Reckless Medical Records

I had an absolutely appalling experience today while trying to get my daughters shot records transferred from her doctor's office in NY to the base medical facility in California, and it really gets under my skin that something so important can be treated with such little regard.

This morning I woke up to get Madison ready for her appointment (her first since we've been back in California) and I noticed that her NY doctors never updated the shot record I gave them.  No big deal, I figure.  I gave them a call, gave them the fax number and they said they'd fax the records right away.  Once we got into the office, filled out the development survey, got her vitals checked, and answered the doctor's questions about how she's doing... he listed six or seven shots that she needed.  He explained to me that she is behind because she never got her one year shots.  Now, for any of you who have babies who get shots it is a traumatizing experience (more so for the parent, I think) and I would NOT forget an appointment at which she had gotten shots. I knew she had had hers at one year in the beginning of March, yet the records that were faxed took no note of them.  I immediately called the records department of her NY doctor, and they said they didn't know what had happened but that her shots were listed right there on her records. It took a good 20 minutes to get it all settled and figure out which shots she needed, but it was worth not having to see her go through any more pain than necessary... not to mention the useless and potentially dangerous over vaccinating!  I know that it probably wouldn't be cause for major concern is she did get a few extra vaccinations, but I'm glad I called to double check.

Not only were her shot records wrongly documented in the first set of records... but her medical records also state that she has had the chicken pox.  Now, of course this is something that should be put on her medical records if she had had the chicken pox, which she did not!  Her current doctor and nurse asked me over and over again if I was sure she had not had the chicken pox... wouldn't you remember something like that?!  The NY doctor's office in question has all these nifty little computer pads that they walk around with documenting all your symptoms, shots, and medications... so you'd think that they'd have accurate information.  It just makes me think that if I had two mistakes happen just trying to transfer medical records for a ONE year old, how many mistakes go unnoticed? How many people's medical records reflect false information!? All's well that ends well I suppose, but it has really made me take a note to check twice when it comes to medical information.  There's no reason to give extra shots or wrong medication simply because someone in the records office slipped up and missed something.  Word to the wise, check, re-check and check again! And document things yourself so that if something is missing, you know to look into it! It wouldn't have been the end of the world for her to get a few extra shots, but it certainly wasn't necessary.

Voila!

Insomnia and irritability, explained! My husband and I are beyond excited to announce that baby #2 is in the making!  I am glad there is a logical explanation for all these crazy things going on with me lately.  I hate feeling like I don't know my own body, and I was really starting to feel imbalanced! So now it's on to the fun baby planning, picking out names and nursery themes, getting crafty with fun projects, and shopping, shopping, shopping.  Weirdly, we are totally bumping heads when it comes to baby names.  We picked our daughter's in about twenty minutes once we really sat down to talk about it... but now we can't seem to agree on anything! I'm seriously hoping for a boy (though I will be happy with any adorable, healthy bundle of joy) as we both would like to have this second child and be done, and I know my husband and I would both like a boy.

I don't know what it is about the first weeks after finding out you're pregnant, at least for me, that every symptom I feel seems so dramatic.  I am not just tired, I am TOTALLY exhausted.  I don't have a headache, I feel like a train has run into my skull.  It's ridiculous! I guess things seem worse this time because I have a 1 1/2 year old to run around after.  I will suck it up and deal though, and will thank my lucky stars (knock on wood) that I haven't gotten sick with either pregnancy yet.
With this baby on the way, it really has me thinking about our future.  Considering the options of my husband getting out of the Navy after he re-enlists for shore duty, or making a career out of it.  I have to say there are so many pros and cons for both.  Re-enlistment means benefits, health insurance, housing, and a stable career with little chance of unemployment in the immediate future.  Getting out means more time together, no deployments and being able to buy or build a house without having to worry about getting whisked away from it.  Ultimately the choice is his, and I will support him no matter what he decides to do.  It has just been really getting into my brain lately, wondering where our lives will go!

Speaking of the military... our base hosted Seabee Days this past weekend, which is basically a big carnival on base open to the public where the USN Seabees and the jobs that they do are showcased.  It was actually pretty interesting to see all the different lines of work... underwater construction, electricians, mechanics, steelworkers, builders... Of course as with all military functions there was the opening 16 hours worth of speeches that we had to sit through on the pavement in the hot sun, but aside from that it was a great time.  Fair food is always worth a little sweat and too much fun! I am now able to report that I have tried deep fried oreos... which possibly would have been much better had I not been already crammed full of grease and sugar, but they were still good all the same.  So it was a successful weekend in Southern California, with lots of family time and lots of sleep... now we're all well rested and ready to make it through another week!

Insomnia anyone??

They say when soldiers get back from tough deployments, they go through all sorts of changes and stress.  Well let me tell you, my husband is in our comfy bed sleeping like a baby and I am wide awake! This has been the story of my life since the day he got home... it's like I have post traumatic spouse disorder or something.  He is adjusting really well to being home.  I mean, he's not as used to having responsibilities to people other than himself but I am trying to be understanding and he is trying to be helpful. Other than that things have fallen into place and we have picked up right where we left off. Believe me, I am so glad that the transition has been easy for him, it's so unfortunate that some soldiers go through so much while they're gone and then continue with an uphill battle on the home front.  But what is MY problem?
It seems like I always have something on my mind, and no matter how small - it keeps me awake and my brain running full throttle.  I need to do laundry, I need to make those appointments I've been putting off, what are we going to eat for dinner for the next six weeks (okay... I don't REALLY plan that far ahead).  I have heard a lot of people talk about having insomnia while their husband was deployed... and I had this same issue then, too.  Maybe I'm just a night owl... maybe I'm nocturnal! That would explain a whole lot.  I am not the worst morning person ever (although thank goodness my daughter is not an early riser) and while I have no problem getting out of bed at six or seven in the morning, it doesn't make me fall asleep any earlier. I am not one for sleeping pills, I won't even take a Tylenol unless my headache is unbearable to the point of not functioning, but something's gotta give here!
I've also been super irritable lately. (again, I thought that was supposed to be something that I had to adjust to my husband doing!) Everything bothers me, and I have no idea how to make it stop.  I get over it and breathe and think "happy" thoughts but it always comes back.  I swear I'm surprised my husband hasn't tried to kill me by now.  He's so patient when it comes to my irritability... half of the time he doesn't say anything at all even though I'm sure he's thinking plenty.  He's such a good man, and he tries so hard to be an amazing husband and father... I honestly don't know what I'd do without him.  He has his quirks and bad habits which I nag relentlessly about - but I think it's about time to let it go.  If he can have the laundry done when I get home from the grocery store, clean up after dinner when I'm having a crappy day, and randomly take the puppy with him to work in the morning to give me a break and let me sleep in... let the man have a dip in his mouth without getting a dirty look (even though I find it seriously gross).
It seems like every military man (and then some) pick up a bad habit from the time they enlist to the time they get out which is morbidly ironic to me.  You go through 6-12+ month deployments trying to keep your life only to come home and pick up a habit that could someday take it away from you? That's terrible to think about - but I have to worry about him 24/7 when he is gone.  I don't want to have any reason to worry when I have him home safe with me. I don't want to worry about disease or disaster or anything else.  I want to shelter him in a protective bubble and keep him with me all the time.  Overkill, I know.  But don't we worry enough?