In March, Cassy spiked a fever that lasted a day and a half. This was around March 20.
In April, Cassy spiked a fever that lasted a day and a half. This was around April 23.
In May, we got a break.
In June, Cassy spiked a fever that lasted a day and a half. This was on June 25.
The first time, we went to Reston Emergency Room (this was on a weekend). After 4 hours, a failed catheter, and negative tests for strep and ear infections, we were told to 'keep an eye on her and come back if anything changes.'
The second time, we went to Cassy's primary pediatrician (this was on a weekday). After an hour, negative tests for strep and ear infections, we were told to 'keep an eye on her and try to get a urine sample if the fever persists.' (Do you have any idea how difficult it is to 'try' to get a urine sample from a toddler?)
This past weekend, we visited urgent care literally right across the street from us (not even 1 mile away!). I liked the Dr. staffed there on Sunday -- Dr. Ma. Though his findings were the same as before (no strep, no ear infection), he was able to give some insight into how Cassy was presenting overall, finding the monthly cycle of her fever interesting. He said it could be cyclic fever, but that usuallys happens on a weekly (not monthly) basis. He didn't completely wave his hand at the fever being caused by teething like others had, but did say it was unlikely that her temperature would get that high (102.9) just because of teething.
But you know, it wasn't even the fever. We took Cassy in to urgent care because, well, she was just . . . crazy. She would scream in hysterics for about 3 solid minutes, and then stop like nothing was wrong. And then start again, and then stop. At times she would literally be writhing in pain in my arms, and crying so hard -- I can't tell you how heartbreaking this was! We thought it was just teething, but she had never acted this crazed before.
While we were sitting in the doctors office, it dawned on me that she hadn't had a messy diaper all day. And then realized she hadn't had a messy diaper the day before, either. And then realized I wasn't 100% positive she had a messy diaper on Friday. So I got to thinking . . . if she was really backed up, that could potentially cause some pretty drastic tummy troubles, right? She flat-out refused all food and drink on Sunday, even though she had eaten (at all) on Friday and Saturday. So I asked the doctor if that could be the cause of her manic hysterics. He said it was certainly possible, and suggested pedialax (ewww.)
But I guess the grossest things in life are also some of the most helpful, because within 10 minutes after administering that pedialax, my baby girl was back to her happy, healthy self. Take that, digestive system!
6.28.2011
6.21.2011
One To Go
With only one weekend left in June I can't help but get excited about going to the beach. This weekend will have us celebrating my brother in law's birthday, but otherwise just relaxing and I guess trying to get things done around the house. It will be nice to have a weekend off, after last weekend's festivities (see what I mean?).
Overall the party was a great success. In fact, there have already been several votes for the 'theme' for next year. Looks like we're going with pirates :-) I'm going to basically just reserve this weekend each year for this party (so, next year's party will be June 16 at 8pm). It will just make it easier for ME to remember!
So we have literally 4 weekends between now and leaving for the beach. In that time we have three birthdays and one national holiday. Something tells me that time is just going to fly. We're also going to a Nats game, and going to see Mamma Mia! live at Wolftrap.
Getting that TV installed in the office now. It's loud, and now I really can't wait for this to be overwith!
Overall the party was a great success. In fact, there have already been several votes for the 'theme' for next year. Looks like we're going with pirates :-) I'm going to basically just reserve this weekend each year for this party (so, next year's party will be June 16 at 8pm). It will just make it easier for ME to remember!
So we have literally 4 weekends between now and leaving for the beach. In that time we have three birthdays and one national holiday. Something tells me that time is just going to fly. We're also going to a Nats game, and going to see Mamma Mia! live at Wolftrap.
Getting that TV installed in the office now. It's loud, and now I really can't wait for this to be overwith!
6.17.2011
Reasons not to ever use HHGregg
I suppose any time a new electronics store comes on the market people naturally want to flock to them because they offer Finally! At Last!! relief from the age-old iconic electronic store Best Buy. I admit, even I was a little excited at the fact that HHGregg opened right across the street from my neighborhood and couldn't help but think how easy it would now be to roll up in that joint to buy a replacement tv when our current 65" finally kicks the bucket (if that ever happens. I'm actually willing to take bets on it).
My company is in the process of building out a brand new training room as we roll out our new training courses. As part of that, we decided it would be best to go out and buy a rather large TV to use as a monitor to display the training programs. It would be much more versatile and in the long run, cheaper than buying replacement bulbs for our projector (man those things are expensive!) So, after some deliberation we settled on a beautiful 70" flat panel that we bought from none other than HHGregg. The price was right. The rest was not.
On a scale of 1-10, one being easy-peasy and ten being the worst exerience of your life, how difficult is it to schedule installation services from HHGregg? Somewhere in the range of 12.
First, we purchased in-home consultation for $99.00 that would then be applied to the overall installation fee of $299 should we decide to use their services for installation. The $99 CREDIT that we should receive was lost on all employees we talked to; they tried instead to charge us the full $299 telling us that we already paid for the in-home consultation and now we have to pay for the installation. Only one employee understood the situation, and I will call him Kyle from here on out. Unfortunately Kyle was out of the office the first few times we tried to schedule install services, so here is what transpired over the next few days.
Then, we were given a phone number to the installers HHGregg uses to schedule an install date. They tell us they do not schedule installers; HHGregg does. HHGregg tells us they do. They tell us they do not install TVs that large, and to call HHGregg. HHGregg finally admitted they schedule installations . . . but . . .
We called and deliberated over the $99 fee/credit with a random assortment of employees. When we finally were just going to give up and just get this thing installed already, we were told that we have to pre-pay for installation services in order to 'unlock' the software that allows them to actually schedule an install date. Here's something to remember, boys and girls -- never, under any circumstances, should you prepay for a service like this. That should always be the first clue to a shady company. One we tried to fight, to no avail -- afterall, we were due a $99 credit eventually, right?
So we argue over prepaying and finally get worn down to 'fine, let's just pay it and get it overwith.' So we say we'll put it on a credit card -- and then are told no, we have to pre-pay in person at the store. You would think that a cutting-edge fancy schmancy electronics store would have the ability to take a payment over the phone, but no. That is simply not how they do things. So we hold off until Kyle is able to help us.
All of that took place over the course of three business days and one weekend.
Finally, we talk with Kyle and he gets the whole credit thing, no problem. But we still have to show up in person to prepay for services in order to even get an install date. He says there's no way around that; that payment has to be made to bring up the correct page in their scheduling software.
He lied. I was standing right there. I selected the payment date before he even took my credit card.
I hate HHGregg.
But know what I hate even more? The third-party installers HHGregg uses. If I thought that company was full of uneducated employees, I have no idea what I think of the install company.
I'm called at 11am on the date of the install (This past tuesday). I'm told by the installer (we'll call him David) that we are the next stop on their schedule. Excellent; we had arranged for the 12p - 5p timeframe, and it sounds like they'll be right on time.
Boy I couldn't be more wrong.
3pm rolls around, and we haven't seen or heard from anybody. Must have been a really long, tough job they had before us, right? We get a call around 3:15 from someone asking if the installer had arrived on-site. Nope. "Ok, well, he has until 5pm to show up." So I'm told.
About 10 or 15 minutes later, around 3:30p, the installer calls. "Traffic is terrible!" he tells me. "I've been all around Sterling, Reston, McLean, Herndon -- it's just terrible all over, but I'm on my way." . . . Does that mean I wasn't actually the next stop on the list, as I was told earlier? "No ma'am, you misunderstood me. I said I was on my way to the next job, and that you would be next after that." So what time will you be here? "Oh, traffic is so bad, probably not until right around 5." Ok, I'll call you back.
I discuss this with my company and we all decide that 5p is too late. So I call him back and let him know that. "Ok, well, I mean, I can probably install the TV by 5:30 . . . " so I ask him where he's coming from, and he tells me McLean. McLean? It's going to take an hour and a half to get to Reston from McLean? So I ask him that, and he tells me "No, ma'am, I'm on my way to build a table in McLean -- I'll be to ya'all after that. Probably leave McLean around 4:30 or so."
Lies, lies, lies.
I tell him forget it, we'll have to reschedule, because at this point he's told me three different stories, none of which make me satisfied that he'd actually show up to our location by 5pm. So he said he'd have someone call me to reschedule.
That never happened, of course. We had to call them back -- and got a new scheduled date for today. We played it smart though; we opted for the 8a - 12p timeframe, thinking they'd find some way to screw it up and would actually be here in the afternoon. Michelle made sure to show up before 8am just in case they got here on time.
At 9:15a they call and tell us they will not be at our location at all today, because the scheduler overbooked himself.
I took that call and in no uncertain terms told them that since they missed their initial installation, they were to have someone here no later than 12pm. That's all. So the scheduler says ok and that she'll find someone; calls back within the hour and tells me someone will be to us by 2pm.
We'll see.
One of our employees called and demanded a credit to this missed installation -- but HHGregg told us that since the money goes to the third party installer, we'd have to call them. They don't seem to understand that it's THEM we are doing business with. HHGregg took our money, not the installer. So they owe us the money, not the installer. Basic business principles 101.
I hate HHGregg.
My company is in the process of building out a brand new training room as we roll out our new training courses. As part of that, we decided it would be best to go out and buy a rather large TV to use as a monitor to display the training programs. It would be much more versatile and in the long run, cheaper than buying replacement bulbs for our projector (man those things are expensive!) So, after some deliberation we settled on a beautiful 70" flat panel that we bought from none other than HHGregg. The price was right. The rest was not.
On a scale of 1-10, one being easy-peasy and ten being the worst exerience of your life, how difficult is it to schedule installation services from HHGregg? Somewhere in the range of 12.
First, we purchased in-home consultation for $99.00 that would then be applied to the overall installation fee of $299 should we decide to use their services for installation. The $99 CREDIT that we should receive was lost on all employees we talked to; they tried instead to charge us the full $299 telling us that we already paid for the in-home consultation and now we have to pay for the installation. Only one employee understood the situation, and I will call him Kyle from here on out. Unfortunately Kyle was out of the office the first few times we tried to schedule install services, so here is what transpired over the next few days.
Then, we were given a phone number to the installers HHGregg uses to schedule an install date. They tell us they do not schedule installers; HHGregg does. HHGregg tells us they do. They tell us they do not install TVs that large, and to call HHGregg. HHGregg finally admitted they schedule installations . . . but . . .
We called and deliberated over the $99 fee/credit with a random assortment of employees. When we finally were just going to give up and just get this thing installed already, we were told that we have to pre-pay for installation services in order to 'unlock' the software that allows them to actually schedule an install date. Here's something to remember, boys and girls -- never, under any circumstances, should you prepay for a service like this. That should always be the first clue to a shady company. One we tried to fight, to no avail -- afterall, we were due a $99 credit eventually, right?
So we argue over prepaying and finally get worn down to 'fine, let's just pay it and get it overwith.' So we say we'll put it on a credit card -- and then are told no, we have to pre-pay in person at the store. You would think that a cutting-edge fancy schmancy electronics store would have the ability to take a payment over the phone, but no. That is simply not how they do things. So we hold off until Kyle is able to help us.
All of that took place over the course of three business days and one weekend.
Finally, we talk with Kyle and he gets the whole credit thing, no problem. But we still have to show up in person to prepay for services in order to even get an install date. He says there's no way around that; that payment has to be made to bring up the correct page in their scheduling software.
He lied. I was standing right there. I selected the payment date before he even took my credit card.
I hate HHGregg.
But know what I hate even more? The third-party installers HHGregg uses. If I thought that company was full of uneducated employees, I have no idea what I think of the install company.
I'm called at 11am on the date of the install (This past tuesday). I'm told by the installer (we'll call him David) that we are the next stop on their schedule. Excellent; we had arranged for the 12p - 5p timeframe, and it sounds like they'll be right on time.
Boy I couldn't be more wrong.
3pm rolls around, and we haven't seen or heard from anybody. Must have been a really long, tough job they had before us, right? We get a call around 3:15 from someone asking if the installer had arrived on-site. Nope. "Ok, well, he has until 5pm to show up." So I'm told.
About 10 or 15 minutes later, around 3:30p, the installer calls. "Traffic is terrible!" he tells me. "I've been all around Sterling, Reston, McLean, Herndon -- it's just terrible all over, but I'm on my way." . . . Does that mean I wasn't actually the next stop on the list, as I was told earlier? "No ma'am, you misunderstood me. I said I was on my way to the next job, and that you would be next after that." So what time will you be here? "Oh, traffic is so bad, probably not until right around 5." Ok, I'll call you back.
I discuss this with my company and we all decide that 5p is too late. So I call him back and let him know that. "Ok, well, I mean, I can probably install the TV by 5:30 . . . " so I ask him where he's coming from, and he tells me McLean. McLean? It's going to take an hour and a half to get to Reston from McLean? So I ask him that, and he tells me "No, ma'am, I'm on my way to build a table in McLean -- I'll be to ya'all after that. Probably leave McLean around 4:30 or so."
Lies, lies, lies.
I tell him forget it, we'll have to reschedule, because at this point he's told me three different stories, none of which make me satisfied that he'd actually show up to our location by 5pm. So he said he'd have someone call me to reschedule.
That never happened, of course. We had to call them back -- and got a new scheduled date for today. We played it smart though; we opted for the 8a - 12p timeframe, thinking they'd find some way to screw it up and would actually be here in the afternoon. Michelle made sure to show up before 8am just in case they got here on time.
At 9:15a they call and tell us they will not be at our location at all today, because the scheduler overbooked himself.
I took that call and in no uncertain terms told them that since they missed their initial installation, they were to have someone here no later than 12pm. That's all. So the scheduler says ok and that she'll find someone; calls back within the hour and tells me someone will be to us by 2pm.
We'll see.
One of our employees called and demanded a credit to this missed installation -- but HHGregg told us that since the money goes to the third party installer, we'd have to call them. They don't seem to understand that it's THEM we are doing business with. HHGregg took our money, not the installer. So they owe us the money, not the installer. Basic business principles 101.
I hate HHGregg.
6.13.2011
Crunch Time
It's crunch time to the annual murder mystery party. T-5 days. There's a lot to be done between now and then, both with the party and without, such as -- Eric's farewell tasting with Adam this evening and patio furniture delivery tomorrow. On Thursday is the US Open. In between all of that will be getting ready (ie, cleaning my poor house!) for the party.
It makes me very happy to think that I'm making other people happy/excited by hosting these murder mysteries. I love that my sis and bro in law called me specifically to tell me that their masks arrived; that my sister Amanda texted me pictures of her mask, that people email me concerned about what to wear. It's a flurry of excitement, for them and for me, and I'm just thrilled that I can do this for people. With help from my friends, of course!
For my costume, I initially went with an off-white (cream colored) dress, but my mask is stark white, and they just clashed. So I went to Unique, an amazing thrift store, and bought a white satin curtain for $2. Then I stitched a zipper up the back, added some bling and a silvery sash, and voila! Perfection that matches my mask :-) So, if anyone needs a bedazzled cream colored dress, you're welcome to it. It was fun and kept me entertained for an evening, but overall it just isn't 'the one' for me.
My mask is awesome. I'm very proud of it. I made it myself, with zero prior mask-making experience. I just simply relied on my creativity and artistic talent to make this sucker come to life. My character is Miss White, so I figured i'll go with a snowflake costume theme -- and wouldn't you know it, I found mirrored snowflake buttons on which I glued faux diamonds. I added crystal beading to just one side, and silver sequins all around the edge. THEN, I glued a sparkly sheer fabric over all of the mask. I love it; it's definitely something to keep through the years.
Speaking of which, my collection of costumes keeps growing. It reminds me of all of these fun theme parties we've had -- can you believe this will be the fifth one? A lot has changed in five years, but the fun never seems to stop. Our core group keeps getting bigger, too! That's so nice, to be able to rely on certain people to play their characters. I imagine one day Cassy will join us -- or we'll be doing separate parties for her and her cousins and friends! Time marches on, on my friends. Time marches on.
It makes me very happy to think that I'm making other people happy/excited by hosting these murder mysteries. I love that my sis and bro in law called me specifically to tell me that their masks arrived; that my sister Amanda texted me pictures of her mask, that people email me concerned about what to wear. It's a flurry of excitement, for them and for me, and I'm just thrilled that I can do this for people. With help from my friends, of course!
For my costume, I initially went with an off-white (cream colored) dress, but my mask is stark white, and they just clashed. So I went to Unique, an amazing thrift store, and bought a white satin curtain for $2. Then I stitched a zipper up the back, added some bling and a silvery sash, and voila! Perfection that matches my mask :-) So, if anyone needs a bedazzled cream colored dress, you're welcome to it. It was fun and kept me entertained for an evening, but overall it just isn't 'the one' for me.
My mask is awesome. I'm very proud of it. I made it myself, with zero prior mask-making experience. I just simply relied on my creativity and artistic talent to make this sucker come to life. My character is Miss White, so I figured i'll go with a snowflake costume theme -- and wouldn't you know it, I found mirrored snowflake buttons on which I glued faux diamonds. I added crystal beading to just one side, and silver sequins all around the edge. THEN, I glued a sparkly sheer fabric over all of the mask. I love it; it's definitely something to keep through the years.
Speaking of which, my collection of costumes keeps growing. It reminds me of all of these fun theme parties we've had -- can you believe this will be the fifth one? A lot has changed in five years, but the fun never seems to stop. Our core group keeps getting bigger, too! That's so nice, to be able to rely on certain people to play their characters. I imagine one day Cassy will join us -- or we'll be doing separate parties for her and her cousins and friends! Time marches on, on my friends. Time marches on.
6.02.2011
Random Ramblings
** I LOVE that Cassy calls me "mommy" instead of "mama" now. It seems so much more intentional! And the way she says it is just so sweet. AND, sometimes just for kicks she'll reverse the sounds so she calls me "meema." Gosh I love her.
** I hit all green lights on the way to work today, with the exception of 2 -- but one of those two I hit just as it was turning from red to green, so it basically counts as hitting another green light.
** New pet peeve: when a page loads and you think it's ready for data input, so you click on it and your cursor is there blinking, so you start typing -- and then nothing is typed into the box. Then you realize that just because the page said 'done' it really wasn't, and you have to type whatever in again. Lame.
** I've got two laser tag passes that need to be used with the Bradneys.
** I downloaded the coolest app for my Incredible -- it lets me do a picture slideshow for my wallpaper, on all screens!
** 51 DTB
** Carter's kids clothing store gives you a stamp on a card every time you spend $20. Once you've spent $100 they give you a $10 gift card. That's pretty nice, right? On Tuesdays they stamp your card twice. That's like, free money.
** Finally got around to watching Avatar. I didn't hate it as much as I thought I would.
** I think X-Men 3 is going to be the beach movie this year.
** Manda stays over tonight!!
** The MM Party Planning is underway. You guys just aren't gonna believe your eyes.
** We've been playing a ton of Carcassonne lately. It's fun with the expansions. I don't think I could revert to playing just the original game at this point.
** Cassy L-O-V-E-S the sprinkler. I am so thrilled to have a water baby on my hands!
** Been thinking long and hard about developing a mural design business on the side. I have the talent, the support, and the supplies. Just gotta pull that trigger . . . and create a bunch of stuff like marketing materials. I'm not good at marketing.
That is all.
** I hit all green lights on the way to work today, with the exception of 2 -- but one of those two I hit just as it was turning from red to green, so it basically counts as hitting another green light.
** New pet peeve: when a page loads and you think it's ready for data input, so you click on it and your cursor is there blinking, so you start typing -- and then nothing is typed into the box. Then you realize that just because the page said 'done' it really wasn't, and you have to type whatever in again. Lame.
** I've got two laser tag passes that need to be used with the Bradneys.
** I downloaded the coolest app for my Incredible -- it lets me do a picture slideshow for my wallpaper, on all screens!
** 51 DTB
** Carter's kids clothing store gives you a stamp on a card every time you spend $20. Once you've spent $100 they give you a $10 gift card. That's pretty nice, right? On Tuesdays they stamp your card twice. That's like, free money.
** Finally got around to watching Avatar. I didn't hate it as much as I thought I would.
** I think X-Men 3 is going to be the beach movie this year.
** Manda stays over tonight!!
** The MM Party Planning is underway. You guys just aren't gonna believe your eyes.
** We've been playing a ton of Carcassonne lately. It's fun with the expansions. I don't think I could revert to playing just the original game at this point.
** Cassy L-O-V-E-S the sprinkler. I am so thrilled to have a water baby on my hands!
** Been thinking long and hard about developing a mural design business on the side. I have the talent, the support, and the supplies. Just gotta pull that trigger . . . and create a bunch of stuff like marketing materials. I'm not good at marketing.
That is all.
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