For the medical records

I had my first mammogram, and I'll spare you any pictures although you've got to see it to believe it.  I heard about mammograms, and could not believe it was all true, even the part about the tech manually giving the clamp a few extra cranks for good measure even after you thought it couldn't be any flatter.

Dr. H ordered a sonogram in addition to the mammogram.  Neither detected any masses.  Will return in one year for a repeat.

Benign

I have given a lot of mental time and energy this week to the little stitch that's under that bandaid.  After much procrastination I finally went to the dermatologist for a general check of my moles, there's lots of them.  There was one that had appeared but didn't concern me too much, mostly because I had similar moles removed in the past which never raised any red flags.  And while this one didn't raise any red flags initially with the doctor he had some trouble removing it because it was so deep.  Red flag went up and off it went to be tested.  After 6 days of waiting (why does it take 6 days?!?) I got the message that it ok.  Whew.  I could let go of my neurotic thoughts of doom and gloom.  But I am holding on to the thoughts of needing to take better care of myself and remembering that life can change in an instant.

Vaccinated

Even Mama got her flu shot today.  My fingers are crossed that we all stay healthy this year.  I'm a bit worried since Freddie is in big school that he'll be bringing home some big germs, but maybe this will give us a little protection.  No tears. And man, oh man, getting an after school doctor appointment is tough!

3rd ER Visit

Third time's the charm….and for Stitches.

The last photo before his little face is changed!

Friday night bath time and shenanigans turned into a bump and a fall and then blood…everywhere.

In pjs at the hospital with M&Ms to help ease the pain

I knew when I looked that it'd need stitches although I texted a photo to a few folks asking for a second opinion hoping someone would say just to seal it up with a butterfly bandaid.  No such luck.

Freddie cried more than Hans.  He had given Hans the pump that sent him to the ground with his head hitting the bed frame along the way.  The guilt was a lot for him to handle.  "I don't want my brother to go to the hospital."

Charlie stayed with Freddie and helped him understand the mistake, and off I went in the freezing downpour to the hospital 10 blocks north of the tram stop.  Hans was born here and he's visited the ER here before, so we pretty familiar with the process.

It was a busy night in the ER, of course, and we opted to wait for a plastic surgeon since it is right smack in the middle of his head, so it was a long night.  The surgeon heavily encouraged me to leave the room as "mothers tend not to handle things like this so well," but I stayed with my H-Man.  He was given a dose of meds to "take the edge off, and then his arms were bound before getting a anesthetic injection into the cut.  An orderly held his little head straight, and I think both he and the doctor were anticipating screaming and resistance from Hans, but he just winced a little as I held his hands under the straps.

A few breakfast crumbs with my sutures

We were home about midnight and Hans was still up and raring to go.  He hasn't complained much about the sutures and hasn't fiddled with them at all.  He sees the doctor again on Friday to have them removed.  Thankfully 2013 is just about over so I don't think (crossing my fingers) we'll have any more trips this year, but 3 trips in one year for Hans and all before he is 3 years old seems like plenty enough ER visits for this little boy.

Follow Up to the Follow Up

Hans returned to Dr. A this morning for another check. 

Breathing sounded good.  He still has a bit of congestion, but his ears were clear. 

She recommended holding on to the inhaler, and if he should begin wheezing in the future administer 2 puffs every four hours until I can get him in to see someone.  She stressed the importance of staying ahead of the wheezing and getting his lungs some support ASAP if his breathing becomes labored again.

Let's hope everyone manages to stay healthy from here on out.

Just a spoon full of sugar...

Last year was my first time dealing with a child who refused medicine because of taste.  Scientists can put a man on the moon but they can't formulate palatable children's medicine.  The pharmacist mixes in flavoring, and then acts as though my child is the only one who doesn't tolerate the flavor.  Come on.  Really?

I'm not fundamentally opposed to forcing healing antibiotics down my sick kid's throat, although it does feel like waterbaording.   Ok, so that may be a bit of an exaggeration, but I certainly feel as though I am betraying my little bub.  After all, mommy's job is to protect, and here I am pinning him down while he chokes down some awful stuff. 

I'm not one to bribe, ever, but in a moment of desperation I even tried lavish treats when Freddie refused antibiotic.  Even that did not work.  I pried apart those lips and got the dropper down his throat and he promptly returned it in my lap via puke.  Even when he kept some down or managed a few sips of juice or Sprite with medicine mixed in, it was never a full dose and there's no telling how much he even got.  Good times, I tell you. 

I knew when Hans had oral steroids and antibiotic to take we'd have to come up with a plan.  I tried a bribe, and again no dice.  Force again resulted in puking.  Dr. Sears' method of creating  pocket in the cheek and slowly dropping in medicine while avoiding it landing on the tongue (while he was pinned down) worked, but it took forever and lots of crying ensued. 

Finally, Charlie mixed the antibiotic and steroid doses with Hersey's syrup and handed the dose over in the syringe.  The child slurped it down, and wanted more. Yep, it was that easy. 

So if you should land here via googling "how to get my child/toddler not to spit out antibiotic," you have my sympathies because I know it was a rocky road that brought you here but the answer to your problems is just a supermarket trip away.

Follow Up

Hans saw Dr. A this morning.  (A bit bummed that Gr. G is on vacation)

She said to continue with the inhaler and prednisolone as prescribed, and she added a three day course of antibiotic.  Great.  He's already gagging and choking down what he isn't able to spit out of the steroid.

His ears were filled with fluid, which may be related to his potential teething, although they didn't look infected.  His nose is a sight, and he's got a cough so she just thought an antibiotic might be able to knock out whatever it is that's attacking his little body. 

We return in a week for another follow up. 

January has been quite the month for medical appointments.

Back to the ER

 

 

Breathing treatment

Friday Hans came home from his play group's king cake party with fever.  It was about 101, and his breathing was labored.  I was worried, but Charlie was putting in a very late night at work, so I convinced myself he'd be ok.  I was concerned enough that I curled around him on the twin bed for the night.  It was a long restless night for the both of us. 

Saturday morning he was improved, somewhat, but as the day progressed he seemed to be struggling to breathe more and more.  His temperature was never more than 100 degrees.  I couldn't get us into the weekend pediatric practice Dr. G refers to when she's unavailable, so we headed to the ER.  The germy, crowded ER.  Sigh.

His temperature was normal, oxygen levels ok,  and hear rate elevated.  They got him hooked up to some breathing treatments pretty quickly.  He had three breathing treatments and a double dose of steroids.  His condition didn't improve as much as the doctor would have liked after the two hours of observation.  The physician felt a "case could be made" to keep Hans overnight, but in the interest of him being more comfortable at home he gave us a stern warning to return immediately if his condition should regress at all and sent us off with a prescription for an inhaler to be used for the next week and a three day course of prednisolone. 

He had a tough time that night with sleep and I was worried his breathing wasn't improving much at all.  I gave him puffs on the inhaler through the night and sometime around 3.00 am he seemed to have turned a corner and was breathing easier.  Sunday he was perkier, the congestion in his chest was moving around, and his breathing improved significantly.  We'll get in to see Dr. G either Monday or Tuesday.

I asked the ER physician about the potential for this to be the beginning of a chronic problem.  His general feeling was it is most likely a response to a virus, and much to early to consider asthma.  While it is common for such a reaction to become chronic, this may be a one time thing for Hans.

H-Man, 18 months old and 2 trips to the ER under your belt already?  I hope you're just getting it all out of your system early.

My mama lesson:  the ER is a place to be used.  I wish I had taken him Friday night.  The prospect of rousing both kids out of bed, bundling up, meeting Charlie at the hospital in the middle of the night certainly was a big deterrent.  But Hans was uncomfortable for longer than he needed to be.  I was even feeling as though we may just try to wait to see the pediatrician on Monday but a friend who is a nurse encouraged me to take him to the ER, and I am glad I did.  The doctor definitely made me feel our being there was the right decision.  Now I know. 

Breath Holder

The neurologist is fairly certain Hans is just a breath holder.  She said breath holding tends to begin between 12-15 months but she has seen it begin between 18-24 months.  She was surprised there were no other breath holders in our family, as it occurs in families and siblings.  We should expect high frequency at onset, a period of latency, and it will then reappear, and hopefully he will grow out of it by age 5.

His development is on par with a 24 month old and she had no concerns.  She warned of the potential for the breath holding to become manipulative.

She asked that I refrain from Dr. Google, and to call if the fainting is ever accompanied by convulsions as that would warrant and EEG.

Whew.

18 Month Well Visit

At 18 months 11 days..

Stats:

Weight:  24 lbs 10 oz (30th percentile)
Height:  32.75 inches (60th percentile)
Head Circumference:  47.5 (50th percentile)

Vaccinations:

• None.  Hep A has to be given 6 months apart.  His last dose was in July, so she said we'd just wait until his two year visit.

She said he looked "outstanding."  He had lots to say after he finally decided it was ok for her to examine him.  He wasn't happy about being undressed in the cold room, and screamed for a bit when trying to weight him.  She noted his stuffy nose and said even though he has some congestion his chest sounded clear. 

She was a bit concerned about his weight gain being so slight, down from the 75th to 30th percentile, but thought it was just something to check again when she sees in him June.

Her main concern was his two fainting spells.  I went in expecting her to tell me it was fine and not to worry.  Her general approach is very laid back.  She has a ton of experience so I know she's seen it all.  I explained what happened and her immediate recommendation was to see a neurologist ASAP.  She thought he was a little old to just now be showing behaviors of a "breath holder."

Her recommendation for a neurologist doesn't accept insurance, so I am waiting to hear back from a few people for recommendations and will see who can see him soonest.

Update:  Pediatric neurologist appointment on January 23rd. January 8th. After messaging the neurologist, the appointment was moved up.

Repeat, minus the ER visit

He did it again.

He wasn't watching where he was going, ran into the table, and knocked his cheek and forehead.  He fell to the floor crying.  I scooped him up and his eyes were rolling back into his head. His body went limp.  I shook and jostled him until he looked at me.  He was no longer crying.  With a few tears on his cheek he curled up on my shoulder and acted as though he was ready to go to sleep.

Eventually I put him down after I was confident he was going to continue to breathe, and he walked normally, began jabbering, and pulled down a candy cane from the Christmas tree.

I know the ER doctor said some kids do this, but I am having a hard time with it happening twice in less than 24 hours.  I'm worried.  And scared.

His 18 month well visit is tomorrow morning. 

For the medical records

H-man hit his head on the table.  And then he passed out. 

Absolute scariest moment of my life. 

He wiggled from my arms as I sat at the kitchen table and conked his head on the table in doing so.  It wasn't a particularly hard bump.  He screamed and motioned for me to pick him up.  He threw his head back to let out a big scream, and when I pulled him to me, he went limp.  I shook him and within a minute he was alert, but lethargic. 

Off to the emergency room.  The doctor said his balance was good, and his eyes and ears looked clear.  His head showed no evidence of fracture or trauma.  He was given a popsicle to see if he would keep food down.

She sent us home with the conclusion he must have held his breath in that moment prior to letting out a scream and fainted.  She also said to be on the look out for repeat behaviors, because some kids just tend to hold their breath when they are upset.  Interestingly, she said not to wake him because of fear of concussion as that recommendation is outdated. 

We are traveling tomorrow and have a well visit on Thursday already scheduled so Dr. G can give him another once over. 

*Not exactly interesting blog material, but this is my place to archive everything.  I already visit this space so keeping up with things here is easy.  It is also relatively easy for me to search and locate information quickly if needed in the future. 

Passing Time

I was wondering when it was going to happen. Saturday morning when Charlie went to get Freddie from the crib he was standing up, gnawing away at the sleep sheep strapped to the railing. He'd pulled himself up! I was a little disappointed I didn't get to see him standing there but happy Charlie got to see that moment since he's usually just hearing about it or waiting for me to recreate it.

This morning I heard Bug stirring in his crib around 6am and then I finally went in to get him about 7am when he was fussing. I hoped to find him standing there, but instead found him chewing on a beaded leg from the horse that's been hanging on his crib. It was a gift from someone in Charlie's lab from India. She explained it to be like the stork, a creature that delivers babies, and had given it to us when we were in the midst of fertility treatments. The talisman hung on the crib for a year before Bug was even conceived and it made me happy to see it there. Except, I should have known those beaded legs would be irresistible and within his reach.

Penny under a wooden bead for size reference.
It is bigger than the plastic beads.

He was really miffed when I yanked the thread from his mouth and did a quick finger sweep. I retrieved on bead and counted the others. Four were unaccounted for, two wooden and two plastic. The mattress was pulled up and the furniture shifted around. Still no sign of those 4 beads. I assume they're long gone, down his throat.

He's acted fine all day. No problems that I can tell. I've gotten one back, but still hoping to get the other three. And if I don't get the other three, do I take him in or do I wait for him to show some sign of distress or blockage???

** 7am Monday Update: One big wooden bead has made it through for sure and I am pretty sure the other has passed in parts. Scared the hell out of me this experience.

Oh, yeah. Him.

I haven't forgotten about my husband! I had an inquiry so...

Charlie's been having shoulder issues. And it's more that just the typical falling apart after you hit 30 type stuff.

He had some concerns that his rotator cuff repair ten years ago was coming undone, so he finally got in to see the orthopedist.

X-rays show all is intact, and lack of evidence for arthritis, so the doctor's going with a diagnosis of bursitis.

He's got a prescription for physical therapy. Hoping it keeps him in working order.