Tag: "hospital"

What My Son Ate On His Camping Trip And Our Trip To The Hospital

scorpion clipart

My son TJ went on his first camping trip this weekend. He returned home early this evening looking tired. I was in another room when he came in. He headed straight for his room to check his cell phone so I didn’t get a look at him. It was only after he checked his cell phone that he came to me and asked me if his face looked strange. It did. Around his mouth was swollen and discolored. He said that it stung and hurt. I asked him if he’d eaten anything strange or new.He told me he ate a couple leaves. (Yes, that’s right - leaves.) I asked him why and said that someone had said you could survive on certain leaves and berries. I explained that didn’t mean he had to, just that it was possible. Off we went to the ER.

The male pa in the ER was a great sport with a great sense of humor. TJ looked a little sheepish about admitting what he ate. The man put him right at ease and informed me “Mom, that’s what we boys do”. The nurse in triage raised an eyebrow and chuckled. When the doctor came in and saw him TJ was sheepish once again. the doctor said that what he ate probably had something on it that he was having a reaction to. He told me to give TJ Benadryl and Chapstick and he should be fine in a few days.

On the ride home I stopped at the all night drug store and picked up the Benadryl and Chapstick. In the car on the ride home TJ asked if they’d fix the problem right away. I told him it would probably take a couple of days to get the poison (for lack of a better word) out of his system. At that point he told me he was going to tell the kids at school he’d gotten bit by an animal. I told him that was silly and that it would be obvious he hadn’t. At that point he told me he was going to tell anyone who asked that he’d been bitten by a scorpion, because saying he’d eaten leaves would sound dumb. You think?! I told him that there were no scorpions in New Jersey, but he wasn’t hearing that. I tried explaining that he didn’t need to get into explanations but have a feeling he will anyway.

So if you’re in my area and come across a 13 year old boy that says he got stung by a scorpion, take the news with a ton grain of salt. Then ask him if he’d like to rake your leaves.

Nov 08, 2009 | 6 comments | View Post

A thank you and some bony news

To my coworker who wishes to remain anonymous. I don’t know if you read my blog. (Yes, I know there are people in the world that don’t read it, as shocking as that may seem.) Thank you very much. I’m really touched. I don’t know what else to say.

RB took CJ out to Philadelphia for his ortho checkup. Every year he goes out there to have his neck and feet checked. His neck is checked for atlantoaxial subluxation, which has to do with the relationship between C1 and C2. Some xrays are required do check this. There was a period of two years that we couldn’t let him do somersaults and such because we were trying to prevent spinal cord injury. I’m thrilled to say that the doctors have cleared CJ for another year and he can participate in all activities! They also checked his feet. His feet are hard to explain, he doesn’t have an arch and his feet lean in as a result. I’ve always thought it looked uncomfortable because even the ankles seem to be effected. The doctors said that since he gets around with no problem and they don’t seem to hurt him they also got a thumbs up.

TJ didn’t go to school today. He seems to have similar cold symptoms to the ones that I’ve had for a week now. He went with RB on the trip to Philadelphia during the snow. Somehow after leaving the hospital to come home they ended up heading south on I-95 instead of North. I don’t know how RB does this folks, I had printed three sets of directions and he said he had the GPS.

I went to PT tonight. The first thing the physical therapist said when I came in is “I’ve been looking forward to you coming in, are you going to make me laugh some more”. I did. She did not return the favor. I was hurting when I left. The little trampoline (the one I told her I couldn’t jump on because I find black eyes unsightly on a lady) seems to have increased the amount of pain on the right.

What an amazing thing, that everyone got off of the plane that came down in the Hudson River safely. That’s about an hour north of me. My brother, LB2, works right there and watched a lot of it happen.

Thank God tomorrow is Friday!

Jan 15, 2009 | 0 comments | View Post

I spent my mental health day in the hospital

A couple of weeks ago I discovered that I had one personal day left, so I decided I’d take it today. I planned on staying home, relaxing, putting some things away and not getting out of my pajamas. You know what they say about the best laid plans right?

At 11:30 this morning I got a call from the nurse that my son had been hurt and needed to be picked up. She said that another student had pushed my son and his face hit the desk. On my way over to the school I called the pediatrician and got a 1:00 apppointment. (Couldn’t go sooner, the doc was at lunch.) I got to the school. CJ had a chucnk of his lip missing. Off we went to the doctor’s.

The doctor took a look and told me we should go to the er to have it looked at. We went to the er. The er told me they could stitch it. I was concerned about scarring because a small part of the laceration was on his face so I asked that they call a plastic surgeon. They put a numbing agent on the area that needed stitches and then we waited for the surgeon. I helped a nurse hold my son down and still on the gurney. He cried and he was really pissed but all in all he did a good job. We finally got home around 5:00. He wasn’t feeling great and the pain killer made him sleepy so we stayed home instead of going to the Christmas party I’d planned on going to.

So that’s why I spent my mental health day in the hospital. I’ve gotten nothing done here at home and yet I’m exhausted. I’m heading to bed now.

Dec 19, 2008 | 2 comments | View Post

You want me to take my clothes off why?

I went to the hospital after work today to visit my sister in law and see my niece, who had been born not long before I got there. Boy is she beautiful! More on that later. My knee started killing me so I sat on the floor for a little while. Chair shortage in the room at that moment don’t you know. When I got up to get something for my sister in law my foot felt like it was asleep. I hobbled to the nurses station on my mission, figuring if I waited it out it would go back to normal and wake up. Instead it seemed to get worse. After I said goodbye for the day I got myself over to the emergency room, where I waited. Then I went into triage and then I was sent to another waiting room, where I waited. I was then taken back into a room within the emergency room, where I waited. Two nurses came in and asked some questions and told me I’d need to take all of my clothes off. I told her it was only my knee, foot and leg I wanted looked at and everything above the waist was fine. She said I needed to take everything off. Ummm, ok. I got undressed and put that little gown on and guess what I did. I waited. Finally the doctor came in and checked my knee, foot and leg out. He never went any further up than my lower back. So why in the world did I need to take my shirt and bra off? Anyway. He thinks it’s a neuro/ortho issue and that I’ve probably got several herniated discs. Guess what he told me I need? Yes folks, it’s another emg, this one on the leg. Can you see me dancing for joy! That’s all for now, me and my pain killer are going to bed.

Oct 13, 2008 | 1 comment | View Post

Second verse same as the first

So CJ had his second auditory brainstem response test under sedation this morning. I cannot say enough goog things about our experience at JFK. This test was oringinally done at CHOP, and told us that there is a hearing problem. CHOP fitted CJ with a loaner hearing aid. We went to an audiologist and dispenser near home to get the permanent hearing aid fitted and that audiologist questioned his need for amplification and the accuracy of CHOP’s testing, so she said she’d like to see the test redone. We scheduled the test and had it done yesterday and the results are the same, they recommend a hearing aid for one ear. So now my son’s been subjected to anaesthesia twice because this woman was pompous enough to question one of the best children’s hospitals in the country. She was wrong, I kind of think we should find a different audiologist and hearing aid dispenser.

Aug 08, 2008 | 2 comments | View Post

Promoting your blog in person

While I was in the waiting room out in Philadelphia today I was speaking with two other parents. In the course of the discussion I happened to mention that I have several blogs online. One of the women sort of tilted her head and asked me what I meant. I explained what a blog was and she told me she’d never read one but it sounded interesting. She asked how to find mine and I gave her the url to this blog. But then I decided it might be helpful if I were prepared for this question if it, or one like it, arose again. I think I need a new set of business cards. Without a doubt I’ll get them from Vistaprint.

Vistaprint has the biggest selection of affordable personal and business printing needs. They carry everything you can think of to help you promote whatever it is you want to promote. I’ve mentioned it before, but it’s worth mentioning again. I have personally been thrilled with any Vistaprint product I’ve ever ordered. I’ve ordered large postcards, large calendar magnets, small magnets, business cards and address stickers. Over the years Vistaprint has expanded their product line to include rubber stamps, checks, pens, clothing, note cards, invitations and announcements and car door magnets. Their products are easily personalized, with customization of designs, fonts, images, colors and text available. If you need to promote something without spending a lot of money, go check out Vistaprint. Be sure to check their page for specials, they usually have some good ones.