I am sick, but getting better B"H

I thought it was allergies but work up the next morning with fever, so I guess I was wrong! I am still sick but every day is B"H a bit better than the day before. My fever is finally down, but I am still achy and can't smell or taste anything. Even chocolate just tastes sweet, not chocolaty. It is really odd.

Last night I made pumpkin muffins (proof that I am doing better!) and the kids love them, but I can't taste them at all. I stuck one in the freezer so I can eat and enjoy it when I can taste again. :)

My calcium crashed a bit from the fever, but B"H I was able to recover it with oral medication.

I refilled my thyroid medication and it seems they have switched manufacturers. It is the same address, but a different name and the bottles and pills look a bit different. I am not happy at all. Being sick and finding this out at the same time was a bit overwhelming. One of my most important ant-cancer drugs is my thyroid medication and if this new supply is cheaper, as it appears (the letters on the pills aren't as clear and they just don't look proper) it could cause real trouble.

I am going to have as my doctor to start following my thyroid levels with more regular blood tests again. I am really uncomfortable with this change.

We are leaving for the states in 4.5 weeks IY"H. The countdown is on! I am glad I had a head start since I have gotten nothing done on my planning list once I got sick.

:) Still here, still busy

Today I made it over to a friend's house to say goodbye to her before she left on a trip to the states and then to the mall where I miraculously managed to bring home two pizzas (I had coupons) and two new rolling suitcases (and my pocketbook and an ice coffee) by bus. I am a little sore from the effort, but B"H no worse for the wear.

It is the first time I left the house since last Wednesday. I really prefer staying home, but getting the errands off my head and behind me is a huge relief.

We now have carry on bags for everyone big enough to be responsible for one.

I started in earnest on packing lists today. My goal is to keep what we are bringing to a minimum without forgetting anything essential.

And allergies have hit my full force. It seems our pine trees are in bloom. My front yard is green from the pollen and I just can't stop sneezing and inside my ears and mouth are itchy.

I had several years here without major seasonal allergies, but I guess we have been here long enough to acclimate (and sensitize) myself. :) I am working on convincing myself that that is a good thing!

All in all, life is B"H good, a bit on the boring side but we really appreciate that around here!

I passed!! I did it!!

One try for the written test, a bunch of lessons and now I just passed my practical driving test!

Tomorrow I have to go down and pay some more money and pick up my temporary license.

I am incredibly exhausted, but so relieved. You would think that after 14 years of driving it would have been a given that I was going to pass, but I was nervous none the less.

After my test, before the results, a good friend took me out to a bagel place for lunch. I was a bit too wired to be hungry, but I enjoyed a blueberry muffin and a really rich and yummy thick hot chocolate drink. It was a lot like hot chocolate pudding in a glass with a spoon, totally decadent and hit the spot.

I am totally exhausted, but it was a very good day.

Drivers license test tomorrow!

I have had my license since I was almost 17, but now at 35 I am facing my second license test. The failure rate here is 50%, so I am a tad bit nervous, but IY"H it will be just fine. 50% isn't less than 1% and I know how to beat those odds (whether I want to or not!) so hopefully I can beat these too.

My other goods news, I bought and tried melatonin and I love it. I am finally sleeping at night and though I am still exhausted during the day, at least I am sleeping at night. Not spending hours at night laying in bed with my mind racing, unable to fall asleep, is a huge blessing.

I am not sure when my list making will happen now, but my stress level is certainly lower!

This shouldn't be so hard.

A vacation should not include wondering if IV saline can be putting into checked luggage without bursting or coordinating doctors and nurses to order labs and be ready to give IV medication.

The hard part should be the itinerary, which museums to go to, and the rental car.

I wish we could take a vacation from everything medical. From my stuff, from my sons medical stuff, from it all.

I really want to go, but there are so many things to coordinate, and then I start sounding obsessed or worried when I just feel busy. An IV dependent woman traveling with a tube fed child with supplemental oxygen needs is a train wreck unless everything is coordinated and planned out.

We need plug adapters to charge things on our layover and when we get to our destination, oxygen on the plane, medical clearance to fly, letters for the security people, IV supplies, tube feeding supplies, spare feeding tube, portable oxygen concentrator and paraphernalia, pulse oximeter, tape, formula, meds for a month for everyone, plus all of the normal things.

I guess I am obsessed. My brain is pretty stuck. This is my second post on the same topic.

But I think considering out situation, my need to plan is pretty normal. I think that my work planning and figuring it all out is the only reason that we can make the trip, and the reason we may be able to get through it smoothly and enjoy it.

We have just over six weeks until we go, and I can see that things are working out and falling into place. I have also started shopping. We got my son the cutest suitcase for his birthday. It is a ride on toy and a suitcase all wrapped up in one. http://www.amazon.com/Trunki-Ruby-Red/dp/B004AVQ22U/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&qid=1305498220&sr=8-17 - there is a cute video on this listing (we got it cheaper but where we got it there is no video). His birthday is right after we get to the states, so the timing was good.

We also started gathering our suitcases, dusting them off after years of storage in the eaves, and figuring out what we have and what we need.

That part has actually been fun.

I am sorry

I actually had a couple people contact me about my lack of updates. I am here. I am okay. I am just busy, tired and boring.

Most of what is going on in my head is mostly unrelated to me and health. I am busy trying to plan and figure out the logistics for our trip to the US this summer. I had to figure out oxygen and get medical clearance for my son for the flight, have been figuring out luggage, carry on suitcases, itinerary, packing lists, fun and entertainment for the children on the plane and we aren't leaving for more than a month. I have to get everyones medications refilled, get any medications we might potentially need when we are gone, travel insurance, my IV fluids and meds, and pack still.

It is a lot. And I haven't been sleeping much or well. My brain doesn't turn off, so I lay down and think of things to remember, do or buy instead of sleeping.

Last night, for the first time in a long while, I slept. I finally got myself some melatonin and I am loving it.

My calcium has been up and down, but I have a friend and a sister in law who are both RNs and both willing to start IVs for me if I need. Thank God for them! I have a doctor willing to order labs, and the lab quoted me ~$70 for my most basic tests, though I know from previous experience that they will charge for the blood draw as well and add on more fees, at least the starting cost isn't too crazy.

I need to schedule a neck ultrasound before I go.

Next week I have driving test and hopefully get my license.

Things are busy, or at least my brain is, with pleasant things even if getting there isn't all that easy.