Busy Weeks!

One of the worst parts of my job are watching the residents slowly die. Above are two of my FAVORITE residents...Ted and Jean. Ted was my dude! He was hilarious. I remember my first day at work, not even five minutes of being there, he walked up to a refrigerator, opened it up and started to urinate! I know, it is beyond disgusting, but he was just too cute!! I would have to get the bleach out and completely sterilize everything almost every day because of him!! He died Thursday night and I was the one with him when he took his last breath. It was one of the hardest things to experience, but so peaceful at the same time. I had to be the witness when hospice finally showed up and pronounced him dead and then I had to be the witness when the guy from the funeral home came to take his body. It was a really long night.

Ms. Jean passed away about 3 weeks ago. She had had a stroke a few years ago and was unable to talk. The only things she could sometimes utter were, "Yeah" and "No." She was still fully together mentally and was so hilarious. She was a very stubborn lady who knew what she wanted and would do anything to get it. She was a sneaky little thing!! I LOVED her! I told everyone that I wanted to be just like Jean when I was older...with the ability to speak of course!! I wasn't there when she passed, but I was able to say my goodbyes the night before because I knew she wouldn't make it until my next shift the next day.

This morning Emily decided that she wanted to wake up at 6!! I NEVER wake up that early. I am so not a morning person! Any one who knows me knows this!! I had her crawl into bed with me in hopes that she would go back to sleep. Thank goodness she did...and until 10!!! Little bed hog!!!

And of course Saturday was my birthday. I miss being so close to my mom where I can go over to my parents house after work...or in this case...before work...and have my traditional home made birthday dinner. Luckily, my parents are coming out to MI this summer, and I have asked my mom to make it then! I am keeping my fingers crossed that she will be feeling ok to do so!! Any ways, luckily I had this weekend off and was able to spend my birthday with Emily...potty training! But, I did work Friday night, and I went I came home, I found this on the garage door!!! Emily and Tina had decorated the signs and help hang them up! I loved it!

Speaking of Potty training...I started Saturday afternoon with it, and we had a few accidents on Saturday. Today, we started first thing in the morning. And much to my amazement, she had no accidents!! Well, once with a poopy, but never once did she wet in her panties!! She even stopped playing and ran to the bathroom to go! I am so excited. I am trying not to get too excited because last time I thought we had it, she stopped! I am keeping my fingers crossed! We shall do it again tomorrow! Jen will be off tomorrow, so when I have to drag myself into work tomorrow, Jen will be home to help Emmy if she needs it! The rest of the week, I may be calling Grandma Sue to come over and help so uncle Rob doesn't have to!!!

Ah, More Medicine!

Another visit to the doctor Monday and the result: another ear infection!! My child who has NEVER been sick with anything other than a slight cold here and there, has now managed to get two ear infections and one sinus infection in a month. AGH!! The doctor did agree with me, however, that this ear infection is left over from her last one. She probably ended the antibiotics too soon and it never fully cleared up. So, this time, she put her on 6ml of antibiotics for 20 days vs. 10 days! The poor pharmacist was completely confused when I went to pick up the medicine. As you all probably know, (and if you didn't before, now you do) that liquid Augmentin is only good for 14 days once you add the water to it. This process is done as soon as the parent goes to pick up the medication. The pharmacist just adds the water right then and there and sends you on your way. Well, having to pick up a 20 day dose, the pharmacist had no idea how he was going to do this. Already puzzled at the dosage the doctor wanted her to take, he was even more amazed at how long she was supposed to take it. And then, to top it off, he looked at the computer and realized that he just filled a script for my poor child on April 15th!!! After trying to calm the pharmacist down for 5 minutes, we came to the understanding that he would just give me 1o days worth in each bottle, only add water to one, and then after 10 days, I would bring back the other bottle for him to add the water!! WOW...what a day just at Rite Aide!!! Any ways, so now little miss is back on Augmentin and she will hopefully get completely better this time. We shall see. I have to take her back to the doctor on June 1st and I will pray that she is completely better and I don't have to go back in there until December when she will be needing another round of shots. I can't believe she will be 4 soon. Amazing how time passes by in a blink of an eye.

Mother's Day Weekend in Chicago!

AH...a relaxing Mothers Day visit to Chicago!!! I just think it would be a little more fun going without a 3 year old to keep track of! One of these times, I will get away with just the girls or something and enjoy walking around without nearly having a heart attack when Emily sees something she likes and bolts for it! This really neat attraction is at Millennium Park. I just thought that it was really neat!Little miss in a taxi! The very first time I got to experience a cab ride was in Chicago last time we went. Emily loves the taxi rides! We managed to make it to Navy Pier this time! We had a blast! Spent a few hours down there and got to learn a lot of history about Chicago. I didn't even know this place existed!
Rob had looked into boat tours online before we had left, but they all were expensive. We just want a cheap weekend getaway and didn't want to pay $100 for a 20 minute boat ride on Lake Michigan! While walking down the pier, I spotted a sign that said children 3 and under were Free! I was VERY excited! Adult passes were cheap too, so we decided to take the tour. It was even 45 minutes long! Learned TONS about Chicago. Even that the Sears Tower will no longer be named the Sears Tower in a few weeks, but will be called the Willis Tower. How sad is that?! Chicago is a very interesting city with tons of history. If you ever get the chance to visit Chicago, I highly suggest going to the Navy Pier and taking this boat tour...highly informational! A lot of exhibits to go into and everything. I loved it! It was a tad on the windy side that day too! The poor girls were freezing. It really let us know why they call it the windy city! Speaking of the Sears Tower...or shall I now say the Willis Tower...her is the amazing view from out in Lake Michigan! I love the skyline!
And oh, the temper tantrums that can be thrown from little miss! She wanted a drink of coffee, but with her heart condition, she is not allowed caffeine! So, she stormed off in the middle of Chicago to sit at this little table that was 50 feet away from us in a little park area! She threw a fit for well over 20 minutes over this coffee. I just thought that she looks so cute right here. This is the beginning of the fit. Crying and screaming were added 5 minutes later!! Oh the joys of motherhood!

Emily is a very picky eater to begin with, but when she is sick, it becomes nearly impossible to get her to eat. We had gone to the store to find out if they sold Ben and Jerry's ice cream, and Emily spotted the produce. Oh my goodness the child wanted a banana! So, a banana she got and ate while we walked down the street! One of the reasons I call her monkey sometimes!
After being at Navy Pier all day, she crawled up into bed and passed out for a while! Her blanket and her dog that has to go to bed with her EVERY night!

And of course the sugar high! After drinking the coffee, Emily got the whipped cream and a sucker! Is she ever SPOILED!!!

The weekend was so much fun and the best Mothers Day weekend I have had so far. I will be taking Emily to the doctor yet again tomorrow to find out why she keeps getting sick. This is the 3rd cold she has had in 2 months...each lasting 10 days or longer. She is on day 10 with this cold so far. Poor kid. She has been sick more than healthy in the past 3 months.