The real purpose of this blog is to keep a journal of our family happenings. This one is probably just going to be interesting to the kids later on. I know my family sits around pulling out the biggest boo-boo awards so I thought I would document what's been going on around here, since it's been the biggest boo-boo year thus far (and hopefully for the future).
We have always been really fortunate to enjoy good health in our family. Kierstin was the only one to have had an x- ray, when she was 3 to see if her wrist was dislocated, and 3 stitches when she dropped a bowl on her foot leaving a small cut. I can count on one hand how many times we have the stomach flu.
I try my best to never take health for granted. I understand how many people out there suffer from all types of ailments all the time.
Since we have moved to Murrieta, I have been made sure to really understand the great blessing of health and strength as we have been to the doctor more than I can ever remember! And now, Bradley, Bryce and Brian have all had their own sets of x-rays!
Bryce had chronic stomach pain all during the first part of the year. He has been absent from school about 12 times! Before this, the last time he had been to the doctor was in November of '06 for an ear infection! (He had chronic ones when he was an infant). After stomach x-rays, blood tests and stool & urine samples (yuck!) the doctor ruled out everything and chocked it up to anxiety, which a lot of kids have manifested as stomach problems at this age (Kierstin did). It's understandable but I don't regret running all the tests. It's very disconerting to have to push your kid out the door to school crying his stomach hurts when you believe it's anxiety but aren't sure. Now I can push him out the door with confidence.
In November, Bradley was running the track at school and twisted his foot; the first week of basketball of course. He stayed off it on crutches for 2 weeks. When I noticed him still limping at practice a month later I figured I'd better take him in. An x-ray and a trip to the specialist revealed that he has an xtra bone in the arch of his foot. I guess this is not uncommon. The doc. said that an injury can set off the fact it's there and cause noticeable discomfort. We could do an elective surgery to file down the bone. It's all a matter of how much he can tolerate it. I think we're going to hold off on that.
Kierstin and Bradley have both had a really hard time with their allergies out here, especially Bradley. I have had them on every over the counter type allergy medicine with minimal success. Bradley had a sinus infection a few months ago. The doctor had put him on what I thought, was a rather strong medine regime; nasal spray, antibiotic and a prescription strength allergy tablet. It seemed to clear it up for a while.
However, the day before Danny and I were supposed to leave on the trek, he really got congested. The morning of, I could tell he was miserable but what was I to do? I filled him full of allergy medicine and told him to rest. My friend, Cynthia Campbell, who was watching Bryce and Brian that day, said she would call to check in on him. Danny and I were supposed to bring our phones so I was able to periodically call him during the day. He sounded and felt awful! I was so upset to be so far away. Fortunately, my saintly friend Cynthia, took him to the doctor for me (MANY THANKS CYNTHIA!!!) Yes, he had a sinus infection. Antibiotic and Afrin nasal spray. When Danny and I got home Sunday, he still was not feeling great. So I took him to the doc on Monday. She couldn't believe he wasn't better. She sent him for a sinus xray and told him he'd have to do another course of antibiotics, Zyrtec-D in the morning, a spray of Nasonex, a Singular in the afternoon and a Zyrtec -D in the evening!! I am not big on medicine so this makes me nervous. But the doctor was firm so we're trying it out. He's back to school today. We'll see how it goes.
I feel so bad since he gets it from my side of the family; we all have allergies of some sort. It is miserable!! In fact, Kierstin had a severe allergy attack on the Trek! I wish they would have got Danny's ironclad sinuses. Seriously, since we've been married he's had 1 minor headcold. He dosn't know what congestion means, lucky him. Unfortuantely, I think most all the kids have my inferior sinuses (so sorry guys!) Hopefully it will clear up and we won't have to take a trip to the allergist~ stay tuned.
Brian - I took him and some friends to the park for a playdate. There are some sloping hills up behind the park with lots of bushes. The sign says "Stay off the slopes" but of course it is too tempting for curious young boy minds. A young head can often be seen bobbing up and down behind the bushes. It's so hard to be the tough law abiding mom all the time. Yes, I paid for it. I did allow Brian and his friend back there. Brian comes crying down the slope with a bloody leg. He had scratched it against some bush or something. One part looked like he had a tiny bit of twig impaled in it.
Playdate over of course. I admit it I was relieved that it didn't happen to his friend but it was also one of those knock you head against the wall, "why didn't I listen to that little voice in my head; I'm a bad mom," moments.
I had just talked to a couple of friends within the last month who had talked about these nasty staph infections a family member had received recently. One from scraping a hand on a nail (he almost lost his whole arm!) and the other a scratch from a rose bush!! So with visions of my poor son's leg all swollen and infected I vigilently poured hydrogen porixide all over it and smothered it in neosporin for 10 days. 2 weeks later, it had all cleared up except that one spot. It was swollen and bulging and it looked like something had festered to the top. I carefully dug off the top layer which oozed pus and hoped I got it all. A week later it still looked red and swollen. Trying not to panic I made a doc. apt. She prescribed a topical and oral antibiotic and a referall to a surgeon (she thought it looked like something was stuck in there). He sent us for xrays. Another office visit yesterday revealed it would probably be o.k. but to keep an eye on it the next month.
These are all fairly minor things but they do make me so very grateful first and foremost for health and strength. What a MAJOR blessing. Secondly, I am so grateful that after a year with no health insurance, we finally found some just before all this happened. Blessings, upon blessings. MUCH gratitude to my father in Heaven!!
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