just want hugs. Looking back on the first ever asthma attack, I feel bad that my mom had to take me to the emergency room on her own (my dad was on TDY), but I am happy to report to you that she managed and came out all the stronger for it. There is light at the end of the tunnel! (And, not that I was accident prone or anything, but I had a special knack for needing to go the emergency room in the middle of the night when I was a kid, always when my dad was thousands of miles away. This, too, shall pass.)

Your Linzer biscuits look buttery soft and pretty! I send you huggles and best wishes for Vivi's health, and a dog. Milo wants to come for a visit.

[amand-r.livejournal.com]

BRING YOUR DOG.

Yeah, I used to have this knack for needing to go to the hospital when I was on vacation or at camp. Ooops.

We'll hang in there! <3

[azn-jack-fiend.livejournal.com]

Good luck on the treatments!

[amand-r.livejournal.com]

Thanks, man.

[azarias.livejournal.com]

Adding to the chorus of "I had that as a kid and got better." Serious bronchitis that tended to morph into pneumonia at least once a year basically until I was in high school. It was scary and it sucked, but once I got through the roughest bits of adolescence and my lungs caught up with the rest of me, it just sort of went away? Any my immune system these days regularly kicks the ass of anything that looks at me cross-wise.

[amand-r.livejournal.com]

This is heartening. :D

[amonitrate.livejournal.com]

Hugs. Poor baby. Pneumonia is no fun.

[amand-r.livejournal.com]

I have never had it!

shit. Jinx.

[51stcenturyfox.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry Vivi is so sick. :(

But yeah, good perspective. And she may not have asthma...I had all kinds of bronchitis and junk and pneumonia over a two-year period and am not asthmatic at all -- it was some weird fluke. I had to sleep sitting up for what felt like ages.

[amand-r.livejournal.com]

This is all heartening. I know that asthma isn't like a death sentence, but it would be better if she didn't have to deal with it, naturally. I am taking heart here.

[kel-reiley.livejournal.com]

*hugs* for you and the kidlet, hope it clears up soon

[amand-r.livejournal.com]

THX.

[jacquez.livejournal.com]

aww, poor kid! *shakes fist at pneumonia*

my one brother had pneumonia like 2309482309483 times as a kid. no one is really sure why, but he outgrew whatever it was & is now all grown up and a very healthy guy. I hope you & V are spared the zillion rounds of pneumonia but that she gets the super health as an adult thing anyway! :D

[amand-r.livejournal.com]

We have been pretty blessed so far in the illness thing. She had one ear infection when she was under a year, and that was about it. So I can't help but think we're overdue.

[tazlet.livejournal.com]

Hang in there - zpacs rule!

[amand-r.livejournal.com]

My last Zpac didn't work on me, but it was the first time it didn't! I still swear by them!

[walktheboat.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry that Kidlet isn't doing so great. There is nothing worse than someone getting sick and then worrying about the cost. As if simply being sick wasn't stressful enough. You have my sympathies and a virtual hug!

And have I mentioned how jealous I am of your food? It looks delicious and it's so pretty. Nano and classes have completely taken over my life so I've been surviving on Ramen and cereal.

[amand-r.livejournal.com]

Haaahahahah my cooking has been an outlet for frustration! I am so anal about the cookies.

Thanks.

[darthhellokitty.livejournal.com]

Awwww. I'm sure she'll feel better very soon. **hugs** to you both.

[amand-r.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[arsenicjade.livejournal.com]

You guys are so important to me. This post settled something in me. Also, if you ever needed anything, you know I would help, in a minute, right?

[amand-r.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I know. But yeah, we're okay. We'll be okay. I loff u too, you know. You have to come here so we can open our baked goods/porn store. "CHUCK'S BIG AND TALL LEATHER FETISH (GLUTEN-FREE) EMPORNIUM"

[mia-ugly.livejournal.com]

All my best to you and the kidlet. I hope she gets better soon! And take care of yourself too - it's easy to forget that, but so important.

[amand-r.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Yeah, I pampered myself with a big bowl of Frankenberry this morning. Awwww, yeah.

[lastrega.livejournal.com]

The Princess had asthma as a child, and a couple of nasty bouts of pneumonia that landed her in the hospital when she was <5. She grew out of it by her teens though. Of course, now she smokes, like an idiot, which can only be bad for her.

We had a humidifier for her, which helped a lot when she was unwell, and as someone else mentioned a spacer is essential. Little kids don't have the coordination to use an inhaler properly.

[amand-r.livejournal.com]

Haaahaha I barely have the coordination for an inhaler. Her humidifier looks like a penguin!

[misswinterhill.livejournal.com]

YOU HAVE A CROCHET COFFEE POT HOLDER. I swear to god there will be a fish hat when I find the fucking thing. I put it specially in a special box for special being able to find it when I'd moved. Yeah, you know the story.

Thinking of you guys. ::hugs::

[amand-r.livejournal.com]

MY AUNT MADE THEM FOR ME. i HAVE POT HOLDERS. iT'S ACTUALLY A TRIVET, THAT THING, BUT IT DOES WELL FOR THE COFFEE POT AND FOR KEEPING HOT COOKIE TRAYS FROM THE TABLE SURFACE.

[sivatheminty.livejournal.com]

I hope she feels better soon!

[amand-r.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Me too!