Pax's medical adventure

Disclaimer! - Possibly a more apt title would be "Pax watches the medical drama unfold" but that got a bit too wordy.

We've had much drama over here at the moment. If you have been following the recent posts you will know that both my partner (Mr B) and I have had the Whooping Cough for a few weeks.  Part of the illness are the coughing attacks that can leave you gasping for an incoming breath - too much coughing can lead to no oxygen getting into the lungs or the brain and can result in passing out.

Well B blacked out in the bathroom last night just after midnight - cracked his head open when he hit the tiles (he just toppled backwards like he'd been pole-axed and hit the floor so hard it vibrated). I was still up (we keep odd hours here when we game online) and saw it all unfold but couldn't get to him in time to break his fall.  So he's unconscious on the floor and I'm about to apply my (admittedly limited) knowledge of CPR when he takes that one required breath and starts his way back to breathing normally.  This is actually blackout #4 and I finally managed to convince him that we should call for the professionals to help (he said no right up to the point where I held an icepack to his head and he realised how big the lump was, how painful it was & that it was still bleeding. Stubborn bugger.  Of course now he's all "I'm glad I made that decision" and I'm all "Grrrr... I've been asking you to do that since blackout #1".

So ambulance* called - medics arrived - and we ended up at the local hospital just before 1am. B was kept in for overnight observation and I got a cab home about 3am (sleep didn't happen I was so stressed out and worried, so I was zombie girl when I contacted work this morning - luckily they have a heart so I got the okay to have the rest of the day off. about 3 hours of sleep acquired so far - more soon I hope).

Decision made today to admit him to a ward bed as the C.A.T scan has shown there are blood spots on his brain - neurosurgeon is to see him tomorrow (they don't know if it's been there for a while or if its from his fall last night - can't do a MRI due to him having a steel clip holding one tooth to his jaw [I did suggest a quick yank and back to the dentist later but B's sense of humour not that great atm]. They know about his having whooping cough but seem (at this point) less inclined to do anything about easing that than worrying about the cracked skull - I guess I can see why but if they don't control the WC then it's just as likely to happen again.

I've been in to visit - dropped off clothes - sat with him for a bit. However he doesn't like to drop off to sleep if I'm there so my stay was limited. I'll be back in tomorrow after work - or earlier if there's either more complications or the neurosurgeon has bad news. Playing it all by ear at the moment
 
As you can guess I am pretty stressed out at the moment so any prayers you can shift our way would be appreciated.

*For my girl pals that like "guys in uniform" a report: Yes! - both the ambos were buff guys - only one was cute. Unfortunately both of them were giving me the whole "he's got a wound to the back of his head - wonder if she did it" look right up till they realised that the lacerations on his head matched the tile patterns in the bathroom.. criss-cross wounds for the jury to acquit!. My very first ride in an ambulance too - pity I was so stressed out with worry to actually take any of it in. B suggests that next time I can be strapped to the bed and he'll be the ride-along - I've declined the offer

Blogged at: http://marionsmeepings.blogspot.com/2010/04/paxs-medical-adventure.html

Pax update

Happy Easter to all those that celebrate it.

I am still en-zombied - looks like it will be a few weeks until the main coughing passes (my darling workmates will no doubt be ecstatic about that - perhaps if I am lucky they will find me a tiny windowless cubicle I can hide within till it passes)

With all the enforced bedrest I've been having, a Zen moment came upon me - I realised that I have been allowing Life to Happen to me - when I should really be happening to Life. Haven't quite worked out how to turn things around but I'll keep you posted if it involves me running away to join the circus (okay.. not that likely - clowns scare me) or dying my hair purple and calling myself "enigma" (hmm.. would I need super powers to carry off that look I wonder?)

On the upside of things - I've had a few emails from Airforce adoptee. Really lovely guy who is mentoring some of his troops that receive no/little mail from home [I'd like to say he's playing "Team Dad" but he'd probably gibber and point out he's not that old :) ].  I'll have to tweak my "goodies for troops" budget for April a bit and make sure he gets a few extra things.  No word received from other current adoptee however I've been receiving some excellent advice from Sherpa on what Fobbits* can use - not quite sure about the hula dashboard ornament idea (dignity.. always dignity... :D) but the NASCAR ideas are running hard & fast (Hey...! Trivia!! Did you know that Harlequin books have their very own NASCAR romance line?!  Well now you do!  Any of you want to volunteer to read one and report back?... Hello??  Hello??... sigh.. guess not)

*FOBBITS - Snorfle! - Everytime I hear the name I imagine them as "Short & cute with hairy feet" :D

Blogged - http://marionsmeepings.blogspot.com/2010/04/pax-update.html

Pax is a Zombie (you have been warned!)

I began to suspect over the weekend that Whooping Cough is the precursor of Zombie-ism - I was searching for brains (mine went A.W.O.L), shambling about (the balance is more shot than usual) and quite content to go hide in the dim, dark airconditioned bedroom for much of the day.

Since then I've managed to develop a very painful ear infection (uncertain what has caused it - the doctor tomorrow can give me the low down via written notes since I can't hear zip at the moment) and I've ended up taking another day off work (I expect that I'll be ending up taking more days off before I'm well - all with the vague blessing of my boss who really doesn't want to catch WC)

Would I rather be at work than at home?  Darn tootin! - at work there isn't this great pile of housework that calls to me, plus it's easier to get my hands on icy cold coke there (I ran out today - it was ugly!)

In happier news - I've heard from one of my new Adopted service persons (He's airforce - my very first non-army adoptee - Yay! :D).  He seems to have a decent sense of humour and likes Monty Python so I'm hoping I'l be able to send him some humourous parcels and letters before he heads home.

In the meantime - pity me my beloved friends (whoops.. no.. that's a Gilbert & Sullivan quote.. abort abort abort :D). Please try to remember that Zombies are (mostly) people too and try to avoid applying flame-throwers; baseball bats or A1S's to deal with me - I'd really appreciate it! (and in return I promise to snack only on the brains of the undeserving and politicians!)


http://marionsmeepings.blogspot.com/2010/03/pax-is-zombie-you-have-been-warned.html

Amazed & Awed - Pax has presents

Still en-plagued with the dreaded whooping cough but two things have arrived in the post that have cheered me immensely.

My #3 adopted soldier (codename G as I don't wish to breach any security laws) has just returned from his extended time in the great holiday destination of Camp Tajii (sun, surf, sand & freaking loonies with guns - what a combination!).  He's a lovely chap that I only got to spoil for a few months with weird letters & parcels (He was assigned (via Soldier's Angels) to me late in his deployment so his timtam quota remained lower than normal).

He let me know via email that he had "sent me something in the mail" before he was going fully 'Mail Stop' and yesterday it arrived.

The Certificate reads :

 Flag Dedication Certificate  

The Accompanying Flag of the United States of America was flown over a free Iraq in honor of Mari Paxford.  On March 1, 2010 this flag proudly flew in AH-64D Longbow Apache Serial Number 383 over the United States Division - Center Area of Operations (Baghdad) during Operation Iraqi Freedom 09-10 for 2.8 hours on a combat mission.

G if you are reading this - I want you to know that I am utterly awed and humbled by the gift. I am really not worthy of it but I will treat it with the honour & respect it deserves.

And the other item in the post - a gift of a book from Coffeypot . We've both been following Marcus Luttrell on Facebook . Marcus is a wounded veteran, ex-navy seal and author of the book "Lone Survivor".  I have been wanting to read his book for a while so it is a wonderful gift - thank you Mr Coffey :)

Blog link: http://marionsmeepings.blogspot.com/2010/03/amazed-awed-pax-has-presents.html

Pax Interruptus

Little Willie, from the mirror
Licked the mercury all off;
Thinking, in his childish error
It would cure the whooping cough.

At the funeral Willie's mother
Said to Mrs. Brown,
'Twas a chilly day for Willie
When the mercury went down."
Ruthless Rhymes for Heartless Homes", pseudonymous author given as "Col. D. Streamer" (actually Harry Graham) [published 1890's]

The Pax home has been hit with Whooping cough, rendering Mr.B. seriously unwell (coughing fits that result in blacking out = not good).  He's about mid-point of the 6 week illness and lucky lucky me is entering about the second week of it [I'm off to the Doctor tomorrow for some cough-suppressing meds].

Irregular blog posting will resume once things get back to "normal* around here - until then let me leave you to more of Poor Willie's adventures...

Little Willie, mean as hell
Threw his sister in the well
Mama said, when drawing water,
"Gee, it's hard to raise a daughter."

Willie, in a rage insane
Threw his head beneath a train
All were quite surprised to find
How it broadened Willie's mind

http://marionsmeepings.blogspot.com/2010/03/pax-interruptus.html

Treating the Troops (AKA ..Pax's international social eating experiments)

Hello my Lovelies!

I know that some of my friends are Military supporters (above and beyond the "oooh nice tank you have there" variety).

Some of you will recall this call from help that USMC81 posted back in January.
http://usmc81.blogspot.com/2010/01/gunny-neeeds-some-pogey-bait.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Usmc81+%28USMC81%29

Initially it was anticipated that the troops would be going "No Mail" by end of March however I'm advised by the good GySgt Bush that they should be okay to accept parcels of goodies up till end of May.

Since I'm working on the whole "Introductury Aussie Food 101" project I've organised a parcel for the guys that contains some vegemite.  So either an International incident will be occuring in ooh.. about 2 weeks or so - or we'll find some more converts to the "mmm... Australian Food - NOM!" way of life.
[I haven't been *completely* evil - there are caramel timtams and some Mountain Thunder coffee on it's way to them too]

So if you have the time and funds to send on some goodies for the boys you can find their address at the original post OR you can email me for it.  I understand they are mostly looking for sweet things [little debbie cakes may have been mentioned... I have no idea what these are?  Please tell me they are better than ack.. ick.. ptooey..  twinkies??]

Pax
http://marionsmeepings.blogspot.com/2010/03/treating-troops-aka-paxs-international.html

One for the Geeks amongst us

Popular Science magazine is available online - free of charge

http://www.popsci.com.au/archives

Go - enjoy! - and learn how to make Kaboomie things in the comfort of your own home!

Pax