World Down Syndrome Day

Today is March 21st... World Down Syndrome Day! This date was chosen because Down Syndrome is a triplication of the 21st chromosome.

We have a good handful of friends who have amazing, sweet, loving children who just happen to have Down Syndrome. Look at these sweet faces that Kayleigh captured on camera when she did her Reflections Project and send a special prayer up for them, and all others affected by Down Syndrome!

What Goes 'Round... Comes 'Round!

Well... after feeling MISERABLE for 4 days and a Minute Clinic visit that was an hour of my life wasted, I went to MY doctor's office on Friday afternoon. Turns out - their strep test was POSITIVE and I had a lovely sinus infection brewing, huge tonsils, and a bit of an asthmatic type of cough going on that the doctor got to witness! So, he put me on steroids and antibiotics.... 24 hours later, I'm finally feeling a little bit of relief!

But... while I was AT the doctor's office, he asked me what took me so long to come in. I explained to him I went to the Minute Clinic thing on Wednesday night, and I told him how awful of an experience it was. He pressed for more details, so I gave him the WHOLE story! He then asked me which Minute Clinic I went to, so I told him. Then wanted to know who the NP was. I couldn't remember her name, but I told him she didn't speak much English. He smiled and said "oooohhh... that's Elena... I'll have a chat with her. I'm her supervisor!".

HA!

Turns out, my doctor is the Supervising MD for the Robinhood Road Minute Clinic!

What goes 'round, comes 'round, Elena! Maybe next time she'll use a bit more clinical judgement and a bit less computer clicking!

Don't Waste Your Money!

I've been dealing with a horrible sore throat for a few days now, and today the white blistery spots started. I have a history of tonsillitis and was actually scheduled to have my tonsils taken out a year ago, but I chickened out last minute. So - for me - it's not rocket science to figure out what's about to happen!

So, tonight, I gave in! I've hard all the rave about the new CVS Minute Clinic's so I thought I'd head down there thinking it would be an easy in and out, with a simple diagnosis, especially considering my history.

Started out simple enough... you enter your name into a computer and sit and wait your turn. I only waited about 20 minutes, for a walk-in I was pretty happy with that. A nurse practitioner (who did not speak English well at all) greeted me and took me into her little office. She immediately starts asking me canned questions from the computer and she clicks my answers... hardly any eye contact at all. Once she's done she says "the computer says to do a rapid strep test". I told her that was fine, but I was certain it was tonsillitis and started to tell her my history - she cut me off saying "the computer gives us clinical guidelines we have to follow".

Uhhh... excuse me? The computer is your clinical judgement????

So I let her do the strep test - she shoved the thing half way down my throat and left it there so long I ended up grabbing her arm to take it OUT of my throat! Kid you not! She runs the test and then shows it to me saying "one pink line is negative, two is positive, you only have one so what you have is viral".

Again - at this point she still hadn't even LOOKED at my tonsils! She's working based on what the computer told her to do!

She starts to click something on the computer and I said to her - it's the tonsils that are a mess, so she finally looked. First she asks (after she looked) do you even still have your tonsils? SERIOUSLY!?!? She then told me.... and I quote.... "you do have a lot of them, but your white blisters aren't large enough for me to click as a symptom" and she turned to go back to letting the computer spit out IT'S diagnosis...

"sore throat"

By now I was ticked and I told her so! Told her that it was a complete waste of my $35 copay and I'll call my own doctor tomorrow - to which she asked me if my own doctor prescribed meds based on what I thought was wrong. I very sternly replied - and I quote again "no, but she DOES use her own clinical judgement, something that you clearly don't know how to do!".

She was ever so kind as to print off the what to do for a sore throat sheet, and sent me on my merry way!

Now - I'm sure that if you have something that can be simply diagnosed with a test (i.e. strep, flu, etc.) that it's fine. But if there's any clinical judgement involved at all - don't waste your time or your money at Minute Clinic!

First Time On Stage...

This weekend was the first time the new youth praise band was on stage during regular services. They sang "Hosanna" during the offering. Kayleigh's nerves were high, but they all did a great job!

(ps - Kayleigh's the one on the far left of the video!)

Poor Andy!

In the short week we have lived here, Andy has already learned that he LOVES to go for an afternoon walk in the neighborhood to see his friends too! Tonight, as he was going down one curb to cross the street, his back hip gave out and he tumbled forward. His paw got stuck in the sidewalk crack and the next thing we knew there was blood everywhere! We got him back home figuring we could fix him up... but it was clear there was no stopping the bleeding so off to the emergency vet we went....

Turns out our poor pup has some sort of bleeding disorder we didn't know about! Yeah - I know - write a book of all the crazy stuff that goes on in our house! After two hours of waiting for his foot to clot on it's own, they ended up having to turniquet his leg for nearly 15 minutes AND cauterize it to get it to stop bleeding!

So for the next 3 days, no walks for Andy. To top that off, to go outside to potty he has to have a plastic bag over that foot (he HATES it!). Add to that, we get the joy of trying to get him to take antibiotics twice a day for the next 10 days and a pain pill each day for the next 3 days!

Poor pup!

A Tour of the Main Level...

Here's a quick photo tour of the main level of the new house...


First, this is looking into the dining area and kitchen from the family room...

Part of the family room... beyond those french doors is the "formal sitting room" that we are using as an office.

Just another view of the family room...

And yes, another view of the family room!

Up to the 3rd floor... lots and lots of stairs! Man do we get a workout every day!

This is the view into the family room from Mike's office.

Lots of blank walls in there still! We haven't decided how to decorate it yet.

From the center hallway looking through the dining area into the sunroom.

Andy's room.... aka the sunroom! Andy LOVES it out there! The ceramic tile floor is cool for him, but he gets all that sunshine!

The mostly finished kitchen. The blahh valance over the sink will be replaced with something a bit more colorful!

This was intended for a formal dining room, but we're turning into a 2nd living area for the kids to have their movies, video games, etc. They love it!

Looking down the center hallway out the front door.

Thank you for stopping by!