Changes

There are so many things to write about...I don't even know where to start.

Kassi is going to be four.  How is that possible?  My baby is growing up so fast.  This year she has decided to not have a big, or multiple, parties.  Instead we are going to take a trip to Billings and spend some time at an indoor water park.  Of course she has asked to have some friends over for cake and ice cream and of course we agreed.

She absolutely loves preschool.  Each day she tells me "there is just too much to tell" when I ask about what they did, but I usually get filled in throughout the week.  She is really good about telling me when her or the rest of the class did not behave quite as they should.  I think one of her favorite things about the class is that she gets to learn new songs and games.

Amidst several doctor appointments I think we have found what might be causing my asthma attacks.  At the shop where I work they are taking down some old, moldy foam insulation.  I have to wear masks to work, but hey at least my breathing is starting to improve.  There for a few days I wasn't sure it was ever going to.  I had people telling me I looked like "death warmed over".  That is always so nice to hear...  I have an appointment on Monday which will likely result in some lung function tests, but hopefully I can be off of the prednisone.  Since things had not gotten any better and we did have an idea of what may be going on I did start another prescription for the time being, which for whatever reason makes it incredibly hard for me to concentrate.  At least things are starting to look up and we think we have the cause pinpointed.  Once the project is done at the shop we will do a thorough cleaning of my office and hopefully I will not need to make all of the changes to my prescription line up. 

And the biggest change of all...Wes is going to work as a paid Aviation Rescue Fire Fighter, and airport maintenance personnel.  He was offered a position at the airport with a little better pay and the same benefits as he has now.  It is going to be a big adjustment not having him right there with me all day long, but he is very excited.  He will be working some shifts, but will have days where he can be home with Kassi and one of his shifts is the same as mine so there will be some days where we still get home at the same time.  Tomorrow he heads to Casper to do a live burn scenario at the Casper airport.  Then he will finish his two weeks at the City and start at the airport on the 6th.  I am very proud of him and glad he is going to do something he loves.  He will also be doing a lot of maintenance things around the airport and I think he is really going to enjoy the variety, and not having to work inside stinky garbage trucks!

Then What

I don't like using my blog for posts about me.  I feel life for me is all about my family.  However I am going to vent a little about one of my health issues.  Please feel free to completely ignore this post!  I am having a bit of a pity party today even though I know people with much worse issues every once in awhile I just get a little down.

For several years my asthma has been fairly well controlled. I still have flair ups and an occasional attack, but nothing that lingers on like it used to when I was younger.  Suddenly this year I cannot seem to get it under control.  It has gotten so bad that they have put me back on my lovely steroids which I have been able to avoid for a long time.  I have missed several days of work and still nothing is working.  I must note too that I am not the most pleasant person to be around when I am on this medication.  Some people do okay with it, I do not.  I can't eat, I can't sleep, I get extremely emotional, I get frustrated to tears over the simpleest things.  Thank god I have been blessed with a wonderful family...patient parents, husband and daughter.

Now though I am confused.  My whole life they have told me my asthma was severe.  Now the doctor tells me he thinks my asthma has advanced to another stage.  I'm curious what comes after severe? 

Another week on steroids, avoiding all the triggers I can, doing absolutely nothing and see where we are then.  Then the next week lung function tests a change of daily meds and then in a couple of more weeks more lung function tests.  The crazy thing is this new medication will be the last new option.  I have taken everything else there is so I wonder then what.  What happens if this new medication does not work?  I am 31 I have a soon to be 4 year old who I hate having to tell "I'm sorry honey mommy can't go for a walk, or mommy can't go to the park, or mommy can't walk downstairs to play."  I also do not like the fact that at this age between my two diseases I am taking four daily medications which if I was not taking we could put away enough money for Kassi to go to any college she ever desired!

If at 31 I have gone from severe to whatever is after severe then what comes next?

PreSchool

How is it possible that my baby girl is in preschool.  Where did last four years go?

Kassi's first day of preschool was on Tuesday.  She is going two days a week for two hours at a time.  We chose this schedule as we thought it would be best for her given that she has not spent much time without mom, dad, grandma or grandpa.  After watching her this first day I think she would be fine going all day.  She absolutely loved preschool.  She warned me early the first day that she was going to run from me right into her classroom and that she did.  She ran right in and started introducing herself to the other kids who were there.

After class I asked Miss Lori how she did.  She said she did great and then laughed and told me that Kassi told her she was ridiculous.  This is one of Kassi's new word.  Things are commonly ridiculous.  Such as finishing supper, having to wait for something or if someone is being silly they are ridiculous.  Fortunately the teacher was okay with it and thought it was rather humorous.

I asked Kassi all about her time at preschool and all she could tell me was there was just too much to talk about.  I asked if she would tell me a little and she said she could, but there was just so much that she just didn't know where to start.  She remembered a couple of the kids' names and remembered a song that they sung about cleaning up.

All in all I think preschool is a success.  She really enjoys the time with the other kids and loves to learn new things.  I hope she keeps this enthusiasm all throughout her school years.

Labor Day Weekend on the Big Horns

Last week we headed up on the Big Horns like we normally do for Labor Day weekend.  As usual Wednesday, Thursday and Friday morning were rather quiet and there were few people up there.  Come Saturday of course there were tons of people, but it was still nice to be away from the house and town.  We also enjoyed some wonderful weather.  The nights and mornings were cold and the days were just perfect at around 55 degrees.

Wes got in a little bit of archery hunting for deer.  He had a couple of nice bucks picked out just never got in to where he could get a good shot.  He did get within 20' of some smaller bucks, but nothing worth wasting the tag on.

Kassi caught a couple of fish and got mad at Wes when he put them back.  She thought they looked really yummy and wanted Mommy to cook them for her.  She was also rather bummed that Daddy didn't shoot a couple of the deer we saw as she also thought they looked really yummy and would make a good supper.

The trip started out well and I enjoyed staying next to the creek and watching all the wildlife.  By the end of the five days though we had decided this was the last trip for this year.  This one got a little too expensive!

My asthma had been doing pretty good up there as the smoke was kind of subdued.  Then the smoke came in and I spent one whole night wondering if I should go see what all they had on the Bear Lodge Ambulance as there was no air flow in my lungs.  I made it through that night, but that then changes the way we camp.  This means no long hikes, no camp fires, watching for all triggers and making sure they are all avoided.  Then to add insult to injury we get home and the smoke from all the fires around here is so heavy I hurt and cannot go outside.  I'm sure this will all lead to a nice doctor's visit before too long.

On Saturday the battery on the pickup died.  I guess the cold was its final straw!  Add one new pickup battery to the tab...Next in the line of incidents...Minnie managed to get herself caught up in some barbwire.  I was able to take care of the wound up there and we only ended up coming home a little early.  When we got back in cell phone range I called the vet and was able to get a little advice  and avoid the call out fee, however she will have to go in today and have some work done on the wound.  Poor pup will likely have a huge scar on her front paw.  Fortunately it doesn't seem to bother her too much as long as she doesn't bump it.

So following the incidents of this camping trip we came  home and started unloading the camper for the winter!  No more camping this year.  One expensive trip a year is enough for us. 

Watching movies together first thing in the morning.  They both really like Beauty and the Beast.

Kassi controlling the camera.

Kassi controlling the camera again.

Too dark to really see, but this cow and calf moose spent their mornings and evenings right outside our camper door.

Kassi showing Daddy how big of a deer he should shoot.