My Latest Bout With Asthma

Well, here I am a 2:00 AM.  Can't sleep because I am all hyped up on asthma medication.

Here's how I got to that situation.
Last Sunday night, I started feeling bad, coughing,figured I was catching some kind of flu bug.  Took a couple of Nyquil capsules,went to bed and coughed all night.
Called in sick to work on Monday.  Lynn suggested that I go see the doctor.  But do I listen, no, of course not.  It's just a virus, I said.  There's nothing they will do but give me a breathing treatment, charge me a copay and send me home. So I took some Dayquil capsules, and gave myself an Albuterol breathing treatment, and sucked on Ricola cough drops.

No better by Monday night, so I did more breathing treatment and meds and went to bed. Stephanie brought us dinner that night. Bless her heart!

Tueday morning.  Hmmm, no better, not worse.  No work.  Same as the day before but with more coughing.  Pizza for dinner - take out is my friend.

Wednesday, feeling some better, felt like I had to get my timesheet turned in, so I went to work, did my timesheet, answered a few emails and phone calls, ate more Ricola cough drops, then called it a day.  I think we had Wendy's for dinner that night.  Things in my brain were getting foggy by then.  Lynn has had no sleep for two nights, so he sleeps in the camper so he can sleep through my coughing fits.

Thursday dawned. With no improvement. Called in sick to work again.
By Thursday night I now have the whole right side of my head throbbing, eyes, ear, jaw, teeth hurting.  I go to bed, at least I know Lynn will have a good night's sleep again in the camper.

Friday morning, Lynn leaves with a buddy to go riding ATVs in the mountains. (This was planned before I got sick and he went with my blessing, so don't think he was being uncaring.) I told him I'd call the clinic and see if I should be adding or changing any meds.  I fell to sleep about 7:00 am and woke up about 11:30 am, can't believe I slept that long in one stretch!  Neither can the dog, she was pleading to go out.  I called the office and said I would not be there, AGAIN.

I called and left a message for the nurse at the clinic and she called back about 1/2 later.  Listened to my story, then after conferencing with the Nurse Practitioner asked my how quickly could I get there.  I said 5-10 minutes.

Let's see Oxygen Sats down to 90, sinus infection, ear infection, having an asthma attack that didn't clear up after a treatment of Duo-Neb (Albuterol & Atrovent combo),  They did get my Oxygen Sats up to 95 though.  So two hours later (not just waiting, but being gone over and poked and prodded), I left the clinic with a shot of Kenalog in my bottom, RXs for Duo-Neb, Prednisone, and orders for a chest xray & blood work at the local hospital.  By the time I got back home and let a very anxious dog out again, Alan got there.  I was in no mood or shape to drive by this time, so he drove me to the pharmacy to drop of the prescriptions, then took me to the hospital for the tests and back home.

Xray showed no pneumonia, but hyper-inflated lungs due to asthma, the NP called in an antibiotic to clear up the sinus infection and the ear infection.

Dear Alan went back to the store and got my meds.  Lynn says that was nice, but Alan stills owes me for the the trips for Dr & meds when he was growing up. Ha Ha.

Went back to see the NP today (Saturday) and she said I was much improved, but she was worried that I might have needed to be hospitalized yesterday.

So after a long story, I have learned that Duo-Neb, Prednisone & Kenalog can make one very sleepless.  I have also learned that I need to go to the professionals and not try to self-diagnose something that can be life-threatening.  And, yes, Lynn is have the last laugh, with "You wouldn't listen to me when I first told you to go, would you?".  Yeah, yeah, yeah, I shoulda listened.

Granddaughter announcement!

Christin's ultrasound showed that she & Kevin are expecting a girl.  How exciting!

Maisy had her surgery today.  I can pick her up from the vet tomorrow.  I hope she doesn't stress too badly from being in a strange place & in pain.

Update 01/08/2011 - Starting again!

Well, it's been 1 1/2 yrs since I last posted.   Not sure anyone actually reads this anyway, but at least it can be a sort of journal, since I am so terrible at keeping up with a journal.  

Lots has happened since then. Alan returned from his mission in March 2011, then got married on 11-11-11.  So we have a new daughter in the family.  Malynn Morris is such a wonderful addition to the Green tribe! We are so blessed to have her. They are living in Meridian now.

Kevin and Christin are expecting a baby in May, 2012 and hopefully they will find out what they are having on Monday!

In December we got a dog.  She was Kevin & Christin's and when they were no longer able to keep her, she came to live with us.  Her name is Maisy and she is a Chi-Doxie or Doxie-huahua, however you want to say it, but looks more like a dachshund than a chihuahua.  She is about 2 years old and is very obedient. She even sends herself into time-out when she knows she's done something wrong (like leaving a "gift" on the carpet).  But she only did that a few times until we figured out that she needs to be walked a little longer than just to piddle.  She also travels really well.  On Jan 2-3 we took David's camp trailer to Pinedale, WY and she rode along. She has definitely adopted me as the alpha dog, but she hangs out with Lynn when I am at work or gone on errands.

David and Kevin are both working in Wyoming for Mountain States Pressure Systems.  David is tired of living in a motel room, so is going to start using his camper.  It is 29 ft long with a slide-out for the living and dining area.  It is very nice and he will at least have a kitchen, so can save costs on eating out.  Kevin shares a place with his father-in-law in Rock Springs since he works out of there often.  Kevin is now a Supervisor and David is an Operator. They don't work on the same crew since it is dangerous work and if there is an accident, they don't want family members to be involved in the same accident.

In May 2011, the bishopric was released and a new one called.  Lynn was released and the 2nd Counselor and called as the Ward Mission Leader.  I was released as a family history coordinator and called as a ward missionary. I also do the weekly ward bulletin.

Today Steve was sustained and set apart as the Elder Quorum President in the Nampa 26th Ward.  Lynn was able to stand in while the Stake President set him apart. I know he will do a great job with that responsibility.

That's all for now.  I'll try to contribute more regularly from now on.

Changes at M & L Emission Testing

As of June 1, 2010, we have closed two of our four testing stations.  Also, on June 1st, Canyon County started emission testing.  We anticipate that future changes in the program for Ada County will see us out of business by the end of 2010.

Changes

Well this is the month where Ada County has gone to bi-annual emission testing.  Time will tell if we are able to keep all four of our stations operating.  This not only means a 57% reduction in emission tests to be performed county-wide, but the fee was changed from $15.00 per year to $20.00 every two years.  So basically we got a reduction in fees of $5.00 per test, while expenses are always rising.  The gov't says that small business is the backbone of America, but you couldn't tell that by the way they manage to stick a knife in our back at every turn.  Then taxing us to death on top of everything else.  Wish us luck!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Program page 2

Makindra & Carson's Christmas Program