January
We began 2008 living with our friends packing our belongings, preparing for a journey. We took Max to NIH in Maryland to join a study for his metabolic disease. The month of January was a ball of excitement and energy. I remember barely being able to breathe most of the time. I would wake up with a tight chest, not believing what we were about to do. It was crazy, and we were actually going for it! We packed up our lives in Denver, and headed out for a new life, in a new land.
February
The shortest month of the year...and the most special to me. February this year though, gave us a dream. We left Washington DC, and arrived in London February 12th. We got there and found ourselves blurry eyed, and minus one dog. We drove on to Sheffield, and waited to hear if/when we would get Olive out of doggy customs. We spent Valentine's Day with our friends, met new friends, Steve talked with companies, we looked into doctors for Max. And I got sick. More sick than I can remember being in such a very long time. And Max had seizures, lots of seizures. We spent my 29th birthday with my mom in London, and we made the decision that day to come home. A decision that still is so confusing today.
March
We made the trip back Colorado, only to hear that we need to move to California. We were glad to have the direction, and loaded up our belongings and drove across five states to Northern California. It was a beautiful drive, we saw so much of the West. I saw Vegas for the first time and decided I NEVER need to go there again! We arrived in our new house on Easter Sunday. We set right out to outfit our new home with IKEA furniture, and made trips to the ocean and San Francisco. We really enjoyed our time in California...but again...it wasn't the right fit for Max.
April
We settled into our new life in California. Steve had a lot of travel, and we tried to either go to the beach or San Francisco every weekend. We had a lot of fun, and it was fun finding all the new places. For the first time in over 10 years I had to take a driving test...and I was so nervous I wouldn't pass!!! But I did, and got myself a snazzy CA driver's license. And I nearly lost my little Olive when she decided to follow her nose the the Filipino restaurant down our street.
May
Ang and Dan came to visit, and get to hold the title forever as the only people who got to see our home there. We started hitting up against walls for Max's medicaid, and therapy in California. It was like being stuck in traffic there! Max also started to think he didn't want to eat from a bottle anymore. And so began that battle. We made a trip back to Denver to see doctors, and a very very special Opera for Max.
June
Abbey joined us in June, we went to the ocean, and San Francisco, and decided AGAIN that we had to move. We packed up our home in California, and headed back to Denver. I was sad to leave California, but I knew we had to go back.
July
We got back to Denver July 5th. July 7th we had to admit Max into the hospital for seizures that wouldn't stop. If we were looking for a sign that we needed to be in Denver, that was it. We'd traveled halfway across the world and back, and Max didn't need medical help until we got back here. His seizures started and wouldn't stop because we couldn't get his medicine into him through a bottle, so in July, we made the decision to get him a feeding tube.
August
Max had his g-tube surgery in August, and our little niece Adeline was born. We were thankful to be here for both of those events. We also got Max in to a new pediatrician, which was a life saver for us.
September
Steve was gone most of the month traveling for work. Part of the deal of him getting to work from home means he gets to go when they tell him. We also spent all of the weekends looking for a place to live.
October
We found our house, and our little guy turned 5. We had another hospital event, as Max had a bad reaction to a vaccine. We chose a wheelchair, and got back into the swing of therapy.
November
We moved into our new house, and had our first holiday here. Max went to the zoo for the first time. We unpacked all of our belongings and started to feel at home in our new place.
December
The end of the year, and quite possibly, the hardest month of 2008 for me. We put up our Christmas tree, and Steve left to work for 2 weeks. I had an incredibly hard time with Max, and all that is changing with him. Steve surprised me late one night with an early arrival, and we prepared for everyone to get here for Christmas.
And now, we're nearing the end of 2008. Looking back, it has been the most full year I can remember. I can't believe sometimes all we've done. It feels like we've lived a couple of lifetimes in this one year. Parts feel like they were too short, and I wish we could do over a few things. But here we are. I have absolutely no idea what next year holds. 2008 will go down in our books as one of the strangest years in my life!
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Thursday, December 18, 2008
A cold afternoon at our house...
I tried to get some pictures of Adeline under the Christmas tree this afternoon. She just wanted to play with her feet.
And who can blame her? They are fascinating to a 4 month old little girl!!
And so accessible!
Can you see Ang here? I think this picture looks a lot like Ang did as a baby...with more hair.
She also wanted to fuss at me for taking her picture instead of holding her.
Which Max thought was hilarious...he loves when Adeline cries. (He had just woken up from his little afternoon cat-nap)
And Olive thought it all ridiculous, and just wanted to be left to her warm resting spot. Again...hogging the chair!
And who can blame her? They are fascinating to a 4 month old little girl!!
And so accessible!
Can you see Ang here? I think this picture looks a lot like Ang did as a baby...with more hair.
She also wanted to fuss at me for taking her picture instead of holding her.
Which Max thought was hilarious...he loves when Adeline cries. (He had just woken up from his little afternoon cat-nap)
And Olive thought it all ridiculous, and just wanted to be left to her warm resting spot. Again...hogging the chair!
Monday, December 15, 2008
It's a wild ride...
I wouldn't say I was a terribly independent child, but as an adult, I would say I've been very independent. I moved out when I was 18, and jumped into the big wide world with both feet. I've not had to do a lot of asking for help, but I am getting to a point in life with Max that I am going to have to have help. And that's not coming too easily to me. It's hard to ask, and it's hard to receive, and it's hard to find.
The first step is going to be taking better care of myself. I got the name of a chiropractor from one of Max's therapists because my back has been aching this week from all the moving. I know I need to find a better way of taking care of it, so I want to get it checked out, and some advice from therapists on the best way to move him and pick him up.
Next is getting help with Max. Therapy at home, equipment to make it easier. This takes time, and phone calls, and letters to insurance and medicaid and equipment providers. Sometimes I think the reason I've not asked for all of these things up to this point is because it is an enormous pain. Incredible effort for things that would just give us a somewhat normal life. But, now we have to, so I will suck it up and get up tomorrow and start again.
And, I've been trying to work on the emotional side of it all too. I don't like talking emotions. They're mine, and I don't like to share. I'm a big blubbering cry baby when I have to talk it out, so I tend to just keep it in. And think...and think and think. But I have been trying to talk it out more lately. And it can get embarrassing to cry in front of people, or let people get a peek inside of my head, but it is just as important. I've been reading a book these past couple of weeks called
Changed By A Child, Companion Notes for Parents Of A child With A Disability. It's helped a lot on this emotional ride I've been on these past couple of weeks. This is a hard road to travel, and sometimes it's nice to read others have gone there before me. If you ever see it in a bookstore, pick it up and read a few of the short stories. Even though I've not gone through what all of the stories reflect, I can certainly understand where they're coming from.
I guess that's all that has been floating around in my head lately. I still don't have any more answers to the questions that are cycling around my life, but I'm trying to be okay with that, and just live the best today I can. Tomorrow, that will mean trying to get Max to stand up, if even for a few minutes. This may take about an hour to make happen, but he has to get back into the strength building since being sick. And it also means trying to get a hold of the respite people to see about getting that worked out. And most importantly, it means to just enjoy him. Because he really is such a fun kid to be around!
Here are a few pictures from our past several days.
He loves his Christmas tree, especially at night. But he always wants me to turn on the lights during the day. He was sitting here playfully kicking at the tree, until I told him to stop!
So he got under it.
This was after a diaper change. I had to change his clothes, and when I came back down to put them on him, he had grabbed his dragon cover and rolled on over to rest. He laid there for about an hour before he would let me put his clothes on and pick him up off of the floor! (He's peeking at me here because he was waking up...notice Olive too...what a chair hog!)
Speaking of Olive...she hates the bitter cold! When we get up and go into Max's bedroom in the morning I open his blinds and this is where she lays, right in the sunshine, until we go downstairs!
And, finally, these aren't great quality, but I thought they were fun captures. Max and I were sitting on the couch this evening and I was making raspberry noises, and he was cracking up.
We both thought it was HILARIOUS!
The first step is going to be taking better care of myself. I got the name of a chiropractor from one of Max's therapists because my back has been aching this week from all the moving. I know I need to find a better way of taking care of it, so I want to get it checked out, and some advice from therapists on the best way to move him and pick him up.
Next is getting help with Max. Therapy at home, equipment to make it easier. This takes time, and phone calls, and letters to insurance and medicaid and equipment providers. Sometimes I think the reason I've not asked for all of these things up to this point is because it is an enormous pain. Incredible effort for things that would just give us a somewhat normal life. But, now we have to, so I will suck it up and get up tomorrow and start again.
And, I've been trying to work on the emotional side of it all too. I don't like talking emotions. They're mine, and I don't like to share. I'm a big blubbering cry baby when I have to talk it out, so I tend to just keep it in. And think...and think and think. But I have been trying to talk it out more lately. And it can get embarrassing to cry in front of people, or let people get a peek inside of my head, but it is just as important. I've been reading a book these past couple of weeks called
Changed By A Child, Companion Notes for Parents Of A child With A Disability. It's helped a lot on this emotional ride I've been on these past couple of weeks. This is a hard road to travel, and sometimes it's nice to read others have gone there before me. If you ever see it in a bookstore, pick it up and read a few of the short stories. Even though I've not gone through what all of the stories reflect, I can certainly understand where they're coming from.
I guess that's all that has been floating around in my head lately. I still don't have any more answers to the questions that are cycling around my life, but I'm trying to be okay with that, and just live the best today I can. Tomorrow, that will mean trying to get Max to stand up, if even for a few minutes. This may take about an hour to make happen, but he has to get back into the strength building since being sick. And it also means trying to get a hold of the respite people to see about getting that worked out. And most importantly, it means to just enjoy him. Because he really is such a fun kid to be around!
Here are a few pictures from our past several days.
He loves his Christmas tree, especially at night. But he always wants me to turn on the lights during the day. He was sitting here playfully kicking at the tree, until I told him to stop!
So he got under it.
This was after a diaper change. I had to change his clothes, and when I came back down to put them on him, he had grabbed his dragon cover and rolled on over to rest. He laid there for about an hour before he would let me put his clothes on and pick him up off of the floor! (He's peeking at me here because he was waking up...notice Olive too...what a chair hog!)
Speaking of Olive...she hates the bitter cold! When we get up and go into Max's bedroom in the morning I open his blinds and this is where she lays, right in the sunshine, until we go downstairs!
And, finally, these aren't great quality, but I thought they were fun captures. Max and I were sitting on the couch this evening and I was making raspberry noises, and he was cracking up.
We both thought it was HILARIOUS!
We're ready...
"I may send you strange visitors. Make each desire to return. Nobody must come and feel unwanted. Share your Love, Joy, Happiness, time and food gladly with all."
--Two Listeners
--Two Listeners
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Saturday, December 13, 2008
It's that time of year...
When the world falls in love...every song you hear seems to say...Merry Christmas! May your New Year Dreams come true!!!!!!!!!
That song is stuck in my head!
Max and I got out for a while today. We even took Olive along, because the weather was beautiful, and it is going to turn nasty tomorrow. I got out and got some groceries, and we walked down to Chipotle to have lunch. By the time we were heading home, the wind had changed and was quite chilly!
I also got a few things to make some cookies with my sister tomorrow. Well, when I got them I didn't know I would be making them with my sister, but once I told her I had the goods she made a plan to come over to help me make them. (And maybe sample them too!)
Well, so much for a catch-up...Max is throwing an incredible fit because he keeps dozing off. Sometimes I just don't get this kid!
Until next time...
That song is stuck in my head!
Max and I got out for a while today. We even took Olive along, because the weather was beautiful, and it is going to turn nasty tomorrow. I got out and got some groceries, and we walked down to Chipotle to have lunch. By the time we were heading home, the wind had changed and was quite chilly!
I also got a few things to make some cookies with my sister tomorrow. Well, when I got them I didn't know I would be making them with my sister, but once I told her I had the goods she made a plan to come over to help me make them. (And maybe sample them too!)
Well, so much for a catch-up...Max is throwing an incredible fit because he keeps dozing off. Sometimes I just don't get this kid!
Until next time...
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Just so you know...
Words can not even begin to express my day today. So I won't try.
Just know that I may not be on here much for another week yet.
I may be cleaning up volcanic poop...or snot...or vomit...or calling AGAIN to ask on the whereabouts of Max's medicine...
or taking the dog out for her 8,000th pee of the day...
or wiping up ice salt off of the wood floors...
or doing more laundry that has been pooped, or puked upon...
or disputing charges from hospitals...
or watching to see if Max will leave his ear alone...or take Max to the doctor to have his ear checked out...
or be coming up with a reason why the charity of choice should consider Max's request for a chair even though "we make more money than the people we help usually do"...
or....or...or.........
Just know that I may not be on here much for another week yet.
I may be cleaning up volcanic poop...or snot...or vomit...or calling AGAIN to ask on the whereabouts of Max's medicine...
or taking the dog out for her 8,000th pee of the day...
or wiping up ice salt off of the wood floors...
or doing more laundry that has been pooped, or puked upon...
or disputing charges from hospitals...
or watching to see if Max will leave his ear alone...or take Max to the doctor to have his ear checked out...
or be coming up with a reason why the charity of choice should consider Max's request for a chair even though "we make more money than the people we help usually do"...
or....or...or.........
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Tidbits...
I have had about 6 huge glasses of water today...I am still so thirsty! I think I need to refill the humidifier. I've had to refill Max's every night.
Speaking of Max, he is feeling a lot better. He finally got through last night without spitting up once. That didn't mean he slept right away, in fact it was about 3:00am once I finally got to sleep from going into his room so many times.
He's in his bedroom right now crying to stay awake. He's missing Daddy I think. There are times I wish he would just break out in non-stop talking so he could fill me in on what is going on!
Oh dear...he's really going after it up there. I better go check on him and try to get him to sleep if I want to have any peace tonight...
Only 9 more days being solo. He can't get home fast enough this time!
Speaking of Max, he is feeling a lot better. He finally got through last night without spitting up once. That didn't mean he slept right away, in fact it was about 3:00am once I finally got to sleep from going into his room so many times.
He's in his bedroom right now crying to stay awake. He's missing Daddy I think. There are times I wish he would just break out in non-stop talking so he could fill me in on what is going on!
Oh dear...he's really going after it up there. I better go check on him and try to get him to sleep if I want to have any peace tonight...
Only 9 more days being solo. He can't get home fast enough this time!
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
100 Things...
If you want to play, just copy the list and bold the items you’ve actually done.
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band middle school band geek
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland (nope… Disneyworld, though)
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch (is cooking an art? I say yes.)
15. Adopted a child (maybe one day…)
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables (I had a peck of peppers when I was a kid!)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort Steve built us an igloo a couple of years ago in the blizzard!
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse I was born during a total eclipse!!! I know...explains so much.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run not sure in real life...but I have on Wii sports!
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors Some of them anyway!
35. Seen an Amish communityThe Amish cook some yummy food!
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance (I had to ride with Max to the hospital...so scary to be in an ambulance in an ice-storm!)
47. Had your portrait painted (it was abstract, but my friend Joel painted a portrait of me wearing a super-woman cape and a tortoise shell and I was blue colored.)
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling (Worst sunburn I've ever had, I got after snorkeling in Jamaica...my behind was keeping me afloat, so I got scorched with it bobbing around the Caribbean)
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater I loved going to the drive-in as a kid with my cousins!
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia (saw it on my way to China)
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching (I've seen whales in the ocean, but didn't go on a boat to see them)
63. Got flowers for no reason (And to this day, they were the most expensive and most beautiful flowers I've ever seen!)
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving (Indoors!)
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar blagh!
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London(not the big hoopla one...but I've seen them switch from one post to another.)
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle (my husband doesn't speed with me on the back!)
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House(only the outside...but I would love to see the inside!)
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life (every day)
90. Sat on a jury (I was dismissed...close call though!)
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a mobile phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band middle school band geek
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland (nope… Disneyworld, though)
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch (is cooking an art? I say yes.)
15. Adopted a child (maybe one day…)
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables (I had a peck of peppers when I was a kid!)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort Steve built us an igloo a couple of years ago in the blizzard!
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse I was born during a total eclipse!!! I know...explains so much.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run not sure in real life...but I have on Wii sports!
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors Some of them anyway!
35. Seen an Amish communityThe Amish cook some yummy food!
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance (I had to ride with Max to the hospital...so scary to be in an ambulance in an ice-storm!)
47. Had your portrait painted (it was abstract, but my friend Joel painted a portrait of me wearing a super-woman cape and a tortoise shell and I was blue colored.)
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling (Worst sunburn I've ever had, I got after snorkeling in Jamaica...my behind was keeping me afloat, so I got scorched with it bobbing around the Caribbean)
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater I loved going to the drive-in as a kid with my cousins!
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia (saw it on my way to China)
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching (I've seen whales in the ocean, but didn't go on a boat to see them)
63. Got flowers for no reason (And to this day, they were the most expensive and most beautiful flowers I've ever seen!)
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving (Indoors!)
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar blagh!
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London(not the big hoopla one...but I've seen them switch from one post to another.)
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle (my husband doesn't speed with me on the back!)
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House(only the outside...but I would love to see the inside!)
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life (every day)
90. Sat on a jury (I was dismissed...close call though!)
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a mobile phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day
Saturday, December 6, 2008
O Tannenbaum...
Let's play a game!
I'm posting pictures of my Christmas tree, and since Max and I won't be getting out this Christmas season, would you post a picture of yours, and link it here?
My family has been doing this on our family blog, and it's been great fun!
I have always loved white Christmas trees, and Steve found this pencil 7.5' beauty half off after Thanksgiving. We kept my favorite ornaments when we moved last year, but I still needed a few more things for the tree to sparkle, so we got them today.
Here's the finished tree:
And here are a few of my new ornaments:
A peacock:
Steve got this little guy for me in London last year at Harrod's:
The Golden Gate Bridge and Big Ben, representations of our journey this year:
And my wild tree topper:
EDIT:
Grandma posted a picture of my ornament...
Grandma and Grandpa got all of he grandkids their own ornaments. I've always been most fond of mine...wonder why!?
So, do you have your tree up yet?
I'm posting pictures of my Christmas tree, and since Max and I won't be getting out this Christmas season, would you post a picture of yours, and link it here?
My family has been doing this on our family blog, and it's been great fun!
I have always loved white Christmas trees, and Steve found this pencil 7.5' beauty half off after Thanksgiving. We kept my favorite ornaments when we moved last year, but I still needed a few more things for the tree to sparkle, so we got them today.
Here's the finished tree:
And here are a few of my new ornaments:
A peacock:
Steve got this little guy for me in London last year at Harrod's:
The Golden Gate Bridge and Big Ben, representations of our journey this year:
And my wild tree topper:
EDIT:
Grandma posted a picture of my ornament...
Grandma and Grandpa got all of he grandkids their own ornaments. I've always been most fond of mine...wonder why!?
So, do you have your tree up yet?
Friday, December 5, 2008
Cough cough...
I am just plain ol' tired today. I've worked through one page of my two page "to do" list. So that's good, but I still have more, plus feeding Max just about around the clock, and keeping a watch and ear on his cough to see if it changes.
If it gets worse, we have to go in on Monday to have him checked out. I know they're worried about pneumonia. His fever has gone away. But this cough...oh man. It hurts him to cough, and he gets so worked up his food comes up.
He's been camped out here most of the week.
I guess I'm glad we have the room to inflate a queen size air mattress in our living room! At least I can sit in a chair instead of in his bed with him like this.
Max is waking now, coughing again, better go for now.
If it gets worse, we have to go in on Monday to have him checked out. I know they're worried about pneumonia. His fever has gone away. But this cough...oh man. It hurts him to cough, and he gets so worked up his food comes up.
He's been camped out here most of the week.
I guess I'm glad we have the room to inflate a queen size air mattress in our living room! At least I can sit in a chair instead of in his bed with him like this.
Max is waking now, coughing again, better go for now.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Grumpy Gus...
We took Max to the hospital yesterday because the night before his temperature peaked at 104.9. The doctor was not so thrilled with that number, so she wanted to see him in person. I think I'd like to lobby for the good ol' days when the doctors came to your house!
Once we got him into the car, he threw up all over himself and his seat. So we had to take him inside, and clean him up before we could head to the hospital. We were a good 30 minutes late, but because he was coming in as an urgent visit, we were okay.
We say his pediatrician's nurse practitioner, and his metabolic doctor came down to see him at the same time. What a help that was! We knocked them both out at once. They both looked him over and agreed that it is likely something viral and that he should break his fever within the next couple of days, but the cough could linger on for several weeks.
They've been seeing cases of strep and flu already, and another illness that causes sores in the mouth that they were worried about. But he didn't have any of those. We didn't have to do any blood work, and just got to bring him home with the only orders to keep doing what we were doing and call if he gets any worse.
Yesterday, when I called to cancel his physical therapy appointment, the scheduling person told me there must be something going around...she's canceled 25 kids TODAY! Ugh! I guess we know where he got sick. For crying out loud...the one place I take him to get stronger he gets sick!
He had a really awful night last night. I think he was trying to get rid of his fever and was just thrashing around all night. Groaning and coughing and sweating all night long. He didn't get to good sleep until about 5:00am when Steve and I switched night-watch duty. He's still resting, and through the magic of feeding tubes, still getting all of his food and medicine in him while he sleeps along and just gets better.
That's the update for now. I think I'll try to get some laundry done while he's resting...since all I've been washing non-stop are towels and bed linens!
Once we got him into the car, he threw up all over himself and his seat. So we had to take him inside, and clean him up before we could head to the hospital. We were a good 30 minutes late, but because he was coming in as an urgent visit, we were okay.
We say his pediatrician's nurse practitioner, and his metabolic doctor came down to see him at the same time. What a help that was! We knocked them both out at once. They both looked him over and agreed that it is likely something viral and that he should break his fever within the next couple of days, but the cough could linger on for several weeks.
They've been seeing cases of strep and flu already, and another illness that causes sores in the mouth that they were worried about. But he didn't have any of those. We didn't have to do any blood work, and just got to bring him home with the only orders to keep doing what we were doing and call if he gets any worse.
Yesterday, when I called to cancel his physical therapy appointment, the scheduling person told me there must be something going around...she's canceled 25 kids TODAY! Ugh! I guess we know where he got sick. For crying out loud...the one place I take him to get stronger he gets sick!
He had a really awful night last night. I think he was trying to get rid of his fever and was just thrashing around all night. Groaning and coughing and sweating all night long. He didn't get to good sleep until about 5:00am when Steve and I switched night-watch duty. He's still resting, and through the magic of feeding tubes, still getting all of his food and medicine in him while he sleeps along and just gets better.
That's the update for now. I think I'll try to get some laundry done while he's resting...since all I've been washing non-stop are towels and bed linens!
Monday, December 1, 2008
Here is Max at 7:00 tonight. It's been a long day of snot and throw-up...oh the joys!
I spoke with a couple of his doctors, and he's had one of his medicines increased, and put on continuous feeds, even through the night. He's kept the small fever all day, around 101.8. I'll call in the morning to see if they want him to come in.
Hopefully he'll rest tonight...hopefully we all can rest!
Oh Christmas Tree...
Yesterday it snowed...and was so cold! So we hung around in the house all day. Angie and Adeline came over to help set up the Christmas tree and just hang out for a while.
First thing was first...game playing!
Then we set up the tree and I put Ang to work on "fluffing" the branches...my trees would be nothing without her fluffing job!
(Check out Addie sleeping!)
Somewhere along the day, Max got sick..and is still fighting a cough and runny nose. Right now he's pretty spry, so I'm hoping he's on the mend. We were up all night!
Now, the tree is all done, and pretty!
I have a few things I want to do to finish it, like find a topper, but I may wait until it all goes on sale!
Now, off to wash more towels...5 load since yesterday afternoon...puke!
First thing was first...game playing!
Then we set up the tree and I put Ang to work on "fluffing" the branches...my trees would be nothing without her fluffing job!
(Check out Addie sleeping!)
Somewhere along the day, Max got sick..and is still fighting a cough and runny nose. Right now he's pretty spry, so I'm hoping he's on the mend. We were up all night!
Now, the tree is all done, and pretty!
I have a few things I want to do to finish it, like find a topper, but I may wait until it all goes on sale!
Now, off to wash more towels...5 load since yesterday afternoon...puke!
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