Who Dat

This weekend marked the beginning of our family's very favorite time of year: 
football season!!  Yes, you read that right.  Here in the South, women get just as excited 
about football as men.  It's all anyone has been able to talk about all week, predictions 
and trash talking about opposing teams clogging up my Facebook feed.  The weather even 
took notice and our local meteorologist has been encouraging us all week with promises 
of a "cool front".  Translation: the high was 88 degrees which basically makes us 
all ridiculously happy.  When you've been living with 3 digit weather for months, 88 
degrees makes you throw the windows open and drink hot chocolate.  We woke up really 
early on Sunday morning, finished all of our chores at lightening speed, had lunch and 
got ourselves settled in front of the TV just in time to watch our beloved Saints win the 
coin toss.  The familiar sounds of whistles, cheering crowds, and sports announcers filled 
the house for the rest of the day as we all snuggled on the couch and ate to our hearts' 
content.  And though the Saints suffered a loss on Sunday, our family felt like the world 
was right.  It's that time of year when life slows down to accommodate the football 
schedule.  We spend time together cheering and yelling and cooking and celebrating.  
Friends and family come together and there is just something magical in the air.  
Sundays during football season mean that I will spend the whole day with my husband, 
win or lose, rain or shine.  It really is my very favorite time of year.

 

Sweet Friday

Last night, I completely forgot about bed time.  This was not a very Liv thing to do: I tend
to run a pretty tight ship around here.  Our family has a natural flowing schedule, our
girls have rules and know about consequences, we all have chores and responsibilities.  But,
on this particular night, our ship took a detour.  Our yearly Halloween costume
catalogue came in the mail and we sat at the kitchen table looking through all of the
costumes, making plans for the holiday, and eating a late night snack: cereal, of course.
I glanced up at the clock a few times, noticing the hour and realizing that my girls were up
way later than normal.  But then I would look back at them and how happy they were,
sharing their cereal and looking at prospective costumes, their heads bent together in
sisterly love.  Screw the schedule, there were important things we needed to discuss.
Should the girls be matching leopards or should they go as Little Bo Peep and her long
lost sheep?  What nail polish should Belle wear this week and hey, listen to what Brees
just said!

We didn't play by the rules that night. Instead, we took our time and lived in the
moment.  These two little girls love each other so much and bring such joy and light to my
day.  I love watching them interact, their love for each other growing deeper and
stronger every day.  They are sisters, they are bonded.  And they are very, very serious
about Cheerios and Halloween.  As well they should be.

Currently

Currently...

Disliking...the never ending heat.  I know, I know: you're tired of hearing me complain
about the heat.  But, seriously, we're over it.  It was 97 degrees today with 75% humidity
and all I could think of were scarves, pumpkins, and hot chocolate.  Sadly, we
won't experience such joys for at least another month of two here in the deep South.

Drinking...an iced chai latte.  I very rarely ever eat out during the week, diligently
packing my lunch and a road cup full of herbal tea with me every morning.  Such
discipline saves money and calories and that makes my heart happy.  But, today was
grueling at work and I decided to splurge just a little.  I stopped at my favorite coffee shop
on the way home and got a latte and a double chocolate muffin.  The barista even warmed
my muffin for me, melting the chocolate chips just so.  The simple pleasures in life are
really priceless...

Learning...more about my camera.  I get lazy sometimes and shoot in "P" mode,
never getting the exact shot that I originally envisioned.  I've had my eye on a big girl
camera upgrade for a while now but have promised myself that I must fully commit
to shooting in manual full-time before taking the plunge.  It's just so intimidating!  Were
any of you scared to make the leap?  How did you finally commit?  Any tips you'd like
to share?

Loving...the fact that there's a football game on TV right now!  I'm typing this post
during commercials of the 2012 NFL season opener Cowboys vs. Giants game and we
could not be more thrilled.  We are huge football fans in this house and life just feels
more complete when the sounds of a cheering crowd fill the room.

Managing...life.  Aren't we all?  I currently have 3 different to-do lists stored in my
phone, grocery shopping that needs to get done, a few different projects needing my
attention, and a slew of errands and doctor's appointments to tackle.  What's new?  Week
to week, it's all about staying organized, level headed, and positive.  Whatever gets done
gets done.  The rest is just lagniappe.

Ask a Nurse About: Scabies

I am not only a nurse to my patients, I am also a nurse to my family, friends, neighbors,
and random strangers in Target and our local grocery store.  On a daily basis, I 
encounter numerous questions about health, medications, and random concerns such 
as "What does it mean when my poop turns green?".  And so I started a new feature here, 
Ask A Nurse, where I will attempt to put into laymen terms the very confusing anatomy 
and physiology of the human body.  Am I an expert?  Hardly.  But I am an 
experienced, certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse and a mother of two.  I draw 
from my experiences in my medical practice, my journey through motherhood, and 
my endless collection of credible nursing textbooks and resources.  Remember: this is just 
a blog.  Just as you should never base any serious decision on internet ramblings, so 
should you not take anything you read here as concrete fact.  When in doubt, consult 
your doctor/naturopathic/guru.

This week's topic: Scabies

After Isabelle's great big scabies adventure last week, I got lots of emails inquiring about 
this terrible rash.  I've seen it quite often in the hospital and nursing homes amongst 
my patients but neither of my children have ever had it.  This summer, however, 
multiple cases of scabies broke out in our community and our pediatrician informed us 
that we were her 5th case of the day.  Hopefully, none of you have to become familiar with 
this rash.  Here's some info, though, just in case...

What is it?

Scabies is a highly contagious skin disease caused by the infestation of an itch mite known
as Sarcoptes scabiei.  The itch mites burrow under the skin and cause intense itching,
usually worse as night.  Scabies is spread through direct skin to skin contact and is
most commonly found in communal type settings such as hospitals, day care centers,
and nursing homes.  Symptoms usually appear 2-6 weeks after exposure and often affect
the entire family.

Signs and Symptoms:

Here's where it gets REALLY gross: After exposure to the itch mite by an infected person,
the itch mites then burrow into your skin.  The proteins and feces (YES, feces!!) of the
itch mites then cause an allergic response in your skin, causing intense itching that is
usually worse at night.  A pimple-like rash then begins to form.  This rash is unique
compared to other rashes because it forms a linear pattern, almost as if you can see the
itch mite's path. Some doctors compare the bumps to pencil marks in appearance.  The
rash can cover most of the body or it can be concentrated to only certain areas, most
notably the webbing of the fingers, inside skin folds such as armpits, writs, knees, and
elbows, and around the waist.  In young children, the rash is usually present on the soles
of the feet and palms.

Source

Source

We have all the symptoms: now what?

A trip to the pediatrician/family doctor is definitely in order.  A definitive diagnosis can
be made by scraping a small area of the skin and examining it under a microscope.  The
mites and their eggs are then visible and a proper diagnosis can be confirmed.  The
entire household will need to be treated as scabies is highly contagious and its symptoms
do not show up until several weeks after exposure.

Treatment:

Your doctor will most likely prescribe you a topical cream called Permethrin.  This cream
has been found to be the most effective form of treatment as it kills the itch mites and the
eggs they have burrowed into the skin as well.  The cream should be applied from the
neck down to the toes and should be kept on the skin for 8-12 hours.  After this
prescribed time, shower, clean the cream off, and put on clean clothes.  The CDC
recommends repeating this treatment one week later to ensure that any eggs left behind
are finished off.  The cream may cause very mild irritation to the skin but is overall gentle
and odorless.  Again, everyone in the infected household should be treated whether they
are showing symptoms are not.  This skin disease is very contagious!!!  

What else can we do?

Wash all bed linens, blankets, towels, and recently worn clothes in hot water.  Vacuum
the carpets and upholstered furniture.  Place pillows, stuffed animals, and anything else
you are not able to wash in the dryer for 30 minutes: the heat will blast those suckers
away.  You can also place items too large to wash in a sealed plastic bag for 7 days.  Itch
mites do not live for very long away from the human body so cleaning the house and
washing all linens is sufficient in eradicating them: no pesticides needed. 

Complications:

This rash is very itchy so kids will of course scratch intensely to relieve themselves.
The problem is that kids have lots of germs in their little fingernails and these germs can
then be spread to the skin, causing a bacterial infection.  The most common complication
of scabies is MRSA, also known as "Staph".  This bacteria will often present itself by
infecting the scabies bite marks, forming boils and/or sores, sometimes accompanied by
fever.  If you notice any increased swelling, redness, areas of tenderness or increased
pain, drainage from the skin, foul odor, or red streaking in the skin, notify your
doctor immediately.  A topical triple antibiotic cream should be applied to the skin and
an oral antibiotic, such as Bactrim, may be necessary.  

Wrapping it up:

Because this rash is attributed to an allergic response, you may experience itching for
several weeks after treatment.  Oral antihistamines such as Claritin and Zyrtec may
be prescribed to help with this.  Witch Hazel and oatmeal bathes are also great
natural remedies for itch relief.  Remember to encourage frequent hand washing and
change bed linens regularly. 

Great resources:

CDC

Bed Bugs or scabies?

Identifying childhood rashes

Scabies

Have a question you'd like to ask a nurse?  Leave me a comment and I will address it in a future 

post.  Or, email me at vasqueztribe@yahoo.com.  

Wiping the Dust Away

This weekend, we were able to spend time with some of our very best friends.  My
dear, beautiful Ashley brought us a baked spaghetti casserole, saving me from making
dinner on Saturday.  The kids went swimming for probably the last weekend of the
summer and kept each other happily entertained for hours.  And when Shawn announced
that he felt stronger and more energetic than he has in months, my girlfriends
recruited husbands and fathers and brothers to come over and help him drag an old
cabinet out of the barn for him to refurbish.  Watching that husband of mine work out in
the yard, sweating and lifting and hammering away side by side with this selfless group of
men was enough to make me cry tears of joy.

I feel like we woke up a little bit this weekend, we wiped a layer of dust off our windshield
and moved forward just an inch.  We gave our home so much needed attention, spent time
with amazing friends, and crossed a few things off our list.  On Sunday night, after a long
day out in the sun, Shawn went to bed early with Brees right next to him.  Ashley took
Isabelle for a play date with her girls and I suddenly found myself with a few hours all
to myself.  I took a long shower, made myself a cup of tea, and curled up on the sofa with
a book.  It was quiet and relaxing and I felt so at peace.  After a long week of work,
hurricanes, and sickness, having a few moments to myself was the most amazing gift
Ashley could have given me.

I've been thinking lately about the grief we have experienced since Shawn's accident,
the complete and total loss that has hung over us and become a new reality.  He is alive and
we are thankful but there is still a deep sadness that accompanies such trauma.  With so
many uncertainties on the horizon and the role changes that have occurred because of
his inability to function as he once did, we have been in a state of mourning.  We have
experienced denial, anger, and depression: all of these emotions swirling and changing
and sometimes occurring at the same time.  But I felt a shift this weekend, a pull on my
heart that is telling me not to sit in this grief for too long.  It is important to experience it,
to know it and feel it and make it a part of who I am.  But then you have to stand up and
move forward, shake the grief off and allow the blessings to take center stage.
Allowing ourselves the space and freedom to own our emotions and experience them fully
is essential to healing.  And so we go through this incredibly emotional process, this
soul rocking phase.  One day at a time, little baby steps forward and, occasionally, a couple
of steps back.  This weekend, I am so grateful for good friends, hard work, and a DIY
project to keep us busy.

Power tools + gardening = Liv in heaven...

 

Sweet Friday: After the Storm

At the start of this week, I never thought that we'd make it to Friday.  Shawn was in
the hospital, Hurricane Isaac was slowly making his way to Louisiana, and Isabelle
caught scabies.  Yes, SCABIES.  There has been a huge outbreak of this highly contagious
skin rash in our area and my poor girl fell prey.  Off to the pediatrician we went where we
were given a cream that the whole family was instructed to apply from head to toe.  We
then had to wash all of our linens, towels, pillows, and teddy bears.  To say that I went
on a disinfecting rampage would be an understatement.  I put my stress and anxiety to
good use, taking all of my energy out on my vacuum cleaner.  By Tuesday, the entire
house was sparkling and Isabelle's skin was healthy and itch-free.

During the great skin mite debacle, I was simultaneously stocking up on key
hurricane preparedness supplies: candles, batteries for our flashlights, bottled water,
and nonperishable food items.  I filled up the gas cans for our generator in case we lost
power, secured all the patio furniture, brought in my container plants and herbs.  The
girls helped me set out the board games and we made "Welcome home" cards for Daddy.
I visited as many of my patients as possible, making sure they were as prepared as we
were, filling up their medicines and directing them to shelters as needed.  From Monday
to Wednesday, I think I slept a total of 6 hours.

But then Shawn came home and Isabelle started feeling better and I looked around
and realized that everything was done.  All that was left was to sit back and let the ball
roll where it may.  After work on Wednesday, my mama came over and we cooked shrimp
stir fry for dinner.  We watched the Weather Channel and tracked the storm between cups
of tea and good conversation.  The work was done and it was pure joy to sit around with
my family, to be together and healthy, riding out the storm.  

Our parish was lucky: the storm blew right by us with only a few inches of rain and
heavy winds.  We have branches to clean up in our yard but the trees stood firm,
relatively unscathed.  Our home is solid and undamaged, our family together again.
Other parts of Louisiana and Mississippi were not so lucky and our prayers are with those
still fighting through the storm.  When people ask me why I chose to live in a place
that regularly sustains such extreme natural disasters, my answer is simple: because it is
home.  There is no place in the world that could ever replace my Louisiana, no place
could ever compare.  My heart and soul belong here, tied so deeply to this place, my roots
and my culture.  We made it through another week, another storm.  Long live Louisiana!! 

The Power of the Positive and Hurricanes

Just in time for Hurricane Isaac, Shawn returned home from the hospital yesterday.  We
are all together again, home, a family complete.  I have barely been able to hug him as the 
girls have permanently attached themselves to his legs, his arms, and any other body part 
they can squeeze, hug, and kiss.  He walks from room to room, breathing in the familiar 
smells, his hand grazing over the furniture, soaking in the soothing energy of home.  
Though he is physically and mentally exhausted from all that he has been through, his 
spirit screams loudly from somewhere deep inside his soul.  "I am here!  I am alive!".  I see 
it in his eyes, hear it in the way he says my name.  He is here, we are moving forward.

This hurricane comes to Louisiana at a time when I can fully identify with its strength
and destruction.  The last two months have felt like a devastating storm, a catastrophic
event that has rocked our world and shaken us to our core.  But we are here, we are
still standing.  Our family reminds me of the hundred year old oak trees in the back yard:
their strong, solid branches swaying in the breeze, their leaves blowing wildly through the
air as the wind whips through.  They are taking a beating as the storm blows past, bending
as the weather attempts to tear them from the ground.  But their roots are strong, their hold
on the earth invincible.  They absorb the impact and stand firm: no storm is gonna bring
them down.  

And so our family will stand firm through this storm as well, both figuratively and literally.
We will stand watch through this difficult time and wait for the hurricane to blow through.
We are as prepared as we could possibly be but know that, in the end, there are some things
in life you just can't control.  Hurricane Isaac will not break us and neither will
Shawn's accident.  Even though the flame of our candle seems to be burning low, we will
stand firm.  Flashlights and lanterns, bottled water, books, and board games: we are
ready.  God bless Louisiana and the strength of this land.  We are together again and ready
for phase two.