...more pukin.  Abby came home from daycare last friday with a virus, and ended up throwing up both Saturday and Sunday.  She went to school half a day Monday before they called to say she had the other end working overtime.  It irritates me that they inform me she can't come back for 24 hours; but when one little boy in her class had sores on his hands from the Hand Foot and Mouth episode, they said he had already infected people.  Either way...we stayed home by default the next two days because I had it.  Jay got hit, but not hard and early (3:15 am) this morning - Austin was stricken.  Andy was at a friend's house and is now on a personal quest not to breathe our contaminated air.  I did my best between stomach crapming today to disinfect the entire abode; but I have yet to tackle the boy's room.  I hope for Andy's sake that it skips him; and as bad as my stomach hurts makes me sad for little Abby.  Sorry folks no pictures to post for this one.  8-)

 

To top this off, some cook books I ordered came today and with everyone feeling "green" - and not in the KM Harkness, make the world a better place way that I so admire - I can't even think about trying any of the recipes.  I don't think I could stomach the preparation and no one would even bother to eat it.  8-(

 

Hopefully we will all be feeling better soon because I was outside for a bit after Jay got home and noticed the trees are budding.  I think we all need some consistently "good" weather.  One up side to this illness for me - I started a diet this week; can't help but think I am losing weight as I write this.  8-)

 

Hope you all stay well!

We repeated our process Tuesday morning for the second effort at knee surgery.  The procedure was scheduled for 10:30 am and we were instructed to arrive by 9 am...why they can't keep all the same information is beyond me.  We arrived early, since I was now an old pro at the parking deck adventure and were  wisked up to the Pre-op area - all the while holding our breath and waiting for the "bad" news.  They took his vitals and he passed...the surgery was a GO!  However.....the advocate (man there are a lot of people milling about in hospital attire and it seems most of them are not medical) came to give us the time line/rundown/what to expect.  She told us we were scheduled for 11:30 am......   UH?!? WHAT?!? WHOA!!!  BACK UP.....  apparently they don't schedule properly (or communicate...take your pick) between how the room rotation works and the actual time slots.  So we reserved ourselves to the additional wait time and did exactly that....wait.  Dr. Traina came in and drew on his leg, explained the procedure, etc...the putter underer guy came and talked to us...the nurse talked to us and at 10:40 am they came to get him for OR.

 

 

I went to the cafeteria for a hamburger and rice crispie treat (YUM) and upon my return they informed me that the procedure started at 11:02 am.  At 11:50-ish, Dr. Traina came out to tell me the results.  He had a small cartilidge tear that they removed.  He has damage to the back lining of the kneecap, from the knee cap sliding out and making contact with the bone, that cannot be repaired but will hopefully not cause him major concern.  He trimmed the outer edge of the tissue that runs over the top of the kneecap and basically holds it in place, in hopes that it will not be forced by tension to slip out of alignment again.  If this occurs again, major surgery will be required.  As in 4-5 days int he hospital, a month on crutches, a hard-hinge brace for 4-6 months and up to a year of therapy. 

 

 

He has done well.  He has not required much pain management medication and went to the post-op appointment today.  He was given the go ahead to shower (YEAH) and starts PT next week.  We go back in three weeks to take another look at it and he will be wearing an elastic knee brace for the next several weeks.  Hopefully that will be the fix and he can refrain from "wrasslin" with his uncle. 

 

Hope you all are having a good day! 

We arrived at the hospital, fought with the new mammoth parking deck and ten mile walk to registration...waited in line like it was a Walmart....walked another mile to the surgery waiting area and waited our "turn."  A nice lady came to take us back to the pre-op area and Andy got into his designer PJs (they gave him two....so his butt was covered.  I tried to tell him that back in the day....when I was a kid...you only got one gown and it opened in the back for all the world to enjoy!)  The tech took his vitals, and since he was complaining he didn't feel well and was hot and shivery...I shouldn't have been suprised when a nurse came over to verify his temp.  She took his tempurature again and told us she would have to call the doctor...this is where it gets ugly.  Apparently the nursing staff isn't required to READ the numerous HIPAA flyers that we are required, as patients, to sign verifying we understand, because once the doctor called her back not only did she insult us by mispronouncing our surname incorrectly and then saying "or whatever it is...." but advertised Andy's situation to everyone in the waiting area.  What a stupid little troll.  After speaking with the doctor she came over to tell us the procedure was cancelled and that the doc would be there in about ten minutes to talk to us.  Oh yippee.  Dr. Traina came up and explained why the procedure was being rescheduled....which I already had a good grasp of...and didn't seem the least bit concerned about our experience with the loud mouthed nurse.  Frustrating.  Now that Andy is feeling better, we will be attempting the whole thing again tomorrow - 10:30 am.  (Well we have to be there at 9 am - but that goes without saying.)  One good thing did come out of it though.....I got to eat a rice crispie treat from the hospital cafeteria!  BOO-Yeah!!!!!  I will let everyone know how it went the next time I update.  Have a good one and wish us luck.....