My son crawled into the "big bed" early Saturday morning complaining of a headache. His sinus had been bothering him, so I thought he had a sinus headache. By 7:00 a.m. he was burning up with a fever of 103.8. I gave him some Tylenol and tucked him under the covers for a bit more sleep.
The fever lasted all day with the Tylenol not having any effect. In the afternoon, my husband took our son to the urgent care clinic. Trevor requested a nasal swab and the doctor said there wasn't any need after listening to the symptoms. When she heard about his extreme lethargy, she said, "that's what I was waiting to hear." She wrote a script for Tamiflu and little did we know it's extremely difficult to find a pharmacy with the product to fill the prescription! At 2 minutes to closing, I found the right store and picked up the medication. The pharmacist told me it had to be taken with food and could cause drowsiness.
My son had his first dose at 8pm that evening. By 10pm he had thrown up all over himself, his bed, sheets and pillow. My husband found him standing at the top of the staircase unaware he had vomited all over himself. At 10:45 pm I checked on my son to see if he was still feverish. He woke up and looked at me with such fear in his eyes. He started to sob, ask me questions, not really aware where he was and not even certain who I was. He was hallucinating and it totally freaked me out! I ran to get my husband who was able to him. We had to move him into our bedroom for the night as he was so frightened in his own room. He calmed down almost immediately when in our bedroom and went to sleep again quickly.
I immediately googled Tamiflu and found nausea and vomiting a common side effect. I read further to find if the person taking the medication becomes delusional to stop taking it immediately!!! I filled with guilt over giving the Tamiflu to my son. What kind of poison had I poured into his little body?! Why are they prescribing this medication if the side effects are so severe?
I barely slept all night, listening for any sound my son made. At 4 a.m. I felt him and the fever was almost gone. When he woke up in the morning he wanted breakfast. I was so relieved to see some improvement in how he was feeling.
He ate three meals yesterday, had some energy and the fever was gone. Today he slept in until 8:30 and again ate three meals. He came outside with me for a few minutes, to get some fresh air, that was all he was up for. Another day of rest tomorrow and hopefully he'll be feeling even better. I'd like to see some colour back in his cheeks and his eyes not looking so sore and glassy before I send him back to school.
It's scary when a child becomes so ill. I know a fever is the body's way of fighting off an infection, but it lasted over 24 hours and the Tylenol did nothing to bring it down. His whole little body felt like it was on fire where ever I touched him. No wonder he named his new Webkinz dragon Fire!!!
Tonight I am feeling very thankful for his returning to good health. I will continue with his Kid-E-Care supplement to boost his immune system and do the same for my girls. I was so happy to find it at the health food store. I try to follow alternative health care and this incident over the prescribed medication was a strong reminder of how my children do much better with natural health solutions.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Feeling proud
I did it! Yesterday I ran the 5k at the Zoo and it was an amazing event. My children had given me tons of advice: walk 1k/run 1k, only run up the hills and walk down the hills, walk when you are tired. I took their advise and hugs, tucked them into my heart and set off alone.
As I merged onto the busy highway, I wasn't sure which I felt more anxious about, the drive or the 5k. I don't like to travel the busy highway, but yesterday not wanting to miss the run, I forced myself to do it. With the music blaring and me singing at the top of my lungs, the drive was quick and painless.
This being my first running event I had no expectations, so finding out there were over 4000 participants was surprising. After picking up my kit, I checked my bag, attached my number to my jacket and lined up at the start line with all the others. There are some very fit people in this world and many of them were in this race! The seasoned runners were decked out in fasionable running attire, ready to run, look cool and stay cool but warm at the same time. I put myself in the last wave of starters knowing my pace was slow, and was quite relieved to find out I wasn't the only one! Yes, I had thought perhaps I might be the only one in the 36+ minute category. :-)
When it was time to start I was ready; my toes were a bit numb from the cold and I had to get my circulation going to warm them up. The starter told us the first part was uphill and there were stairs, so my plan to walk the first .5k paid off. When I got to the top of the hill I felt great with a steady breathing rhythm, legs warmed up to run and the crowd thinning out as everyone found their pace.
At the 3.5k point, I felt a new serge of energy as I ran past the steelband playing their drums. The lions were roaring as I saw them through the observation window, and the zebras huddled together for warmth. The sun was shining and the fall leaves were in full show. It was a glorious morning!
When I hit the 4k point I knew I had enough energy to run the last leg. I pretended my family was at the finish line cheering me on and I could envision their smiling faces. It was all I needed to keep running. Crossing the finish line was amazing and I just wanted to hug myself for completing the course.
I completed my first 5k! [did I actually say first, because that could mean there will be a second?!]
As I merged onto the busy highway, I wasn't sure which I felt more anxious about, the drive or the 5k. I don't like to travel the busy highway, but yesterday not wanting to miss the run, I forced myself to do it. With the music blaring and me singing at the top of my lungs, the drive was quick and painless.
This being my first running event I had no expectations, so finding out there were over 4000 participants was surprising. After picking up my kit, I checked my bag, attached my number to my jacket and lined up at the start line with all the others. There are some very fit people in this world and many of them were in this race! The seasoned runners were decked out in fasionable running attire, ready to run, look cool and stay cool but warm at the same time. I put myself in the last wave of starters knowing my pace was slow, and was quite relieved to find out I wasn't the only one! Yes, I had thought perhaps I might be the only one in the 36+ minute category. :-)
When it was time to start I was ready; my toes were a bit numb from the cold and I had to get my circulation going to warm them up. The starter told us the first part was uphill and there were stairs, so my plan to walk the first .5k paid off. When I got to the top of the hill I felt great with a steady breathing rhythm, legs warmed up to run and the crowd thinning out as everyone found their pace.
At the 3.5k point, I felt a new serge of energy as I ran past the steelband playing their drums. The lions were roaring as I saw them through the observation window, and the zebras huddled together for warmth. The sun was shining and the fall leaves were in full show. It was a glorious morning!
When I hit the 4k point I knew I had enough energy to run the last leg. I pretended my family was at the finish line cheering me on and I could envision their smiling faces. It was all I needed to keep running. Crossing the finish line was amazing and I just wanted to hug myself for completing the course.
I completed my first 5k! [did I actually say first, because that could mean there will be a second?!]
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
what makes a good parent?
It's close to midnight as I sit here typing on my blog. I am baking oatmeal chocolate chip muffins to pack in my children's lunches tomorrow. Yes...I know...I'm a great Mom!
It's tough to be a "good" parent because every parent has their own definition of "good". I have had friends put me on a pedestal saying I have endless patience, do so many crafts with my kids, volunteer in all of their classes at school. I look at parents who work full time outside the home and wonder how in the world they do it! Where do they get their energy and how do they manage to get it all done?
Tonight, I'm not feeling like a great parent. No, I didn't lose it with one of my kids (which I really hate doing). It's what I heard one of my daughter's dance teachers said to her last week during a dance practise. They were learning choreography to a Miley Cyrus song, shaking their hips at one point and then rolling their shoulders in another and the teacher told them to look "sexy". When I heard this tonight from another trio Mom, I felt like throwing up. My stomach has been churning for the hours since dance finished for the evening.
These girls are 8 and 9 years old, not anywhere near womanhood and being sexy. Maybe it was a slip of the tongue for this young teenage dance instructor to say, but totally inappropriate in my opinion. It has resurfaced my dislike of the competitive dance world...and both of my daughters are competitive dancers. When I used to watch the shows, before we entered the competitive world of dance, I didn't understand why they had to put so much make-up on the young dancers, why some of the dance moves were inappropriate and how offensive it was to hear adults it the audience cat calling the young girls on the stage. I liked our studio because the girls were dancing to age appropriate songs and still looked like young girls on stage.
But now I find myself questioning...is the studio really different, or did I just become immune to what was going on. Am I damaging my daughter's self image having them in competitive dance? Am I blowing this way out of proportion?
Even though the muffins are made, I still need to decide what I will do about this comment, and ask my daughter about the conversation. It's not just what you do for your children that makes you a good parent. It's how you deal with and help them through situations life throws their way. Maybe the comment didn't affect my daughter at all...but I'm going to find out.
It's tough to be a "good" parent because every parent has their own definition of "good". I have had friends put me on a pedestal saying I have endless patience, do so many crafts with my kids, volunteer in all of their classes at school. I look at parents who work full time outside the home and wonder how in the world they do it! Where do they get their energy and how do they manage to get it all done?
Tonight, I'm not feeling like a great parent. No, I didn't lose it with one of my kids (which I really hate doing). It's what I heard one of my daughter's dance teachers said to her last week during a dance practise. They were learning choreography to a Miley Cyrus song, shaking their hips at one point and then rolling their shoulders in another and the teacher told them to look "sexy". When I heard this tonight from another trio Mom, I felt like throwing up. My stomach has been churning for the hours since dance finished for the evening.
These girls are 8 and 9 years old, not anywhere near womanhood and being sexy. Maybe it was a slip of the tongue for this young teenage dance instructor to say, but totally inappropriate in my opinion. It has resurfaced my dislike of the competitive dance world...and both of my daughters are competitive dancers. When I used to watch the shows, before we entered the competitive world of dance, I didn't understand why they had to put so much make-up on the young dancers, why some of the dance moves were inappropriate and how offensive it was to hear adults it the audience cat calling the young girls on the stage. I liked our studio because the girls were dancing to age appropriate songs and still looked like young girls on stage.
But now I find myself questioning...is the studio really different, or did I just become immune to what was going on. Am I damaging my daughter's self image having them in competitive dance? Am I blowing this way out of proportion?
Even though the muffins are made, I still need to decide what I will do about this comment, and ask my daughter about the conversation. It's not just what you do for your children that makes you a good parent. It's how you deal with and help them through situations life throws their way. Maybe the comment didn't affect my daughter at all...but I'm going to find out.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
what will be, will be
Today I chose to enjoy and appreciate what is...and what is not. I find it difficult to sit with feelings of lack or inadequacy. Compared to many, I want for nothing. It`s easy to appreciate all that is in my life, but equally important is to appreciate all that is not. In accepting what is not, I can find abundance in what was seemingly empty.
I had a wonderful reflexology treatment this morning which left me feeling so relaxed and tired. A good reflexology session is like a full body massage and this one was amazing. I was fortunate enough to win the treatment in a raffle and I am so appreciating the gift today!!!
I'm still walking/jogging to get ready for the 5km next weekend. It's only 11 more days. I don't know if I'll be able to run the whole thing, but it doesn't really matter. The reason I entered was to improve my health by continuing to exercise and I've done this! I realized I didn't want to blog about it every time I went for a jog because it was either a great run or a lousy run, not much to write about.
My boxer has been an enthusiastic participant in jogging with me. She looks forward to our time together and now rather than try to play tug 'o war with the leash, she is content to jog alongside me. It's much easier to run when I'm not being pulled to one side all the time!! The only downfall is that every time she sees me putting on my running shoes she goes berserk thinking it's time for another run! :-) Ruby really does brighten up my days.
I had a wonderful reflexology treatment this morning which left me feeling so relaxed and tired. A good reflexology session is like a full body massage and this one was amazing. I was fortunate enough to win the treatment in a raffle and I am so appreciating the gift today!!!
I'm still walking/jogging to get ready for the 5km next weekend. It's only 11 more days. I don't know if I'll be able to run the whole thing, but it doesn't really matter. The reason I entered was to improve my health by continuing to exercise and I've done this! I realized I didn't want to blog about it every time I went for a jog because it was either a great run or a lousy run, not much to write about.
My boxer has been an enthusiastic participant in jogging with me. She looks forward to our time together and now rather than try to play tug 'o war with the leash, she is content to jog alongside me. It's much easier to run when I'm not being pulled to one side all the time!! The only downfall is that every time she sees me putting on my running shoes she goes berserk thinking it's time for another run! :-) Ruby really does brighten up my days.
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