Sinu-what?

I just got over a sinus infection. In fact, I took my last antibiotic on February 8th. Obviously, the z-pack didn't do jack because here I am a little more than a week later and I feel something coming on. Could it be my sinuses again? Is it possible that the antibiotics didn't do their job. Possibly. Am I going to spend another $20 on a copay just to get a prescription for some $20 antibiotics again? Probably not.

After talking with my parents tonight, they suggested that I:

1. Keep my cats out of the house -- um, this is not an option and, as far as I know, I am not allergic to cats.
2. Use a warm compress on my face for 20 minutes three times a day -- again, probably not going to happen because I'm not THAT disciplined (besides, I'd look like a jackass at the office when I'm sitting at my desk with a washcloth over my face)
3. Start using a neti pot -- a neti what?

The third suggestion intrigues me. My parents told me that they found some product at Costco today for sinus relief. SinusAid, SinusIde...I couldn't quite make it out and my father wasn't too sure about the exact name. My guess is this:

http://www.sinucleanse.com/index.htm

I figure it's worth a shot -- well, at least that is what my brief rundown of the website tells me. Of course, this warrants yet another trip to freakin' Wally World. Ugh. But, if it means my sinuses get bathed and pampered then I guess it would be worth it, right? I'm a bit skeeved out about intentionally pouring water in one nostril only to see it come out of the other one, but I guess I'll get over it, right?

Anyone out there have any experiences with neti pots or sinus cleansing? Anyone have any other ideas besides asking for yet another prescription (because I'm not good at remembering to take medication)?

I just want to be able to breathe again.

It's a home day, but not by choice -

I'm at home today.

I should be working.

I really should be working. However, even though I am afforded the luxury of bringing my children to work with me from time to time, well, let me just say that having kids under foot in the office is not fun whether they are sick or not. Malia stuck it out yesterday -- thank goodness for the sleeping bag, pillow & DVD player that I keep stashed in my office. However, I was fortunate enough to not have to deal with any vomitting spells at the office...she waited until we got home. *sigh*

So, here I am at 8:50am sitting at the computer wondering what the heck I'm going to do today because very rarely am I home during the week. I really don't like missing work (contrary to what some might believe). I suppose today is as good a day as any to just clean. Really clean. Put things away, dust things, fold things, vacuum things, mop things kind of clean.

Yuck.

Just the thought of all that cleaning is making ME feel sick. ;)

The vomit monster has reared it's ugly head -

First of all, let me start off by saying that hearing your child puke up corned beef & cabbage at 10:30pm on a Sunday night is NOT a fun way to end the weekend...especially when that particular child actually enjoyed eating corned beef & cabbage and will probably never, ever touch the stuff again.

Second of all, I would like to say that the sight & scent was awful. Pure awful.

Third of all, the wretched stomach bug appears to have paid our family a visit and it is my hope that any more bodily expulsions are few and far between and are not inflicted upon anyone else in this household. I can handle one puking child, but having two at the same time isn't fun...been there, done that.

Where's my can of Lysol?

Desperately seeking summer...

I am over the cold weather.
I am over the colds.
I am over wearing a jacket & wool socks.
I am over the dry skin & runny noses.
I am over cranking up the heat.
I am over my gas bill.
I am over warming up my car.
I am over the howling winds.
I am over the wishy-washy weather forecasts.
I am over it being dark by the time I'm home from work.


I am ready for some warmth of a different kind.
I am ready for road trips to Hatteras.
I am ready for barbeques & horseshoes.
I am ready for humidity (I think).
I am ready for long, summer nights
I am ready for flip flops & pedicured toes.
I am ready for fireflies.
I am ready for sleeping with the windows open.
I am ready for tulips & daisies.
I am ready for seashells & sand.


I am desperately seeking summer.

Breathing a sigh of relief...well, trying to breathe...

I finally saw my doctor. The phone woke me up around 1pm (I fell asleep watching Food Network...THAT'S how crummy I am feeling!) and I was able to get an appointment for 3:10pm. Thank goodness. And, thank goodness I was in and out of the doctor's office. Maybe it was a blessing in disguise that it took all morning and part of the afternoon for them to call me. I'm glad I didn't just go up there and sit and wait. My doctor is a busy man.

Anywho...he saw me. He looked in my ears, nose and throat. Poked at my neck. Asked me about my symptoms...yadda, yadda, yadda. He told me what I knew. I have a sinus infection. He wrote me a 'script for some Zithromax and off to Target I went. And, holy cow, Zithromax is really a $20 'script?? WTF? I want my $4 generic. Oh, well. I'm too lazy to fight it and, besides, my head hurts.

So, I'm about to take my first two doses of the stuff...and then I'm on it for four more days. Hooray for medicine and here's to hoping I'll feel much better soon!

Finally.

After dealing with the congestion, the sore throat, the dry cough, the dark circles, the headaches, the lack of taste and appetite and just the feeling of overall crappiness, I am pleased to announce to the cyberworld that I am finally taking my sorry ass to the doctor's office today. They open in 13 minutes and I'm going to call and see if I can make an appointment for mid-morning/early-afternoon.

I've been dealing with this shit since Saturday -- when I felt as if I had been run over by a Mack truck. Not a fun feeling to have -- especially not when you're sitting at a car dealership waiting on a state inspection and you have two impatient kids in tow. But, I digress...

I made it this far trying to pass off whatever it was that is bothering me as nothing more than a simple cold. But, and this is your TMI warning, I've gone from nice and clear to yellow-green. Ew. That's no bueno. This sore throat isn't getting any better either...of course, it's not getting any worse. But, my ears...oh, my ears. If I could only release the pressure that I'm feeling right now.

So, for now, I'm going to fix myself a cup of Earl Grey tea and lace that bad boy with some honey. I'm going to crank up the shower and turn the tap so far to the left that hot water will just pour out of the faucet and steam up the bathroom. And, while I wait for my turn at the doctor's office, I'm going to try and steam/sweat the heck outta myself to get all of the cruddiness outta my head.

Being sick sucks.

I need a holster for my Lysol can...

'Tis the season for viral illnesses and the most dependable of all the viral illnesses is the wretched stomach virus. At least it seems that way in our household. Without fail, one or two of us always come down with it this time of the year.

As soon as I pulled into the parking lot at work yesterday morning, my cell phone rings and it's Nurse Nancy at the kids' school. Sure enough, Malia is sick. She didn't even make it off of the school bus before she got sick. I show up at school and she gets sick again. Poor thing. She looked awful.

Once we get home she gets changed and snuggles in her bed to watch "Milo & Otis" and seems to do well throughout the rest of the day. She managed to eat lunch (gotta love Amy's Organics Mac & Cheese!) and drank water and nibbled on crackers throughout the day. Dinner didn't set too well with her...I think she just didn't like Adam's concoction...but she made it to bed without incident.

This morning was a different story, however. As I type this, her bed linens are in the wash and her mattress has been hosed down with Lysol (as has everything else in this house that will stay still long enough for me to spray it). She's snuggled up in my bed watching "Max & Ruby" and, hopefully, will be better by tomorrow so she can head back to school and I can head back to the office.