Month From Hell

I know I’ve been AWOL, but I am just coming off from the official MONTH FROM HELL.

To wit, in late December, all of January:

Art sprains his ankle, badly, in hospital.

Art gets bad food poisoning, in hospital.

Art gets 2 colds.

I get 3 colds, one of which was probably the flu.

Lexi gets 3 colds AND is diagnosed with Reactive Airway Disease which sounds worse than it is. It’s a form of infant asthma. It’s only triggered by dust, pollen, pet danger, common cold, toxins, etc. You know, stuff you are around EVERY FREAKING DAY.

She’s on a nebulizer and steroids as needed, Triaminic morning and night as needed.

And I’m on watch for that tell tale cough that signals "Get me out of this place now, something is triggering my asthma."

Thank God it’s NOT triggered by running around/exercise because trying to keep my very active toddler still, ha! And it’s not the kind of asthma that would just flare up, it has to be triggered.

All in all, I’m ok with this, it’s just a PITA. But I also recognize that given what kids can have/get, this is small. 70% of kids grow out of this by around age 7. The other 30 percent go on to have full blown asthma. So, we wait and see and watch.

But it coming at the heels of a stellar (note sarcasm) month, it threw me.

But wait, there’s more.

I’m headed out to a very expensive Christmas present of a scrapbooking weekend retreat. Parents were coming over, Art was going to get stuff on the "honey do" list done. Did I mention this was expensive? And non-refundable as this point? And that I NEED this weekend after MONTH FROM HELL?

Last night my dad calls and informs us that they can’t come this weekend but they would love Lexi to spend the weekend at their house. With their two cats. One of which is very fluffy. And Lexi has RAD.

Why can’t they come? Sticking with the theme of month from hell, my dad casually informs, like he’s telling me has a cold, that he had SKIN CANCER.

UM, WHAT?

A biopsy of a lesion on his leg was sent in, when he went for the follow up yesterday they tell him it was malignant skin cancer and send him to the hospital right away for emergency surgery (outpatient). The good news is that they got it all, he’s 100% cancer free and it has not metasticized anywhere, he’s 100% cured.

But still! Just hearing my dad had cancer almost made me throw up. And he needs to rest his leg this weekend and keep in elevated and can’t lift heavy things like a 25 pound toddler, hence why Lexi should go to them.

I insist on canceling my weekend or Art just watching Lexi. My dear, sweet husband is awesome, though, and said, "No, this has been a rough month, you DESERVE this weekend. You are going." 

So, the solution is Lexi will have a combo of parent’s house, our house with Art filling in and going over there and monitoring her breathing and taking it from there.

And updating me.

But I feel guilty for going and yet I want, no, need to go.

What if Lexi has a flare up from the cat hair?

What if my dad’s leg is worse than he’s letting on?

I should go,right and not worry? Right?

Right.

And Lexi is on my lap watching me type and insisting that I type the word "ducks" for her, so here ya go:

 

DUCKS.