ER, But First Some Sugar
Queen Me shares . . .
I'll start with the Sugar. Oh, I am so torn. Sugar and I are still struggling. She's a difficult dog to housebreak. And, she's been snapping at my daughter. Of course, since my daughter is seven, I'm sure there are times a dog might need to snap at her. But, so far, when it has happened I am there and don't see any reason for the aggressive behavior.
Since I'm almost at the end of a dog rope, I welcome your suggestions. Help me keep her, please!
Okay, now that my pity party and whining fest are over, let's move on to the real reason you clicked on this blog.
Our Very Own ER
Friday night my daughter told me she didn't feel well. Her throat hurt and she felt a little warm. Trying to make light of it, she promised to be well by morning. Around 6:00 a.m. the next day, she asked to join us in bed claiming she didn't feel well. A quick kiss to her forehead told me she had some fever. We both slept a few more hours and then started our regular Saturday. We didn't have plans because I was working on the Grab the Queen Power manuscript. All day she maintained a low-grade fever, but other than that seemed to feel okay. Not one to sit still for long, she was bouncing off the couch and around the room to entertain herself. She even has a name for it: The Thinking Game. She called all her neighborhood friends to tell them she couldn't play, occasionally watched TV and for the rest of time talked to me about dolls, horses and dreams.
Around 6:00 p.m., I called my husband to suggest we order out. Since Addy and I had talked about it earlier, she was thrilled that I had chosen her favorite restaurant, El Vaquero. "Mama, I want sopaipillas!" If you don't know, that's a dessert item—a puffy, crisp, deep-fried bread dipped in cinnamon. It's very good:). Thirty minutes later, I placed the order and as I was ordering the coveted sopaipillas my daughter whispered hoarsely, "Mama. I don't want any."
Clue number one! Addy never turns down sopaipillas.
By 9:00 p.m. Addy felt worse. The speed and force of her infection scared me. All day she had been fine and then suddenly, she was not! What started as a low-grade fever and sore throat quickly changed to burning up and barely breathing. We quickly discussed our options while I also tried to remain calm and make sure we were making the right choice, you know not overreacting. For a very brief moment, I tried to find my center. You know, a place that would help me have rational and unemotional thoughts.
"Mama, I can't breath in!" Addy said again. I hurriedly discarded my "overreacting" worries and started thinking options. In small towns, there's usually only one option and well, we only had one: The Emergency Room. As we collected our daughter and necessary papers, our concern intensified. "Mama, I can't breath in? I can't breath in?"
It's takes a lot to unnerve me and well, the thought of Addy not being able to breath did. In addition to her other symptoms, she had an odd barking cough. As we scurried to the truck, I told her, "The last time you sounded like this we steamed up our bathroom and sat in the hot, misty air. And that took care of everything." I then turned to my husband, "She's too old to have Croup. I bet it's a very bad case of strep." Strep had been going around. Although, with hindsight, I don't think Strep interferes with breathing.
By the time we reached the ER her breathing had regulated. Wouldn't you know it? But, of course, that didn't stop us from getting her checked out.
The visit took about two hours. Turns out she had viral Croup. So, it was Croup after all! Very unusual for a seven year old, but not impossible. For the next 48 hours we did several breathing treatments in our bathroom. And, each time we did them, they worked beautifully. And incase you didn't know this about Croup, steam or cold air work wonders. Thus, explaining why our daughter improved dramatically on our ride to the hospital.
She's all better now. Actually returned to school today. Right now she's working on a school project while I type away.
That's all. I simply wanted to share.
Sugar Update
Will the roller coaster ever end. Tonight Sugar and Snow (our other dog) were curled up together on the couch all warm and cozy. I melted. Also, a new development (see, we're trying here), I suddenly realized (is that an epiphany?) that we need to demonstrate to Sugar that Addy is dominate over her. Meaning that in our family chain, Sugar is below Addy. So, tonight when Sugar growled at Addy (just for entering the room, mind you), Addy spoke in an authoritative voice telling her "Don't, Sugar," while pointing her finger at her. Before Addy's reaction had been one of fear.
I'll keep you posted. But, if any of you seasoned dog owners have suggestions, I am open:). You can comment here or e-mail me privately.
I'll start with the Sugar. Oh, I am so torn. Sugar and I are still struggling. She's a difficult dog to housebreak. And, she's been snapping at my daughter. Of course, since my daughter is seven, I'm sure there are times a dog might need to snap at her. But, so far, when it has happened I am there and don't see any reason for the aggressive behavior.
Since I'm almost at the end of a dog rope, I welcome your suggestions. Help me keep her, please!
Okay, now that my pity party and whining fest are over, let's move on to the real reason you clicked on this blog.
Our Very Own ER
Friday night my daughter told me she didn't feel well. Her throat hurt and she felt a little warm. Trying to make light of it, she promised to be well by morning. Around 6:00 a.m. the next day, she asked to join us in bed claiming she didn't feel well. A quick kiss to her forehead told me she had some fever. We both slept a few more hours and then started our regular Saturday. We didn't have plans because I was working on the Grab the Queen Power manuscript. All day she maintained a low-grade fever, but other than that seemed to feel okay. Not one to sit still for long, she was bouncing off the couch and around the room to entertain herself. She even has a name for it: The Thinking Game. She called all her neighborhood friends to tell them she couldn't play, occasionally watched TV and for the rest of time talked to me about dolls, horses and dreams.
Around 6:00 p.m., I called my husband to suggest we order out. Since Addy and I had talked about it earlier, she was thrilled that I had chosen her favorite restaurant, El Vaquero. "Mama, I want sopaipillas!" If you don't know, that's a dessert item—a puffy, crisp, deep-fried bread dipped in cinnamon. It's very good:). Thirty minutes later, I placed the order and as I was ordering the coveted sopaipillas my daughter whispered hoarsely, "Mama. I don't want any."
Clue number one! Addy never turns down sopaipillas.
By 9:00 p.m. Addy felt worse. The speed and force of her infection scared me. All day she had been fine and then suddenly, she was not! What started as a low-grade fever and sore throat quickly changed to burning up and barely breathing. We quickly discussed our options while I also tried to remain calm and make sure we were making the right choice, you know not overreacting. For a very brief moment, I tried to find my center. You know, a place that would help me have rational and unemotional thoughts.
"Mama, I can't breath in!" Addy said again. I hurriedly discarded my "overreacting" worries and started thinking options. In small towns, there's usually only one option and well, we only had one: The Emergency Room. As we collected our daughter and necessary papers, our concern intensified. "Mama, I can't breath in? I can't breath in?"
It's takes a lot to unnerve me and well, the thought of Addy not being able to breath did. In addition to her other symptoms, she had an odd barking cough. As we scurried to the truck, I told her, "The last time you sounded like this we steamed up our bathroom and sat in the hot, misty air. And that took care of everything." I then turned to my husband, "She's too old to have Croup. I bet it's a very bad case of strep." Strep had been going around. Although, with hindsight, I don't think Strep interferes with breathing.
By the time we reached the ER her breathing had regulated. Wouldn't you know it? But, of course, that didn't stop us from getting her checked out.
The visit took about two hours. Turns out she had viral Croup. So, it was Croup after all! Very unusual for a seven year old, but not impossible. For the next 48 hours we did several breathing treatments in our bathroom. And, each time we did them, they worked beautifully. And incase you didn't know this about Croup, steam or cold air work wonders. Thus, explaining why our daughter improved dramatically on our ride to the hospital.
She's all better now. Actually returned to school today. Right now she's working on a school project while I type away.
That's all. I simply wanted to share.
Sugar Update
Will the roller coaster ever end. Tonight Sugar and Snow (our other dog) were curled up together on the couch all warm and cozy. I melted. Also, a new development (see, we're trying here), I suddenly realized (is that an epiphany?) that we need to demonstrate to Sugar that Addy is dominate over her. Meaning that in our family chain, Sugar is below Addy. So, tonight when Sugar growled at Addy (just for entering the room, mind you), Addy spoke in an authoritative voice telling her "Don't, Sugar," while pointing her finger at her. Before Addy's reaction had been one of fear.
I'll keep you posted. But, if any of you seasoned dog owners have suggestions, I am open:). You can comment here or e-mail me privately.
posted by Allyn Evans at 2:46 PM
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