March 13, 2007

  • Playing Catch Up

    My poor Rissy became so ill last night, we though we were going to have to take her to the E.R.  Her airways started shutting down and she was gasping for breath.  She began to turn blue, which is when I called our pediatrician.  She told me what to do with the medicine and the breathing machine we keep on hand.  She said to rush her to the hospital if she failed to respond to the second treatment.  Fortunately, her advice worked.  It was a rough night, but she's doing better today.  Sounds like a sudden onset of pneumonia.  It all hit her late yesterday afternoon and by early evening she was having trouble with her breathing and spiked another 104° temperature.

    Since I showered last night, anticipating having to admit her to the hospital, I was ready to go this morning.  I got all of Rissy's and Jesse's laundry done (last load in the dryer now).  The older my girls get, the more I realize their clothes are getting bigger, too.  I can literally spend one day on each person's laundry, one day on sheets, and one day on towels and carpets.  I think that equals seven which means I'm now up to several loads of laundry each day of the week!

    I had ordered a bunch of used books from Amazon, and quite a few of them arrived in the mail yesterday afternoon.  Some of them are parts of different series and I don't want to begin to read a book until I'm sure all of the sequels have arrived.  I don't like dangling ends - not in my life, not in anything; which is why I never watch mini-series on TV!   I prefer to pick up the next book, then the next, and so on.

    I have also ordered a set of DVDs about the "Wives of Henry VIII" but they haven't arrived.  Also, "Wuthering Heights" and another one I can't remember, but it's a "classic" - just like me!

    I learned something today (we're never too old to learn!!!).  We were watching yet ANOTHER Shirley Temple movie this afternoon ("Dimples") and the male lead was the man who played the wizard in "The Wizard of Oz" - Frank Morgan.  I guess if you live long enough, it all begins to come together eventually!  Even the girls recognized him - his looks and his voice.  How ironic, since Shirley Temple was supposed to have played the part of Dorothy, but Warner Brothers wouldn't release her from their exclusive contract.

    This has definitely been a day of discovery!  I  found a new coffee I like, but I will only drink it in the afternoon.  "Chocolate Velvet" by Millstone.  It was really a nice pick-me-up this afternoon, but I could never have swallowed it in the morning.  I'm just not ready for *flavors* early in the morning!!!  A couple shopping trips ago, I purchased a number of those small sampler packages of different coffees (always in search of that "perfect cup of coffee") and have been pleasantly surprised by some of my choices.

    I have the windows open again this afternoon.  I'm loving our mid 70 temps with no humidity.  My friend, Tangi, and I were discussing the weather this morning.  I know we'll have one more unexpected blast of cold weather with frost.  When we rebound from that cold snap, it will be with upper 70's AND the humidity will descend upon us like a strangling vine.  I'm also thinking that having my windows open are letting in the treacherous pollens which could be at the root of Rissy's breathing problems.  We can't all live in a bubble or constantly protect her from everything she inhales.  The fresh air in the house makes it less noticeable how badly I need to deep clean!  Room sprays and fresh air cover a multitude of poor housekeeping sins!

    Speaking of room spray.  Monday morning Rissy was in the restroom hollering loudly for me.  "Mom!  Mom!  Come here!  Mom!"  I could smell the room spray coming from the bathroom and assumed she was sick or about to be.  I raced down the hall and, no, she wasn't sick at all!  She was sitting on the toilet seat with her bare feet wrapped around the bowl of the toilet stool and was pointing to a line of ants surrounding the base.  She had grabbed the room spray (the closest weapon she could reach) to kill them.  They actually WERE dead . . . swimming in a sea of Glade's "Suddenly Spring." 

    I forgot what happens in this house each spring when it rains.  We have enough outside walls and garden areas that butt up to the house where the ants come marching two by two (Hoorah!  Hoorash!) as soon as there is moisture outside.  We'll have to call our "bug guy" soon and have him treat the house AND the yard for fleas.

    Tonight will be meat loaf for dinner and it's time for me to mix it and get it in the oven.  It's also "AMERICAN IDOL" night and the first of the top 12 finalists will compete.  Two full hours of auditions with me riveted to the sofa/television.  Will the performing bug ever be out of my system?!