It's about Time.....

Well,  everyone it's about time.  I finally get to go tomorrow morning to have my MRI done on my shoulder.  It's only been 2+ long months since the initial injury.  Maybe I wasn't forceful enough in demanding that it be done, like I was told to by my fellow medical co-workers.  Maybe I came back too soon, but in this economy I had to for financial reasons. 

With that being said on Monday the 18th I re-injured my shoulder again. Thus began the long wait for the MRI again.  If I hadn't called yesterday I'm quite sure that we wouldn't be getting the MRI tomorrow. Oh, the joys of workmen's comp. 

So tomorrow morning I get to be there bright & early at 06:45 for the prep then it's suppose to begin at 07:00 and lasting approximately 1 hour.  Then the waiting game begins for the results and follow up care/treatment.  Even though I've enjoyed my time with the kids & Lisa,  I want to get back to work.  I miss my co-workers, the commrodary, the flights, the BS that goes along with the job. Plus, we are in the process of moving our base to Granite City and I'd like to be there to help.  Cross your fingers and maybe this entire process will be over soon.  I'm hoping that it doesn't show something that requires surgery, but I'm not holding my breath.  I would just like to be able to do all the things that you take for granted without any pain. It's been too long since that's happened.  I'll make sure to keep everyone posted on how it goes.  

Talk to you soon.

Boo's Big Day Out!!!

Well we arrived at CG in style and ambulance yuck! We did get treated very well I must say transport nurses waiting at ER doors for us. It definately pays to be in this profession. (Well my husband thinks it is because of him didn't want him to think differently) sorry babe. Then it all starts to get crazy back and forth . Boo had the barium scan done and was drinking that nasty stuff from a bottle starving. And of course her nana was there saving the day. To help hold her and console since I am the big bad wolf. Nevermind daddy was watching her I am the gorilla that holds her down for all the procedures except the IV. (high five papa). So the radiologist states she doesn't see anything. We get back to our room I share this with Jack and Steph and here comes the ER physician. "Well I am going to have you talk to the surgeon now because they see it and need to get it out." Great you think you are going home and oh no you are not!!! This is like being a fat kid seeing a piece of chocolate cake and cannot reach it because your arms are to short and you can only see it from far away. !! Or in skinny terms having that far away feeling like someone just took something you had in your hand like a diet pill. So the surgeon comes in and says OR will be open in a couple of hours we will go in and get it. Risks and all she was going to be the bad word ADMITTED. How horrible it feels to be a mother and your little miss America going under so young. Devastation filled my body I can' t even describe. So with a couple of hours I decided to go to Steph's and get in a shower since I look like a train wreck no sleep! I get to Stephanie's take a 2 min. shower and Jack has called they are taking her up to surgery NOW!!!! It echoed in my mind like a bad dream I wasn't there and she wasn't going to see me first. Dad was gonna be the hero she saw before she went under. Speeding I get back to CG safely and guess what they decided it is either the cylinder she swallowed or and AIR BUBBLE much to my relief they were going to send us home. Wow all that in one day's work Anndee was excited double fisting graham crackers and drinking a juice box her starvation was coming to an end.

Thank goodness to all the parents reading this. Put you child proof pill bottles away yeah they make noise and are fun for the kids but boy leave a lasting mental impression not so exciting for the parents involved.

Boo's Big Day Out!!!

Well, the day started like any other,  I got home from a crazy night at work & Lisa had arrived a hour or so before me.  She also,  had a busy night working, Boo & her were sleeping on the couch when I walked in.  Boo woke up to the noise the door made while opening.  She gave me her sweet little smile, like she always does when I go into her room in the mornings.  

Lisa being so tired I told her to go to bed for awhile & I'd watch Boo since I'd actually gotten a couple of hours sleep, since weather rolled in & we were not flyable.  

Boo did her typical routine, jabber jabber jabber, chase Bumper because he's too close to her blankey, play peek-a-boo, etc.  Then we had some cereal for breakfast, & we laughed & smiled like usual then we got kinda sleepy both of us.  Boo slept for maybe 10-15 min. Then she was up & raring to go once again.  

Well, things were status quo until I heard or should I say didn't hear anything from Boo.  As all of you experienced parents know that means, a couple of things, they're sleeping or they've gotten into something & are hiding somewhere while doing this activity.   Well, unfortunately, mine was the latter, and thus begins the saga of "Boo's Big Day Out!!!"

I began looking & I think at the same time,  Boo was looking for me.  When I saw her she had this look of complete terror or panic in her eyes.  Looking her over I see this purple little item stuck to the front of her shirt, then my mind starts racing; what is it? where did she find it? did she eat it?, etc etc etc.  Looking even closer I see little pellets micro size bb's on over the front of the shirt.  Panic sets in for me!!!  At that very moment Boo looks to me & pukes.  Now the panic is even more heightened now.  She starts crying & this in turn wakes Lisa up & she comes out in her groggy state totally confused.  I hastily try to inform her whats going on, and at the same time,  put it in a way not freak her out.  By this time I find the nexium bottle on the floor, child cap off & pills everywhere.  The frantic search for them begins.  All, but 2 pills were found & accounted for.  Thinks this is Great, Lisa informs me that the silica cylinder is missing. So, not knowing if it's harmful we pack up, load up  & race to St. Anthony's ER.  

I'm trying to walk the fine line of being a medic & being a father.  So with that being said I chose medic & let Lisa assume the role of petrified parent. (Sorry Babe)  Which I must say she should get an Oscar for... just kidding,  trying to inject a little humor into this situation.  The staff in the Peds ER was great!  Dr. Cahalin was awesome & made Lisa & I feel so much better.  It was quite an up down event.  It's good news then followed by we're unsure news.  The next event is getting the IV established.  Assuming our roles again I sent Lisa out of the room while all this took place.  

If anyone ever says a 13 month old isn't strong then they haven't tried to start an IV on them.  It only took 3 attempts to get it completed.  Then the news of we're sending you to Cardinal Glennon because we think the foreign object is stuck in Anndee's esophagus.  Lisa calls her work & says send me a truck to transport us, & I call my work to try to get someone from CG Transport to meet Lisa in ER & stay with her until I can get there.  With all that in the works we're off to CGCH.  Much slower pace than earlier but still quickly. 

Now I'm gonna turn it over to Lisa,  so she can be like Paul Harvey and tell you the rest of the story.

Boo's Latest Pics

Here's the latest pics of Anndee. 

She loves her monkey!!!

1st Ride Together

• Here's Lisa & I on our first ride together.  It was a beautiful day, I think it was in the low 70's with a little breeze.  You couldn't have asked for a more perfect day.  My buddy from work,  Mike Deets,  affectionately known only as Deets,  had his tire repaired from the previous ride which ended prematurely. 
• We meet up in O'Fallon, IL & then made our way north to Fast Eddie's Bon Air.  Needless to say the food was as advertised cheap & great tasting.  It was Lisa's first time there, she seemed to really enjoy the atmosphere along with the food.  
• Once lunch was over we made our way to Ted's H-D, to fantasize about the next bike I'd like to get so Lisa & I can each have our own to ride.  I was surprised she didn't rule the notion out completely at this time!!!! So maybe down the road it might come true, wouldn't that be great?!?!? 
• After I'd finished drooling & purchased my token H-D shirt from there, we made our way south down Route 3 back toward STL.  While on the way we decided to stop & take a look where our STL-ARCH base is being relocated to in Granite City.   Since the road wasn't completed as of yet we didn't take our bike down to get a closer look, we only gazed from afar.  
• Since that was shorter than planned due to construction we proceeded across the McKinley bridge back into downtown STL, only a few  minutes after departing the base.  Deets had to go to work, so we parted ways on Hwy 44 & 55.  Lisa & I came on home to relax & see the kids.

Little bit of work!

Here is just a little sample of what I call "my office". And you know what dad, when I'm in this you can't call me the "ambulance driver" HA HA
I know that you want to.
The only reason is because I don't get to drive it, I'm just the passenger. This is just a tame look of what I get to do everyday well, almost everyday as long as mother nature cooperates.

Still trying to get this stuff figured out.

Jack
Sent from my iPhone