Tales From an Exhausted Medical Mama

Mini Mayhem has a UTI. Again. Despite coming in for the second time with respiratory distress, that has been overshadowed by a UTI both times.  Growth came back today, and her bacteria's name is Sue D. Moanus. Last time it was a dude named E. Coaleye. We changed gears today with IV antibiotics to one that will get rid of Sue. While getting her second dose, I laid down next to her in the bed and her arm board (which keeps the part of her arm straight where her IV is) was wet. The arm board and her bed pad got her antibiotic. Her IV leaked. So, although it's bedtime, we are waiting for the PICC team (IV experts with a cool handy dandy ultrasound machine to find veins) to come start another IV, she will get re-dosed on her antibiotic because the majority of it did not go to her and then she can go to sleep. I am more exhausted than ever. I am too old for all of this. Sleeping on concrete would probably be more comfortable than sleeping on what they call "furniture" here....

When a tragedy occurs, there are so many questions, some without answers. People search for reasons, for someone or something to blame. In moments of uncertainty and sorrow, we are reminded of the fragility of life and the unpredictable nature of the world we live in. As humans, we have an innate need for understanding. Curiosity drives us to seek answers, a reason or explanation for something we do not understand. Seeking explanations provides a sense of control, predictability, and understanding. However, there are moments in life when no amount of rationale or logic can provide a satisfactory explanation. Our reality is shaped by our own perspectives and experiences. What may make perfect sense to one person might be utterly confusing to another. It's like we're all living in our own little bubbles of understanding, with occasional overlap but plenty of room for misinterpretation. It is natural in unexpected and unexplainable incidents for people to speculate on the event...

  WHAT in the state of New York who is not even heavily affected by this but is known to be heavily populated by rates, west side US mess is this? Y'all, we are starting to see the end of times. IJS You west side folks, stay on your side of the United States.  Here's the article I came across. Rat disease with no cure kills four people in US as it spreads to humans ©Provided by Metro “A rodent disease that can be spread to humans and has no cure has killed several people in the US and prompted a health warning. Cases of hantavirus, which is spread from rodents to people through viral droplets from handling materials with the animals’ urine, saliva or feces, are on the rise, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. From the beginning of January to the start of July this year, seven cases of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome have been confirmed in Arizona. Three of them resulted in death. The syndrome ‘is a severe and sometimes fatal respiratory illness caused by the ...

  Until recently, it had been a good minute since Mini Mayhem had a hospital stay. I try to keep some necessities packed in a bag for times we must leave in a hurry or to make it easier for things to be brought to me later if admitted. So if we are doomed to stay, I want to be prepared. Besides the obvious needed items of clothing and toiletries, I MUST  have coffee. I bring my own coffee, stored in an airtight plastic container. I have coffee creamer, powdered for emergency use but if time allows, I pour my liquid creamer in a bottle with a lid that is used for breast milk. If there is not a refrigerator in the room, I keep it in a bag in the family room refrigerator. People don’t generally mess with breast milk so they will leave it alone. 😂 I know it’s coffee creamer, but pilferers are none the wiser. I have a collapsible tea kettle for boiling my water. It smooshes down flat and has a nifty storage case and most importantly, I have my coffee maker.  I used a stainles...

The frustrating tango of progress and setbacks is enough to drive even the most patient person up the wall. Just when you think you’re making headway, OH! Here’s a curveball, leaving you feeling like Sisyphus pushing that ludicrously huge boulder up the hill. I am not “into” mythology but do know the tale of Sisyphus. Admittedly, it is primarily because I found his name to elicit a giggle and wanted to know who he was. I will briefly tell his tale at the end if you are so inclined to continue reading. The worst of the UTI is over and Mini Mayhem is back to herself for the most part. She is STILL NOT tolerating BiPAP. The “scuba” mask didn’t work. It started out well, but she was just not feeling good and wasn’t up to being feisty and messing with it. They hoped it would work since it covers more area and could help make the air feel less forceful. It was a little big and one RT meticulously cut out a barrier to take up space and protect her face. It ended up on the floor, so it had to...

I don’t watch or read the news much at all. It’s depressing. I got online today to read about the Microsoft issue, saw something for Memphis news and wound up reading this article.  🠊🠊🠊  Read the News Article Here!  🠈🠈🠈 After reading, I was like what in the name of Mud Island, Elvis, roads filled with potholes deep as the MS river, US ranked second most dangerous city, home of Gus’s world famous chicken messed up story is this???  I guess it makes perfect sense that a city could lose an obscene amount of money in a phishing scam without anyone noticing until it is long past the time to get it back. Why would the people responsible for managing the city's finances bother to double check where their funds were going? Did the construction company not notice that for two years they were not being paid? Maybe it’s just me, but if I was in any way responsible for making those type of huge payments, and I received information to change the routing of payments, I think...

It appears that some people missed the memo on basic human decency and are stuck in a perpetual cycle of spewing hate. It truly baffles me why people can't just keep their negative comments to themselves. Bless their hearts.    Freedom of speech is a fundamental right, an inherent liberty, that should be valued and defended. However, freedom of speech doesn't mean freedom from criticism or accountability. The reality is that our words have power and with that power can come great influence or extreme consequences, sometimes both. Folks apparently aren’t thinking clearly when they feel the urge to type a nasty comment. They should really take a moment to consider whether it reflects more on the recipient or their own character. By all means, exercise your right to free speech, just remember dear, “Peter Parker” that " with great power comes great responsibility". Why do people find it so unfair that people might not agree with their offensive or ill-informed opinions ...