**Grinnysgirl**

Penny Pie

Hi M,

Thanks for your reply...I had a couple of icky days and I usually don't get on the computer on those days.   Things are much better though.  Your recommendation was sooooo helpful and has been wonderful.  I love that group and Dr. H has been soooo amazing with everything.  It has really helped me get through the tough days.

My arm is soooo gross.  It worried me so I went to urgent care and they gave me an antibiotic and ointment.  I think the residual effects of the rash and sores will take some time though.  I'm 13 weeks now, yay!  First tri, under my belt.

What are some things you did with your little one while you were going through all this with your first?  I feel soooo guilty, we haven't done anything really fun this summer. 

grinnysgirl

Hi there!

I'm so glad to hear that you are doing much better! I am sure you are still having a rough time but to hear things are better than they were makes me so relieved for you! Are you loving being off the picc and being able to shower like a normal person? I was sooo excited for that after 3.5 months of having to wrap myself up before showering!

I am really glad you liked Dr. H and the group at Iowa Clinic. He truly is amazing and I am so glad he was able to get your the help and treatment you needed. 13 weeks- woo hoo! I really hope that getting into 2nd tri will be a turning point for you. I remember Dr. H telling me that some hyperemetics turn a corner and feel so much better between 12-14 weeks and I was pretty much heartbroken when that wasn't me!

Ugh your poor arm. I can definitely relate. I had a pretty bad rash on my arm for essentially the entire three months I had the PICC. It sucked. I tried not to complain because I knew it was nothing compared to the sickness I was dealing with but it looked SO gross and hurt and itched so bad. We tried everything- using different dressings, cleaners, antibiotic ointments, etc and it just wouldn't go away. My home nurse told me that it is pretty common and that she has had patients get so bad that their skin looks like raw hamburger under the dressing! I sure hope it gets better for you soon! Here are a couple of my blog posts about my rashes!

http://thegrinsteads.blogspot.com/2010/07/problems-and-more-problems.html

http://thegrinsteads.blogspot.com/2010/07/update.html

Lastly, as far as what I did with Ella last summer, that is seriously probably the thing that I still am having such a hard time coming to terms with. In fact I am tearing up typing this to you. I was an AWFUL mommy to her last summer. 95% of the time my mom would watch her during the day and then as soon as DH got home he would care for her and play with her until bedtime. If she was home with me, most of the time I would lay on the floor with her in the basement where it was cool and she would bring her toys to me. I couldn't take her for walks even around the block, to the park, out in the driveway to do chalk, nothing. I think three times last summer I braved it to the mall playground with her because I could at least sit and watch her play. I feel SO terrible about missing out on my last summer with just she and I. To top it off, every night I was on the IV for four hours and I tried to do most of it after her bedtime but there were many times she would be asking me to play and I couldn't and it broke my heart. Of course logically I know she won't remember but I was so excited for a fun summer with her and it sucked that it didn't happen. If you are feeling up to it could you do inside things with her like color, puzzles, books, play kitchen, etc? I know being in the heat was an immediate vomit inducer for me so we had to stay in. Playdough was another one that we did quite often!