I made it!! It was not my graduation, but I made it. Seems odd in this moment to make it a little about me, but I am the one who has prayed over this young lady every single day of her first known heartbeat. For the past six months I have walked into every corner of my house and realize that these walls will no longer smell of the scents of Emily's candles going, or the back round of her sneaking away for an hour on the piano singing praise songs. Her time alone, but my ears pressed to the door. In a few short months our family dynamic will once again change. This is my second graduate and I thought this time around would be easier, but it's not the same child so how could it be easier. It's just as emotional as it was the first time.
My PieSweety graduated from high school last night. She is so much more to me than just a high school graduate. I realize that my hands are held open. The past 18 years have been slowly easing the embrace that a mother has on a child. At times squeezing to hard and not wanting to let go, but knowing it was how she would grow into her own person. It's late and I am really tired.
Tonight she and I went to DQ for a blizzard. In jammies, and through the drive through. Laughing the entire time, never running out of things to talk about, laugh about and learn about. Tonight that we learned her car of one year has an ash tray and there was an extra key in it. We started laughing at this discover. It is now the cash tray as I put the change from our treats in there.
I use to pray as a young mom the kind of relationship I wanted with my daughter. She said to me the other day something like this...."mom, I realize that if I had a sister I would never know life any different than with a sister, but since I don't have a sister I can't imagine every having to share you with a sister. I am so glad it is just us girls. Oh she has four brothers. But when it comes to girls its just us and she embraces us, which makes me realize tonight once again that God has not only blessed me by answering my prayers, but blessed me with one very precious pie-sweety.
When Emily was about three years old I called to her. She did not answer so I called SWEETY PIEEEEEEEE!! In her little strong willed voice she tells me she is not a sweety pie, she does not want to be a sweety pie and I am never to call her a sweety pie again. I then asked her what she would like me to call...she broke out into a big grin and said quite matter of factually..."Pie Sweety".
Oh dear I can go on, but my eyes are sleepy, and I feel overloaded with a blizzard. Thanks for reading....blessings, elizabeth
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Friday, May 23, 2008
Graduation for this week...
Ethan holding his certificate with one very proud papa.
Ethan standing with his class
The kids just before Ethan's graduation....some day they will all smile nice at the camera.
Ethan, this amazing young deaf boy has just graduated from Kindergarten. He has learned right along side his class of hearing kids. He has not had to be in special ed, or had to be pulled aside for special classes. This amazing blue eyed boy has taken his handicap and risen above those expectations put on deaf kids. In my opinion, not enough is put on them by the specialists. I did not give ear to his limitations. I did not put him in public school where he would have been placed in special ed. I put him in one of the best private Christian schools I know of. How do I know because I have already had two other kids go through this school. When Elliot was six years old he was diagnosed with ADHD. I get it's a real thing, but I did not believe this should in anyway limit Elliot. Within two months of being in this private school there was no indication of ADHD. I never had to medicate Elliot, and tossed his prescription.
They are not a special needs school. They are a solid Biblical based Christian school. A school that 13 years later since we first started still has many of the same teachers. They have taken my deaf child, who came to them with delays in speech. He came to them with some confusion on words, context, and they were completely open to working Ethan into their classroom structure. They did not alter their curriculum to fit Ethan, they expected Ethan to fit into the structure. They expected nothing less. And my bright eyed, challenging young boy will start first grade this fall. He will have the same teacher for first grade that Emily had over 12 years ago.
I am so blessed that God has taken this year and taught me so much about mothering a child with a handicap. Knowing to follow my instincts and most important to believe in your child. To let them see you believing that they can do it, even when they struggle and want to give up. When you have a strong willed child you must never allow them to give up because when they are faced with a challenge the strength and confidence is built on their success. Ethan has had a school year full of many challenges and even more success. Graduation night was a year of lots of hard worked wrapped up in an amazing program with even more amazing teachers.
Hats off precious little boy. God is so proud of you this year and so is your family.
About two months ago I went into the principles office and just cried. I tried to explain through all my tears that these were happy tears. I told him how much I appreciated that they would allow Ethan to come to this school. That the teachers and staff love him, and how I watch as the older class's high five he calls them out by name. How Ethan is challenged and learning and growing and in an environment that loves him. I just wanted to let the principle know the value they had to our family.
Last night Ethan graduated with his class. He was part of the school program and performed right along side his class. Before we left for the evening, he was rehearsing his speaking parts and singing some of his songs. He is an extraordinary little boy who has not allowed his handicap to keep him from being a part of every day life. I was so blessed by this evening.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Unexpected sharing of God's Amazingness!!
Today I shared how amazing God is to a perfect stranger. Yep, not me, not my style but he asked.
We are in the process of buying a home. For those who have gone through this process it tends to be an emotional roller coaster of sorts, but so far things are just even. My husband and I have gone into this with the understanding that we would not consider a home unless every single family member was happy with the choice. That being said, we also agreed that if things did not work out, it would be completely okay because we know God gives us the desires of our hearts and He may have a different and better plan. Whoopee!!
I was talking with the mortgage guy today. We are doing things a little differently than we had planned. He asked me how things might look for us, and I said "God is so amazing and good and if you don't know Jesus, you will after hearing our story". Okay I said this tongue and cheek. I confess I expected the questions to continue as they do with a mortgage guy. But he surprised me. He said " tell me how that is?"....tell him how what is, is what I am thinking? "He says I would love to hear your story". At no time during my fifteen minutes of giving God complete glory for what he has done in our family did he make any confessions of being a Christian. He just wanted to know more about what it was about our lives that gave credence and credit to God. Whoopee!!!
When I hung up the phone I prayed for this man. I thought if this loan does not produce the numbers my husband and I want it's okay. Today a stranger heard the amazing power of God. The miracles in this last year. He asked me how I define miracles. I told him that in church on Sunday the pastor said it like this..."a miracle is when God steps in and does the impossible" so I adopted that and shared that with him.
A stranger whom I know very little about except the builder of this home referred him. A stranger who is taking all our personal information for evaluation and I got to show him a glimpse of our Savior in a way that was cooler than if I had planned. I just love how God drops someone into our lives to expose Him.
We are in the process of buying a home. For those who have gone through this process it tends to be an emotional roller coaster of sorts, but so far things are just even. My husband and I have gone into this with the understanding that we would not consider a home unless every single family member was happy with the choice. That being said, we also agreed that if things did not work out, it would be completely okay because we know God gives us the desires of our hearts and He may have a different and better plan. Whoopee!!
I was talking with the mortgage guy today. We are doing things a little differently than we had planned. He asked me how things might look for us, and I said "God is so amazing and good and if you don't know Jesus, you will after hearing our story". Okay I said this tongue and cheek. I confess I expected the questions to continue as they do with a mortgage guy. But he surprised me. He said " tell me how that is?"....tell him how what is, is what I am thinking? "He says I would love to hear your story". At no time during my fifteen minutes of giving God complete glory for what he has done in our family did he make any confessions of being a Christian. He just wanted to know more about what it was about our lives that gave credence and credit to God. Whoopee!!!
When I hung up the phone I prayed for this man. I thought if this loan does not produce the numbers my husband and I want it's okay. Today a stranger heard the amazing power of God. The miracles in this last year. He asked me how I define miracles. I told him that in church on Sunday the pastor said it like this..."a miracle is when God steps in and does the impossible" so I adopted that and shared that with him.
A stranger whom I know very little about except the builder of this home referred him. A stranger who is taking all our personal information for evaluation and I got to show him a glimpse of our Savior in a way that was cooler than if I had planned. I just love how God drops someone into our lives to expose Him.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Weekend Blessings...
This weekend the kids and I have been talking a lot about being blessed by God.
"Like to we really take inventory of how much we are really blessed?". We are not of the mindset of having good luck, or falling into good luck. When good things happen it's a blessing. So here is the inventory list and I invite you to comment and share your list for the weekend.
1. I found two brand new bikes on craigslist for the boys. The family said the boys outgrew them before they could really learn to ride them, and they were speedy souped up bikes for only $80.00 for both.
2. I found a house that the kids love.
3. David loves the house too
4. The house is 10 minutes to David's work and 15 minutes to the kids school. HUGE BLESSING!!
5. David and I were able to play golf again (two Sundays in a row)
6. I had all five of my kids in church worshipping together.
7. We found training wheels for Ethan's bike within two minutes of looking, huge because we were all hungry and I promised right after church we would get them, not thinking that the other four kids would be starving.
8. Everyone sitting down to lunch out, and everyone behaving...big smile!
9. The pastor's message AMAZING!!
Okay, these may seem like every day normal things, but as the air was crisp with the hint of summer, the sun shining and the weekend coming to a close, I realize for me that the joy that fills my heart is with the smallest of blessings. As we shared as a family there were many different things at many different levels and it was so fun to take inventory of how God is blessing us individually and as a family. So how is God blessing you today, right now as you read this and take inventory in your day. Blessings!
"Like to we really take inventory of how much we are really blessed?". We are not of the mindset of having good luck, or falling into good luck. When good things happen it's a blessing. So here is the inventory list and I invite you to comment and share your list for the weekend.
1. I found two brand new bikes on craigslist for the boys. The family said the boys outgrew them before they could really learn to ride them, and they were speedy souped up bikes for only $80.00 for both.
2. I found a house that the kids love.
3. David loves the house too
4. The house is 10 minutes to David's work and 15 minutes to the kids school. HUGE BLESSING!!
5. David and I were able to play golf again (two Sundays in a row)
6. I had all five of my kids in church worshipping together.
7. We found training wheels for Ethan's bike within two minutes of looking, huge because we were all hungry and I promised right after church we would get them, not thinking that the other four kids would be starving.
8. Everyone sitting down to lunch out, and everyone behaving...big smile!
9. The pastor's message AMAZING!!
Okay, these may seem like every day normal things, but as the air was crisp with the hint of summer, the sun shining and the weekend coming to a close, I realize for me that the joy that fills my heart is with the smallest of blessings. As we shared as a family there were many different things at many different levels and it was so fun to take inventory of how God is blessing us individually and as a family. So how is God blessing you today, right now as you read this and take inventory in your day. Blessings!
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Grumblings from a mother bear
For the past 4 years of my daughters highschool education there have been situations with teachers, staff, or things I did not particularly agree with concerning a class or the school. Rather than address the issues with the teacher or staff I felt it was my job to speak directly with my daughter to work through the situation. Pray over the situation and simply help her learn that in life there will always be situations to work through.
I have always told my kids that this is the teacher they are with, and we have to figure out how to make this an awesome year because regardless of what we may say this person is who they are. That being said things changed this evening.
Emily came to me struggling with her homework. She was more frustrated than anything. She's a very bright girl. I have never had to tell her to study or do her homework. She loves learning, loves the challenge of completing a project and embraces the time it takes to to well, and do well she does. I am blessed by her committment to her education. Tonight's frustration was more than just homework overload, it was something more. I asked her what was wrong.
She said her teacher did not show up for a class. The class waited, and waited, and waited. No teacher. Fifteen minutes into class still no teacher. It's a beautiful day, so the class decided to go and sit outside on the track. As it turns out the teacher ended up assigning homework on concepts that were not taught and blamed the students for their lack of responsibility. Apparently he thought it was the class's responsibility to go and find him. WHAT???!!!!!
I looked at her and asked her to explain to me how she or her class could possibly be in trouble for this. So she was just frustrated at being treated unfairly, and trying to do a math problem she had not been taught. So with two weeks left of her senior year in highschool I sent an email and let the teacher know this was not acceptable. In the email I excused Emily from her sixth period class and the reason being that the teacher did not show up to teach.
When adults do not take responsibility for their actions and then try to place blame on a kids, that is when this mama-bear steps up. I have had my reservations over this teacher for years, but embraced that he is a leader at this school. His actions on many levels have disturbed me, but nothing that has ever directly affected my children, so I can go along and be greatful for the education that is offered, but this just really was not okay, and it was important that this teacher hear that from a parent.
This situation did promote some really important dialogue. As Christians are we to always walk away and be quiet. Especially when a brother in Christ is causing injustice. If we are wronged, how do we hold the other person accountable to their actions? Thoughts to ponder.
I have always told my kids that this is the teacher they are with, and we have to figure out how to make this an awesome year because regardless of what we may say this person is who they are. That being said things changed this evening.
Emily came to me struggling with her homework. She was more frustrated than anything. She's a very bright girl. I have never had to tell her to study or do her homework. She loves learning, loves the challenge of completing a project and embraces the time it takes to to well, and do well she does. I am blessed by her committment to her education. Tonight's frustration was more than just homework overload, it was something more. I asked her what was wrong.
She said her teacher did not show up for a class. The class waited, and waited, and waited. No teacher. Fifteen minutes into class still no teacher. It's a beautiful day, so the class decided to go and sit outside on the track. As it turns out the teacher ended up assigning homework on concepts that were not taught and blamed the students for their lack of responsibility. Apparently he thought it was the class's responsibility to go and find him. WHAT???!!!!!
I looked at her and asked her to explain to me how she or her class could possibly be in trouble for this. So she was just frustrated at being treated unfairly, and trying to do a math problem she had not been taught. So with two weeks left of her senior year in highschool I sent an email and let the teacher know this was not acceptable. In the email I excused Emily from her sixth period class and the reason being that the teacher did not show up to teach.
When adults do not take responsibility for their actions and then try to place blame on a kids, that is when this mama-bear steps up. I have had my reservations over this teacher for years, but embraced that he is a leader at this school. His actions on many levels have disturbed me, but nothing that has ever directly affected my children, so I can go along and be greatful for the education that is offered, but this just really was not okay, and it was important that this teacher hear that from a parent.
This situation did promote some really important dialogue. As Christians are we to always walk away and be quiet. Especially when a brother in Christ is causing injustice. If we are wronged, how do we hold the other person accountable to their actions? Thoughts to ponder.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
A Mother's Day Blessing
I just want to share a little of the heart of my oldest son. This is how he blessed me over mother's day.
Ode to My Beloved Mother
To the mom who taught my pen to write
To the mom who spurred my inner might
To the mom who helped me pass the test
To the mom who cheered me to give my best
From 1st grade-12th grade and now into college
Through you I've gained a greater knowledge
That though my grades may brag in sight
I firstly live for God's delight
And though my victories may come in power
I'll praise my God for every hour
So ode to you mom, you've taught me well
Now of your lessons my life will tell.
happy mother's day, love elliot
Ode to My Beloved Mother
To the mom who taught my pen to write
To the mom who spurred my inner might
To the mom who helped me pass the test
To the mom who cheered me to give my best
From 1st grade-12th grade and now into college
Through you I've gained a greater knowledge
That though my grades may brag in sight
I firstly live for God's delight
And though my victories may come in power
I'll praise my God for every hour
So ode to you mom, you've taught me well
Now of your lessons my life will tell.
happy mother's day, love elliot
Monday, May 12, 2008
Miracle Monday
Please check out this blog spot to view other Miracles of the day...http://beth-amomslife.blogspot.com/
I wrote a few blogs down about a Medication Mix-Up. Scroll down to find it if you have not yet read it. For the past few days our family has reflected on that incident and the same thing keeps coming up. It was no mistake from God that the credit card was not mine. It was not a coincidence or dumb luck. I had been mismedicated and it was calling my husband over this charge card number that did not make sense. I had not done that, had the card be correct, had I had my own card swiped I would have passed out with a two and four year old home. Instead I called my husband, we discovered the mix up and my daughter was able to come home and keep me awake for the next six hours. When I got past the six hours I slept 18 hours straight and woke up with a horrid headache. My son said to me earlier today..."mom do you realize how many times in your life God has spared you? That is just crazy" Yep, it's my miracle.
I wrote a few blogs down about a Medication Mix-Up. Scroll down to find it if you have not yet read it. For the past few days our family has reflected on that incident and the same thing keeps coming up. It was no mistake from God that the credit card was not mine. It was not a coincidence or dumb luck. I had been mismedicated and it was calling my husband over this charge card number that did not make sense. I had not done that, had the card be correct, had I had my own card swiped I would have passed out with a two and four year old home. Instead I called my husband, we discovered the mix up and my daughter was able to come home and keep me awake for the next six hours. When I got past the six hours I slept 18 hours straight and woke up with a horrid headache. My son said to me earlier today..."mom do you realize how many times in your life God has spared you? That is just crazy" Yep, it's my miracle.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Mother's Day
Do you ever wake up and pinch yourself? Today I had the opportunity to sleep in. Last night we decided not to go to church. We wanted to sleep in, lounge over a long cozy breakfast in jammies, do a family donut run, and just take our time doing nothing at all. So I get to sleep in. If I wanted I could have slept in until noon. It's Mother's day.
I laid in bed. It was around 8:00am and I could hear the giggles, the waiting for mommy, the chat about presents, and the excitement for mommy to come downstairs. I have such a sweet family. I mean I am not kidding here, above and beyond anything you might call normal. I have fun kids. Not an introvert in the bunch, which means lots and lots of talking, expressing, and gathering many people in small places. Because no matter how much space is in a room, we all want to be in each other's space.
So I lay in bed and I just think...I am going to pinch myself. So I do, and you know it's real. I am a very blessed mother. My oldest is in his 3rd year of writing "An Ode to my Mother". Words that melt my heart. I am going to share it sometime this week. Ethan was excited for me to open my box of golf balls. I mean he's six years old and already excited about the gifts that "he" can use. LOL. I did get to go and play golf with my husband today. The older kids stepped up to the plate to help with the younger boys and it was a lovely afternoon with my husband too.
I sit here with no words of great depth. Just simply that I have enjoyed the journey of being a mother. There is nothing I would rather be doing than working through each day with the blessing of knowing that God gave me these little sillies to raise up. Each with their own personality, handicap, gifts, and challenges. He knew I could handle an Elliot, Emily, Ethan, Eric and Emerson. Wow, it just makes smile to know that I am sitting hear right now with five terrific kids under my roof.
Thank you Lord for blessing me in such a way that you have allowed me the privilege to be part of raising these kids up in You. Thank you that every single day you give me I will always be a mom. Thank you that my past, the hurts of my past, and the dysfunctions of my childhood have not kept me from being the kind of mom my children need. Happy Mother's Day to all the mommy's out there.
I laid in bed. It was around 8:00am and I could hear the giggles, the waiting for mommy, the chat about presents, and the excitement for mommy to come downstairs. I have such a sweet family. I mean I am not kidding here, above and beyond anything you might call normal. I have fun kids. Not an introvert in the bunch, which means lots and lots of talking, expressing, and gathering many people in small places. Because no matter how much space is in a room, we all want to be in each other's space.
So I lay in bed and I just think...I am going to pinch myself. So I do, and you know it's real. I am a very blessed mother. My oldest is in his 3rd year of writing "An Ode to my Mother". Words that melt my heart. I am going to share it sometime this week. Ethan was excited for me to open my box of golf balls. I mean he's six years old and already excited about the gifts that "he" can use. LOL. I did get to go and play golf with my husband today. The older kids stepped up to the plate to help with the younger boys and it was a lovely afternoon with my husband too.
I sit here with no words of great depth. Just simply that I have enjoyed the journey of being a mother. There is nothing I would rather be doing than working through each day with the blessing of knowing that God gave me these little sillies to raise up. Each with their own personality, handicap, gifts, and challenges. He knew I could handle an Elliot, Emily, Ethan, Eric and Emerson. Wow, it just makes smile to know that I am sitting hear right now with five terrific kids under my roof.
Thank you Lord for blessing me in such a way that you have allowed me the privilege to be part of raising these kids up in You. Thank you that every single day you give me I will always be a mom. Thank you that my past, the hurts of my past, and the dysfunctions of my childhood have not kept me from being the kind of mom my children need. Happy Mother's Day to all the mommy's out there.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Just a few words.....
....From the Bible. Okay I don't have any specific verses, but something so cool happened today that I wanted to share. I have been home bound with a sick boy for the past three days. It's been an even bigger bummer because the weather has been so nice and the other two boys have wanting to do something outside, and are limited to the backyard which is not so bad.
Today I was in a mental funk. My sick child was slowly coming out of it, the other two boys happy and playing really well. But I was in a funk. I was so productive in knocking off a few huge projects I wanted to complete. Today is the first time in my life that I have all the bed linens on every single bed in this house clean, dried, and back on the beds. But even then I am still in a funk.
I put on one of my favorite praise tapes. Yep it's a tape. I have a mini stereo in my upstairs hallway that has a tape player on it and I have refused to spend the money to update all my tapes of yesterday. So I put on a worship tape by Sandi Patty. So eighties, but I love it. I thought if I played the tape and sang along my spirits would be lifted. Nope even Sandi could not take me out of this slump.
Emerson was napping and the two other boys were in a room playing Lego's so I went and just laid on my bed trying to figure what has put me here. Nothing came to my mind, so I started to pray, but my heart was not into praying. I felt it was more just lip service kind of praying. I picked up my Bible and read Proverbs 6 which was basically how to stay away from an adulteress woman. Great, not exactly the passage I need for today. But then I just started thumping through my Bible and reading a passage here, and there, and then I realized almost an entire hour had gone by. The boys hopped up on my bed and wanted me to read to them.
A couple of hours later I was in the kitchen finishing up the preparations for dinner and thought, what changed in me? My spirits were so high. I felt like me, which is pretty much a happy kind of spirit. Not a whole lot really rattles me and I stood there thinking, what had changed. What changed is how the Holy Spirit spoke to me through the passages of scripture that crossed my path. Random acts of reading and taking notes in thought of how amazing God is and wants to be in my life. Reading just a few words brought so much peace to my unsettled spirit. I thought I had read just a few words, but realized that it was almost an hour of reading.
No energy drink, no special pill, no special coffee drink, just good old fashioned Bible thumping...just a few words.
Today I was in a mental funk. My sick child was slowly coming out of it, the other two boys happy and playing really well. But I was in a funk. I was so productive in knocking off a few huge projects I wanted to complete. Today is the first time in my life that I have all the bed linens on every single bed in this house clean, dried, and back on the beds. But even then I am still in a funk.
I put on one of my favorite praise tapes. Yep it's a tape. I have a mini stereo in my upstairs hallway that has a tape player on it and I have refused to spend the money to update all my tapes of yesterday. So I put on a worship tape by Sandi Patty. So eighties, but I love it. I thought if I played the tape and sang along my spirits would be lifted. Nope even Sandi could not take me out of this slump.
Emerson was napping and the two other boys were in a room playing Lego's so I went and just laid on my bed trying to figure what has put me here. Nothing came to my mind, so I started to pray, but my heart was not into praying. I felt it was more just lip service kind of praying. I picked up my Bible and read Proverbs 6 which was basically how to stay away from an adulteress woman. Great, not exactly the passage I need for today. But then I just started thumping through my Bible and reading a passage here, and there, and then I realized almost an entire hour had gone by. The boys hopped up on my bed and wanted me to read to them.
A couple of hours later I was in the kitchen finishing up the preparations for dinner and thought, what changed in me? My spirits were so high. I felt like me, which is pretty much a happy kind of spirit. Not a whole lot really rattles me and I stood there thinking, what had changed. What changed is how the Holy Spirit spoke to me through the passages of scripture that crossed my path. Random acts of reading and taking notes in thought of how amazing God is and wants to be in my life. Reading just a few words brought so much peace to my unsettled spirit. I thought I had read just a few words, but realized that it was almost an hour of reading.
No energy drink, no special pill, no special coffee drink, just good old fashioned Bible thumping...just a few words.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Medication Mix-Up
You hear about stories, you read about them and then you ask..."how can that possible happen?" Well it happened to me, and it's just about the scariest thing I have been through in a long time.
Yesterday I went in for an early dental appointment. I had to have a tooth extracted (the polite way of saying having a tooth pulled). I scheduled it early, so I could have the entire day to play, be mom, do the typical Thursday things I do, and then go off to work in the later afternoon. The extraction went very well. I was told that I should feel very little pain as I had had a root canal a couple years earlier, so there are no nerves. Just in case they prescribed some ibuprofen to reduce swelling and vicodin, to be used only if needed. No biggy. If you know me I am a mediphobic, so I will typically deal with pain unless absolutely necessary.
After my appointment I drove to a well known national store to fill my prescription. While I waited I picked up a cheap, cute little handbag, some kitty chow for a cat we have just adopted at our back door, and a handful of mother and grandmother day cards. When I went to check out I was told that I had a card on file for "express pharmacy" check out. I questioned the guy as I had not been aware we had done that. He showed me the last four digits on the credit, again one i did not recognize. My oldest was sick earlier this year, away at college in Florida, so my assumption was that my husband must have set that up for the convenience of Elliot to fill his prescriptions. So, sweet no payment due off my debit card and away I went. Feeling fine and only smiling half way, as one side of my face was still numb.
The Dr. told me to take the meds within an hour, before the numbness wore off so there would be little or no pain and swelling. So I did. The kids were eating lunch, so I decided to call my husband to see what card this express payment was on. As I was talking to him, trying to figure things out, I started getting very woozy and dizzy. He said this card number was not ours. I then looked at the name on the bottles and it was the wrong name. My husband, in a panic then asks me what I just took. I read the bottle and it was morphine and codeine...on an empty stomach. My husband works in a hospital around doctors. He instructed me to contact my daughter at school to come home right away. I then contacted the pharmacy which realized they had made a "terrible mistake".
My Dr. called, as the pharmacy had contacted them. The Dr. asked if there was anyone who could be with me. I was not to sleep for four hours. I had to be kept awake. My husband then called, after having spoken to one of the docs he works with who said the same thing. I must be kept awake and be monitored. Emily was able to rush home from school, the boys were put down for naps and she could not stop laughing. We don't get much sympathy around here. She said I went to stand up, fell onto the floor and then laid there. She thought I was joking, but then came over and started prodding me to wake up. I thought she had pushed me onto the floor when I awoke, but needless to say it was no easy task to keep her drugged mother awake.
Later a friend came over to watch the boys, so Emily could get Ethan from school, go by the pharmacy to drop off the wrong prescription and pick up the right one. After being awake for almost five hours, I was told I could sleep, but needed to be checked every 15 minutes to make sure I was breathing. Does this not sound like I should have gone to emergency. Later learning because of the doses, and combination I could have slipped into a coma. I slept for about 18 hours. I have little memory of anything. My daughter said she would ask me a question, and I would say nothing, and then ten minutes later slurred out the answer. She still is chuckling. I ended up missing work. Fortunately I had called my boss earlier in the day when this all started.
Oh, how nice. The pharmacy gave me the right prescription for free and the items I purchased earlier had been put onto someone else's credit card. So they reversed the charges and said they would not charge us for those earlier. (Darn, I should have bought those frames I was looking at too)
Almost 24 hours later I am left with a migraine hangover. My husband had to stay home this morning to get Ethan to school. And today he is fuming over this entire incident. Only to learn that had I not had the presence of mind to call my husband about a credit card, I could have been passed out on a floor with a 2 and 4 year old at home. Today he said he would be writing a letter to this company. Later this morning I was sharing this incident with a friend who said she knows some one's mother who died having had the same kind of mix up and from the same pharmacy.
So the question is how did this happen. Everyone who knows me, knows that I have at least 15 pairs of reading glasses around my house, in every purse I own, and in my car. Did I specifically look to check the bottles? No, I glanced at them and saw Tr, barely with my blind eyes, and thought nothing of it. The person who's prescription I got has the same first two letters in his name. With prescriptions having generic names I was not concerned about what was given to me. I am not a pharmacist, nor do I know what generic terms are for what medications. So my bad in not reading and asking questions about what was trusted from the Dr. to the pharmacy.
I feel in many ways that God was watching over me, and I am forever grateful that my husband and I understand our spending habits in that I would question an express pay process. That does not sound like either of us, which is why I questioned it. Which had us both wondering what it might be.
Oh the pain in my mouth. Not there. The pain in my head feels like someone has taken knives and are twisting them through my brain. My husband said that with a strong dose of this combination of narcotics this is a side affect. Word of caution...READ the BOTTLE, and if it's a generic version, understand what it is. I did not ask any question because I know what both meds were that I was to have and I am married to a former alcohol and chemical addiction therapist who knows meds like the back of his hand. So you can say he is more than freaked over this incident. Thanks be to God for having people to help me in a moments notice.
Yesterday I went in for an early dental appointment. I had to have a tooth extracted (the polite way of saying having a tooth pulled). I scheduled it early, so I could have the entire day to play, be mom, do the typical Thursday things I do, and then go off to work in the later afternoon. The extraction went very well. I was told that I should feel very little pain as I had had a root canal a couple years earlier, so there are no nerves. Just in case they prescribed some ibuprofen to reduce swelling and vicodin, to be used only if needed. No biggy. If you know me I am a mediphobic, so I will typically deal with pain unless absolutely necessary.
After my appointment I drove to a well known national store to fill my prescription. While I waited I picked up a cheap, cute little handbag, some kitty chow for a cat we have just adopted at our back door, and a handful of mother and grandmother day cards. When I went to check out I was told that I had a card on file for "express pharmacy" check out. I questioned the guy as I had not been aware we had done that. He showed me the last four digits on the credit, again one i did not recognize. My oldest was sick earlier this year, away at college in Florida, so my assumption was that my husband must have set that up for the convenience of Elliot to fill his prescriptions. So, sweet no payment due off my debit card and away I went. Feeling fine and only smiling half way, as one side of my face was still numb.
The Dr. told me to take the meds within an hour, before the numbness wore off so there would be little or no pain and swelling. So I did. The kids were eating lunch, so I decided to call my husband to see what card this express payment was on. As I was talking to him, trying to figure things out, I started getting very woozy and dizzy. He said this card number was not ours. I then looked at the name on the bottles and it was the wrong name. My husband, in a panic then asks me what I just took. I read the bottle and it was morphine and codeine...on an empty stomach. My husband works in a hospital around doctors. He instructed me to contact my daughter at school to come home right away. I then contacted the pharmacy which realized they had made a "terrible mistake".
My Dr. called, as the pharmacy had contacted them. The Dr. asked if there was anyone who could be with me. I was not to sleep for four hours. I had to be kept awake. My husband then called, after having spoken to one of the docs he works with who said the same thing. I must be kept awake and be monitored. Emily was able to rush home from school, the boys were put down for naps and she could not stop laughing. We don't get much sympathy around here. She said I went to stand up, fell onto the floor and then laid there. She thought I was joking, but then came over and started prodding me to wake up. I thought she had pushed me onto the floor when I awoke, but needless to say it was no easy task to keep her drugged mother awake.
Later a friend came over to watch the boys, so Emily could get Ethan from school, go by the pharmacy to drop off the wrong prescription and pick up the right one. After being awake for almost five hours, I was told I could sleep, but needed to be checked every 15 minutes to make sure I was breathing. Does this not sound like I should have gone to emergency. Later learning because of the doses, and combination I could have slipped into a coma. I slept for about 18 hours. I have little memory of anything. My daughter said she would ask me a question, and I would say nothing, and then ten minutes later slurred out the answer. She still is chuckling. I ended up missing work. Fortunately I had called my boss earlier in the day when this all started.
Oh, how nice. The pharmacy gave me the right prescription for free and the items I purchased earlier had been put onto someone else's credit card. So they reversed the charges and said they would not charge us for those earlier. (Darn, I should have bought those frames I was looking at too)
Almost 24 hours later I am left with a migraine hangover. My husband had to stay home this morning to get Ethan to school. And today he is fuming over this entire incident. Only to learn that had I not had the presence of mind to call my husband about a credit card, I could have been passed out on a floor with a 2 and 4 year old at home. Today he said he would be writing a letter to this company. Later this morning I was sharing this incident with a friend who said she knows some one's mother who died having had the same kind of mix up and from the same pharmacy.
So the question is how did this happen. Everyone who knows me, knows that I have at least 15 pairs of reading glasses around my house, in every purse I own, and in my car. Did I specifically look to check the bottles? No, I glanced at them and saw Tr, barely with my blind eyes, and thought nothing of it. The person who's prescription I got has the same first two letters in his name. With prescriptions having generic names I was not concerned about what was given to me. I am not a pharmacist, nor do I know what generic terms are for what medications. So my bad in not reading and asking questions about what was trusted from the Dr. to the pharmacy.
I feel in many ways that God was watching over me, and I am forever grateful that my husband and I understand our spending habits in that I would question an express pay process. That does not sound like either of us, which is why I questioned it. Which had us both wondering what it might be.
Oh the pain in my mouth. Not there. The pain in my head feels like someone has taken knives and are twisting them through my brain. My husband said that with a strong dose of this combination of narcotics this is a side affect. Word of caution...READ the BOTTLE, and if it's a generic version, understand what it is. I did not ask any question because I know what both meds were that I was to have and I am married to a former alcohol and chemical addiction therapist who knows meds like the back of his hand. So you can say he is more than freaked over this incident. Thanks be to God for having people to help me in a moments notice.
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