Tonight's picture was taken in February of 2004. Mattie was almost two years old in this photo. That weekend we took Mattie to the US Natural History Museum. In the rotunda of the Museum is a 2-ton, 14-foot-tall African Elephant on display. The elephant is nicknamed, Henry. Mattie and I were looking up at Henry. Personally I think Mattie's eye's and facial expression said it all! He was amazed that an animal could have been that big!
Quote of the day: People will work eight hours a day for pay, 10 hours a day for a good boss, and 24 hours a day for a good cause! ~ John C. Maxwell
All week I have been struggling. It started with what looked to be a head cold. My head was filled with fluid, I had pressure around my eyes, and a low grade fever. No matter what I threw at this problem, it wasn't addressing the symptoms. In fact, the symptoms were getting worse, as this congestion moved to my chest, and I have developed a non-stop post nasal drip and dry cough. This morning, I had to get up early because my dad had his physical therapy session. Truly how I got up and did anything is beyond me. However, once I got him showered, dressed, and at the breakfast table, I decided to swab my nose for COVID and Flu and then call my doctor. Based on my countless calls to my parents' doctor, I know NOT to call a doctor without having COVID and Flu data in hand.
I tested negative to both and it confirmed what I believed was my issue..... I have a sinus infection. Clearly it wasn't going to get better without intervention. I called my doctor's office and within ten minutes the doctor on call contacted me. He said my message was so detailed (as I told him every symptom, how I was treating each symptom, and that I am a caregiver to my parents), that he agreed I have a sinus infection and immediately called in antibiotics for me. Bless him!
Of course, this is the one of many reasons I hate being single. I do not have my other half present to support me, to jump in the car and go to the pharmacy and help me manage things in the house so that I could potentially rest and recover. I don't think time will ever wash over this feeling of disgust, anger, and sadness over my divorce.
When my dad's physical therapist arrived, we chatted. She couldn't get over my last two weeks.... my dad getting Norovirus, my dad getting hospitalized, my dad having hiccups for 12 days from the virus, my dad developing Tardive Dyskinesis from hiccup medications, and of course me getting Norovirus and now a sinus infection. SERIOUSLY it is overwhelming. However, because apparently I am not dealing with enough, my dad's heart rate today has been inconsistent and unstable. Even at rest, his heart is racing, at 115 beats per minute (a normal pulse is 60-100). My dad does have Afib and it has been managed with his pacemaker and medication, but now very little is helping, especially since I learned in his last hospitalization that he has congestive heart failure. Many symptoms of heart failure are caused by extra fluid, or congestion, in the body. Symptoms may include shortness of breath even while doing simple activities such as walking; waking up breathless during the night; coughing; swelling of the legs, feet or abdomen; excessive fatigue; and early satiety, meaning you can’t finish a meal because you fell full very quickly. My dad has all of these symptoms and what I am also noticing is that even at rest, his pulse is high. He has a cardiology appointment on Tuesday, so today, I am taking his blood pressure and measuring his pulse throughout the day.
Any case, it is 4:20pm, and I am migrating away from the computer and I hope to rest before I have to contend with dinner. May the antibiotics perform their magic!
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