Home!

Munchkin is home and one a 3 week stint of antibiotics.  Sprout is in the midst of an eczema flare up.  But we're all good!

Medical update #2

So Munchkin is still in hospital and his IV has remained in his foot.  On the one hand that's good because he's getting the antibiotics needed in the best way, however on the other hand it means he cannot move around.  Can't walk, go to the bathroom or anything like that.  He is getting tired of not being able to get out of his bed.  If all goes well it looks like he may be out Saturday.

Sprout had an appointment today with an allergist.  Something I'd been trying to get from my doctor....it took a couple of appointments before I'd convinced her I was serious.  :)  So Big E took him in while a friend stayed with Munchkin.  The result?  Sprout is allergic to peanuts, almonds, milk, and eggs.  The peanut allergy was the worst and he has a prescription for an epi-pen.  I'm hopeful he'll grow out of the egg allergy...maybe even the milk allergy.  He'll be seeing a dermatologist sometime in the new year to see if there's anything else we can do about his skin.  Though I'm thinking if we can steer away from all the allergens his eczema may calm down entirely.

Hospital Stay

So, here's a brief history.  Monday I decided Munchkin might need to see a doctor.  He'd had a fever for 3 days straight and had had one off and one before that.  I couldn't find a walk in (that would let me walk in....a rant on that later) and so called Telehealth Alberta.  They were very helpful and confirmed he should indeed see a doctor and they gave me the addresses of 2 walk in clinics.  We went to the closest one and waited FOREVER.  Then we saw the doctor for a couple of minutes who told me that he had 3 infections, he was most worried about the eye infection and he needed to go to a hospital to receive IV antibiotics.  All right.  Off we go, back home to drop off Little Dude who had been so patient with all the waiting and then off to the closest hospital.  Again, we wait FOREVER, Big E meets us there and stays to find out the deal and then goes home to relieve our friend who is watching Little Dude.  So they do a sinus x-ray and some blood work and then tell me I'm in the wrong hospital that really I need to go to the children's hospital.  Sheesh!  Off we go again.  Anyhoo...we spend a long time in the Emergency ward at the children's hospital before they finally move us up to the pediatric ward.  Munchkin is in isolation so he doesn't get to take full advantage of the fun stuff on the children's floor, but his new room is so nice, with free kids tv, and a spare bed for Mommy or Daddy (who ever is staying the night) and a bed that moves!  What fun!!  He is starting to look pretty normal and we're hopeful that he'll be home by the weekend.  He'll be on antibiotics for several weeks to make sure they've zapped the bacteria causing the infections.  Here are some pictures.
Day 2.  Still in Emerg.  He's actually looking better...but you can still tell that he's got an issue with that eye on your right.

 This is what I got when I said, "Look at Mommy!"  He's got an IV in one hand (it will later pull out twice and they'll poke him 10 times before they finally get one in on his foot.  He is so good about it, lots of crying but stays very still.  Brave little guy!)

 Daddy said, "Smile!"  So he wasn't in a bad mood...just a bit lethargic.

 Once upstairs, his brothers came to visit.  He'd wet the bed and was protesting against pj's.  So, what the heck...sit and watch tv neckid!

 The bed controls....SO FUN!

 A little something for everyone.  :)  There's a spare bed under the window on the left.  Big E's new digs.  :)

We have been so blessed with help from our ward family.  Today someone provided dinner, we've had a few families watching the boys as I can't get time off of work at the moment.  Fortunately Big E's work has given him a sick leave.  It has been wonderful to feel their support at a time when we're all going a little crazy!

STRESS

The stress of life is getting to us.  Do we laugh or cry, or both?  For now I'll laugh, and look back at Thanksgiving when everything seemed so clear.

 Cousins played.  Can you believe that this cousin (on the right) is only 4 months younger than Sprout.  They look nearly the same size!

 "Who Me?"

 "Ah Ha!"

 My under $10 bathroom improvements.  Stickers for the walls...lovely idea.  Also added a clock, which you can see on the wall in the mirror.

 Stickers on the bottom of the wall.  They were the first ones in there...but it still needed more.

 Sticker in the dining area...and Little Dude's turkey that he made at school.  He cut it out himself and was quite proud of it.

And this is what happens when you leave the worm bin alone for a bit....the seeds start to grow!!...lol.  And lastly here is a video of Sprout scooting around.  He's getting better and better at it every day.

Thanksgiving 2011

Due in part to the serendipitous birth of a baby a month before, we had family visiting for Thanksgiving.  And even though we didn't do anything specifically 'vacation-y' we really enjoyed having them there.  I enjoyed having someone to stay up late with!  And I'll put up some pictures later.  Funniest Thanksgiving Day moment?  Big E, "Is the gravy supposed to foam like that?"  Me, "What did you put in there?"  Big E, "Baking Soda." he says with off hand certainty.  Me. "What?!!  Why?"  Big E, "Well, what are you supposed to put in?"  Me, "Corn starch or flour."  :)  Thank goodness baking soda doesn't ruin gravy...or we would have been very sad.  Big E took care of our turkey and did the gravy.  Have I mentioned before how glad I am that I've married someone who can cook, clean, do laundry, dishes and is pretty handy?  Without these skills my life would be infinitely more complicated.  On this Thanksgiving weekend, I am finding myself very thankful for Big E.

On a side note, today Sprout has decided to stand up all by himself.  All of a sudden he has figured out how to get from the Mowgli crouch to a full standing position and he'll stay there quite a while.  It won't be long before he's learning to put one foot in front of the other.  There goes the baby!

BIRTHDAY!

It is officially the end of summer when we have Sprout's birthday. 

 Is this all for ME?

 Little Dude and Munhckin...who managed to stay out of the camera's range all night.  Big E took the pictures...it was hard to be hostess and not camera person!  Next time we'll have to co-ordinate a bit better.

 YUM!

 It took him a bit to get his hands yucky...lol. 

Happy First Birthday Sprout!