1/11/26

 This is what kidney disease looks like at noon on a Sunday after a full night’s rest. Ethan was feeling a bit run down this morning. Fatigued. Not coming down with something, just tired. Luckily he wasn’t at work. He is good about listening to his body. He took little Jiminy up for a nap. Jiminy is tucked in Ethan’s arms offering sleeping support. Jiminy is always up for cuddling and napping.

I started filling out Ethan’s paperwork for his upcoming dermatology appointment. I get agitated when we prepare for a new doctor. The new patient paperwork seems totally take so long. 

Any medical history? Record the condition and date of onset…..

Yeah…best of luck….

Eyes-yes

Brain-yes

Heart-yes

History of seizures-yes

History of stroke -yes

Pulmonary (lung) - yes

Endocrine-yes

Vitamin deficiencies-yes

Cholesterol -yes

High blood pressure -yes

List surgeries, dates and locations and surgeon of each surgery…..are you kidding me? From 9 months and up?!?!? From 9 months to 16 years old he only had 4 surgeries…. That is fairly easy.

After 17….Well there was the heart transplant, several vascular surgeries to remove clots here and there, add hardware, remove hardware, closing the chest, opening the chest, I am not feeling like exact dates will be helpful for a dermatology appointment. I said some choice words that shouldn’t be repeated. I put a range and say “many between 11/22/20 and 2/2021.” 

List medications, dose, frequency and prescriber….. “please see chart” which I typically have to print those out because the mg/dose of some medications typically change twice a month depending on blood work. Our appointment is in 2 weeks or so. I can’t even print them yet. I assume tomorrow they will be adjusted again.

Please list reactions to medications….I wonder how many I should include per medication? Should I include the reaction at each changed milligram? Should I do it in chronological order?

One medication has a different side effect for 4 mg than it does for 5 mg.

Allergies: this isn’t bad, there’s only 3.

Family history…..ok….😳 I will have to finish this later.

I want to give a thorough history, but I think sinking up electronic medical records seems to be a more efficient system with a far more complete history.

I did have to psych myself up to complete this paperwork. It has taken me about 2 months to even open the envelope due tot he dread of sitting down to complete the task.

We went to a friends house to watch the Bills WIN! Yay!

Paul mentioned that he saw the sign on the sign on the bedroom door. He said that it made him laugh which was the ultimate goal! Yay!

Last night I asked Avery what she thought of Paul’s new sneakers. “They look like old man sneakers.” Avery said.

“WHAT? NO! NO! They are not OLD MAN shoes!” Paul said was SO offended. SOOOOOO OFFENDED! 

Avery and I were laughing at his outrage. 

This morning, it was clear that the comment was still stinging his ego.

“I can’t believe Avery thinks I have old man shoes.” He said.

Here is the thing. His shoes are comfortable to him. He feels they fit his personality, he enjoys wearing them.  So who cares. Avery is 20. Of course she thinks we wear “old people” shoes.

I gave Paul a little pep talk. I started teasing him that I couldn’t possible be married to someone that wears such old person shoes. 

The following is an exchange I had with Avery which shows her comedic genius.

She really does make me laugh.

And just like that….the weekend is over.