Idiocy

If it were up to me, lots of things would have a prerequisite competency test.

Idiots should not be allowed to:
• vote — they just vote fellow idiots into office
• drive — they're the insensitive and selfish asses on the road that cause accidents for us responsible drivers
• own a car alarm — someone in my apartment complex finds it fascinating to make his alarm chirp catcalls at women all day... 'nuff said
• bear offspring — do we really need the idiots breeding more of their kind?
• own a cell phone — this is why it's now socially acceptable to talk about your father's colon cancer in a loud voice on the phone at a restaurant, and part of the reason they drive so recklessly
• purchase music — they only make mindless pop drivel more popular and force the rest of us with good musical taste to listen to their rap music at ear-bleeding decibel levels as they slowly drive by in the streets
• walk alone in public — I can't count how many times I've been frustrated by mindless idiots at the store that stop for no reason in the middle of the aisle right in front of me

Okay, so maybe that's a bit too harsh or ridiculous, but hopefully you get the basic idea.

Currently listening to:
	The Great Cold Distance By Katatonia Release date: 04 April, 2006

Thank you

I want to thank all of the family, friends, and coworkers that have been so helpful and supportive during this time of loss in my family.  I'm sure that wherever Feydra is now, she is happy and knows how well-loved she is, especially after all the visits, calls, and emails we received last week and seeing the turnout for her service on Saturday.  Thank you again from the bottom of my heart to everyone.

For those that could not make it on Saturday, here is a PDF of the memorial service booklet.  (The original booklet was printed double-sided on legal-size paper and finished with a z-fold, so this PDF is been slightly reformatted in favor of a more logical layout.)

Services for Feydra

Funeral services for my daughter will be held on Saturday, April 22nd at 2PM at Riverview Park located on Dobson just off of Loop 202 in Mesa (see map). It will be a very informal event, no fancy outfits needed. Anyone who wants to say anything will be welcome to speak at the service.

In loving memory

In Loving Memory Feydra Illunaria Dautrich June 27th, 2004 - April 19th, 2006

Please help!

On Monday, my younger daughter Feydra was hit hard and fast with a severe case of meningitis caused by strep bacteria. The staff at Phoenix Children's Hospital have been doing a phenomenal job by working tirelessly to keep her in stable condition and saving her from death twice with emergency surgeries to relieve pressure on her brain from spinal fluid and leaking blood. Unfortunately, she is still in a coma and is showing little to no signs of responsiveness at the moment--her pupils aren't dialating, her kidneys haven't turned back on, and they still have the ventilator breathing for her. The only signs of hope we have right now are the slight twitches of her eyes and mouth when me and her mother talk to her and touch her, and the fact that her vital signs are very slowly returning to stable levels. The specialists are running tests this afternoon and will let us know later tonight what they find and where we can go from there. The doctors have been very communicative and have let us know about everything when they find out, and have been very honest with us about the slim chances that Fey has to make it through alive. Unfortunately, there's nothing we can do at the moment but wait, but we're not giving up hope as long as there is still any chance at all for her. Please keep her in your thoughts, pray for her, send her your healing energy, or whatever works for you. All of my family, especially my brave little fighter, needs all the strength we can get right now. Visitors are welcome to stop in at room 49 of the pediatric ICU at Phoenix Children's Hospital on Thomas and SR-51 in Phoenix. Thanks to everyone so far for all the help and support and may the winds of fate bring good fortune to us soon.

A triumphant return

w00t! It's nice to be able to walk outside in the sun... well, it would be if it weren't so windy and overcast today. Okay, it's nice to be home at least... well, it would be if it wasn't transformed into a complete disaster while I was gone. Um, it's nice to be able to get back online and check messages... or at least it would be if the internet was working earlier today. Work...? I have to set up the Pep Boys offer for April, I dread doing that monthly chore. Damn, I wanna go back to medical confinement!! ;)

"Vacation"

I've been here at the medical study since Monday night on "vacation". Well, it's at least as close to a real vacation as I can get right now, but it's better than nothing. I'm testing a medicine they're planning on using for people with diabetes (no I don't have that, they want healthy people to test), but I'm guessing I got one of the placebos since I didn't feel different or show any signs of change in blood tests, and it tasted like what swallowing a battery must taste like. At least I won't be coming out of here on Friday morning with orange skin or a third nipple. =) Regardless, it's just nice to be able to sit back and relax until then now that the blood draws and ECGs are now 24 hours apart... plenty of time to read and watch movies! Over and out for now.

Mastoiditis part 3

With the help of a quartz crystal that I consecrated full of healing energy this morning, lots of tylenol and ibuprofen, and two different antibiotics, it looks like things are finally starting to clear up for poor Kaylee. I just got back from the hospital and not only has her swelling gone down, but her temperature has been normalized, and she is laughing and playing more normally again (until the pain meds wear off, that is). She actually doesn't mind being touched in the sensitive swollen area either, so the nurse cleaned her ear and got some of the coagulated drainage cleaned off. It's looking like she'll get released sometime this weekend! Thanks to everyone that has kept her in their thoughts and wished her well!

Mastoiditis part 2

Well, everything seemed to be better last night. Kaylee was finally eating and looking like she was feeling on the road to recovery. I just got word that she's starting to swell up pretty bad on the left side of her head where the infection is. Any positive spells, chants, voodoo, prayers, etc. for her are gladly welcomed.

Mastoiditis

Sounds painful, doesn't it? It almost sounds like some rare disease where you turn into a massive and extinct furry creature with a long nose.  Well, it's not that bad, but it's still not a good thing. And of all the things to happen to a 3-year-old, it's not the most pleasant, either.  Here is more info on the condition.

I feel so odd not having Kaylee at home with me right now.  She's currently recovering at Banner Mesa Hospital, sleeping in her room with her mother.  I spent all day with Kaylee, trying my best to keep her happy and calm while the ER staff stuck thermometers up her butt, poked her with needles, prodded her ears and neck, and scraped and cleaned out built-up gunk from her ear canals.  It's been quite an exausting day for me--I can hardly imagine how much more miserable she was during all of this, on top of not feeling well.

As usual, I had to be the responsible parent and step up to the plate today.  Despite my protests last night, Andrea still decided to go in to work today and couldn't be reached until about 6:30pm when she finally returned home.  Discount Cab was totally inept at getting me a ride this morning, despite calling over two hours ahead of time to request a cab with child seats.  So I had to push two separate strollers a mile from home to the daycare to drop off Feydra and then walked around the corner to the emergency room of the hospital.

I spent the rest of the day getting that odd feeling of deja-vu because I had a series of dreams this morning that detailed the problem and what the doctors would tell me.  Since there were no real surprises, I had plenty of time and attention to give to Kaylee.  Now my entire body is sore from holding her all day so I'm going to try and get some well-deserved sleep.  Hopefully the poor little kiddo will get some good rest tonight as well and get released tomorrow.

My horoscope today

There are some things that are no longer important to you -- let them all go today.  Your imagination is on fire. Why not take advantage of all this inspiration and propose a few changes where they'd do the most good? Think big, too -- it's all about doing a complete revamp right now.

A revolution is calling?  Sounds great to me, I've already started doing just that as of this morning.  Pluck me from this decaying limbo and deliver me to a lush land of opportunity.  Let me finally reap all of the rewards of my hard work.

Beef teriyaki

I just had to snap a picture and share with everyone how yummy my beef teriyaki turned out tonight! (Not to mention the fresh green beans with carrots, pork-n-beans, and steak fries.) I sneaked a few bites while cutting up small pieces for the kids, so I can say for sure it's quite tasty indeed. I can also say it's authentic since teriyaki is Japanese and I've got some Japanese blood in my veins! Now I need to hurry up and enjoy it before it gets cold!