A Moment Of Terror...

Night before last, Kat and I were lying in my bed reading when I had a coughing fit and couldn't catch my breath. Kat said one minute I was sitting up, the next I had fell backwards on my pillows. She poked me and I didn't move. She called my name and I didn't respond. SHE FREAKED...and thought I died...and went screaming through the house to get Tommy.

By the time she made it to the kitchen, I had come to and could hear her screaming...but I was so tired that I couldn't move. I thought she was freaking that she saw a bug in our bed, so I tried to raise my voice to ask what was wrong. Tommy ran in the room, and the look of panic on his face scared me...it was then I realized there wasn't a bug...I was why Kat was freaking out.

Tommy explained to me what happened and then I freaked out and started crying. It took me a while to calm down...Kat crawled back in bed on my left side...Tommy laid beside me on my right. They both stayed that way for several hours until I was ready to sleep again and kicked Tommy out of the bed so that I could stretch and get comfy.

All day yesterday and last night I was fine...but now when I have a coughing fit everyone is paying close attention to me to make sure it doesn't happen again.

A New Lifestyle...

Those of you that have known me forever know how long I have struggled with my weight and eating habits. I've never been one to eat breakfast, and most days (when I'd run errands) I'd skip lunch too and just have a really big dinner or have a late lunch and a late dinner. Sadly, the years of my poor eating habits combined with hereditary health problems, have taken their toil and have forced me to where I am now.

Being on a strict diet really isn't as bad as I thought it would be. I'm still able to eat a lot of foods that I love, I just have to carefully measure everything and refrain from seconds. Still, it's manageable. I have already eaten breakfast and lunch and still have dinner and two snacks to go, so I'm not hungry at all right now. However, the hard thing for me is avoiding sweets. I'm addicted to sugar. At this very moment, there is a pecan pie, and two cream cheese coffee cakes sitting on my kitchen table screaming my name. I really really really want a piece, but know if I do, it could result in my sugar going to high again and another trip to the hospital...which I will avoid at all costs. It's not that I didn't have good care while there, but it was kinda lonely, and there wasn't internet connection. *giggles*

The doctor and dietitian both told me to keep a chart of my blood pressure, my blood sugar and my meals for each day. I didn't do it last night, because I was still learning how to use my blood sugar monitor, but have kept up with everything since I woke at 5:30am this morning. This is a sample of what my health journal looks like:

SATURDAY - Feb 15th, 2009

5:30AM - STATS

• BP - 129/81
• HB - 81
• Sugar - 212

6:00AM - Breakfast

• 1/4 c cottage cheese
• 2 mini banana nut muffins
• 1 1/4 c strawberries
• 1 c 2% milk (suppose to have skim, but not been to store yet)
• 2 Tbsp cream cheese (suppose to be fat free, will get at store soon)
• 8oz water

6:30AM - Medications

• 1 Omeprazole {generic for Prilosec OTC} Pill (Acid Reflux)
• 1 Metformin {generic for Glucophage} Pill (Sugar)

11:45AM - STATS

• BP - 92/68 (checked 3x's to verify top number)
• HB - 71
• Sugar - 257

12:20PM - Lunch

• 1/4 c tuna fish
• 1/2 lettuce leaf
• 6 grape tomatoes
• 1/2 c broccoli
• 1 c Raspberry Fat Free Yogurt
• 1/2 Ruby Red Grapefruit
• 8oz water

It's very weird for me to eat so much for breakfast and lunch. I'm far from hungry right now, but should have eaten a snack an hour ago, dinner around 6pm and then another snack about 9pm before bedtime. OH YEAH...that's something else...my sleeping schedule. I've never been one to have a normal bedtime. I would just sleep when the urge hit, or wouldn't sleep at all. Now I have to force myself to get in bed by 10-11pm, so that I can try to get between 7-8 hours sleep each night to promote a healthier lifestyle. It kinda didn't happen the last 2 night, cause I had been taking naps throughout the day for the past 3 days. So I'm making it my first goal for this week to stay awake during the daytime hours so that I can sleep at night.

My mind feels back to normal again, but my strength is taking it's time. I want to be up cleaning the kitchen, vacuuming the floors, doing laundry, working in my bathroom...but I'm soooo tired. Just getting up and walking to the bathroom, or fixing my meals exhausts me to the point I have lie down. I told Tommy I'm gonna clean the kitchen today, but he said not to worry over it and it would get done whenever...but just knowing the dishes are piled in the sink is making me crazy.

ADSR4-#10 And Another Health Update

Created for the ADSR4 Challenge #10 hosted by Pixel Gypsy Designs. We were asked to interview our partner with a photo based on the interview, using only two designers with a color scheme of two main colors. Since Lilly did Challenge #6 alone, I got the honor of doing this one.

Bel Vidotti Scraps:
Blue and Green Backgrounds, Crystal Rain, Blue Photo Wrap, Blue Flowers, Knotted String, Tied String from Equilibrium

Jen Ulasiewicz:
Leaves - Leaves, Pickn Wild Flowers;
Booties - Cuddles N Kisses Sample;
3 Leaf Clover - Irish Countryside;
Dragonfly - Down By The Lily Pond

FONTS: Arial Narrow, Tall Paul

HEALTH UPDATE:
Throat is still raw, but I'm no longer coughing up blood. I continue to cough up phlegm, but now it's mainly after I wake from a nap or if I get too hot. I'm still on complete bed rest and have just enough energy to make it back and forth to the bathroom. Not an exciting life, but thankful I'm able to breathe again. I still have 2 more days of antibiotics and steroids and hoping once they are done, I'll start gaining my strength again.

Allergies, Heat & CT-Work

For the past 2 days I've been sick. I should have known something was up Friday night when my right eye started itching and wouldn't stop watering. (EVEN WHILE SLEEPING!!) ARGH Saturday morning it was so bad, that I had to take out my contacts, walk through the house blind to find my glasses and went through an box of tissue to combat my watering eye and my nose that decided to join in the festivities. Though I did manage to wash a load of laundry, cook dinner and clean the kitchen, for the most part, I stayed in bed and drank plenty of fluids while eating allergy meds like candy every 4-6 hours.

Today has been a LOT better. My eye is no longer itchy or watering. My nose can suddenly breathe again, and I managed to get up, run to the grocery store with hubby for a couple of items we ran out of, cook dinner and clean the kitchen again. Still pretty weak though. My body feels as if someone has beat me black and blue, but by golly I can BREATHE and SEE again. ROFL!!

HOLY MOTHER OF GOD, IT'S HOT!! The temps has been in the upper 90's this week, but it's the humidity that has been the kicker!! We've been under an orange air quality alert and my lungs are really feeling it...I think an elephant has sat on my chest! Had to hit my inhaler twice this week.

While lounging in my bed, I needed something to pass the time, and what better way to do it than catching up on scrapping photos and fulfilling my CT obligations to Veronica...

Kit: Pretty As A Princess

Designer: Veronica Spriggs
Link: http://www.digiscrapboutique.com/boutique/pretty-as-a-princess-scrap-kit-pr-3949.html
Layout: Jay Elliott (ASTC)
Photo: My niece Morgan
Program: PSP-9
Font: Tall Paul

JOURNALING READS:
This photograph captures my favorite moments during our
stay on Marco Island, Florida in April 2008...experiencing
the gorgeous sunsets with the one I love.

A Hint Of Vintage by Veronica Spriggs of digiscrapboutique.com
http://www.digiscrapboutique.com/boutique/a-hint-of-vintage-digital-scrap-kit-pr-4039.html
Template by Christy Haig
Photo: Me & Hubby
Plug-In: EyeCandy4000/Shadowlab
PSP-Script/Action: Surreal
Font: Tall Paul

A Hint Of Vintage by Veronica Spriggs of digiscrapboutique.com
http://www.digiscrapboutique.com/boutique/a-hint-of-vintage-digital-scrap-kit-pr-4039.html
Layout: Jay Elliott (ASTC)
Photo: Taken through plane window on way home from Michigan, June 2008.
Plug-Ins: Alien Skin Xenofex2/Burnt Edges, EyeCandy3.0/Glass
PSP-Script/Action: Surreal
Fonts: QuigleyWiggly, Century Gothic

A Week Later...

And I finally had enough strength to take a bath and wash my hair. I feel much better, but by the time I dried my hair and put on a clean gown, it drained me of all of my energy.

Yesterday I managed to do 2 loads of dirty dishes in the dishwasher, and put them away with the help of Kat...but again, afterwards it drained me of all of my energy.

I'm able to eat again, and now am craving pizza. (Hubby will be home soon and I'm hoping to convince him to call in an order...if not, then I have no idea what I'll be eating tonight. *giggles*)

The only things that remains of whatever this is that has put a whooping on me is an annoying cough and the occasional dizzy spell. It's like I have this scratchy, tickling feeling in my throat and I just can't seem to make it go away. I manage to cough up something, only to have it magically appear again. *sigh* As for the dizzy spells, I'm ok if I don't stand up to fast, or try to pick something off of the floor.

Since I felt better today, I tried to do some work on my new scrapkit. It's one that has been in the works for over a month now...but due to laptop woes and recent sickness, I just wasn't able to complete. I'm actually proud of myself today...I managed to create a preview!!
I'm hoping to have it uploaded to the store soon...

My Tuesday's 10 Thoughts On Wednesday...

1. Lying on right side causes right nostril to stop working.

2. Lying on left side cause left nostril to stop working.

3. Lying with head elevated and centered causes BOTH nostrils to stop working. *sigh*

4. Standing up too quickly causes floor to come speeding up to head.

5. Head bounces on floor that is covered with carpet.

6, Head does not bounce on bathroom door.

7. Tongue feels furry and no longer can taste real food.

8. Ice Cream, Yogurt & Banana Pudding is the only thing that tastes normal and can stay down.

9. I've upgraded from water and juice to water and green tea.

10. After days of coughing up lungs, I no longer can talk.

11. Trying to talk without a voice makes me sound like a frog that has been squished.

12. Why do my eyes feel like they have hot pokers sticking in the back of them when I try to look left and right??

13. I wished my body would make up it's mind if it's cold or hot. I'm tired of moving the covers.

14. Managed to stay up longer than 5 minutes last night, but left me extremely exhausted and caused my body to hurt.

15. I think I've fallen in love with Nyquil!!

*sorry y'all...I tried to keep it to 10...
sprays Lysol and heads back to bed*

Update On Sickness

**note to the squeemish...this will be very descriptive, so ya might want to start running from screen now**

Our fevers have broken and we no longer have that creepy-crawly skin feeling. Hallucinations are also gone. Dizzy spells still come and go. Dry coughs have turned into deep congested coughs that makes chests feel like they are on fire. Unfortunately, trying to cough up deep congestion sometimes causes vomit. Sinuses have now turned into faucets and we've gone through tons of tissues. Eyes continuously water. What little food that we've been able to keep down without throwing it back up, has chosen to come out another place. (Not good when you are having a coughing spell...LOL) It's been 4 days of us living off of mainly juice...Kat has lost 8lbs and I have lost 5lbs. Not good!! To make matters worse, both of us are now having PMS moments. *sigh*

I thought things couldn't get any worse...but now we're here alone and having to fend for ourselves. (Hubby and OS are at work...) Not a good thing when neither of us can stand for a long period of time. Both still very weak.

Miserably Sick

It's 2:20pm amd only my second time to try and check my email and catch up on blogs. Very hard to keep in upright position due to dizzy spells. (So at the moment I'm lying flat of my back with my laptop on my raised knees...but won't be able to maintain this position for long either since my skin feels weird having anything touch it.)

Hubby hasn't played nurse very well...I think he's been hiding in the office all day. However, he did go to the store this morning for lots of juice, more Nyquil, saltine crackers and chicken noodle soup. Brought Kat and I a bowl of soup and crackers with a glass of juice around lunchtime...but since then I've had to get up to get anything if I needed it.

So far, Kat's fever has reached 102.8 and mine has reached 101.4 Between the meds and cold wash cloths across our heads...we've managed to drop it back to normal.

My fever must have peaked higher while sleeping though, as I had some very strange hallucinations. I was removing paint off of the 5ft tall windows to get them ready to go in Kat's room as a room divider, and then Cesar Millan (The Dog Whisperer) was in my den teaching me to train my hubby to do certain things. Of course, when I woke up, The Dog Whisperer was on the tv.

I think the worst is when I try to cough. It's dry, and my throat hurts...however, my lungs feel like they are on fire. I'm guessing something is in there, I just can't get it to dislodge yet. Kat has been dealing with her sinuses...so far I've been lucky that my sinuses are just a little stuffy instead of running all over the place.

Gonna check out now...hard to keep my eyes open and it's taken me nearly half an hour to write this....will try to log on later...