Finally Feeling Better

Luke has been one sick little boy for the past week. Now, finally after a week of temps of 104, a positive strep test, 2 shots of antibiotics, a trip to the ER, a head CT, and almost getting a spinal tap he's starting to feel better. Yes, I said we made a trip to the ER. I took him back to the doctor for the third time on Thursday. She was worried because his strep throat didn't seem to be responding to the antibiotics. He was also complaining of a headache and light hurting his eyes, so with all of this plus him still having temps of 104 for 6 days, she was worried about the possibility of meningitis. When we got to the ER he still wasn't feeling any better and was VERY irritable. Dr. Sorrentino (one of my fav's) saw him and was worried about his headache (3 yr olds typically don't have headaches) and decided to get a head CT to rule out any badness happening in his head. She also talked about doing a spinal tap, but I decided to wait and see if his CBC looked viral or bacterial. If viral, we would not do a spinal tap, because even if he had viral meningitis, there's nothing to do for it. Anyway, when we got back from CT, Rita, or angel with the toys, came to our room and offered him some toys....this miraculously cured him. He started laughing and playing, so there was definitely no need for a spinal tap at this point. His labs came back normal and his head CT was normal. All is good. He's been 24 hours now with no fever and is feeling much better, well enough to aggravate his sister all day. Hopefully the strep throat and fever is gone for good.

Bad News....

Chloe had her tubes placed this morning and the testing done on her auditory nerves. The news was not good. The test showed there was at least severe hearing loss in both ears. At this point, there is no explaination as to why she has hearing loss. She will have further testing on her ears and they will also do genetic testing in the next few months. She will have an evaluation at the Hearing Center at Children's next week and be fitted for hearing aids. The good news is that this was diagnosed at an early age and there is a chance her speech won't be affected as badly as if she were diagnosed at a later age. Please pray she responds well to hearing aids or is a candidate for a cochlear implant if needed. If she is a candidate for a cochlear implant, that will be done when she is just over a year old.

Classes Begin Today!

Okay... so maybe I've lost my mind...After 9 years I'm going back to school. This has been something that has been hanging over my head for the past 9 years and I've finally decided to just bite the bullet and go back to school. I've always planned on completing my BSN when my kids were a little older, but now that the time has come, I must say, I'm pretty nervous. Will I have enough time to juggle my homelife, my worklife, and now school? Not sure, but there are many people I know who do just that, and if they can do it, so can I. I'm also a little scared because, like I said, it's been 9 years since I've been in school...that means 9 years since I've had to study, 9 years since I've taken tests, 9 years since I've had to write a paper, and 9 years since I've had to have the self-discipline of a student. All of my classes are online, so that should make things a little easier, I hope so anyway! I'm taking things pretty slow right now...I'm only taking 2 classes at a time. At this rate, it will take me 4 semesters to finish, which is not really that bad. As of now, I think I'm set to graduate in the Spring of '09. Please pray that I haven't overwhelmed myself and for things to go smoothly over the next 4 semesters.

Pray for Chloe

We found out yesterday there is a possibility that Chloe has hearing loss. Last week she went for a well-baby check-up and there was lots of fluid behind both of her ear drums, so her pediatrician did a hearing test in the office and she failed it. He sent her to see ENT at Children's to be evaluated for tubes. They placed her in a hearing booth and she was expected to turn her head towards the sound or make facial expressions and she did not. The ENT said he thought there was definately some hearing loss, but was not sure if it is due to the fluid in her ears. They will place tubes on May 27 and do further testing of her otic nerves and the anatomy of her ears and it will also tell the extent of the hearing loss. Hopefully she's not hearing as well as expected just because of the fluid in her ears and the tubes will cure that. Please pray that the tubes are all she needs and she will pass the other testing.