This week has been crazy!
Allen had to have a sleep study on Monday night. He snores like a freight train. So bad that at times I end up getting up in the middle of the night move to the couch.
I figure hey, he has to sleep in a truck during the week for work, I can sleep on the couch when he is home so he can have a bed.
It's a fair trade right?
It's gotten much worse the last couple of years. I half jokingly have been telling him that he dies several times a night. I watch him sleep and have noticed that often he tries to take a breath in three or four times, then usually he will gasp, yell in some strange language (this part usually makes me giggle) and then go back to snoring. I will admit though I have thought of putting my pillow over his head to shut him up (not really people come on now!). He can't help it but really at 3 am when I am desperately trying to sleep all I can hear is his insane SNORE and I start to get mad.
Finally after my nagging him to death for the last three years...he decided to go see a Pulmonologist whom immediately gave him a c-pap just from hearing the description of what Allen does in his sleep. So here is the incredibly sexy mask my man gets to wear at night. (by the way this is not Allen, if I posted pictures of him with his mask on I may have to come live with you).
I know it's hot right?
Imagine this contraption on his face PLUS an even cooler chin strap around his head to keep his mouth closed. When Allen told me about having to possibly wear a chin strap we both hysterically laughed. I mean is it possible to make my poor husband look anymore ridiculous in his sleep? We have lovingly dubbed him "Chinstrap Caldwell".
The FIRST night Allen had the cpap I was totally amazed, he didn't snore...or gasp one time. So he had the sleep study Monday night and his appointment to go over it Tuesday. The Pulmonologist told us Allen has SEVERE obstructive sleep apnea. He had 150+ apnea episodes and desatts down to 73%. Scary. During the sleep study they did try the chin strap on him because he kept opening his mouth in his sleep. The woke him up a little later to say the chinstrap was not working and Allen was STILL opening his mouth. Allen says "that chin strap just got in my way". I'm still calling him "Chinstrap Caldwell" though, it just has a nice ring to it.
Yesterday we took Makily to Sea World. It was a total blast and because our niece is an employee we got in free. All of Allen's family went and we really had a great time. The dolphin show seemed to be Makily's favorite this time. That and of course the "Oddysea" show. She laughed like a maniac through that one as always.
Still working on our fostering license. I have officially stopped holding my breath on that. Seems like we get EVERYTHING done and they come up with something else we need or some other piece of paper work they want. I just do whatever they tell me as quickly as I can (usually THE DAY they tell me) and hope that the next call will say we are licensed. This week we had to answer FIFTY more questions about our lives and childhood (50 for each of us by the way so really 100). The questions were all things we have answered before. To say it annoyed me to do it all over again for the 5th time is an understatement but give me a hoop, I'll jump through it. Then I had to send them our renewed car insurance cards, and get ANOTHER reference. THANKS DANA, I love you girl for doing that on such short notice.
I heard back about Makily's small bowel follow through.
It's normal.
*sigh*
I know I should be happy but really I am not. This poor kid has chronic constipation or diarrhea and retches at least 2-3 times a day. I was convinced that her intestines were not moving like they should. I was wrong. The test says they are fine.
HOW IS IT THAT HER INTESTINES MOVE NORMALLY BUT SHE IS EITHER CONSTIPATED OR HAS WATER DIARRHEA!?
I don't know.
We see gastro in two weeks and I am sure he will go over it then. The retching really just breaks my heart. She looks so scared and out of control. I can't do anything about it when it's happening except say "It's okay Makily, breathe baby, catch your breath". Usually it just makes me cry.
Gee what a lot of help I am.
Makily goes back to Pulmonology next month for a second sleep study for HER sleep apnea. They are going to try her on c-pap to see how she tolerates it. She hates things on her head or face so I am not sure how this is gonna work. She surprised me in the hospital in December when she wore the mask then so maybe she will do it now!?
I can't believe I am going to be living in a house with two "Masked Avenger's".
Allen had to have a sleep study on Monday night. He snores like a freight train. So bad that at times I end up getting up in the middle of the night move to the couch.
I figure hey, he has to sleep in a truck during the week for work, I can sleep on the couch when he is home so he can have a bed.
It's a fair trade right?
It's gotten much worse the last couple of years. I half jokingly have been telling him that he dies several times a night. I watch him sleep and have noticed that often he tries to take a breath in three or four times, then usually he will gasp, yell in some strange language (this part usually makes me giggle) and then go back to snoring. I will admit though I have thought of putting my pillow over his head to shut him up (not really people come on now!). He can't help it but really at 3 am when I am desperately trying to sleep all I can hear is his insane SNORE and I start to get mad.
Finally after my nagging him to death for the last three years...he decided to go see a Pulmonologist whom immediately gave him a c-pap just from hearing the description of what Allen does in his sleep. So here is the incredibly sexy mask my man gets to wear at night. (by the way this is not Allen, if I posted pictures of him with his mask on I may have to come live with you).
I know it's hot right?
Imagine this contraption on his face PLUS an even cooler chin strap around his head to keep his mouth closed. When Allen told me about having to possibly wear a chin strap we both hysterically laughed. I mean is it possible to make my poor husband look anymore ridiculous in his sleep? We have lovingly dubbed him "Chinstrap Caldwell".
The FIRST night Allen had the cpap I was totally amazed, he didn't snore...or gasp one time. So he had the sleep study Monday night and his appointment to go over it Tuesday. The Pulmonologist told us Allen has SEVERE obstructive sleep apnea. He had 150+ apnea episodes and desatts down to 73%. Scary. During the sleep study they did try the chin strap on him because he kept opening his mouth in his sleep. The woke him up a little later to say the chinstrap was not working and Allen was STILL opening his mouth. Allen says "that chin strap just got in my way". I'm still calling him "Chinstrap Caldwell" though, it just has a nice ring to it.
Yesterday we took Makily to Sea World. It was a total blast and because our niece is an employee we got in free. All of Allen's family went and we really had a great time. The dolphin show seemed to be Makily's favorite this time. That and of course the "Oddysea" show. She laughed like a maniac through that one as always.
Still working on our fostering license. I have officially stopped holding my breath on that. Seems like we get EVERYTHING done and they come up with something else we need or some other piece of paper work they want. I just do whatever they tell me as quickly as I can (usually THE DAY they tell me) and hope that the next call will say we are licensed. This week we had to answer FIFTY more questions about our lives and childhood (50 for each of us by the way so really 100). The questions were all things we have answered before. To say it annoyed me to do it all over again for the 5th time is an understatement but give me a hoop, I'll jump through it. Then I had to send them our renewed car insurance cards, and get ANOTHER reference. THANKS DANA, I love you girl for doing that on such short notice.
I heard back about Makily's small bowel follow through.
It's normal.
*sigh*
I know I should be happy but really I am not. This poor kid has chronic constipation or diarrhea and retches at least 2-3 times a day. I was convinced that her intestines were not moving like they should. I was wrong. The test says they are fine.
HOW IS IT THAT HER INTESTINES MOVE NORMALLY BUT SHE IS EITHER CONSTIPATED OR HAS WATER DIARRHEA!?
I don't know.
We see gastro in two weeks and I am sure he will go over it then. The retching really just breaks my heart. She looks so scared and out of control. I can't do anything about it when it's happening except say "It's okay Makily, breathe baby, catch your breath". Usually it just makes me cry.
Gee what a lot of help I am.
Makily goes back to Pulmonology next month for a second sleep study for HER sleep apnea. They are going to try her on c-pap to see how she tolerates it. She hates things on her head or face so I am not sure how this is gonna work. She surprised me in the hospital in December when she wore the mask then so maybe she will do it now!?
I can't believe I am going to be living in a house with two "Masked Avenger's".
6 comments:
Sounds like it's never a dull moment around your neck of the woods! It never is here either, lol. Sleep apnea, that's no fun for sure. And the nicknames are just too cute! I hope the cpaps work well for Allen and Makily. Think, if you get more sleep from this, won't that be better for all involved? Cuz if mama's not happy, no one is! Lol. My boyfriend's brother told him that a while ago and I thought it was quite funny. Anyway, I've pretty much written a small chapter in a novel, so I better sign off, time to go to dreamland. Know that I am always praying for you!
Sami
I love the "masked avengers" nickname! That totally cracked me up! My little one is constipated quite frequently and I know what you mean about feeling so helpless. All you can do is comfort them the best you can. Sending prayers your way as always. What a wonderful momma you are! Sending good wishes for the Foster care license as well.
oh, that constipation really breaks your heart, cuz you see how it hurts your babies. I used supositories all the time, but thank God, it looks like the phase is over. I suppose it had something to do with my daughters metabolism. She cant break down protein, and maybe that does something to the way her system works.
Thanks for adding me to your friends/ favorites list. Im flattered. How do you put that list on there?
I am just dying at "chinstrap caldwell!" that is too funny! You crack me up.
Hey There! Hang in there with that fostering thing. Isn't funny that people can pop babies out left and right, neglect or torture the hell out of them and nothing happens but you have two wonderful people who WANT to love and nurture a kid they didn't even birth, and it takes freakin' forever? Bitter subject for me. I'll have to tell you about it later. Let's just say, I've seen too much in my 10 years of teaching!
Oh finally the hope of a good night's sleep for you. Hope you get used to the noise of the machine - I find Little Fish's quite soothing, and it's definitely peace of mind knowing that it's breathing for her all night long. Now if he really doesn't like the chin strap I suppose you could tell him to do what Little Fish does and suck his thumb instead!
Tia
Post a Comment