Another trip to the doc - Absolutely Normal Chaos: My Personal War - (Mom) plus (Five kids) minus (Dad in Iraq) plus (one year) = chaos

I finally went to the doc today after hacking and coughing and generally feeling horrible for the past 4 or 5 days. Back to National Jewish triage (this is where you go when you can't get an appt w/ your regular doctor. They don't have same day or walk-in appts there, and I could've just gone to my Primary Care physician, but I figured it's better to go where people can read my lung history). ANYWAY, my lungs sounded really bad apparently, tho my lung function on my pulmonary function (breathing) test was 101% of projected for my height and weight and age. (My readings are usually around 120% of projected when I'm "healthy", so for me, 101% isn't all that great, but to "them" I'm doing just fantastic, relative to most they see on a daily basis. Even tho my lungs were rattling w/ all the crud inside of them and I couldn't take a deep breath w/out nearly losing a lung!) But since I did sound so bad, I had to get a chest x-ray to rule out pneumonia.

Technology today -- I stepped off the elevator, which opened into radiology, and they were already ready for me! "You must be Amy," the receptionist person said as I approached his desk. How often does that happen? I changed into one of those gowns which flashes your butt to the entire staff if you're not careful and got my x-ray. The whole trip to radiology and back took less than 10 min., and when I returned to the triage clinic, my x-rays were already up on the computer! It took about 15 min. for the radiologist to read them and determine that I did not have pneumonia, but I did have lots of other gunk in there which was diagnosed as bronchitis. No biggie -- I get that about 3 times a year on average. I got prescribed another antibiotic and prednisone and went home . . . to soccer-mama shuttling for the rest of the afternoon.

So the day:

Got up at 5:45 to run 5-6 miles. Took the kids to track practice by 7:30. Zipped home and grabbed a shower, then picked the kids up at 9 (first dropping by our fav sweet roll place to get the kids a treat). Stopped off at the chiropractor because my back still isn't fixed and then the grocery store to pick up lunch (Campbell's tomato soup and Goldfish crackers). Took Kat to swimming lessons at 11, and by noon I was on the way to National Jewish to get checked out. That took me until 2:30. I drove home and was out the door by 3 w/ the kids ready for Alix's soccer camp. Drove 45 min. to the soccer practice and then killed time at Starbucks where I talked to my mom and my sister (seperately) on my cell while simultaneously sipping chai and also trying to keep the remaining kids entertained w/ hot chocolate. (I don't think I was too successful at that; Andrew dumped about 2 TBS of cinnamon powder in his hot chocolate and claimed he likes it that way. I also caught him licking his fingers and trying to get the cinnamon residue from the INSIDE of the cannister! Blech! I made him take it to one of the barristas and tell her that the cannister needed to be washed. That did not endear my kids to any of their hearts, let me tell you!). Then I felt it was time to gainfully employ Andrew, so I did about 7 phonics lessons w/ him. Picked Alix up at 6 from her practice. We spied a Pho place (suburban, but oh well) near the Starbucks we had ravaged earlier, so we ate there after picking Alix up. It was pretty good, but not like "our" place in Denver's Asian district. Drove home (which after rush hour only took 25 min). And here I am!

Next task before bedtime -- attempt to do the mid-month bills. And maybe throw in some laundry.

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