Putting the pieces together
I have a hypothesis about Annie's nausea & gaggyness. I know you were wondering. It seems to have largely resolved as her blood pressure has come down. And when her blood pressure starts climbing, she gets gaggy. Ah-ha! Nausea is a symptom of high blood pressure. So there you have it. And, besides the four times a day I check her blood pressure, (okay, today it was more like 40 times), I will check it when she shows any signs of being nauseated.
She did have an episode of higher blood pressure readings today, so I called the on call renal doc & they gave the go ahead for giving Annie the emergency medicine. It took effect within an hour, and here this evening, her blood pressure is still within reasonable limits.
Changing the subject--(a little)--I was thinking while we were in the hospital, watching my nurse friends do their marathon 12-hour shifts, that taking care of Annie and her health issues is not unlike what any healthcare worker does every day. Now, of course, my pay is somewhat lower than that of an RN, but the nuts and bolts of it is not an unreasonable way of life for a human being. Doctors and nurses do this all the time. And, frankly, with Bill and the kids around doing things for Annie, I might even get more time off. Okay, not really. And, I know we're not the first family living with complicated health needs. Like I've said before, there's thousands of families who are regulars down at Children's dealing with similarly consuming health problems. And I imagine some of you reading this can totally relate too. Just a reminder to all of us to thank God for good health when we have it. And don't despair if you feel like your whole life is managing your medicines.
However, there is something to be said for broadening your horizons, looking up once in awhile, and not becoming too tunnel-visioned with all this medical stuff. So I garden. And sometimes Annie comes out and "helps" me. And then there's all the other people who live at my house who help me remain somewhat in tune with the world around us.
But while I'm rambling, let me ask you to pray for her "adynamia," or lack of initiation. Back at the end of April, Annie was beginning to roll around, scoot around, and initiate activity. Then we started a seizure medicine that I believe interrupted her progress in both speech and initiation. We are now in the process of changing that medicine. So please pray that Annie begin to INITIATE activity again, start TALKING again, and not have any seizures while we change medicines. This is a slow process, and will take a couple of months (yes, MONTHS) to complete the change. But I really would appreciate your prayers for her to initiate more.
Thanks for listening.
Jean
PS. One more thing--Annie sat up yesterday, looked at me and smiled a great big smile. And she smiled when we put her in bed last night. Those little signs of her personality really keep me going.
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12