Toxic Synovitis

The last few days Lucas has been complaining that his leg hurts but then he would be running around so we figured it was growing pains. Then Wednesday afternoon Lucas he started complaining a little more that his leg hurt and was cramping up. We just thought he was tired from walking at the beach earlier that morning because we did A LOT of walking. Then last night he woke up several times in tears saying his leg hurt. I gave him some Tylenol and he went back to sleep. Then this morning he was limping around the house and in tears because his leg hurt so much. I ended up calling and making an appointment to see his doctor. Lucas did NOT want to go to the doctor. He kept trying to pretend he was okay. He remembered the last time he had to get blood drawn so the whole way there he kept trying to bribe me with a $1 if I would just take him home or to his cousin Joseph's house (who we were supposed to babysit for later)

He ended up having to get blood drawn and he was NOT a happy camper. After the nurse left Lucas asked me to draw something on the magnadoodle that was in the room with us. I wrote LUCAS IS BRAVE and he told me "no I'm not Mommy, I was scared and I cried" and then he asked if I would pray for him that his leg and his newly pricked finger would stop hurting, so we did. Lucas ended up getting diagnosed with Toxic Synovitis which kids commonly get after being sick (like his stomach bug last week) We were told to give him Motrin, but we can't right now since he has to be sedated on Monday for his eyes. So for now he is taking Tylenol when he absolutely has to have something for pain and taking Epsom salt baths.

On a side note his pediatrician just moved to a new office and it is so nice. Lucas was so excited to be in room 4, which is his lucky number (although I have a hunch it will be changing to 5 in just a few days.) Poor kid doesn't know he'll have to go back next week for his 5 year well check and get 4 shots. He was 38 lbs today and just shy of 42 inches (but he was wearing sneakers and last time he was measured he was wearing flip flops)

Snuggles are the Best Medicine

Lucas hasn't been feeling so hot today. He was crying over something and then he just started getting hysterical. When I asked him what was wrong he told me, "I've got crying on my glasses! I can't see through them." It was so hard not to laugh.

"I've got Germies in my Body"

Yesterday afternoon I got a call from Lucas' school nurse. He had woken up from nap time crying and saying his ear hurt. He was taken to the nurse. Ha had a 101 fever so I had to go pick up my sick little guy. I called his pediatrician and got him an appointment for 5pm.

We got there fifteen til and the waiting room was PACKED. Lucas has never been to a "sick kid visit" so he was THRILLED to finally get to go to the "sick kid waiting room" where the train table has always been. He ran up to the table but there was not even a single train in sight and you couldn't even more the train tracks around. It was a total let down for him. After that every five seconds he asked "is it my turn YET." (He is his father's son!) While we waited I talked to another kid's mom and she told me that most of the kids seemed to be either here for an ear ache or for strep throat. I was thankful we fit in the first category.

When we finally got called back an hour later the nurse that weighed him (36 lbs) was so thrilled to see him. She remembered him from his monthly weight check days of his babyhood. (So glad THOSE are over) She couldn't believe how much he had grown or how light colored and curly his hair had gotten. She kept telling him "I remember you when you were just a tiny little peanut"

They ended up drawing some blood and "tickling his throat" and Lucas was a champ through everything. His temp was 100 at this point. I figured there had to be something "wrong" since we were NOT in the pinocchio room, yes the superstition continues. (I wonder what will happen to my silly superstition when they change offices in June?) Well it turned out we were there for Strep throat and NOT an ear ache.

So we left with a prescription for antibiotics (his first one) and I dropped it off on the way to taking him home all the while making the "my kid has step and may have infected your kid" call of shame. Figures he would test positive for Strep the day after going to church, stopping by his grandparents, going to a birthday party, and having his two best friends over to our house.

When I went back to CVS get his RX they told me that the insurance was being difficult about them filling it and needed a Doctors authorization and of course the office was closed. I started praying and the pharmacist tried calling the insurance company again and she was able to find a loop hole. They told her that she could give him a 3 day supply of his medicine ($93.00 for a generic antibiotic) but since you can't really mix up 3 days she gave us the whole 10 day supply we needed.

I rushed home with Lucas' medicine and found him fast asleep. It took us about 5 minutes for Curt and I to get him awake enough to take his medicine and I still don't think he ever woke up. He kept saying "I just want to go home!" and then he laid down and went right back to sleep.

This morning, Lucas woke me up saying "Mommy, did you get my medicine? When are you going to give me my medicine?" He had no memory of taking it the night before! Antibiotics are a wonderful thing! He woke up with no fever and with TONS of energy. He was so excited to just have a day home from school and get to play with his toys and watch cartoons. I guess those days are few and far between since he goes to school all week, has tee ball on Saturday, and Church on Sunday. He gets to go back to school tomorrow.

Sick Day

This morning I decided to keep Lucas home from school because his cold sounded nasty and he felt warm. I don't know why, but for some reason all day long I felt like I was a kid skipping school and that at any minute somebody would pop up and catch me. I think part of it has to do with the fact that there is a limit of days that Lucas can miss and it's only the first month of school and here he is already staying home.

I was a little worried that after today, Lucas might start playing sick all the time to try to get out of going to school. However, now I don't think I have anything to worry about. After a day of just laying on the couch doing nothing but resting and watching cartoons he was BEGGING to go back to school. Poor guy was so bored he kept asking me to take him ANYWHERE. I kept explaining to him the same rules that I had as a kid: If you are too sick to go to school you are too sick to do ANYTHING else. We'll see how tomorrow goes.

Disney World 2009

Lucas and I got to go to Disney World last week. We had so much fun and I promise to spill all the details soon. Turns out Lucas came home from vacation with a cute pair of Mickey Ears and I picked up some sort of a nasty cold.

Go Away Sickies!

Last night Lucas woke up and was BURNING up with a fever. He asked for a drink of water and fell right back to sleep. He woke me up this morning and was still burning up. He told me he was hungry and wanted to eat breakfast. I was a little worried that he might do a repeat of Saturday so I told him that if he could keep down water for a little bit then I would make him breakfast. He seemed fine with this and after a drink, he laid back down and fell asleep in my bed. I curled up next to him and before I knew it I was fast asleep too.

We woke up to Jadie barking and when I looked at what time it was I was so surprised to see that is was noon! Lucas still had a mild fever but seemed okay. I made him something to eat and he spent all day ON ME. If I was sitting in a chair he had to be sitting ON ME. If I had to go to the bathroom he had to go with me and lean on me.

When Curt got home I headed to the grocery store to pick up a few things. I took my time going up and down each aisle. When I walked in the door I found Lucas curled up on the couch with Curt and he was fast asleep. He had only been up for four hours AFTER sleeping for more than 14 hours the night before!

He woke up after we finished dinner and ate a little bit and watched the Wiggles OVER and OVER before curling up on the couch and almost falling asleep at 9. I took this as my cue to put him to bed. His fever finally seemed to be gone and he didn't want to go to bed and kept coming out of his room. This prompted us to have the same conversation OVER and OVER.

"Go back to bed Lucas"
"But"
"BED"
"BUT MOM..."
"BED!"
"BUT MOM..."
"What?"
"I love you."
"I love you. BED!"

He would go lay in bed again and then come out of his room again just a few minutes later. He finally fell asleep around 10PM and with all the rest he got today I am guessing he will be up BRIGHT and early in the morning.

3 AM Wake-Up Call

While most people are cuddled up in their beds snoozing away right now, I am not. Instead I am watching cartoons with Lucas and an orange bowl.

I got woken up at 3AM when Lucas tried to crawl in between me and Curt. I woke up just enough to tell him to go back to his bed. Normally all I have to do is tell him once and he will head back to his room and go back to sleep. Well, this time he was still trying to crawl in bed with us and I started to notice this funky puke smell. At first I just thought it was his lovey, that often smells FUNKY (especially since we don't get to change it out as often, since his 2 spare babies have seem to have gone missing) so I threw it across the room. I know mother of the year right. Well then I noticed that the smell was also coming from Lucas. I asked him if he had thrown up in his room and he said he had.

When I got to his room I was greeted by the familiar funky smell and lets just say it will be a LONG time before I can eat hot dogs again. His bed was COVERED in puke. I started Lucas a warm bubble bath and I got to work at stripping his bed and starting a load of laundry. Before I could finish cleaning up the puke in his room Lucas was ready to get out of the bath. I wrapped him in a towel and laid him on the couch. Then I started to hear Lucas gagging again and I went running for something for him to puke in and made it just in time. One of the worst things in the world is watching Lucas' while he pukes.

I ended up making Lucas a pallet in the floor and he is now cuddled up in blankets and watching cartoons with his orange bowl beside him. He keeps begging for a drink of water and makes the saddest face when I tell him I can't give him one right now.

I am hoping that maybe the puking is a fluke and he hasn't caught the flu that seems to be going around. I don't think we've been around anyone that has had it, but I guess you never know. Lucas was around two of his friends today, so I hope he doesn't share the pukies with them. In a few hours we are supposed to be spending time with Curt's Grandparents from Michigan. They are on their way back to Michigan after a visit to Florida and will only be here for about a day.

My Third Round Week 9

Starting Weight This Round 243.8

Last Week: 241

This Week:

Gain This week: 0.6 lb

Loss This Round: 2.2
Going on week 3 of being sick. I'm feeling tons better but still have this lingering cough. Stupid Bronchitis. I haven't been able to start working out again. Boo. At least food is starting to taste like it is supposed to again and not like snot. My goal for the rest of this round is to just finally make it into the 230's!!!!

Feeling Half-Way Human Again

We are finally starting to feel better and I can even half way hear!!! It was warm enough and Lucas was feeling good enough that we actually got to play outside for the first time in over a week. It was nice to see flowers starting to pop up in our yard, evidence that Spring is just around the corner.

Today I even made it out to the new grocery store that just opened. It is SO NICE having a grocery store basically right next door. I can't wait to see what other businesses open up in the surrounding buildings.

My Third Round Week 8

Starting Weight This Round 243.8
Last Week: 242

This Week:

Loss This week: 1 lb
Loss This Round: 2.8

I'm still on the "I'm sick and everything tastes like snot so I have no appetite" diet. I really don't recommend it, because it is not much fun.

Taking it Easy

I don't know what it is about the week after Valentine's Day, but every year I always seem to get sick. This year is no different. I have a nasty cold but I don't feel too miserable except for an ear infection. On the plus side I don't have any pain thanks to some prescription drops, I just cannot hear anything our of my ear (unless you count this ringing sound... which I didn't really notice until it is quiet and I am trying to go to sleep.)

We noticed Lucas had a fever last night and I figured he caught my germs. Today he slept most of the day (which is what I did the first day I felt sick) and didn't really eat much. We were able to get him to drink though so he had plenty of OJ and warm soup. We put him back in pull-ups today while he was sick too. He wanted to wear underwear but with him sleeping so much he had a few accidents. I was worried that this might be a setback but I don't think it will be. Even with the pull-ups on if he was awake he would still dash for the potty every time he had to go.

I'm hoping next week we'll get back to our old healthy selves and get this place cleaned up. The house is pretty much trashed and we're almost completely out of groceries. That means I get to check out the brand new grocery store that just opened this week right by our house!

My Third Round Week 7

Starting Weight This Round 243.8

Last Week: 241.8

This Week:

Loss This week: + 0.2

Loss This Round: 1.8

I was hoping to be out of the 240's this week but no such luck. I've been really sick the last few days so I haven't been exercising or for that matter really even eating.

Toddlers and Cooking Spray are Not a Good Combo

Today has been quite a day.....

This morning I went to the bathroom and that whole minute or two alone Lucas decided it would be the perfect opportunity to snatch the cooking spray off the counter. Just as I was washing my hands I hear "psssssss." I open the door and see Lucas flying through the air. Turns out he was spraying a thick mist of canola oil on the kitchen floor. When he heard the bathroom door open he decided to make a run for it, slipped on the newly greased floor, and landed face up and ended up smacking his head. Instantly there are BIG tears. He sits on the couch while I attempt to de-slick the floor by mopping before giving up and just throwing a towel down. I finally get him calmed down by telling him we are going grocery shopping and we can pick out a pumpkin to carve while we are there.

On the ten minute ride to the grocery store Lucas falls asleep. I start getting a little worried because it is barely after 11 AM so I call my mom (a nurse) and ask her what I should look out for and she tells me. He is talking clearly and says he feels "all better" so we decide to go grocery shopping since we are already in the Kroger parking lot. Lucas helped me pick out a pumpkin. We ended up bringing home two because his choice was a mini pumpkin (and so his love for all things tiny continues.) and I wanted one that we can carve. Lucas has yet to feel the wonderful squish of pumpkin insides or tasted oven roasted pumpkin seeds and I've decided that this is the year for those experiences.Since I'm pretty sure we won't make it to any "real" pumpkin patches this year I end up plopping him up in the middle of the display in Kroger.

After picking out the pumpkins Lucas spent the rest of our grocery shopping trip in the front of the buggy resting his head on my chest. He feel asleep in the car on the way home and woke up easily when we pulled in our driveway. He played for a little bit, ate lunch, and then since he was acting "normal" I let him take a nap at his normal nap time. He woke up a little bit after Curt got home and he was still acting lethargic. Curt noticed he had a fever. I called my Mom again and she told me to call his Dr. The pediatrician told us to come in right away so we took him.

After a thorough checkup including a blood test it turns out his head just has a bump on it and he was acting lethargic because he was coming down with a virus. I've never been so happy to hear my kid was getting sick before! When we got home Lucas kept saying "I don't feel good, please make me feel better!" After putting on his PJs, tucking him into bed, and giving him a dose of bubble gum flavored medicine he went right to sleep.

Living With a Petri Dish with a Potty Mouth

Turns out having a kid is like living with a walking talking petri dish of germs. Lucas gave us both the stomach bug he had all weekend. Hopefully it passes for us as quickly as it did for Lucas (he threw up all day Saturday, and then pooped a lot Sunday and by today he was fine.)

Curt and I started feeling bad about an hour before we would have left to take Lucas to soccer practice. Thank goodness Lucas forgot that it was soccer today because we didn't have to deal with explaining to him that he wouldn't be going.

Instead of working on his soccer skills this afternoon, Lucas practiced his foul language. He was playing with a puzzle that he was having a hard time solving and he got frustrated. He threw the game down and yelled "DAMN IT!" I asked him what he said and he repeated it perfectly for me. I have a feeling he picked up that little gem this weekend when he hung out with his Grandpa H and his Dad while they worked on my car (which they weren't able to fix because it turned out to be a bigger job then they thought. I had to drop it off at the car place to get fixed$!$!$!) I explained to him that we don't use words like that and if he hears that word to say "Please don't say that, it's not nice."

Dear Lucas (38 Months),

Yesterday you turned 38 months and I think for the first time ever I am late writing your monthly letter. Before you get all "my mommy doesn't love me as much as she used too" first let me say I have a few excuses. The first one is I was throwing your Aunt Lori a baby shower to celebrate your baby cousin that is coming very soon. (You know the one that I keep giving all your baby gear too, which makes you say things like "I'm a mad boy, that is MY baby stuff NOT my cousins!") The other excuse is that yesterday you got pretty sick, so sick that you threw up 4 times. It was so hard to hear you begging for food even though I knew I couldn't give you any because you couldn't even keep clear liquids down.

Lucky for me your Aunt Lisa sent me home from the baby shower with a pair of Buzz Lightyear "jambies." I think your exact woulds when you saw them were "WOW! COOL! THOSE ARE AWESOME!" You wanted to put them on that minute but since you were still covered in puke for the fourth time I was able to talk you into taking a bath first. Once you were fresh and clean you grabbed the "jambies" and said "I do it myself." If I had to pick a theme for the last month or so it would totally be "I do it myself" because I hear that ALL the time. I just wish you would use that phrase when it came to changing your own diaper.... or here is a crazy idea... going on the potty. That's okay though, I know you can't be in diapers forever... right?!?! Oh and for the record just because you tell us "Hey, I'm potty trained" doesn't really mean you are. That's like me saying "Hey, I'm a Super model!"

Right not the thing you love doing the most in the world is playing dress up (well unless you count trying to talk us out of making you go to bed, because you must REALLY love that because you do it all the time... even though it never works.) You have a giant dress up box that we keep under your bed full of all kinds of dress up clothes. Most of the time you want to dress up as buzz but every once in a while you want to be a cowboy, pirate, or super hero. I keep asking you want you want to be for Halloween and you always say "BUZZ." I know this is going to sound insane but I kind of hope I can get you to be something else for Halloween. We get to see you be Buzz ALL THE TIME! It would be fun to see you be something else because you always pretend you are Buzz, even when you aren't wearing the costume.

A few weeks ago you started going to soccer practice. I was so excited to sign you up for your first activity. I thought you would love making new friends and playing with other kids (which you do) but the thing you love most is getting your coach's attention. If the coach is talking to you or looking in your direction you do whatever you are supposed to do so you can show off for him. If his teenage assistant tries to come over and encourage you or talk to you then you fall on the ground and refuse to participate. It is kind of funny. This past week you got a soccer t-shirt from your coach and you put it on the very second your hands touched it. Every time I try to stick it in the dirty clothes you find it and put it back on. Speaking of which, I need to find it now and wash it for tomorrow.

I've been helping take care of your Great-Grandma lately and you've really had to learn how to be patient. Normally at home if you need something I can come right away but when I'm helping your Great-Gram sometimes you have to wait a few minutes. At first I don't think you quite understood but I think it's been a good lesson for you to learn. Also, I'm glad you get to spend more time with her because I don't have any memories of my Great-Grandparents and maybe you will.

Another thing I've really been trying to teach you is to clean up after yourself. When I was a kid I never understood what the big deal was if my room was a little messy (okay a lot.) Now that I am a Mom it drives me NUTS if your room is trashed (and you seem to be able to trash a room in 15 seconds.) To get you to clean up I can't just say "go clean up" I have to either challenge you to see how fast you can pick something up or threaten that there will be no bedtime stories (or sometimes a little bit of both.) I never thought I would end up being the "clean your room Nazi," but it keeps you from coming to me and crying, "Mommy, I can't find my toy!" Instead I get to hear "But I don't wanna cwean up my toys!"

Bugga, I love you to the moon and back,

Mama

Conversation this Morning

Me: How are you feeling?

Lucas: I'm okay.

Me: Do you still feel yucky?

Lucas: Just my nose. It's runny.

Me: What about your throat? Does it still hurt?

Lucas: No Mommy, all better.

Me: Well mine still hurts a little. I don't feel so good.

Lucas: I know, a doctor would make you feel all better!

Me: Oh really?

Lucas: Guess what, I'm a doctor! (gives me a kiss on the cheek) Now you all better.

Gunky Eye Funk

Lucas has pink eye. I noticed yesterday afternoon that he had some strange eye gunk going on. Since yesterday was Tuesday it also meant we spent the morning at our meet up and all of Lucas' little friends were exposed to the eye gunk funk. It's never fun opening one of those "Sorry my kid has this contagious thing, we were around your kid, now have fun waiting to see if your kid gets it" emails. It is even less fun sending them!

I called his pediatrician today to see if I needed to bring him in and luckily they said they would just call him in a prescription. Lucas has been so excited all day long that he was getting medicine. I guess after seeing his Daddy take medicine when he hurt his back, Lucas thinks that is what big boys and adults do. All day long he kept asking "time to get my medicine?" Much to his dismay I waited until Lucas was napping and Curt was home from work before I went to pick it up. The last thing I wanted to do was take an oozy eyed toddler out in public.

When I got home Lucas was awake and the first thing he of course asked was if I had his medicine. He was so excited to see me pull out the little box and showed it to him and he opened his mouth wide and said he was ready.... until I explained that the medicine goes in his eyes. He flipped out and started telling us that he was scared and only wanted the medicine in his mouth. It took Curt and I both to pin him down and pry open his eyes to get one little tiny drop in each eye. All the while he is thrashing around and screaming at the top of his lungs "no mommy! I'm scared! PLEASE MOMMY NO!" I wanted to cry.

He is supposed to get drops in his eyes every three hours he is awake. I'm not sure if I will have much success getting them in his eyes until 3PM, when his Daddy comes home from work. Oh, and he is okay, once the drops are in his eyes he stops thrashing around and stops crying. He happily exclaims "all done," and then runs off to play.

Living on a Prayer

Last night one of my friends suggested I just take a decongestant. I did and the pain was almost instantly gone and it hasn't returned! YAY! Today I feel the best I have in almost two weeks. I am praying this lasts and I can get some housework done since we have been doing the bare minimum while we are sick.

Curt went back to the DR today and also did some Physical Therapy. The DR and PT are scared that the cartilage that holds the vertebrae together is shredded and no longer doing the job. They are talking about sending him for an MRI and if they are right he will probably have to have back surgery and get pins put in his back. I am praying that isn't the case.

I Want To Cry

Today was the first day I felt half way human. I thought I was well on my way to feel better but HA HA HA yeah right. A few hours ago I started to get an ear ache and it HURTS! I haven't had an ear ache since I was a little girl and (KNOCK ON WOOD) Lucas has NEVER had one so I'm not sure exactly what to do (well except to get in the fetal position and cry "I want my mommy" but it doesn't seem to be helping with the pain.)

So does anyone have any suggestions or home remedies?

I already tried google and pretty much the most repeated remedy I found was along the lines of "pee in a cup then put it in your ear" and as much as it does hurt I just don't want to do that. The way things are going right now I can just see it would only lead to a bad infection of some kind then there I am in the ER explaining that the reason I have pee in my ear is because "google told me to do it."

Parenting Tip for Today: Don't Read "The Velveteen Rabbit" to a Sick Kid

One Christmas growing up my Grandma Moore gave me and my sister a pair of Velveteen rabbits and a copy of the animated story on VHS. My sister became VERY attached to her rabbit so when I saw the Velveteen Rabbit board book in Target for $1.00 I couldn't not get it. I have read it to Lucas a few times but he hasn't seemed that into it. Today however, he requested we read it before his nap. Man was that a mistake!

When we got to the part of the story when the boy get sick and his toys have to be thrown away because they have bad germs Lucas looked up at me with these big eyes and asked "baby have bad germs?" Even after I told him his lovey didn't have bad germs he kept saying over and over "baby is sad, baby is sad mommy." I guess we will be putting that book up for a while, or at least avoid it during sicknesses.