H1N1

On Sunday, Ben and Will both woke up with a low-grade fever and had it most of the day. 99.5 for Ben and 100.5 for Will. Will also woke up with a dry cough. I called Will's pulmonologist and he told me to keep an eye on him and call back should his fever go up. On Sunday evening - sometime in the night, Will ended up in our bed. Around 5:30 am - he started coughing. But his cough was different, it was more wet. He was tossing and turning. I reached over and felt of his forehead and he was burning up. I took his temp and it was 104.2. I gave him tylenol, put a feverall patch on his head, started his breathing treatment and called the pulmonologist. He immediately called in tamiflu and said i should give him a dose of Motrin and watch him.

At 9am - the pulmonologist office called me and said they had a 10:30 appt and he needed to come in. At the doctors office - Will didn't have a fever and didn't seem to be sick! He was bouncing off the walls. They did the flu swap and it was definitely positive for H1N1. They gave him a breathing treatment, a dose of tylenol, his tamiflu dose (which I brought with me) and sent us home w/a plan for the upcoming days.

On Tuesday morning, Andy woke up with a low-grade fever (99.5). I called the pediatrician and got an appt. for him. They did the flu swap on him. They said it was positive - but just barely. He was in the first 24 hours. Thankfully - I took him in early. They prescribed Tamiflu for him and then also for Ben - to prevent him from getting it.

Luckily our family had the H1N1 vaccine on October 14. The boys had their first dose (still need the 2nd). Will and Andy didn't seem to feel bad really. There were a few times where they seemed a little down. On Monday - Will acted a little sick, and on Tuesday - Andy did. But other than that - there really wasn't much downtime for them. They both got a little cough and sounded hoarse on day 3. But that really was all there was to it.

So far Ben hasn't caught it. I'm praying he doesn't. He's had a little cough - and they've all had a junky nose.

Beloved Pet and Friend .... Fluffy

Today after 20 WONDERFUL years - I put my sweet cat, Fluffy, to sleep. A year ago, she was diagnosed with mild kidney Failure - which means her kidney's were only working 25%. And unfortunately - they had no idea how fast or slow the disease would progress. Over the last month, my sweet Fluffy started getting very sick. Not only was her kidney disease progressing - but she had an abscess on some of her teeth that was causing her pain. She stopped eating because of her kidneys and the teeth.

She was hospitalized overnight in order to stabilize her while we waited for the bloodtests. It was worse than we thought. Her levels were dangerously high and we knew she was suffering - something I never wanted for my dear sweet girl.

The decision was hard - but I knew I had to let her go. I went to the vet and spent several hours with her before putting her to sleep. I could tell she was very sick. And I am not sure - but I almost think maybe she didn't recognize me. Which is something they say is a symptom when their levels are that high. I talked to her, petted her, and just loved on her. I tried to make myself feel good about this decision. But I was so heartbroken.

I had her cremanted and her ashes given back to me. I look at that box and can't believe that's all I have left of her. My heart is so sad. I know time will heal - but I am really struggling with not having her. This all happened so fast for me and wasn't something I thought I would be doing anytime soon.

I got Fluffy when I was 14 years old. Someone gave her to my brother, Christopher. She was a tiny kitten and she attached herself to me and became mine.

She had a wonderful personality and brought me so much joy! She will be greatly and forever missed!

Florida!

For the past 5 years, I have been going to Orlando Florida in November for Super Soap Weekend. Last year (2008) ABC canceled SSW. It's very sad for me. Not because I love watching Soap Stars walk around MGM Studios - but because Disney is such an easy vacation for me. Disney makes it easy with the transportation to/from the airport and to/from the parks. It's great. Not to mention - it's Disney .... who doesn't love Disney, right?

Last year my girlfriend, Nikki, and I met there together and went to Discovery Cove. Which was phenonminal! So b/c David and I do separate vacations because we don't have anyone to take care of the boys so we can do something together - I decided I would go back to Disney and go to Discovery Cove. Yes..... it was THAT cool!

I went November 5 - 8, a short trip. Main focus - Discovery Cove. This year was a little different for me. The four years prior my girlfriend, Nikki, and I had met in FL for SSW. But this year - she's on her way to being engaged and traveling across country every month to be with her guy, Sam (whom I love for her). So I was flying solo. And the second change - it would be a shorter trip and I wouldn't go to Disney's Parks. Just hang out in downtown Disney, go to Discovery Cove and mill around the hotel and relax.

For some reason - I only took photos at Discovery Cove. Here are some of me in the Aviary with all the birds. They are so use to people that as soon as you get one of the white cups of food in your hand - birds come and sit on you ... anywhere they can. They were freaking me out a bit - but I managed to feed a few.

We were able to go behind the scenes and watch them try and train baby sharks to hand feed. It was pretty crazy to watch. One of the trainers was finally able to get the shark to come up in his lap to feed. He was really pleased with himself. I would of been running for the exit.

I met this really cool girl, Lexi, from London. We had a great day hanging out and exploring the park. Here we are in the coral reef swimming around and playing with the birds.

One of the things I was really excited about was using my underwater case for my Canon G9. Lexi snapped this photo of me. I went down a little to far, b/c when I went under I got a mouth and nose full of salt water. I am not exactly expert at the snorkel thing. But it looks cool, huh? Nice stingray next to me : )

Here I am getting a little dolphin love : )

Towards the end of the day, on our last swim through the coral reef .... I ran into some rocks. Yes - rocks! The coral reef goes deep to shallow pretty quick and I was talking, not paying attention and ran into some pretty big rocks. And ... well, here's the result ....

I banged up my toe pretty bad. It was so painful. And of course, I did this on my 2nd day there - so it was a little difficult to walk around with a fat, bruised toe.

I had a great time - so glad I got to experience Discovery Cove (and meet a new friend) and so very thankful for my sweet husband for taking care of the kids so I could go. However - I do believe, this was my last trip to Disney. Well ..... until we take the kids or ABC brings back SSW.

"Twick or Tweat, pwease!"

The boys have been sick all week with H1N1 so they were alitle worried they may not be able to trick-or-treat. But everyone healed beautifully and we were able to go. Me, Ben, Will and Andy headed out around the neighborhood about 6:30pm with our neighbors, the Guidrys. David stayed back with Mr. Guidry (also Dave) to pass out candy to the kids coming by.

Ben, dressed as a Knight (his costume from a few years); Will (dressed as a nerd - something we pulled together in about 20 minutes - a great idea from my girlfriend, Dena - thank you!); and Andy (as Elvis - his costume from last year - still very cute!).

We went around our entire neighborhood - the boys getting their bags overloaded with candy. They had a great time. Taking turns knocking on the door, even Andy. He loved saying "twick or tweat, pwease." Most of our neighbors participated - which I love, because the kids really love the tradition of Halloween.

Andy looked so cute as Elvis. We spray painted his hair black and spiked it up to get more of the look.

Will and our neighbors son.

Our neighbors, the Guidry's, Andy, Will and their son as the ghost.

After we made our rounds in our own neighborhood - we went over to a friends house - whom I hadn't seen in 10 years. Funny enough - she lives just in the next neighborhood and I had no idea. So the boys and I loaded in the car and went over to visit and maybe get some candy. My girlfriend, Angie, and her husband have four-wheelers, parked in the garage - and that was enough to keep the boys occupied for HOURS. I was able to hang out with my girlfriend and catch up and the boys had a great time. Her husband was nice enough to take them each for a ride around the nieghborhood on the four-wheeler. Their first time! They were SO excited. Asking him to go FASTER, and FASTER.

Will got the first and longest ride. He was LOVIN it! Then Ben got his ride - he didn't want to ride as long. Then it was Andy's turn - and Will got a 2nd ride with Andy. Big FUN!

Will wanted to try on Angie's husbands scarey masks. Lovin this look!

We left at around 10:30 pm to come home. The boys all got showers and went straight to bed. They were worn out! It was a great day with family and friends!

Halloween Fun!

Our Neighbors have a Halloween Party every year for the kids. The boys love to go and dress-up and play w/their friends. It's always big fun!

Andy went to the party as a scarecrow. He looked so cute. Ben and Will went as themselves. They didn't dress up this year.

Andy

Andy : )

David kicking balloon with Andy.

Ben and Will

My handsome husband (needs a haircut) - but soooooo handsome!

Will getting some goodies...

Kids playing ...

David and William

Andy taking a swing at the pumpkin...

Will taking a swing at the pumpkin......

Ben taking a swing at the pumpkin..

And me - in devil horns!? ... I don't know.

It's a "no adult party," so we took the kids for awhile and then left and came home to make a cake with the boys. They had so much fun! David loves to cook and he likes for the boys to help him.



Second guessing

I sent Will back to school today, even though I am not 100% sure if it was the right thing to do. He's missed four days with his stomach pains and having his scope done yesterday.

With this swine flu lurking in every crevice of every desk and every corner at school (at least that's the way I feel) - David and I had almost made up our minds to take him out of kindergarten and let him start again next year. After all - it's just kindergarten right? And he's a young kindergartener, at that.

With the decision to take him out of kindergarten and restart him next year - we had rationed in our minds that he would have a better chance of getting into Ben's school if he were older. The G/T testing would be easier for him to understand because he would be older. And that's important to us. We LOVE Ben's school and we want all 3 of our kids in the school.

On the other side of it: with his Reactive Airwary Disease - the flu, especially the H1N1 strain could possibly be more difficult for him. The good news is - the doctors feel he could be outgrowing his RAD. But with this pig flu - it could flare up again (darn pigs!). We have dealt with the RAD since he was 6 months old when he got RSV (Respiratory virus). RSV changes the shape and the function of the lungs and makes kids more susceptible to RAD. Thus - why he has it. At 6 years old - the doctors will either say "he's outgrown RAD and he will continue to outgrow it" or "he has life-long asthma." We were praying and hoping for the latter of the two. And we are almost there - it's just around the corner. That's why this strain of H1N1 scares the daylights out of us.

Yesterday - his pulmonologist's office called me to tell me that the cultures back from his nose that they took last week - it's Streptococcus Pneumoniae. Not anything to worry about now - he's on an antibiotic to take care of it. While I had her on the phone - I asked her opinion about my decision to take him out of kindergarten. She suggested I not do it. She said "this strain of H1N1 isn't as bad as the normal seasonal flu - if it's treated properly. She assured me that as soon as he got a fever or any symptoms of the flu, I should immediately call them and they would prescribe him tamiflu. Even if he tested negative for the flu - he would still get the medication. She said getting the tamiflu in the very beginning is what makes the difference and whether or not the virus spreads throughout his body and therfore causes more problems." So with that information, reluctantly, I sent him back to school today. I'm not sure if it's the right decision - and even as I type this, I'm still having doubts.

The news media is all over this - they are loving this story. I just wish they wouldn't try to freak people out with their 'big win.' Hearing that children are dying from this with underlying medical issues - some like his - keeps me afraid. Afterall it's my job, as his mother, to protect him. Am I protecting him by sending him back into the warzone where the kids are "dropping like flies" with this stinkin virus?

I have a conference with his teacher today to talk to her about his progress. If she tells me that he's immature and he could benefit from being held back - then I will pull him out and we will wait until next year to start him. Now if she tells me - academically he's doing well and she thinks he'll be ok. I'm not sure what I'll do - because I think down deep I'm hoping she tells me that he should be held back.

Everyone always says - go with your gut, go with your mommy instincts. I feel like my mommy instincts are telling me to keep him out, then I start second guessing them.

Hopefully his teacher will make this decision for me. In the meantime - I think I will stop watching the news. Those media people are nuts.

Will's surgery (a scope)

I didn't explain to Will what he was having done. I didn't tell him that he was having surgery or even that he would get an IV. He is very much afraid of pain and very emotional when it comes to things like this. So I told him that they were going to take a picture of his stomach. I left it at that - and he was ok with it.

We got to the surgery center (thank goodness he can't read : ) at 7:30 am. We checked in and they took him back pretty fast.

They gave him a DVD player and let him pick out a movie. His movie of choice: Polar Express (one of his favorites).


Getting ready to go back and get the surgery done. He doesn't look happy, does he?



Back in the surgery room. They told him to "blow up a balloon". This would happen by him putting on a mask and inhaling the sleepy medicine. He stopped half way through and said "I don't want to do it anymore." The doctor said "a few more times." Once more and then he was out. They looked at me and said "Ok, mom - see you in a bit." It was so difficult to watch him go under the anesthesia. I definitely had a hard time leaving him there.

I shut off my flash for these pictures (should of adjusted other settings - but no time) - because they had Halloween lights on the wall. It was really cool.




After surgery.... still alittle asleep. They gave him a "pink" popsicle (as requested). He had a hard time eating it, but he did finish it : )


Alittle more awake - but freeeeeezzzzzzing


Back at home. Laying on the couch eating a frozen gogurt.


On the way home - he noticed the bandaid on his hand and asked what it was for. I tried to change the subject. He said "why does it hurt when I push on it?" I told him what really happened. That the blowing up of the balloon was really sleepy medicine, the bandaid on his hand was from an IV, the procedure was surgery and they put a tiny camera down his throat to look into his stomach." From that moment on - he kept saying "I can't do that - I had surgery. You have to do this, because I had surgery." Nice - huh? Totally worked it to his advantage.

The doctor said he would lay around all day and be tired. NOT SO! She said no activity that required balance until tomorrow morning. He kept sneaking onto his scooter when he went outside to play with daddy and his friends. Boys! Boys!

The surgery was a success! The surgery center was fantastic! From the moment we walked in - it was geared towards kids. A very fun, kid-decorated place. It was all to make the kids as comfortable as possible - and it definitely worked. Will was very Brave!

An answer to the stomach pains????

Will has been having 'stomach issues' for about a year now. It has not been consistent - just randomly throughout the year. A few weekends ago - his stomach started hurting and hurt consistently all weekend. On Sunday, he told me that he may have swallowed a rock at school on Friday. He wasn't real sure and couldn't remember - but thought he did. I wasn't sure if he did or didn't - but the pain was pretty bad.

Sunday evening - I took him to the Urgent Care and they did an x-ray. The x-ray looked normal - no traces of a rock.

Monday morning - he had a check-up with his pulmonologist. So I told him about the stomach pains. He wasn't sure what might be causing it, but thought I should take him to see a GI doctor (luckily I had already made an appointment for Wednesday).

Monday afternoon - we went to the pediatrician. I called them hoping there was some miracle medicine they could give him for the pain. She said she definitely needed to see him. She said "there was nothing else she could do - I needed to see the GI doctor." Seriously?

Wednesday afternoon - I took him to the GI Doctor. He saw this same doctor as a baby when he had reflux and the swallowing issue that he had. The doctor asked if I had tried prevacid - thinking it was reflux. I had and it had no affect on him. He said he needs to do a scope to see if there is an actual rock or something else causing the pain.

Monday morning - I took Will at 6:30 am to get his scope done. It was a fast procedure. The scope was normal. He said everything looked great, except his stomach was overproducing acid. Since we had already tried the prevacid and his pain wasn't constant. He gave me a prescription for Carafate. I am to give it to him when he has pain - so it coats his stomach. If the medication isn't effective - we'll have to go in for more tests. Hopefully, this does the trick. A combination of the medicine and avoiding juice, ketchup, tomato paste. Will isn't real happy about the juice and ketchup - but hopefully it's just temporary.

State Fair Time!

We wait all year for September and October. We love LOVE to the State Fair! All the corndogs, cotton candy, exhibits, Big Tex.... love it!

We arrived at the Fair and found a parking spot on the street. David was so freaked out that we might get towed. I guess it looked like a "park here and be towed" parking spot. Although it didn't say that. So - David took MANY pictures of the truck so that he could prove it did not say "tow away zone" in case he needed too.

First stop - massaging chairs : )

Will, Ben and Andy

2nd stop. Attempt photo in front of Big Tex. We weren't real successful - but here's our try.

Andy, me and .... some of William.

Ben standing reluctantly in front of Big Tex. He really wanted a corn dog : )

 The boys standing in front of Big Tex looking at the train.

If I can't get the front side of them - I guess the backside is just as good and cute : )

A stop by Elsie the cow and MILK!

William, David and Ben

Andy was SOOOOOO excited to be at the Fair!

And even more excited to get to walk around and not be in his stroller : )

I think the boys favorite part (aside from the corndogs) was the petting zoo.

Ben and Andy

Andy - so happy....

Ben and William

William and Andy

David, Andy and Ben (where's Will??)

Here he is : )

My four boys. The loves of my life : )

Taking a break to play in the gigantic sandbox,

Ben and William

Ben and Will wanted to see the snakes. David said it was very sad. Big snakes in small cages : (

We let the boys play a few games.

William, Ben and Me

Stoping to wait for the parade and finishing up some cotton candy

William, Ben, Andy (in stroller) and Me

Our Family : )

David, Me, Ben, Andy and William

Leaving the Fair.

Ben's holding the spiderman glove that Will won.

Actually - William really wanted that glove.

He didn't win, but the carnie saw how sad he was and gave it to him. So SOOOOO nice!

We had a FANTASTIC time at the Fair (as usual) and already excited about next year. And the good news: Our truck was still there : )