If you are not familiar with the CD Snacktime by The Barenaked Ladies, you may not get the title of this but I have been singing this part of the Crazy ABC Song since last night and not for a good reason. On Thursday, I took Rhys to the doctor to address his digestive issues (as a result, he is on a restricted diet: no dairy, wheat, nuts, or seafood) and while there, the doctor noticed that he had some inflammation of his vocal chords - called stridor and gave me a prescription to get filled if he has a fever or gets worse. Sure enough, on Friday afternoon he had a fever. Chris got the prescription filled and we started him on it on Friday evening.
Yesterday evening, his chest rattled when he took breaths so I gave him a nebulizer treatment and intended to hand him off to Chris in the shower so he could benefit from the steam too. Before I could even get him to the shower, I paged his doctor because he sounded like Darth Vader and was laboring to take breaths. The Dr. returned the page right away and told us to come to the ER (he was at the hospital on his rotation already).
Rhys had a lengthy neb treatment, some ibuprofen to get his 102 fever down and a steroid to help improve his breathing. They took chest x-rays and found that he has the first signs of pneumonia. If you had seen him running around a mere hour earlier, you would have never guessed. After all of the treatments and medications, he was good enough to come home and we went to his room every time he coughed. He is better today and I am glad for it. We are all tired and getting some rest in and will do so for the next couple of days. His antibiotics run out on Tuesday and I have all confidence that he will be back to his normal self by Wednesday - the best birthday present I can ask for.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Oh the things we will do
It occurred to me this evening that I will do anything to hear the musical laughter of my children. Rhys has been really out of sorts lately - he is teething all 4 molars together and has had some digestive issues...no normal poo emerges from his body. ever. Anyway, we are taking him to the doctor tomorrow and I was pleased when Chris recommended that we take the boys out tonight. I recommended a new fountain open for playing in downtown in Baltimore. Rhys wasn't into it too much in the beginning because it was quite loud. He was happy for me to carry him through it and while I was wearing clothes that could get wet, I really didn't plan to. Well, he chuckled away when I kicked a pillar of water with his feet while I carried him. I kept doing it until I was absolutely soaked from the waist down. I didn't mind. His laughter made it all worth it! I will post pictures later.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
The real diet secret
So, I believe that I have unraveled the truth behind our behinds and the surplus thereof. Since the first time your favorite jeans betrayed you and forced some of your own flesh to escape around the top, you all have been wanting to know the secret of losing weight. Well, we have heard it all before: reduce your calories, burn more than you are taking in, healthy diet, exercise, all things in moderation.
Well, the secret is that what works universally will always be a secret. While all of our bodies do work in similar ways, some people just hang on to fat more than others. I believe that I would have withstood the harshest ice age winters because my body stores what it can and if I start limiting what I provide myself for fuel, it just starts hoarding all of the fat it can get it's sausage-like fingers on.
So, I have found that just limiting calories isn't enough. I have to make sure that I get most of my calories from lean protein since all that work on the treadmill and elliptical machine will only burn carbs and not even make a dent in the muffin top that my jeans continue to create. Burning calories isn't enough either! My heart rate has to be in the "fat burning zone" to burn fat and not carbs. PHEW! No wonder, it is all a mystery. Real weight loss isn't simple. Our bodies reflect our lifestyle - something that I have said before. Now that I am trying to keep my heart rate elevated for a period every day and I am beginning to take in more lean protein and less simple carbohydrates, I hope to start seeing some real change on the scale and in the mirror.
Forget bathing suit season - jean season is right around the corner!
Well, the secret is that what works universally will always be a secret. While all of our bodies do work in similar ways, some people just hang on to fat more than others. I believe that I would have withstood the harshest ice age winters because my body stores what it can and if I start limiting what I provide myself for fuel, it just starts hoarding all of the fat it can get it's sausage-like fingers on.
So, I have found that just limiting calories isn't enough. I have to make sure that I get most of my calories from lean protein since all that work on the treadmill and elliptical machine will only burn carbs and not even make a dent in the muffin top that my jeans continue to create. Burning calories isn't enough either! My heart rate has to be in the "fat burning zone" to burn fat and not carbs. PHEW! No wonder, it is all a mystery. Real weight loss isn't simple. Our bodies reflect our lifestyle - something that I have said before. Now that I am trying to keep my heart rate elevated for a period every day and I am beginning to take in more lean protein and less simple carbohydrates, I hope to start seeing some real change on the scale and in the mirror.
Forget bathing suit season - jean season is right around the corner!
Friday, July 24, 2009
Two Words: Five Guys
Enough SaidThis is the big diet splurge...imagine how hard we worked out in the gym on Saturday!
How old DO I look?
So, my best friend ever is up visiting and we had girl's night out on Wednesday. We had a lovely dinner and some delicious posh frozen yogurt from a new place and walked around downtown Annapolis. As we were heading to our next destination (Whole Foods), she remarked to me that she felt like she was old in comparison to all of the gen-whatevers that were milling around the area.
Granted, there were some young "whipper snappers" around. Spacifically, there was a group, sitting around a pair of guys busking by the waterfront. They all seemed to be friends, out supporting their budding musician friends, and it was a really nice atmosphere. I, however; didn't feel like I was old or even an older generation than these guys. I did that! I remember doing that! I remember how it feels to do that! I can relate, empathize and sympathize with them all. They are probably broke, in new love, thinking about going back to college or heading away for the first time...I remember that, I feel it.
I looked at my reflection in the rearview mirror and said with conviction, "I don't think I look 35! Do I look 35 to you?!" She very tactfully said, "yes". Really? I won't even be 35 for another couple of weeks! For the rest of the evening, I scrutinized everyone who passed and played the over-under 35 game with myself. Who knows how I scored but I still believe that I don't look 35. Could I pass for at least 32? I hope so! I know that I look rough when I wake up in the morning but once everything falls into place, I think I can pull off 32.
I have a set of old family photos and the earliest one is when my mom was 35. I remember when that picture was taken. Maybe I am getting old when I can remember my mom when she was my current age. In the picture, she looks youthful and radiant with the beautiful trademark smile that now also graces the faces of me and my sisters. I hope that I look as good as she does, although her hairstyle at the time did give away her age. Maybe I just need to keep a youthful hairstyle and I will cling to the feeling of youth and express it on the outside too!
Granted, there were some young "whipper snappers" around. Spacifically, there was a group, sitting around a pair of guys busking by the waterfront. They all seemed to be friends, out supporting their budding musician friends, and it was a really nice atmosphere. I, however; didn't feel like I was old or even an older generation than these guys. I did that! I remember doing that! I remember how it feels to do that! I can relate, empathize and sympathize with them all. They are probably broke, in new love, thinking about going back to college or heading away for the first time...I remember that, I feel it.
I looked at my reflection in the rearview mirror and said with conviction, "I don't think I look 35! Do I look 35 to you?!" She very tactfully said, "yes". Really? I won't even be 35 for another couple of weeks! For the rest of the evening, I scrutinized everyone who passed and played the over-under 35 game with myself. Who knows how I scored but I still believe that I don't look 35. Could I pass for at least 32? I hope so! I know that I look rough when I wake up in the morning but once everything falls into place, I think I can pull off 32.
I have a set of old family photos and the earliest one is when my mom was 35. I remember when that picture was taken. Maybe I am getting old when I can remember my mom when she was my current age. In the picture, she looks youthful and radiant with the beautiful trademark smile that now also graces the faces of me and my sisters. I hope that I look as good as she does, although her hairstyle at the time did give away her age. Maybe I just need to keep a youthful hairstyle and I will cling to the feeling of youth and express it on the outside too!
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Friends, Fun, and Festivities
Kelly and Scott are up with their boys and have been here since Saturday. We have been busy with the boys and playing a lot. Today, we took them to the observation deck at the airport. They all had a great time playing on the toys and watching the airplanes in their various stages of coming and going. We took everyone to Art Scape on Sunday. Art Scape is the biggest free art festival in the United States. It was crowded...very crowded but we all had a nice time and shared a couple funnel cakes.
Speaking of funnel cakes: Kelly and I are trying to hit the diet hard while she is here so we can encourage each other. (she has done so well having lost almost 20% of her body weight in just 4 months) We went to the gym on Sunday and Monday but didn't make it today. I have been doing pretty well with the calorie intake and burning but don't know how it will end up. I think that my body reflects my lifestyle and until I really commit to cutting the crap out of my diet and getting off my butt. Although anyone who knows me knows that I rarely sit - aside from the computer work - and eat remarkably well. I guess it is just the lifestyle overall. I enjoy the occasional/regular beer and on the weekends, I enjoy letting loose and eating whatever as well. Okay, so maybe that is it. Anyway, we will see how it all goes.
Speaking of funnel cakes: Kelly and I are trying to hit the diet hard while she is here so we can encourage each other. (she has done so well having lost almost 20% of her body weight in just 4 months) We went to the gym on Sunday and Monday but didn't make it today. I have been doing pretty well with the calorie intake and burning but don't know how it will end up. I think that my body reflects my lifestyle and until I really commit to cutting the crap out of my diet and getting off my butt. Although anyone who knows me knows that I rarely sit - aside from the computer work - and eat remarkably well. I guess it is just the lifestyle overall. I enjoy the occasional/regular beer and on the weekends, I enjoy letting loose and eating whatever as well. Okay, so maybe that is it. Anyway, we will see how it all goes.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Riding on a wagon on your tummy is bad news
Cole had his first trip to the ER on Monday night. He was riding on his stomach on a wagon with a seat and fell nose first onto the deck. His nose exploded in a crimson tide and he came screaming into the house. I put him on the counter and tamed the tide and calmed him down. I called the doctor and we were told to take him to the ER. Chris was on his way home and took him after a quick wardrobe change. They made it by 7 and were home by 11 after a CAT Scan and the resulting waiting time for the results to be reported. He was fine - no broken bones and no serious head injuries. I was glad to hear it and we are now trying to keep him from continuing with this risky behavior...he hasn't learned anything from this.
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