what a whirlwind of events

Well as most of you know my son Henry has been VERY sick! About 12 days ago he woke up very sick with a fever and horrible diareheaa (didn't spell that right). I didn't think much of it because we had just flown back from FL, and flying can make you more prone to getting sick. The only thing that concerned was how high his fever was getting i.e. 103. So Monday I called the nurses's line at the hospital only to be told that he is fine to keep giving liquids etc. Okay so come Wednesday I was getting very nervous. I had this instinct it was something more than just the flu. In fact Salmonella crossed my mind because of how much chicken I had been cooking because of my diet. So Thursday I make an accute appointment to take him to be seen by his pediatrician. Only to be turned away saying that he is acting fine and to keep giving fluids! Granted he was acting fine at the time but the doctor had seen him an hour after I had given him tylenol. So Saturday I decided to take him to the ER to be almost turned away again with the doctor assuring me fevers can last a week in children. I had asked the doctor to do a CBC on Henry and other blood work but because he was acting fine he didn't see it right to do the blood work. Just as he was writing my discharge paperwork he comes back in and says " I misread his vitals and because his temp was 103 we need to do bloodwork". In my mind I am thinking "thank god! Duh you idiot" Just because a child looks okay doesn't necessarily mean he is okay. So after 5 hours in the ER and 3 horrific tests later we finally are done, and was sent home with no antibiotics only motrin. Sunday we get a call back to redo his blood work because it came back positive. To make this long drawn out story short Henry has basically been a push pin. He has had 6 shots of antibiotics, his blood drawn 4 different times and poked like there is no tomorrow. Today was his last round shots, and tomorrow we start another round of antibiotics for 10 days. I think today it is sinking in how close my son was to dying. If this had gone on any longer without treatment things would be so much worse. He is starting to look better but is still pale looking from being sick. I know this may sound over the top but I have given up all meat together I have wanted to give up chicken but just couldn't do it. Now I am more ready than ever because of what has happened. One thing I have learned from this is to trust my gut, and my instinct was right. Salmonella crossed my mind I just didn't listen to it. Trust me though now I will listen to it! Lola had her MRI today and she is doing well we have an eye appointment in the morning and hopefully we get good news from that. I can't handle anything else right now! I am so due for something positive to happen in my life! I am so happy that my dad is coming to visit me on Saturday I need to see him so bad! Then next weekend I am off to the Sturge-Weber conference in Newport Beach CA. This experience just goes to show how precious life is and to never take it for granted! Henry and Lola are my angels I don't know what I do without them! I don't know where I am getting the strength from dealing with all of this because its been tough. I guess being a mom you have to be strong for your kids I am their advocate and I plan on fighting for them for the rest of their lives! So my lessoned learned is to wash your hands basically all the time! I am basically going to be a germaphobe from now on I guess!

Family

Well this long weekend is coming to an end sadly! What a wonderful weekend it has been as I have got to spend time with my family and close friends. I haven't cheated ONCE on this diet!!! I am in it to win it you can say. I just figured out how to add a picture to this post lol =) So what exactly does Labor Day mean? "This annual national holiday was created more than 100 years ago as a tribute to the American worker."

So with that being said my feelings on labor day are to thank the men and women that server our country and the nurses and doctors that work 24/7 to keep up healthy. I also would like to thank myself for being such a hard worker as a stay at home mom!!! lol... I am preparing America's future star in my house right now!! Her name is Lola Happel....and in 25 years there will be the most outrageous invention to date made by the one and only Henry Happel! I love my kids so much...I have realized that my son loves the ladies....He loves to smile and coo at them already! My diet is going really well although I will say I am very nervous for Tuesday's travel to FL!!! I am nervous because before when I got bored I was always running to get something to eat!! On a plane there isn't much to do so I am going to have to keep myself occupied! Lola is very excited about seeing her family she asks me about 3x a day when we are going to FL! I wish that I was coming home under better circumstances! You know it is weird I have come to accept grandpa's passing very quickly! When I feel like I am going to get sad I know that he wouldn't want me to dwell on his passing. I am not coming home to mourn I am coming home as a celebration of his passing on into a better place. Some might call me crazy or maybe even shallow for thinking like this but I truly believe this is how he would feel. I did mourn his loss don't get me wrong but I know he wouldn't want his family in pain or sorrow. Grandpa just wasn't that type of man. Grandpa was a hard worker all his life. I can see him thinking "dammit Shirley move on" as he licked his fingers and turned the pages of the newspaper. I worry the most about my dad being able to get over what he saw as grandpa took his last breath. I don't know how I would handle seeing someone take their last breath. It for sure would leave a lasting impression on me.

So my brother and his girlfriend finally got to Chicago and in their new home!! I am so excited and yet jealous that they get to live in such a great city! I have said this many times about my brother and will say it till the day I die! He is a genius! He can write better than anyone I know! Don't get me wrong my brother knows how to annoy the heck out of you! But I am fascinated at his views and ways of life! My mom shines through him a lot! Ooooh my mom what can I say about her?? Well the older she gets the funnier she is I think! She comes up with some of the best one liners ever! She is the neatest person I know! I wish I could have inherited that from her! I just don't have the organization skills she possess! My mom has the biggest heart of any person that I know! She constantly is doing for others, and in actuality I just wish she would do for herself! I think that I have inherited that gene from her...I am the type to give give give to people and I often don't get it in return I think. I do have friends that would bend over backwards for me. I actually don't mind being the giver it makes me happy to see someone happy. There is something about seeing someone close to you smile that completes me almost you could say. Let me just talk a second about my dad he is also a workaholic! As he gets older though he is learning to cut back and take days off! Aaaww my daddy.....he passed on many great traits to me as well....my personality and wittiness tends to be like my dad! My dad is also a giver! My dad is a funny man! The older he gets the more fun he is! I guess there is something about seeing your dad with your children and him grinning from ear to ear! My family has had some rough moments but you know I wouldn't go back and change a thing! If we hadn't have gone through all of this together I might be some boring old hag! lol....Our struggles have made us closer and more fun! I mean if life didn't have a struggle it would be so boring! So...tonight I close this by saying "laugh a little" "say sure why not" Today at the zoo with my friends I just said yes to everything and it was awesome!! I wasn't stressed and I had a great time. Life is meant to be lived not for it to just pass by, because before you know it you will be either living in assisted living or a nursing home wishing you would have enjoyed your youth years a little more. Okay not everyone will live in a nursing home! Mom/Dad/ Mitch I promise not to put you in a crappy nursing home.. LOL .....jk ya right if I can all three of you will live with me!! I will have to hire someone though to wipe your butts! I love you guys! I hope that everyone has a wonderful Labor day!

"Live a Little"

Amanda

Life

Today has been a day I will remember forever. The loving godfather has passed away. We as a family knew this day was coming but you never prepare yourself for the day it actually happens. I mean can you ever really prepare yourself for a loved one to die? Life is so precious I say this constantly but I never practice what I preach so call me a hypocrite I guess. Constantly I am telling people "live each day to the fullest" "you only get this one day live it up". Grandpa was the optimise(didn't spell that right) of what I am talking about. I mean he was walking everyday, reading, you name he did it! Then for the past 10 years he battled Alzheimer's disease. He has the body of an ox but his brain was just not there. I will carry some great memories of him though. Grandpa was the one that introduced me to malts! Let me tell the man could make a mean malt!!! His favorite gum was juicy fruit, and he loved basketball! Its funny my dad used to love to get him fired up about politics! He would get so worked up and my dad and uncle would just coax him on!! His favorite candy was chocolate covered cherries! Many holiday seasons we would give him this as presents. There are so many memories that we have created together the list goes on and on....I refuse to remember you as a man in a nursing home not knowing who I am! I know that was not the real you it was the disease......It saddens me to know that you suffered your last breaths and were in pain. I am glad though that you were surrounded by loved ones.... Grandpa wherever you are in heaven just know that you will never be forgotten Lola and Henry will know what a funny and sweet man you were. Grandma is in good hands as well. Its funny tonight I was driving home and Lola didn't say a word the whole way home (which is not like her) and there was a sense of peace that came over me (not because she wasn't talking lol) Like I knew you were gonna be okay. The moon was so bright tonight as well and all I could see was one bright star next to the moon. CA I don't see that many stars like you do in FL. Were you watching over us already?? Grandpa please give Rambo and puddles a kiss for me! Make sure everyone up there is taking there vitamin E! I love you and cherish the time we got to spend together. You are gone but not forgotten!