It's Raining, It's Pouring

Today it is raining.  Sometimes it pours when it is raining.  Today is one of those days.

My MIL has been very sick with this respitory bug going around.  At one point last week, we were not certain that she was going to get well but since we were busy consumed with the infection on Little Sister's leg, I had to prioritize.  She is someone better but very weak and at the tender young age of 84 and a week without food, she is extremely frail.  Last week she announced that were it not for her two grandkids, she would just go ahead and give up and die.  The scary thing is that I know she meant it. That was not encouraging to any of us and as an only child, it highly disturbed MusicMan to have to be worrying about everything that he was.

Yesterday morning, my MIL's best friend died after a long illness.  My MIL is just too sick to participate in visitation or attend the funeral. 

On top of that, their dog was died last night.  This dog was the most beautiful large collie that I've ever seen.  I thought of a bigger than life Lassie when I thought of this dog.  Aside from MusicMan and his children, this dog was the treasure of MusicMan's parent's heart.  The dog had horrible arthiritis and moved slowly.  He was resting near my FIL in the yard and someone pulled up into the yard and the dog couldn't get up quick enough to move nor could the driver of the truck see the dog.  It crushed his head.  After several agonizing hours and some support from a friend of theirs and the most caring vet, they opted to have him put down.  So today, their dog is dead and gone.  Emotionally this is just a lot to take.  We have not told our children - who have holiday programs and much to do between now and the end of the week. We will tell them then when they can go to the place that they have burried the dog. My inlaw's neighbors had a back-hoe and they came and dug the hole to bury the dog.

Because we were recently diagnosed with MRSA, we got a phone call from the infectious disease specialist today.  He wanted to go over the precautions and sanitary procedures that we are to do for our entire home, our laundry and especially things that Little Sister is in personal physical contact with.  I just let him talk because I found all of that information on the internet earlier in the week and had already been doing those things. I was totally cool with his textbook call until he tried to make sure that I understood the "seriousness of this bug."  Here's what he said to me, "I don't mean to scare you but another 24 to 48 hours and it would have been in her bloodstream and she likely would have experienced organ failure or could have died so you are very lucky."

Gee, thanks I thought.  I had to almost beg for someone to see her because I was getting passed off and you tell me the worst case scenario.  Instead, I just said, "You're right.  We are lucky that we got treatment when we did" because what I was really thinking is "this is just another thing where I'm dissapointed in medical care and had I depended on the medical care and not insisted on someone listening to me when I did - we'd be in a lot worse shape because some doctors don't know what the hell they're doing."  I thanked him for his call and reassured him that I would look for such spots on every family member's body, including the pet.  I tried to make a joke to MusicMan about us having to check each other's bodies but he is so stressed about his mother/the dead dog and this past week with Little Sister that he failed to see even the tiniest bit of humor in my invitation.  I asked if any of us needed to be cultured as a carrier (they swab up in your nose) or tested and he said no. 

I'm getting a lot of flack about Little Sister returning to school in light of her recent MRSA diagnosis. When we tried to take her today, they made a lot of noise. The Dr keeps telling me that she isn't contagious anymore and the preschool keeps saying that their policy is that she can't come.  They weren't the least bit concerned on Tuesday and Wednesday when she was there and pure puss was draining out of the hole in her leg.  I've had to get a certified medical letter and go round and round and round.  The urgency is that tonight is Little Sister's Christmas program and she really wants to go.  I would understand if she were contagious.  As a parent, I wouldn't want another child putting my child at risk but my child is not contagious anymore. 

So.....I've got a ship with a sail.  I've got enough water from the pouring rain to float that ship.  Now I need enough wind to lift the sail.  This ship is pointed for the horizon where there is sunshine and health and holiday love and family and MRSA that is under control.

Comments

[NewYorkTwinMom]

It's not a very merry Christmas for your hubby's parents. =*( I'll keep them in my prayers, and hope that they can find comfort and joy in the season. How sad - to be sick is bad, then the dog, and her best friend on the same day. Sometimes it all crashes down at once.

Was Baby K able to attend the Christmas Program? I hope so.

[Anvilcloud]

It certainly is pouring there. Wishing you all the best in these difficult situations.

[Kristi]

Whoa,a lot is happening in such a short time. I'm so sorry.
About lil sis' infection...I have dealt with MRSA with Chase. I have soooo much to say but no time or room and it sounds like she's on the mend now so that's wonderful to hear!
What I want to ask is...did they prescribe some Bactroban ointment? If not, you need to ask for a prescription.
You can swab it in her nose and on any suspicious spot on her body.
Also, since having dealt with this crap we now bathe in Apple Cidar Vinegar. Nothing but great things come from this so look it up online or there's plenty of books on the many things ACV is good for.