Ick-a-roo….such a nasty bug.

So, it is confirmed that the critter who has taken residence in Sammers ear is MRSA.

That’s the bad news.

The good news is that we think we caught it early enough so that she doesn’t have to have a PIC line and she doesn’t have to go home on I.V. antibiotics….we think….This is good news for many reasons.

1. PIC lines are evasive and direct lines to Samantha’s heart
2. They freak her mother out
3. I.V. antibiotics are administered around the clock so no one sleeps
4. Everyone is happier when they sleep
5. Vanco is a tough antibiotic…hard on the entire system and something you don’t want to become resistant to…the less time on Vanco, the better.

So keep your fingers crossed for oral antibiotics!

On another note, they let us make her formula here in the hospital. This was great because the canned soy nasty RCF is hard on her tummy. She would much rather have coconut milk and Odwalla Super Food. I went out and purchased everything we needed; came back to the hospital and realized that we didn’t have anything to store her formula in. A bottle was too small. The container needed to have a wide-mouth opening to pour all of the ingredients into, a tight seal on the top and a side volume indicator would be helpful too….what to do….what to do.

Ironically, a container typically used for ‘output’ rather than ‘input’ seemed to work perfectly…..a urinal.

We are mixing and storing her formula in a plastic urinal. Hey, it’s sterile, has Samantha’s name on it. NO ONE tries to drink from it. I think I’m onto something 🙂 Call me the Mother of Invention.

There is such a thing as tempting the gods. Talking too much, too soon and with too much self-satisfaction has always seemed to me a sure way to court disaster. The forces of retribution are always listening. They never sleep.
Meg Greenfield

Perhaps it’s because Mama tempted the Gods the last two weeks with her revealing in the sun…shoosing in the snow. Perhaps she did talk too much with too much self-satisfaction. The blame has to fall somewhere and I think it should duely go to the one who had the most fun. Look at those pictures below….she was clearly having the most fun.

We are back again; enjoying the view from the 8th floor at Children’s. Well Mama and Daddy are…I’m taking a much needed snooze.

It looks like that nasty MRSA bug has gotten the best of my ear. This time it switched things up a bit and decided to go for the left instead of the right. Never, ever a dull moment.

Mama and the staff all seem to be behaving themselves and we’re hoping for a short stay.

We’ll keep you posted.

Samantha and her gang

I’m posting ski pics….again.

Because I had a great ski day….again.

I’m not gloating….well I don’t mean to. I’m more giddy….I’m like a crack addict getting her fix…seriously. A good bump run, the sun on my face, the smell of pine…good living. I also got to ski with my husband which doesn’t happen too often unless we can get a condo AND try to convince one of the Grandparents to come up with us AND convince them that the skiing really isn’t that great AND they would be much happier in the condo with two year old.

It’s a long list….with a lot of caveats. It’s a list with a seizure protocol, tube feedings and a cell phone never out of sight. They still do it…I’m pretty darn lucky.

And they’re cute too aren’t they?

And they love Samantha to pieces.

How lucky are we?

So we strapped on our boards and I pretended I was Lindsay Vonn and forgot I was a mom. Yes, I know Lindsay Vonn is decades younger than me but this is my day off. I can pretend to be whoever I want.

My husband and I raced down the mountain like giddy prom dates, like courting polar bears, like flirting kangaroos, like….well we had a good time.

And then we met the babysitters/grandparents for a beer.

I might be gloating a touch.

Freedom is just chaos, with better lighting. ALAN DEAN FOSTER, To the Vanishing Point

What happens when you take three moms with young children, a day out without those children, sun, snow, mountain air and green beer?

It isn’t pretty….

But it’s fun.

Who are those men?

We tried to ski but everything was closed 🙂

You set these ladies free….and it’s chaos…with much better lighting.

These days set me free. These days are good for my soul. These days remind me to embrace my life.

To quote our little Braveheart….”It’s all for nothing if you don’t have freedom”

Go Braveheart, go

So, back in the day, my blender was based on it’s ice-crushing abilities. How quickly can it make my marg a smooth, frothy, lip-smackin beverage? Can it meet these requirements many, many times during a Cinco De Mayo party without smoking, jamming or developing a funky smell?

My needs were simple.

The other day I learned something new.

Wait for this one.

You wouldn’t believe it……

A blender can be used for food.

Ewwwwwww…..

Who in there right mind would want to blend their food?

Me.

Kind of.

When I became pregnant with Samantha, I had dreams of making my own organic baby food. I would be a Whole Foods mama, shifting nervously over fresh veggies, smelling, squeezing, picking, poking. It would be fabulous.

When Samantha had to be tube fed, I put those visions on hold. When Samantha went on the ketogenic diet I resigned myself to the fact her diet would consist of something out of can; pre-made by some nutrition based company in Ohio. I couldn’t possilbly put something together that she could eat everyday. It sounded very complicated.

Oh contraire Mama.

The other day a Kind Canadian Ketogenic Mama sent me a recipe for a homemade ketogenic formula. Viola! Samantha’s new diet now consists of:

Olive Oil
Eggs
Odwalla (Organic!) Superfood
Coconut Milk

Not too bad eh? Especially when you think that a year ago she was drinking partially hydrogenated soybean oil. Whip that up in a blender and we are good to go. Ironically, Samantha isn’t nearly as gaggy as she used be. Hmmmm….maybe she thought partially hydrogenated soybean oil was nasty too.

The best part is that I can now look through the eggs, trying to decide if free-range is better than cage free. I can look for the DHA, omega three enriched, happy eggs from happy chickens and live my Whole Foods Mama dream.

As a side note to this dream, I have decided that Whole Foods is hopelessly overpriced so I’m opting for Vitamin Cottage.

And my blender no longer smells like a frat party.

Life is good.

Yes, once again, I have to take over the blog. Mama is easily distracted. This week she was out gallivanting around…forgetting that her primary job is attending to me, Princess Samantha. She also got obsessed about the second Twilight book, New Moon and read 500 pages in four days. Yeah, Mama says she has it hard but look at these pics….I really don’t feel sorry for her.

Fortunately, I have others who love me dearly and pick up when Mama decides to be a little devilish…..

You thought I was kidding, didn’t you???

She was hangin’ with a rough crowd…..

Fortunately, Grandma Judi came to the rescue! Save me from devil Mama!

Before Mama grew horns, she and Pops went out on the town to celebrate his ’49th’ birthday (you can thank me later Pops!)

They went to an Avs game and Mama yelled obscenities at the Senators.

Where is the baby you may ask? Whose watching Samantha? Nonnie took over so that crazy Mama could have her fun.

Not pictured is Grandpa Jim…carseat mover and oxygen tank-changer extraordinaire.

Thank you…dear Grandparents, for watching over poor, abandon Princess. Mama would thank you too but I think she’s snoozing on the couch. I have to do all the work around here.

🙂

XO-
Princess S.

We have had an international request for more pictures! I keep telling my Mama that she has to keep my fans and their needs in mind…but she doesn’t listen. So I’m taking over. Here is the life of Samantha; or at least the last week or two 🙂

Here I am with something very important to say….is anyone listening? Anyone?

Mama and Me….notice how I look ready for a snooze and Mama looks positively wired. Welcome to my life.

Kisses from my daddy. This is a common occurance which I must endure.

See what I mean?

Pensive on the playground….

Mama’s favorite, favorite pic….can you blame her?

The fight for what should occupy Samantha’s bladder has been a tough one. I have been gunning for one occupant and one only.

Pee….that is the only thing that should be in Samantha’s bladder.

Pee.

Samantha’s bladder on the other hand has been host to several nasties that we have been trying desperately to chase out. This last one was especially persistent and ended her up in the hospital. We WERE treating her for e-coli. While on treatment, another quiet, slow-growing little beastie decided to settle in and invited a couple sneaky friends.

When in the hospital, the doctors came in with two big-gun antibiotics, convinced they would do the trick.

“This will kill everything but the bacteria pseudomonas and the chances of her having pseudomonas are very slim.” They said confidently.

“Hook her in!” I said.

The next day our lovely Infectious Disease doc came in to talk to us. “We found out what bacteria is causing the infection…..

Pseudomonas.”

Are ya kidding me? The one thing we weren’t treating is the one thing she has? Stupid, nasty, pseudomonas.

So, we are now treating her with the right med and she is doing well. Due to her numerous unwanted, uninvited visitors, we are waging a full bladder war….cathing her daily and keeping her on prophylactic antibiotics.

I am a cathing queen. If their were a contest for the fastest cath I would enter it. Seriously.

Funny thing about prophylactic antibiotics…..Every time someone said the word prophylactic I would think of the only prophylactic I know…

A condom

Am I saying the word right? Maybe it’s a different pronouncation…are they saying prophylactic? I couldn’t take it anymore. I had to find out why they were using the same word as the word for a condom.

“So,” I said to the resident. “This might be an odd question. When I think of the word prophylactic, I think of…

A condom

….am I thinking of the right word?”

“Why yes,” She said keeping a perfectly straight face. “Prophylatic means to protect.”

Well of course! To protect! I feel a little better….and not nearly so dirty minded.

Wish us luck on our bladder ‘surge’! I’m donning my camo gear as we speak.

I am still lavishing in the meal Susan and Andy brought over tonight…leg of lamb, roasted potatoes, organic cheese made at a local dairy, MALBEC (that’s for you Ryan) from Chile. Great meal and lovely conversation. Thank you, so very much Susan and Andy.

Towards the end of the meal, I played a CD of a dear friend’s band; Inda Eaton. If you have never heard of her, check out http://www.indaeaton.com. She is a fabulous musician and makes wonderful cookies.

I sat, with my daughter in my lap, drinking great wine, eating dark chocolate with crystallized ginger (who knew HOW GOOD that is?), talking to good friends, with another fabulous friend on the CD player….I was filled with love.

I told a friend the other day that I wish I wasn’t the friend that gives everyone else perspective but it’s nights like this that I relish in the simple beauty of our lives….the health of our daughter, a wonderful meal, and sweet music in my ears. Lovely, lovely, lovely.