The Saga of Continuing Sickness...

The doctor did indeed call me last night. His bloodwork came back within normal range. She said his liver enzymes were a little high, but not so much as to cause concern. We're still waiting on the results of the CBC to determine if it is actually mono. He has felt sooo much better today. Still having bouts of fatigue, but thank the Lord, no fever! So far he seems to be on the road to "normal."

And just when we thought we were over that hump... Kate was sick when she came home from school yesterday :((( Sore throat, fever, stuffy nose, runny nose... agghhhh! We have a doctor in town who has night-time hours (????) kind of like an after-hours clinic, only he doesn't open until 8:00 pm. And since we plan to travel for Thanksgiving, I thought I should find out what she has. So I took her there last night.

We had to wait an hour before we were taken back to an examining room. The waiting room was hot and stuffy. Not an empty chair in the room. Sick people coughing and sneezing all over the place. I could just feel the germs multiplying and spreading. Ick!

The diagnosis: upper respiratory infection. The prescribed treatment: amoxicillin for the infected sinuses, zyrtec for the nasal symptoms, saline nasal spray for the stuffiness, tylenol for the fever and aches, lozenges for the sore throat, sleep propped up on extra pillows to promote drainage... and a shot of decadron to reduce inflammation of the sinuses.

Just a few minutes after the shot, I was in the receptionist area, paying for the visit when all of sudden, Kate said she had to throw up. I looked at her and right before my eyes, I watched the color literally drain from her face. She told me she couldn't see clearly, that everything was blurry. Then she said she couldn't hear anything. She was frightened. Then she said everything was getting dark. Now I was frightened. We got her into a chair and she didn't faint, but she did start to vomit.

I guess one of the nurses went for the doctor, because all of sudden, he was there, telling them to get her back in the examining room onto the table. He had her elevate her feet and lie with her head lower than the rest of her body. He said she had just experienced a sudden drop in blood pressure. That she was fine. He gave her a sprite and told her to sip it slowly. He stayed with her and talked to her in a calming, reassuring way for about 5 minutes. We just love this doctor! Then we were on our way home.

Geesh, what a night! I decided to forgo any medications since her stomach might be sensitive after that little episode. I just tucked her into bed and called it a night!

She has felt okay today, not normal, but okay. Taking her medicines, and Will's still taking his.

And I'm trying very hard not to ask "What next????" But in the midst of it all, I am grateful that the Lord has given me His strength to endure these last 8 days. And I am thankful that I am able to take care of my children, to nurse them back to good health. And I am thankful that it is not something more serious that we could be going through.

Update on Will - Pt. 2

Saturday's fever ranged from 99 to 101.2 degrees. I think he felt a little better. Still lying around more than being up. Sunday was definitely his best day. No fever all day. He even felt like celebrating his birthday! We put 12 candles on a strawberry cheesecake ice cream cake (his favorite) and sang happy birthday to him.

I stayed home with him Sunday morning while Mike, Ryan and Kate went to church. No fever. And even though by Sunday evening he had been fever-free for 24 hours, Mike stayed home with him while the rest of us went to church. Just to be on the safe side.

Will felt so much better, and he wanted to go out for pizza for his birthday, so we met them after evening service. Even though he felt better, he soon realized  he still didn't have much of an appetite and he couldn't even eat one full slice of pizza. *sigh* He's so tired of this.

At bedtime, I realized he had a rash on several places on his body. And his temperature was 99.6. After having no fever for 24 hours. Will this never end???

So, guess where we went today? Yep, back to the doctor. This led the doctor to believe that he does indeed have mono. Taking a penicillin-based antibiotic while having mono can produce a rash. So many questions. Was it strep throat? Is it mono? She thinks yes to both questions.

She took some blood to have it analyzed. She told me about 4 different things, other than the epstein barr virus that causes mono, that she wanted to check for. I can't remember it all. The mono test will take a week and a half to get the results back, but she should know something on the other tests today and she will call me tonight to discuss it.

He slept most of the morning. He has felt well enough today to play the wii with his brother. Although, he has eaten very little today. And he has had no fever today. Can we be so fortunate as to continue to be fever-free tonight?

Thank you to those who have been praying. It means alot to me! It has definitely been a long week. And if it is mono, this could continue for a few more weeks! I'm praying that it is not mono, but then if it isn't, I would like to know what it is. I guess that's why she is running these other tests.

I will post more when I know more.

Update on Will

So we saw the pediatrician again today. She had three opinions of what might be causing Will to have fever for this many days. 1) It could be strep that is not completely responding to the amoxicillin, and therefore we would need to try a different antibiotic. 2) It could be mono. The mono spot test came back negative, but that doesn't necessarily mean that the virus that causes mono is not present. 3) It could be the flu.

She did a nasal swab to test for flu. The result was negative. She said that rules out flu. However, it seems funny to me that both the strep and the mono tests produced a negative result too, and the doctor said that you could get a false negative on those tests. I don't understand, but then again I'm not the doctor.

Futher testing for mono would require blood work which would take two weeks to confirm the results. She decided to continue to treat Will for strep throat. Mostly because his throat looks better, his tonsils aren't swollen, and his lymph nodes aren't tender to touch anymore. In her opinion, that means it did respond to the antibiotic. But there could be a "pocket" of infection that isn't responding to it, hence the continued fever.

We will try the new antibiotic over the weekend, and if he continues to have fever we will go back to her office on Monday morning for blood work and further tests.

So Will and I didn't go to Kate's basketball games tonight. We still aren't sure if he's contagious. The doctor said if it's strep, then he is not contagious, in spite of the fever, because he has been on an antibiotic for several days. On the other hand, if it is mono, then as long as he has a fever he is contagious. So we will stay put for the weekend. Just in case.

Not that he would have felt like going to the games anyway. His temperature is back up to 101.4 now. And he is tired and achy from the fever. As long as his fever is down he feels ok, but when it goes back up, he feels pretty rotten. I'm praying that it is the antibiotic, and that this new one will work. We should know something by about 5:00 tomorrow afternoon, because if it is strep the fever should be gone within 24 hours after starting the antibiotic.

Please join me in praying for him. This has been one long week.

Still Sick

He's still sick. It's been 5 days now. And Lizzy has hardly left his side.

I'm up to check for fever in the next little bit. It is easier to stay up and wait, than to go to sleep then wake up.

I will call the doctor in the morning (hmmm... it is morning). Just not sure this is strep. Wondering if it might be something viral, maybe flu? He has had aches and pains off and on throughout the day since Tuesday. He has slept alot. He has had temperatures ranging from a low-grade 99 degrees all the way up to 104 degrees! The last couple of days, he has had no appetite.

Just when I think he's getting better, the fever goes back up. Or the headache returns.

This morning when I woke him, his fever was back up to 102 degrees. A couple of advil and two hours later, he felt fine. Then he slept through lunch. He felt good for the first part of the afternoon. We even played a few games of Uno! Then he felt tired again, and the fever went back up...

talking to his big brother... he called to check on Will, and to wish him a happy birthday... Sorry Will, it wasn't such a happy one!

And there are stomach issues too. I wonder if that is a reaction to the antibiotic.

He has had strep throat once already this year, and it wasn't like this at all. Within a couple days of being on the antibiotic, he was back to normal. So uncertain.

On This Day in 1998

The day began like any other day. I was heavily pregnant with my third child. "Bay Will," as he was affectionately called by my almost-three year old daughter, (she couldn't quite pronounce the word 'baby') was exactly one week late, according to my doctor's timetable.

My doctor had encouraged me to consider labor induction, but I had gone that route with my two previous pregnancies. This time I wanted to wait and let God bring this baby on His timetable.

I had been having contractions off and on for the last few days, but this day was different. As I have already stated, I didn't go into labor on my own with my previous pregnancies, so I didn't have much with which I could compare it. But these contractions felt different. I knew that my baby was getting ready to make his debut!

I spent a good portion of that day walking, as per instructions from my doctor's office. By around 8:00 pm, the contractions were regular and timely, and after a call to the hospital, things were set in motion. A quick call to our parents, followed by dropping our kids off at a friend's house, and we were off to the hospital.

At about 9:00 pm, as we walked into triage at the hospital, we were greeted with these words: "Oh no, not another one." These are not exactly words you want to hear at a time like this. As it turned out, all the labor and delivery rooms were full that night. And two more expectant couples came in behind us!

We were taken to the waiting room in labor and delivery to await a room. I was restless and felt the need to walk. As I walked around in that small, confined waiting room I actually felt my baby drop! The nurse instructed to me to stay put in my wheelchair, telling me that it wouldn't be long for me. I was scared and excited, all at the same time!

After a short wait, I was taken back to be checked, finally. This nurse was surprised to find that I was dilated to an 8 already, and as she was checking me, my water broke. She informed me there would be no time for the epidural I had requested. Now I was no longer excited, just scared.

I was moved into a recently vacated labor and delivery room and literally, after just a few pushes, at 12:07 am on November 18, 1998, William John left the safety and comfort of my womb and made his entrance into this world. My precious baby boy weighed 8 pounds 6 ounces, and measured 21 and 1/2 inches in length. He had ten tiny fingers and ten tiny toes, and was perfect in every way.

Later, in the wee hours of the morning, comfortably snuggled in with my new baby, we discovered that a meteor shower had passed through. The labor and delivery nurses were attributing the meteor shower to the onset of all these labors.  :)

At the time, I didn't know what was happening outside the walls, but I do know that inside those hospital walls, I was falling in love all over again. This tiny bundle had already captured my heart when I found out I was expecting him, but seeing him for the first time, holding him in my arms, I was overcome by that fierce love for him, gripped with that protective instinct that is motherhood.

Today we celebrate his 12th year of life. Happy Birthday Will!

his first night home, with Kate and Grandmama

Christmas 1998

the game he wanted for his birthday

Sick Days

I have a sick little man at home today. Actually, he's been sick since Monday. The doctor suspected strep throat, but the test came back negative. So she tested for mono. That came back negative as well. She explained that you can get a false negative result, and based on his symptoms of sore throat (which looked like strep to her as well) and headache, she prescribed an antibiotic. He never had a temperature and he never felt really bad.

Until today. After two days of being on his medicine. When I woke him this morning, he felt as if he were burning up. I felt like such a bad momma, not checking on him during the night...

So he has spent most of today lying on the couch, alternating between watching tv and sleeping. Taking tylenol and advil, which has helped him to feel a little better, but has really done very little for keeping the fever down.

He threw up this afternoon, so I began to wonder if he has strep throat after all. A call to the pediatrician, and the nurse assured me that nausea and vomiting can go along with strep throat. But she took down these notes and told me the doctor would call me this evening.

So... waiting.

If you think of us, please say a little prayer. I feel so helpless when my children are sick.

On the Cover of a Magazine...

I thought I would share one of the pictures Mike sent to me from Auburn University, where he and Kate are having a wonderful time enjoying all the pre-game activities. War Eagle!

Fathers and Daughters

Today is a special day for Mike and Kate. They have gone on a "Father/Daughter" trip! They are on their way, across the state from our home in south Georgia to Auburn, Alabama. Tonight they will spend the night with our niece and her husband, and tomorrow they will attend the Auburn vs Georgia college football game. They are both pretty excited because 1.) we are Auburn football fanatics! and 2.) this is Kate's first time going to a game with just Dad and no brothers! They promised to take lots of pictures for me.

I thought we might have a quiet evening around here with just the boys and me, but my youngest has asked to have a friend over to spend the night. So I can assure you, quietness has eluded this household! Really, that's alright with me because I'm quite used to chaos around here and not sure I'd know what to do with myself otherwise. I am thinking I might go to bed earlier than usual, though and snuggle up with a good book and a cup of decaf coffee.

I can hardly wait for tomorrow night. They should be arriving back home sometime around midnight. I'm happy for them to be able to have this time together, just father and daughter. But I really don't like it when my family is apart. I miss them so much! However, I know it's important and I'm thankful my husband has such a good relationship with each of our children.

And I'm especially thankful that he and our daughter find so many ways to relate to one another. That's one thing that I did not have while growing up, (and I am not sure my momma did either) and a girl needs so much to have a close relationship with her daddy. She needs someone to protect her, someone to guard her heart until it is given into her husband's care. She needs someone to look up to, a hero to model for her the qualities that she needs to seek in a future husband. She needs someone to lead her to Jesus, someone to help keep her focus on Him until He brings to her "the one."

God has chosen to provide that to Kate. And for that, I am grateful.

Rambling

Warning: This is most likely going to become one of those ramble-posts of sorts.

There are so many things on my mind and heart lately...

Most of my posts are light-hearted, but today I feel kind of down, with alot on my mind. Actually, I've felt down and out of sorts for a little while now. It seems my emotions are in over-drive lately, with mood swings running the gamut from depressed to deliriously happy at times. Geesh! Can you say hormone roller coaster?

I'm not exactly sure what the source of this particular struggle is, but I can tell you my family has noticed! "Mom is in one of her moods today." "I wouldn't ask Mom about that right now if I were you." I hear them whisper to one another. It's enough to break a momma's heart. A mom ought not to act in ways that cause her children to avoid interacting with her.

I know we all have our bad days, but my bad days are lasting longer and longer with the good days seeming farther out of reach. My husband actually suggested that it might be time to pay a visit to my doctor to discuss hormone therapy or something. Geesh! (my new favorite word!)

Maybe he's right. I mean, I like theme parks and all, but these roller coaster rides are not working for me!

Of course, it might not all be attributed to hormones. There are other issues we are dealing with that could be bringing about some stress-induced erratic behaviors! For one, I think this adoption process is taking its toll on me, because I'm the one doing most of the work involved in it (because my dear husband is at work all day and I am at home, so it falls on me by default). Geesh! I had no idea when we started this process just how many "hoops we'd have to jump through" in order to be approved as adoptive parents! And now it's been about a month since we've heard anything from our RD. I guess no news is good news???

We're still praying and waiting. I keep telling myself it's all in God's timing. He knows exactly when we'll be united with our new child. I guess I'm just a wee bit on the impatient side.

On top of that, there are some issues in our church which are wreaking havoc on my nerves. But that is really nothing new under the sun. The church is made up of imperfect people and there will always be struggles and problems within it. But I can seriously say that God has opened my eyes to see the spiritual warfare going on there! And that has been draining, enough so that my emotions are raw.

But one thing I know for sure. God is still on His throne. When I'm out of control, I can know that He is in control. He sees the beginning from the end. He knows exactly what's going on and He's in control of it. Nothing can come to me that hasn't been sifted through His love. Ok, that's more than one thing! lol

To sum it all up, I suppose my point is this: This is just where God wants me; me admitting that I have no control, no power, nothing. It is all Him, and it is all about Him.

Family Matters

We attended the last football game of the season for our school last Friday night. We made it to the State Championship Game! But we didn't win. So we're not state champs, but our team certainly had a good season!

Kate, cheering at her last football game this year

Since the game was close to our families' hometown, we made plans to spend the weekend with them. With my husband's birthday being October 27th, and his dad's birthday November 1st, of course we had to have a birthday celebration!

My father-in-law is 84 this year, and my husband is 42. Exactly half his father's age. We had a joyous celebration... we love parties! God is so good to have blessed my dear fil with 84 years thus far.

 

my children with their granddaddy

with his children, except for his oldest son (who couldn't join us this time)

 We are so blessed to have him in our lives and are very grateful for the time we can spend with him!



We also spent some time with my family. Weekends at Nana and Papa's house are spent "hanging out" in the barn behind their house. They have converted part of the horse barn into a gathering place of sorts. Inside the barn is a wood-burning stove, which I absolutely love. On chilly nights, I spend most of my time there standing in front of this stove, or sitting in a chair pulled as close to it as I can get without burning myself or the chair. I'm not sure what it is about me and this stove, or a fireplace for that matter... lol.

my daughter, my brother and his two daughters, and my daddy

my son and his friend

my son and my brother

my brother and his son

my niece cuddling with Lizzy

Yes... when I count my blessings, family is pretty high on the list.