Royally Sick

WHEW!!

There are several reasons I haven't been blogging lately - I've got some really great things I want to share, art wise. This has been a long few weeks and it definitely hasn't been because I didn't want to be here. Life just had other plans. I'll give you the short version.
The Princess got very sick about two weeks ago. We went to the ER for what I thought would consist of a few hours of breathing treatments - but turned into a few nights in the hospital. She was a very sick little diva - high temperature, hypoxia, asthma, a nasty cough and sinus yuck. After having nebulizer treatments every four hours, her lungs finally began functioning better and her heart rate returned to a gallop humans could count. We continued struggling with the same issues off and on ever since her discharge and it now seems like her little immune system is so shot that she may never recover. Poor baby - it's so hard to watch your kids be that sick. Not only is it hard and you wish you could make them feel better, but it's scary. Not much scares me medically...but I will admit I was a little freaked out when all this came about.

I've been busy trying to take care of her and catch up on everything that's fallen by the wayside since she's been sick - but I wasn't feeling well, either. I began getting sick while she was hospitalized. I didn't have time to get sick - so it was mind over matter. I was going to think myself well! (By the way, check out the link tied to the word "time" above - it's a funny little site. A bit morbid - but amusing nonetheless.)

Not so much.

I finally broke down and went to the ER this afternoon. I have several infections - so it's no surprise I don't feel all that hot. I have bronchitis (which probably explains my hoarseness, my body aches and my coughing fits), sinus infection (explaining the severe sore throat and swollen glands), impetigo and conjunctivitis or "ocular impetigo". Wait a minute...IMPETIGO???? Isn't that supposed to be some funky "disease" people in far off places get? Evidently not. That's what I have. Right where the nose connects to the upper lip. I'm serious. Look. I'll show you...



(After doing a little research, it's become clear to me that I have a pretty minor case. If you'd like to see why I came to that conclusion, click here. Don't say I didn't warn you!!)

The pictures aren't all that great - but then again, I don't feel all that great. If you suddenly sprout something resembling that which has attached itself to my face, go to the doctor immediately. Do not walk. RUN. It does not get better. No matter how much you wish. You can't think it away. Nope. Not this. It requires a massive round of some foreign antibiotic I've never heard of before. (It's nice to know I'm on a medication used to prevent Anthrax poisoning and treats tuberculosis!) Before it disappears, it continues to grow. And it's painful - burning, stinging and every time I move my mouth it feels like my skin is stretching, something akin to extremely dry skin. We won't discuss what blowing the nose is like. Ah, yes. There's nothing like having a sinus infection while there is impetigo up and around your nose.

My eye is currently all "boogered up" as well. I can only see white cloudiness out of that eye. It is constantly gooping up and requires long soaks with a washcloth before dripping the prescription eye drops in. (Another side note: I was going to provide you with some links to pictures of people with conjunctivitis - but even I couldn't stomach the images. If you're that curious, Google "conjunctivitis" and look under "Images". You'll immediately know the pictures I'm referring to.) It took the doctor several tries to even get the eye open in order to examine it. Yep - it's that gross. Even the childebeasts are freaked out about it and won't look me directly in that eye. Unless they are discussing how "Mom has the most disgusting things on her face" they've ever seen. Although this is providing semi-effective discipline. Each and every time they misbehave and I threaten to wipe "eye goo" or "nose nastiness" on them they immediately settle down. Who knew that's what it would take? Yes, they may have permanent nightmares about me morphing into the Elephant (wo)Man - or they may always have a fear of gross medical pictures as a direct result of my threats, but when you're sick and desperate for good behavior, you do what you need to do.

Besides. I know I'll be taking all of the blame when they are in therapy. Why not just add this to the list??

I have much to share in the coming days - but I must get caught up a little bit before I can play and post. If anyone has any ideas on how to ease the burning of impetigo, or how to clear all this gunk up a little faster, please share by posting a comment. Or post a "sick" joke. Doesn't anyone have any jokes (if you need to laugh, click on the "jokes" link) about the ill and diseased they can share so I can find some humor in this situation? Anyone??