Hospital nightmares

On September 29th, I had a biopsy of a lymph node in my neck. I went to the hospital at 8:45 am and was assured by the staff it would be a quick 10 minutes procedure and I'd be on my way, but that's not how it happened at all. First of all we were in a TINY room with myself on the bed, the ultrasound machine, the ultrasound tech, the tech-in-training, the doctor, and the pathologist...The ultrasound tech was there to guide the doctor during the procedure but the small wand wouldn't work for some reason so they had to use the big one (like the one's used during pregnancy), the lymph node is right under my chin so the wand had to be pressed very hard against my jaw bone to see properly. I was initially told that the doctor would either do a thin needle biopsy or a core biopsy but at the last second he decided to do BOTH. I told the nurse I don't do well with needles, naturally the first thing out of the doctor's mouth was: "Wow, that is a HUGE needle!" I wanted to kick him in the shin. The doctor numbed me before the procedure, he stuck me 8 times before I was fully numb. The thin needle biopsies weren't horrible but it was a really weird sensation that I didn't like. To get the sample the doctor had to insert the long thin needle into my neck and then shake the needle and myself around like crazy - he did that 4 times.

The core biopsies were much more awful. The doctor used a long hollow needle to pierce my lymph node and snip a piece of the "core", that was the plan at least. The doctor stupidly held the needle in front of my face while talking with the nurse so I saw how big that thing was, seriously it looked like one of those coffee straws. As soon as the needle went into my neck I felt discomfort, he removed the needle and inserted it several different times before he found a spot he like. At that point discomfort had turned to pain, I told the doctor but he assured me I was numb. I was embarrassed and tried to tough it out but it was increasingly painful, I was focusing on the ultrasound tech to distract from the pain but she looked horrified which wasn't comforting.  The doctor finally got tired of my pained sounds and begrudgingly agreed to numb me so more. As he removed the needled from my neck he commented to the tech that I have very thick skin (side story: I've heard that a lot in the past but most memorably is when I got my belly buttoned pierced. The guy couldn't get the needle into my skin and had to have someone basically hold me down because I was being pushed off the table in an attempt to pierce me. The guy took a 5 minute break before piercing my cousin because he said his hand hurt from applying so much pressure.) Anyhow, the doctor couldn't get the needle into my lymph node and actually bent the needle in an attempt to do so which is why the tech looked so horrified. I was not a happy camper when the doctor asked for the biggest, strongest needle they had instead. The biopsy attempt with the larger needled caused a lot of bleeding and had to be done twice.

The "10 minute" procedure took nearly 2 hours because of all the mishaps. I was in SO much pain afterwards that I skipped out on work, I wasn't even allowed to take anything for the pain because of the bleeding risk. It was a really crappy Monday.

Last weekend Steven and I saw Jim Gaffigan (the comedian) in Boise. We don't have TV, only Netflix, and we don't often listen to the radio so we had NO idea that Jim Gaffigan was even coming to Idaho until a few days before the show. Steven scoured Craigslist for several days and managed to get us tickets! I had so much fun at the show, my entire torso was so sore from all the laughing. The only part about the show that was sucky is the fact that it didn't start until 9:45 pm and I had mandatory overtime at work the next morning. I was barely coherent the next morning at work but afterwards I met Steven, Avery, and my parents for lunch before we all went Christmas shopping together (spoiler alert: Avery is the most spoiled toddler ever).

Steven and I at the show

We've been doing Sunday family breakfast instead of family dinner because of Quinn's work schedule. I skipped this week's breakfast to sleep in, but Steven and Avery ate with my parents. I'm glad my mom got to see Avery before her trip to Arizona for work stuff.

I finally got my biopsy results on Tuesday the 7th. I got horrible news :( All the pain I went through was for absolutely nothing. The biopsy revealed nothing because the IDIOT doctor never actually biopsied the lymph node. Seriously?! WTF was he stabbing at for 2 hours then?? To add insult to injury the ENT doctor said whatever is causing the swelling is "probably" not cancer but he can't be sure. I wanted to throw an adult-sized temper tantrum right then and there. The ENT doc said the only thing they can do is completely remove the lymph node but he warned that there is a nerve belt dangerously close to that lymph node and if anything goes wrong part of my mouth could be paralyzed. Hmmmm, let me see. Should I let the idiot, who can't even poke my lymph node with a needle, cut my neck wide open and possible paralyze my mouth? The answer is no.

The remainder of the week was pretty dull. We went to my parent's house on Saturday for a family meal. My mom made her AMAZING chicken casserole, needless to say we all ate until we were sick. My dad surprised Avery with a play tent, she loved it! After dinner we went to Cassius' 2nd birthday party. I first met Cassius at Avery's 1st birthday party. He was born at 28 weeks and after 3 months give or take, he was released from the hospital. He's such a little love bug, he stole my heart.

Avery and her Mimi

Sunday was mellow and wonderful. We met my parents for breakfast at the Cracker Barrel. Last time we went there my dad bought Avery a battery powered pig that walks and oinks. This time around he bought her a Peppa Pig stuff animal haha and halfway through breakfast my dad left the table to buy her a George Pig (Peppa's little brother). My dad spoils Avery. We went group shopping afterwards, Yvette met us at the store so it was a real party then. After shopping we swapped cars with Yvette so she could spend some time with Avery. Steven and I went home to be productive, he did 5 hours of homework! He is going hunting next week so he has to get all of his assignments in early. Avery and I spent the evening decorating for Halloween :) And she got to wear her new Elsa (from Frozen) outfit.

Avery Quinn

The big update

Steven recently started his college classes so we've been much busier than usual. Steven is going to school full time and working full time so all the other stuff falls on me completely, its a real bummer for both of us. So I will try to give a rough update of the last few weeks.

I was watching Cassius and Conner for a few weeks before I had to stop because of our new busy schedule. After work I would pick up the boys from day care, pick up Avery from my mom's house, and watch the kids at my house. I had to drive the Durango to fit the kids and luckily I own three car seats.

Avery had a weird lump on her back that seemed to pop up out of nowhere. She had been complaining of back pain for a few days before the lump showed up, it was squishy and bruised. The lump was close to her spine so we decided to get it checked out. A trip to the ER, the pediatrician, and one ultrasound later it turned out to be a cyst that went away on its own by the time the doctor figured out what it was haha.

A big milestone - Avery transitioned from her crib to a big girl bed! Steven found a twin bed online for super cheap :) Avery helped us dismantle the crib and picked out new sheets, she chose Hello Kitty.

Mom and I got our second tattoos together. Our first tattoos last year were for Avery, our second tattoos were for us (and kind of Avery haha). We always give what we call "love hands" whenever we leave each other, its very special to me.

Steven, my mom, and I took Avery to the Western Idaho Fair. I have no idea where she learned what a ferris wheel is but she was asking non-stop to ride the ferris wheel.

Before Steven started his college classes we had one last hoorah. Steven, my parents, Jan, and I went to Lucky Peak with a rented jet ski and spent the day hanging out. It was a great day but on the drive home Quinn called to say that he was going to the ER. I was the first one to reach the hospital, Quinn had dislocated his good shoulder, he had surgery on his right shoulder 4 years ago and now the left one is acting up :( Poor guy.

Avery has been begging to come to work with me for weeks and she finally got her wish. My mom usually picks Avery up from school but one day had a meeting and couldn't get her on time. I work with the most amazing and understanding people who told me to bring Avery to the office since it was nearly the end of the day. Thankfully Avery behaved herself while I finished up my work :)

Yvette, Steven and I took Avery to the Boise Balloon Festival. We were up ridiculously early to see the balloons launch but Avery was being cuddly and let me wear her around :) She absolutely loved the hot air balloons.

Sometime during July Avery had a little red spot appear under her eye, it looked like a red freckle. Avery scratched the red spot and it bled for almost 2 hours! Over the course of a few weeks the red spot swelled up to a gross squishy bump, Avery called it her "blood eye". We decided to get it removed when 1. Avery could see it out of the corner of her eye, and 2. when the kids at her day care started making fun of it (little bastards). Removal was extremely easy, I put numbing gel on her face 40 minutes before the procedure. The nurse at the dermatology clinic injected her face to further numb it, I was so proud of her, she didn't even cry even though she said it hurt. When everything was good and numb the dermatologist came in and sliced the bump off her face with a razor blade and then cauterized it. Avery did AMAZING!! No one had to hold her down, she laid perfectly still during the procedure, she didn't cry or whine.

A lymph node in my neck has been swelling at random times for several months now. I've had exams, blood work, an ultrasound, etc. Finally my doctor referred me to an ears/nose/throat specialist. The doctor confirmed that my lymph node was enlarged and ordered a CT scan. I've had a CT scan before, it was several years ago in preparation for my first chest surgery. I had no idea that the doctor had ordered it with contrast :( When I got to the hospital the nurse set up an IV and injected me with the contrast, my chest felt like it was on fire and then it felt like I was peeing my pants...so fun. I felt crappy the rest of the day. I got my results the following week and they were inconclusive :( The ENT doc put a long camera up my nose and determined it was time for a biopsy. I'm so done with it all.

Other random photos:

Avery is now rear-facing again. Its the safest way to travel until 4 years old and that's my goal.

Mom and I look identical. This is two photos blended together. On the right is me at the Spartan race, on the left is mom in her 20's (she's actually holding baby me in the original photo)

Sadie has fattened up and is a very wonderful dog, Avery LOVES her.

Avery and Mimi taking a cat-nap.

Avery Quinn - 2 years old