A First - and a Vocabulary Lesson

Every day is an adventure as the mother of four.  You would think with the oldest almost 15 and the youngest just 7 years behind that we would have had a visit to the "real" ER  by now (vs. the walk-in clinic variety of ER closer to home - which we have gone to twice, but those weren't "real" emergencies... just after hours stuff that couldn't wait for the pediatrician the next day.)  I'm not even sure **I** have ever been to the "real" ER personally and I definitely don't remember ever riding in an ambulance. 

Well, as of today, the title for my oldest daughter's "What I did Over the Summer" essay would officially be "My First Trip in an Ambulance".  And yes, she did think it was fun.  Oh, and she's fine now, lest anyone be concerned.  But I'm not going to write that essay.  I'm going to write about learning new vocabulary.

I learned the phrase Vasovagal Syncope today.  Yeah.  What's that?  Well, it basically has something to do with a nerve and you faint.  Long and short, Patience was supposed to have a fasting blood draw this morning, it didn't go smoothly (and they didn't get any blood) and then she fainted, looked kind of like she was having a seizure, and well, we called 9-1-1 and she got a ride to the hospital since she was pretty wobbly afterward and we thought it better than checking in w/her pediatrician later in the day (his office still wasn't open even after all the excitement... we started our day kind of early).  Really, she thought it was fun, though it did kind of mess with her day and we still have to go back for the blood draw tomorrow (take 2?).

Me, I'm still kind of figuring it all out.  And anytime you go to the ER is an adventure.  Of course I drive the car over (after ensuring the other kids were deposited safely elsewhere) so we could get home after, and joined up w/her there.  It was weird.  Today was a "mass casualty drill" day at the hospital, so the commentary upon entering was kind of funny... Patience said there were tons of people everywhere and they kept asking "Is this one real?" or "Is she real?" and finally someone called out "This one is real!"... When I got there (a little disoriented since I came thru the main hospital and had to be "escorted" thru a certain corridor  - I learned that the ER has its own parking so now I know in case I ever need to again.), they asked me "Are you a guest?" and I had no idea what to answer....   I just said something like "My daughter came in an ambulance and I was told to ask what room she's in...." and they took care of me. 

Back to my new vocabulary.  I read about it online.  Wikipedia was helpful, as was this site.  It's basically a loss of consciousness caused by a sudden drop in blood pressure, usually preceded by light-headedness and nausea (both of which she had, and often has when she has to get blood tests). She's fine.  She didn't have a seizure, which was very encouraging, but with diabetes, I was very glad to have her checked rather thoroughly.   I didn't enjoy watching her pass out and shake at all.  It was very disconcerting.  The whole reaction to blood does run in the family, and her father knew the term and said it had happened to him!  We were only at the hospital for an hour total and while rattled and shaky, she had no residual issues so if it ever happens again (like tomorrow), we probably wouldn't call 9-1-1 unless something was significantly different.  Some of the information was scary, but I think the knowledge will be helpful in the long run, and we've learned some things that will hopefully help avoid it happening again in the future.  We really would rather this be our LAST ride in the ambulance, at least for a good long while.

All in all, I felt very cared for even in the little things.  God's word about the weak being strong and trusting in him were very present and real to me in the moment, despite being shaken up.  A friend (or at least a familiar face - from baseball of course!) worked at the lab where it all happened and she arrived just as Patience regained consciousness.  She said she would do the blood draw tomorrow, and the familiar face will be reassuring.  The EMTs were wonderful.  And frankly Patience really (really) enjoyed the experience of riding in the ambulance. The doctor and resident and everyone at the hospital were all very positive and we were able to ask all the questions we felt we needed to.  She's also fine - nothing new wrong with her.  And we ran into a dear friend and former teacher on our way out of the hospital (she volunteers there), and she gave us both a big hug of encouragement.  Our friends who took the kids did so quickly and happily.  The kids had a great time (and it was a playdate we'd been wanting to arrange - just not exactly the timing!)  And though it wasn't the day we planned, and Patience is definitely a little worse for the wear, it's temporary.  We're all "ok" in the end, more aware of potential issues as well as how to prepare for them, we're healthy, and even happy to boot.  Sometimes we just have to work (and depend on God!) to keep that perspective and I'm thankful God helped me to see that - and his hand - in the midst of it.   

UPDATE 8/22 - Successful blood draw this morning.  Yay.  Celebrated w/treats at Panera Bread.  The phlebotomist was wonderful and took her time to make sure it all went smoothly.  Thankful for the Lord's grace in the little things - and his strength in our weakness and the wisdom to perservere and not give up.  Done.  Check.  Moving on to the next thing as we prepare for the start of the school year.  

My, my time flies....

Brief update - and the obvious "why I haven't posted." 

1)  Baseball season happened.  Four kids played (one was softball)... from March thru mid-July in some permutation or another.  It was great.  Glad it's done (we need a break).

2)  School happened.  The end of the year is crazy busy with work, assignments, field trips, special events, and so on and so forth, and honestly, we're still finishing up some homeschooling stuff we tabled during softball season.  I think we're also still recuperating.  Oops.  School starts in under 4 weeks....

3)  All the end of the year music happened.  Recitals, performances, rehearsals, etc.  Very fun, very beautiful, very busy.  And it's not like we don't keep playing all summer.  But it has a different pace and feel to it. 

4)  It rained.  We asked for an ark.  It rained some more.  For roughly six straight weeks, including flooding etc.  Vermont reached saturation point and even 1/2" of rain, which is normally no big deal, meant the flash flooding warnings statewide for much of the month of June and into July.  Fortunately our house was ok but many local homes and roads were not.

5)  I got my garden in near the end of June - the rain was a real issue.  I think I've been back a couple times.  Really not sure, but when it stopped raining (mid July), things finally started to grow.  Today we picked our first tomatoes and green peppers.  (First visit in two weeks).

5)  July happened.  I was gone for two weeks in July, or thereabouts, and the time I was here it was mostly raining, 90+ degrees, and/or I was buried under Mt. Washmore.  We had company and birthdays and people over in there too.  Fun, but crazy.  I used to like July, but it's usually so busy, at least the past few years, that I generally feel run over by it.  I am working on picking myself up and dusting off the tracks today.

6)   We've done the braces thing - Patience's braces are off, and Andante's will be going on (in a few months, after a proper dental cleaning).  But that's after several appointments and meetings and discussions and decisions.

7)  I survived the youth retreat (I actually enjoyed it) in early July.  But it did involve recuperating afterwards.  A week later, we thoroughly enjoyed a couple days with Papa Bear's sister and family from SC including swimming, ferry rides, a visit to the granite quarry, and ice cream.  Thankfully the temperatures were nice w/11 people in the house (they arrived the day after the 5-day heat wave). We then went to the White Mountains (NH) w/his whole (extended) family, but one brother, in late July, which was very fun and relaxing, despite my not feeling well.  The weather was pretty much perfect.  Canoeing, hiking, swimming, gondola rides, zip lines, visiting streams, and playing with cousin Maggie (a golden retriever puppy) totally made the month a resounding success "fun"wise.  

8)  We made "the viola decision." Patience has been renting for four years and we were going to pay it off and own it this September.  She began taking private lessons early this year and she auditioned for the local youth orchestra.  She'll start that this fall (mini-camp in two weeks!), and it was time to upgrade to a higher "step-up" quality bow and instrument. We researched, shopped, and bought just two days ago.   

9)  It's August 1st.  The laundry and housework and garden loom large but that's expected and par for the course.  I'm finally catching up on mail, budgets, lessons w/the kids (mean mom - no actually, kind mom, who knows what they need and is making sure they get it), and beginning to prep for the next school year (seriously, there is always paperwork and prep to do, whether we're homeschooling or not).


10)  Oh yeah, and there are still about 10 folks I still haven't sent "Christmas" letters to yet. Really, they're coming...  I just am bound and determined to say a proper and personal "hello" and reply to your correspondence with it (if applicable).

Sugar Season

It's sugar season.  We tapped the trees on Papa Bear's birthday, and prepped to boil our first batch about 10 days later, marking the 9th birthday or our little Sugar Baby (Constance).  This year's snags have included taps falling out and a finicky propane tank, but we have overcome them all so far, and this morning, I have us up and running w/our second boil of the season.  Pictured here is our "complete" set-up, including the windbreak so the burners don't blow out (I seem to like to boil on windy days this year.... but I'm trying to beat tomorrow's rain).  I could put it all closer to the house to protect from wind, but I do like to keep some distance for fire safety.  Better to burn the deck than the house (not planning to do either, of course).  In any case, it's 8:10 am and we're boiling away, cooler is emptied into all these pots, and we're hoping to have another quart or two by dinner if all goes well.  So far so good.  The kids love to check how much has collected and empty our jugs (the younger two actually fight over it and have almost dumped entire jugs of sap arguing and grabbing from each other - we're working on that...).  They are all quite helpful and except for the boiling, it's pretty minimal stress or energy-consuming.  The boiling isn't hard, but it requires time and attention, and even though I get other work done, I have to be mindful of it, and the last hour or so is a bit more demanding.  But the product is worth it, and the smell heavenly.  Happy sugaring season to you all!

Product of our first boil.

 

Ashes....

We are in the "non" Lent-celebrating group of Protestants I guess.  But I liked this blog post and how it takes something we can touch and feel (ashes) and links it to a spiritual (and much less tangible) truth (our need to repent).  Just as real, but harder to grasp.  Thank you, Faith.

Lab Science or Life Skills

One of our educational goals for Patience this year was to try to have a little fun w/science, while simultaneously teaching her to use the basic tools of science, from a ruler to a balance to a microscope to an alcohol burner.  Today, we purposed to learn how to use the alcohol burner (aka the long-awaited "Bunsen Burner" lab).  So far, what we've really learned is how to light a match.  No joke.  And what a critical and fundamental life skill.  Mission accomplished!  Plus, she's learned how to boil water using scientific aparati....  probably a good thing to know, someday, just in case, or at least to be able to keep up with her end of the conversation at the proverbial cocktail parties she'll someday attend.

Now on to the burning salts and looking at them through a spectroscope.  Fun!

School time - for real

This is what homeschooling is REALLY like.  We're reading world history as a family (ancient history) and this is about how much fun it is, and about how chaotic.  They love it.  And they're learning a lot too. 

Who's who

For those of you wondering about our annual letter (which hasn't come annually in quite some time), and assuming (probably) that we have again missed a year, it's written, and we're working on printing it and sending it out. It'll probably take a while, but a few have already been mailed so it's going to be a process I guess. But since it may indeed drive a number of you to this site who haven't been in a while, let me quickly note that we use different names in our blog, and you'll need to get used to that. We explain and introduce you at a post from some time ago if you follow this link - please read it if you want more info. There's also a sidebar on the right w/that link.

Please note that if you use our real names in a comment, we will probably delete it. We might edit it and re-comment, or we might not. Nothing personal. Just letting you know.

In a nutshell, Mom is Shiloh, Dad is Papa Bear, and the kids, oldest to youngest, are Patience, Andante, Constance, and Vivace. The names fit us and it makes it easier to write with them. On our bad days, I suppose we could substitute all sorts of other names like Crabby/Grenade, Eeyore/Grumpy, Lazy/Razor Tongue, Tortoise/Forgetful, Stubborn/Pest, and Whiny/Loose Cannon (in the same order as above), but everyone has their days. So we'll stick to the more complementary character descriptions. At least we're putting a positive spin on things and seeing the up side of our character traits and personalities. God does help w/that a lot, truthfully, especially on our bad days.