Saturday, October 17, 2009

Monkey Boy

  • Isaak's been climbing up this red chair/step ladder in the kitchen lately.
  • He climbs up it, stands, sits, then fusses because he wants down.
  • I put him down, then the process starts all over again. See why we call him a, "Punk"? Maybe we should start calling him, "Monkey Boy"!
  • Mica did the same thing, and I had to move the chair to the landing where he couldn't get to it. I really use this chair a lot to get into cupboards up high. I was hoping Isaak would just leave it alone.

My Buddy

  • I kind of wish they still sold My Buddy. I think Isaak would really like him.
  • He likes dolls and stuffed animals. With dolls he points to them and calls them, "Babyz".

Jump Isaak Jump!

Saturday Night Football or Should I Say Babysitting?

Will, Charlie and Isaak-This is why I have to watch Isaak like a hawk!
Will and Isaak
Isaak Walking Around their Backyard Saying, "Ball". I swear the kid dreams about balls.
  • We went over to Daddy's friend/co-worker Raul's house to watch the Husker's play. Mica kept asking, "Where does Raul live?" He thought he lived where Daddy works, Larson Dental Lab. He was pretty confused when we drove right on past the lab.
  • Whenever it is football time, that means it's babysitting time for me.
  • With Isaak around I have to watch him like a hawk. I just never know if he's going to try and put something in his mouth, throw a toy, get tackled by another kid, or try and go down some stairs by himself.
Will and Charlie
  • I'd say all in all the kids were pretty good. They played well with Raul and Traci's kids, Will and Charlie. Will and Charlie kept calling Mica "Jacob" and Isaak "Jake". I have no clue why. Their mom, Traci didn't know why they kept calling my kids different names either. Silly kids!
  • I got no photo's of Mica because he went inside while I was shooting.

Saturday Topic: Gastational Diabetes

  • I have a close friend that got diabetes when she was pregnant with her twins. She found out right before the holidays. Not fun!
  • Gestational diabetes is high blood sugar that starts or is first diagnosed during pregnancy.
  • Usually there are no symptoms, or the symptoms are mild and not life threatening to the pregnant woman. Often, the blood glucose level returns to normal after delivery.
  • Symptoms may include:
  1. Blurred vision
  2. Fatigue
  3. Frequent infections, including those of the bladder, vagina, and skin
  4. Increased thirst
  5. Increased urination
  6. Nausea and vomiting
  7. Weight loss in spite of increased appetite
  • However, high blood sugar levels in the mother can cause problems in the baby. These problems can include:

  1. Birth injury (trauma) because of the baby's large size
  2. Increased chance of diabetes and obesity
  3. Jaundice
  4. Large size at birth
  5. Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
  • Rarely, the unborn baby dies in the womb late in the pregnancy. Mothers with gestational diabetes have an increased risk for high blood pressure during pregnancy and delivery by c-section.
  • The goals of treatment are to keep blood glucose levels within normal limits during the pregnancy, and to make sure that the fetus is healthy.
  • Gestational diabetes may not cause symptoms. All pregnant women should receive an oral glucose tolerance test between the 24th and 28th week of pregnancy to screen for the condition.
  • A doctor will work with the mom on changes in their diet for the remainder of the pregnancy. There are even classes they can go to that help them to understand diabetes since it is new to them.

Saturday Topic: Diabetes

  • We have four family members (Great Aunt Becky, Great Uncle Chris, Great Grandpa Kent and Grandma Apel) with diabetes.
  • It's pretty common place anymore to know someone that has diabetes.
  • CBS news aired a segment not too long ago about a chemical in red grapes has been chemically shown to lower diabetes in mice and may offer protection against the disease in humans, according to a new study.
  • Researchers with the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center said in a statement that the chemical resveratrol, found in the skin of red grapes, may protect against the disease when acting directly on certain proteins of the brain.
  • ABC news aired just this month a segment on a number of traditional Chinese herbs may help control blood/sugar levels in the body of type 2 diabetes patient. That doesn't mean going out and buying American Chinese takeout. Products like Jiangtang Bushen, Xiaoke huaya and Tang Kang yin were the ones to use to mix into food.
  • Much of type 2 diabetes can be controlled by exercise, watching what you eat and eating small meals instead of 3 larger ones. This is what we all should be doing, even people that do not have diabetes.

Friday, October 16, 2009

The Why Stage

  • Mica is offically in the why stage.
  • We watched a movie. I wish I would of kept a tally as to how many questions he asked while it was on. LOL

Jump

  • Isaak tries so hard to jump. If you ask him to "jump", he lunges upward.

Sold

  • The house next to us is sold.
  • No one lives there yet, so we don't know what kind of neighbor(s) we have.
  • They did leave 2 outside lights on that light up our windows on that side of the house pretty good. Of course no one lives there yet, so we can't tell anyone that they are on.

Skitter!

  • My Wee View is giving away a Skitter car! They are much like the Plasma car, which I have blogged about before.
  • I love that kids and adults can ride them. Too cool!
  • They have new Polyurethane Wheels. The new wheels increase the look, performance and comfort of your Skitter or Plasma Car ride.

Spiderman

  • I was putting on Mica's shoes this morning. He was on my lap trying to lean over backwards.
  • He said, "Daddy I'm Spiderman". Isaak must of been Mary Jane Watson because he went over to kiss Mica while he was upside down. LOL
  • It wasn't that romantic!

Wii?

  • I was outside a few days ago doing some yard work.
  • Our next door neighbor kid, who is in 2nd grade was outside too.
  • He was talking our ears off. I could barely hear anything he was saying because I was working, he wasn't right next to me talking and I have a cold.
  • Daddy was kicking a ball back and forth with him over the fence, and ended up kicking it too far. He had to go get it.
  • The kid kept talking to me. He asked me, "Hey do your kids have a Wii?" What I heard was, "Hey do your kids have any weed?" I thought I miss heard him, but that's what I heard. I quickly said, "No". He said, "Ya Wii is kind of expensive". Again I heard, "Weed". Then he started talking about the games that he has for it. It finally kicked in, he's talking about his, "Wii"!
  • I told his mom about what I heard, and she was cracking up so hard that she almost started crying.
  • This is the same kid that thought my name was "Honney" because that's what Daddy was calling me. The kid kept calling me, "Honney" and I didn't know he was talking to me. Finally his dad told me that he was trying to get my attention because he thinks that's my name.

Bath Night

  • I put on crop pants, and gave the boys a bath last night. Usually I just take a shower with them.
  • Both boys treat the bath like it's a swimming pool! They stick their heads in the water, then come up laughing. Mica says, "Look at me Mommy I'm swimming"!
  • I have to get after them for splashing. We have a shower door, but water can still get underneath it. I don't want water damage later on. I try to block off the door by just standing in front of it. I don't mind if I get wet.
  • Isaak loves showers and baths. Mica usually doesn't want to get in because he has to stop doing what he's doing, but when he's in there then he doesn't want to get out.
  • They both love water splashed over their heads.
  • Isaak hates being dried off. You'd think that he'd love getting all cuddled up in his ducky towel with Mommy! He doesn't like it. I think he'd rather run around butt naked.

Friday Topic: Post-Polio Syndrome

  • Grandma Spiehs had polio when she was just a kid. Now she suffers from post-polio syndrome.
  • She has always had to get two pairs of shoes because her feet are different sizes. In fact one of her shoes has to get built up as well. For a long time now she's had to wear a brace as well.
  • She has to get her ankle fused early next year. That will require her to wear a shoe with a rocking sole on the bottom because her ankle will no longer move.
  • The late effects of polio refers to a group of symptoms and signs which people who had polio many years ago now experience and include weakness, fatigue, slowly progressive muscle weakness, joint pain, decreased endurance and new atrophy.
  • So far, there hasn't been any research done on specific nutritional supplements for post- polio syndrome. Today, there is no consensus, no position paper, no diagnostic test, no agreed-upon criteria about this syndrome, so there will be differences of opinion and some overlap.
  • There's not even a time frame; like if your a polio survivor, you could experience post-polio syndrome 20, 30, 40, 60 years after having polio its self. The time frame varies for everyone.
  • From a neurologist's point of view, post-polio syndrome has to begin in the spinal cord and brain stem with the original infection and destruction of motor neurons causing paralytic polio. The theory suggests that the polio virus is still present in the body and that it has been re-activated. In this instance taking several grams of vitamin C each day along with the selenium would also be helpful.
  • However, another theory of post-polio syndrome is that it's a further deterioration of neurons that were damaged by the original polio infection. If this is the case, selenium and vitamin C may not be of much help.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

ecoTimeToys Giveaway!

Melissa & Doug Puzzle-Mica had a few of these, but not this one. It's stored away for when Isaak gets old enough to play with it, which should be very soon!
What Kid Doesn't Like a School Bus?
Mr Roger's Trolley
A Haba Train
A Chore Die-This would be great for Mica. They have a what to do when you go outdoors die and what to do on a rainy day die.
  • My Wee View is giving away a $30 gift certificate to ecoTimeToys. I'm a sucker for fun toys. I just like to look at them. My kids rarely get a toy unless it is a holiday.
  • I always tell Mica when he asks for a toy, "We'll just add it to our list."
  • ecoTimeToys has such great quality of toys. They carry Melissa & Doug brand, which I LOVE!
  • I really wanted to put their whole website up on my blog.
  • Enter to win!
Topping the Giveaway Off With Dessert-Lots of Play Food to choose from

Thursaday Topic: Macular Degeneration

  • This is something that Grandpa Spiehs has precursors for. So far it hasn't effected his eyesight.
  • It just really stinks because he's an artist that relies on his sight to complete his art.
  • Macular degeneration is an eye disorder that makes it difficult to see fine details. The condition affects the macula, the part of the retina responsible for central vision.
  • This condition is hard to detect because at first there are no symptoms.
  • The most common symptom is dry and blurred vision. As the disease progresses, you may need more light to read or perform everyday tasks. The blurred spot in the center of vision gradually gets larger and darker. In the later stages, you may not be able to recognize faces until people are close to you.
  • Macular degeneration typically does not affect side (peripheral) vision. This is very important, because it means you will never have complete vision loss from this disease.
  • No treatment exists for dry macular degeneration. However, a combination of antioxidants and zinc may slow the progression of the disease.
  • Two types of macular degeneration exist:

  1. Dry macular degeneration occurs when the macula becomes thin and dries out. Small yellow deposits, called drusen, form under the macula. As these drusen increase in size and number, they create a blurred spot in the central vision of the eye. Almost all people with macular degeneration have the dry form.
  2. Wet macular degeneration occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow under the macula and retina (this is called choroidal neovascularization). These vessels can leak blood and fluid, damaging the macula. Vision loss in the central vision can occur very quickly. Only about 10 percent of people with macular degeneration have this form, but it causes most of the vision loss associated with the condition.
  • Scientists aren’t sure what causes macular degeneration. The disease is most common in people over 60, which is why it is often referred to as age-related macular degeneration.
  • Other risk factors are:
  1. Caucasian race
  2. Cigarette smoking
  3. Family history
  4. Female gender
  5. Obesity
  • Grandpa Spiehs only has the caucasian/family history that fits into his risk factors. His uncle has it to, and had to quit farming because of macular degeneration and just from getting older.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Nerf Gun

  • Isaak loves when Daddy fires off the Nerf Gun, he gets to pick up the ammunition to hand back to Daddy.
  • He does a fair job of following directions. There are a few times where Daddy is like, "Isaak it's right behind you." He looks all over the place, but behind himself. He's only 1, so it doesn't surprise me. Mica still does that, and he's 4.

Mica Took These Photo's

Daddy-Photo By Mica
Mommy-Photo By Mica
  • I decided to hand the camera over to Mica.
  • He shot so many that were bad. LOL
  • These are pretty good.
  • I did not teach him how to zoom in and out.
  • He thinks all photo's are films because he's seen me click on something that looks like a photo, and a video starts playing.

Halloween Wear

  • Mica has 2 Halloween shirts, one of which he wore last year, and a Halloween skeleton jacket.
  • Isaak has 1 Halloween shirt and a skeleton jacket (hami down from Mica).

I Hate the Digital Conversion

  • I really don't care that the show is annouced on the bottom of the screen, and that I can get more channels.
  • I just want to watch ABC, NBC, CBS and PBS clearly.
  • Sometimes pixels show up on the TV screen, and the show freezes. This is supposed to be an upgrade!
  • We both work full time and do not need cable.
  • With the converter box, the remote has to be practically on top of the box to change the channel.
  • My friend Sarah feels the same way I do.
  • Stupid conversion!

Bubbles

  • I heard Isaak say, "Bubbles" today when I read to him while he was on the potty. Not too much success with him on the potty lately. But he doesn't seem to be bothered by sitting on the pot, so we keep trying every once in awhile. It seemed like Mica was more interested.
  • Isaak has also said, "Mica" clearly twice that we've heard. But...he usually says, "Mina".

Day Off For Yard Work

  • I took the day off, so we could get somethings done around here.
  • We got a lot of outside work accomplished.
  • It helped that both boys slept well all afternoon. :)
  • It didn't help that I busted my knuckle on a rock, and scraped my small oven burn scab off. :( But...I'm ok.

Sibling Rivalry

  • Isaak gets so jealous when Mica is sitting on my lap for story time.
  • I give Isaak probably more attention then Mica, so I wish Isaak would just chill while I give Mica some of my time.
  • Isaak actually climbs up on us. Tonight he climbed up and sat on my face. Last night he pulled Mica's hair as a handle to get up on the couch with us.
  • It is times like this when I call him a PUNK.

Wenesday Topic: Alzheimer's Disease

  • Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder named for German physician Alois Alzheimer, who first described it in 1906. I kind of wonder what took people so long to start calling it Alzheimer's disease, when it was first described in 1906?
  • As many as 5.3 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer's destroys brain cells, causing memory loss and problems with thinking and behavior severe enough to affect work, lifelong hobbies or social life.
  • The spatial skills, such as reading a map or completing a jigsaw, seem to be the first to falter. Many people think that the memory is the first to go. This is not true.
  • Alzheimer’s gets worse over time, and it is fatal.
  • Today it is the seventh-leading cause of death in the United States.
  • It has no current cure. But treatments for symptoms, combined with the right services and support, can make life better for the millions of Americans living with Alzheimer’s.
  • It is considered to be among the most stressful illness a family caregiver can face and one of the most physically and mentally exhausting situations in a person's life.
  • The Alzheimer's Association has a book that is great for anyone to exercise the brain.
  • The Alzheimer's Association also has a Memory Walk every year, which the proceeds go towards Alzheimer research. Check out their site to see when a walk happens in your area.
  • If you sign up for their e newsletter, they'll send you weekly puzzles to exercise your brain.

I Love My Grandma

  • My Grandma (Great Grandma Kent to the boys) has Alzheimer's.
  • I miss playing games with her! She always played games with us from when we were really little on into my teen years.
  • She always went garage sale shopping, and no longer does that. If I told her something I needed, she'd look out for the item I wanted. I still have a hand mixer she picked up for a few dollars.
  • I often wonder if the difficulty of taking care of her has an impact on my Grandpa.
  • I am glad that through everything Grandma Kent has gone through, she still seems happy. She stumbles over her words when anyone asks her a question, but she ends with a smile.
  • A year ago Mica told me that she was one of his best friends.

Mica When He Was About the Same Age as Isaak

Mica
Isaak
  • I found this photo of Mica about the same age Isaak is now. I love the expression on his face!

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Hi

  • Isaak now says, "Hi".
  • He said it tonight when he was playing inside the pop up tent.
  • It's so fun when you see or hear them do something new.

A New Way to Play With the Jack in the Box

  • Daddy taught Isaak to play with the Jack in the Box in a different kind of way. Isaak picks out one Fisher Price Little People and puts it in with Jack, so when Jack pops out so does one of the Little People.
  • I didn't know Daddy taught him this, so when Isaak was trying to stuff one Little People in with Jack I was telling him, "No".
  • Isaak of course got upset, and walked away.
  • It's a little more surprising when something pops and flies out.
  • Boys will be boys.

In the Air

Original Sky Dive
Student Sky Dive
Original Hot Air Balloon
Student Hot Air Balloon
  • This is one of my favorite class projects. It's not a portfolio piece, but it teaches them a lot.
  • It's for Art Media Techniques class. I find two photos that have great colors, have my boss print them out on his huge poster printer, cut it up into 65 squares, and the students get one square from each poster.
  • They have to double the square they get in size, and create it using different techniques they grab out of a bag.
  • None of them know what the original images are. So...they may get a part of a foot, arm, sky, just a small part of a big picture.
  • When they turn them in, it's like putting together a giant puzzle. The students stand around and watch to see it come together. Some pieces are way off in value, so they didn't get very good grades compared to the ones that worked.
  • It looks bad when it's on the floor, but when it makes it to the wall it comes together.
  • I always love the squares that are made out of all junk, the paper punch one is cool too.

India Spice Chai

  • This is in fact one of the best tea's I've ever had!
  • It has great flavor even after the second cup.
  • I'm a fan of Chai tea in the carton too. This brand comes in bags, so it doesn't need to be used right away. Great for work on a cold day. Just having the box in my office acts as a great scent!

Tuesday Topic: Trisome 18, Edward Syndrome

  • Trisomy 18 is a genetic disorder associated with the presence of extra material from chromosome 18.
  • Trisomy 18, also called Edwards syndrome, is a chromosomal condition associated with severe intellectual disability and abnormalities in many parts of the body. Individuals with trisomy 18 often have a low birth weight; a small, abnormally shaped head; a small jaw and mouth; clenched fists with overlapping fingers; heart defects; and abnormalities of other organs.
  • Fifty percent of infants with this condition do not survive beyond the first week of life. Some children have survived to teenage years, but with serious medical and developmental problems.
  • Most cases of trisomy 18 are not inherited, but occur as random events during the formation of eggs and sperm. An error in cell division called nondisjunction results in a reproductive cell with an abnormal number of chromosomes. My Mom, sister Terra and nephew Evan happen to be rare, and carry this to possibly pass on.

Grandma Spiehs and Aunt Terra

  • Both Grandma Spiehs and Aunt Terra are carriers to pass down what's called Trisome 18.
  • Grandma Spiehs had one baby before my other sisters and I came around that was Trisome 18. Lisa was her name. She did not live very long.
  • Both times Aunt Terra was pregnant with Evan and Elijah, I was pregnant with Mica and Isaak. I was so worried that one of her children would end up being a Trisome 18 baby. As it turns out, they were fine. Evan is a carrier, but Elijah is like me and is not a carrier at all.

Breast Cancer and Ovarian Cancer Awareness

  • I had to add this giveaway onto my blog. Since I'm treating this week as an awareness week, it seems great to include this.
  • No one close to me has had cancer, but I know people who have had friends and family close to them die of cancer.
  • My oldest sister Angela had a friend pass away, which she was very close to. I felt so bad for their situation, Andrea's (the lady who passed) daughter was still in elementary school, her husband had to stop furthering his education to help support his wife, and her two older kids would never experience their mom at their weddings, or have their mom there when they had kids of their own.
  • Everyone knows someone who has died of cancer.
  • This giveaway is on one of my favorite sites: Go Graham Go. To link up directly to the giveaway go here.
  • Now two lucky readers have the chance to win! One will win the Pink Ribbon Triple Pendant and one will win the Ovarian Cancer Awareness Bracelet!
  • Visit Angela Moore to see more of their awareness jewelry.

Monday, October 12, 2009

Little Jack Horner

  • Later this month Mica's preschool class has to dress up as a nursery rhyme character.
  • At first I was thinking, "Oh great, this and Halloween!" But I think we'll make it work.
  • Mica's going as Little Jack Horner.
  • I'm going to bake a pie he can take in for that day.
  • I'll make a plum out of a styrofoam egg, and hopefully I can find felt that is purple.
  • My sister Terra gave me the idea to put a Hello "My Name is..." sticker on him. I'll fill it in as "Little Jack Horner", or just "Jack Horner".
  • He has suspenders already, so I'll put those on.
  • I'll probably due away with the tights and nickers.
  • Cousin Evan is going as a spoon, and Mica was going to go as a dish. But I thought Jack Horner might be more fun.

No More Pumpkin Seeds!

  • I don't know what I was thinking. I had roasted pumpkin seeds out last night. Isaak was reaching for them, he ate a few, then some more. I didn't think anything of it. He wasn't choking, and it looked like he was eating them. I found out today that he was just swallowing them whole.
  • My sister Terra told me that Isaak's pooping out pumpkin seeds whole, and it looks like it's hurting him to poop. She said that one diaper was all seeds.
  • No more pumpkin seeds for Isaak!

Monday Topic: Meningitis

  • Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord. People sometimes refer to it as spinal meningitis.
  • Meningitis is usually caused by a viral or bacterial infection. Knowing whether meningitis is caused by a virus or bacterium is important because the severity of illness and the treatment differ depending on the cause.
  • Viral meningitis is generally less severe and clears up without specific treatment. But bacterial meningitis can be quite severe and may result in brain damage, hearing loss, or learning disabilities.
  • In babies, the signs of meningitis may be a fever, irritability that is difficult to calm, decreased appetite, rash, vomiting, and a shrill cry. Babies also may have a stiff body and bulging soft spots on their heads that are not caused by crying. Babies with meningitis may cry when handled.
  • What are the signs and symptoms of meningitis?

    A: High fever, headache, and stiff neck are common symptoms of meningitis in anyone over the age of 2 years. These symptoms can develop over several hours, or they may take 1 to 2 days. Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, discomfort looking into bright lights, confusion, and sleepiness. In newborns and small infants, the classic symptoms of fever, headache, and neck stiffness may be absent or difficult to detect. Infants with meningitis may appear slow or inactive, have vomiting, be irritable, or be feeding poorly. As the disease progresses, patients of any age may have seizures.

  • Q: Can bacterial meningitis be treated?

    A: Bacterial meningitis can be treated with a number of effective antibiotics. It is important, however, that treatment be started early in the course of the disease.
  • Q: Is bacterial meningitis contagious?

    A: Yes, some forms of bacterial meningitis are contagious. The bacteria can mainly be spread from person to person through the exchange of respiratory and throat secretions.
  • Q: Are there vaccines against meningitis?

    A: Yes, there are vaccines against Hib. Isaak had only gotten 1 part of this shot.

Isaak Sick with Meningitis

  • Isaak was only 2 months when he got Meningitis.
  • He had a slight fever all evening long, that just got worse as the night progressed. He woke up in the middle of the night with a temp of 103! He was fussy, and hot. Daddy called the doctor's office to talk to a nurse. She told us to go to the ER.
  • The first thing they did almost immediately was take blood from him, then they did a lumbar puncture, inserting a needle in his spinal canal to extract fluid. They sent me out of the room for that. I was in tears and leaking milk because I could hear him crying.
  • Just like with Mica Isaak had a high temp, high white blood cell count, and couldn't move his neck very well because he was in pain.
  • He was admitted, put on antibiotics right away. They didn't know if it was bacterial or viral. They basically had to wait to see if his fluid would grow to indicate if it was bacterial. All of his numbers pointed towards bacterial. He had to get an EEG to test his brain for seizures, but we found that he was just getting startled and would throw his arms up in the air.
  • No bacteria ever grew, which stumped even the Infectious Disease doctor.
  • Grandma Spiehs was sick with a cold all through this. She couldn't come up to the hospital. I was terrified because that evening before Isaak had a fever I went to a group called Baby and Me. Lots of babies and moms. I was so scared someone else's baby might get what Isaak had. No one did.
  • My Aunt Sam stopped up a lot! She told me not to rub Isaak's head because it hurt him. I'm glad she told me that because I didn't even think about that. His head had so much pressure that he barely had a soft spot.
  • The antibiotics helped, this made the doctors think it was viral after all, but all the numbers pointed to bacterial. Bacterial is much more serious.
  • After 3 days of being really sick, he was starting to kick more. I actually had Travis bring in the vibrating chair for Isaak to enjoy.
  • We could go home if they could get a Pick Line IV in. This is hard to get in because their veins are so small. They couldn't get one in Mica. With Isaak they couldn't get it in his arm, but instead got it in his foot. This is not something they'd do normally (put an IV in a foot, but with a baby they don't walk anyhow).
  • He had to get a scan to see if it was placed right. All was good. We went home for more IV antibiotics.
  • The first time I gave Isaak the antibiotics I remember I did something wrong. I was lacking in some major sleep. I was supposed to pump something in slow, and I did it fast. The nurse that was assisting us said that it was ok, and just to do it right next time. It's nerve racking giving a baby home IV antibiotics the first few times. After that it's fine.
  • Pour Mica asked me, "When are you going back to your hospital home?"
  • Daddy and him stayed at home most of the time, so that I could be with Isaak. I nursed him, so it was pretty important that I be there for him.
  • All was good with Isaak after the antibiotics. He was on the mend when they sent him home. We did have follow up visits. The Infectious Disease doctor was surprised I kept a tally of sleep, diaper changes and feeding times. I had to with Mica, so I did with Isaak as well.
  • Isaak had a few hearing tests, one before we left the hospital and one a few months later. He past both of them.

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Sunday Topic: Staph Infections

  • Staph lives on the outside of people's skin. I always thought that only dirty people could get Staph Infections. This is not the case.
  • There are more than 30 species in the staph family of bacteria, and they can cause different kinds of illnesses. That's what makes it so hard to treat!
  • People can get staph infections from contaminated objects, but staph bacteria often spread through skin-to-skin contact — the bacteria can be spread from one area of the body to another if someone touches the infected area.

Mr. Happy Sick Boy

Mr. Happy Sick Boy
Mica Pretty Sick-Looking like the Incredible Hulk.
  • I remember one day out of my life very clearly, I got a call at work from my parents telling me that they were taking Mica into the doctor because he was fussy, and his neck had a bump on the side that was getting bigger fast!
  • I had to give the ok to have them treat him without me being there. He was almost 7 months at the time. His white blood cell count was sky rocketed, he had a fever, and a hurt cry. I went to meet them after Grandma Spiehs told me that I needed to be there. They couldn't find a bed for him in the leading hospital for children because RSV patients were taking over the beds.
  • No one knew what was wrong. The first doctor was going to take him into surgery to remove the core in his neck, but he soon decided that he didn't want to do that. Most of the mass on his neck was from swelling.
  • We had nothing to joke about, but the only thing we could say to make light of the situation was by calling Mica, "Mica the Incredible Hulk".
  • It was a few days of waiting, and not knowing what was wrong. Antibiotics worked, then they took a turn and didn't work.
  • He had his Pediatrician, an Ears Nose Throat doctor, a floor doctor, residents and an Infectious Disease doctor on his case. We got asked many questions.
  • Mica had at CT scan when he went into the hospital, and another to withdrawal fluid to see what was causing him to get so sick.
  • It was a Staph Infection.
  • He went home on oral antibiotics. He had to go back to the hosptital after throwing up and not keeping his meds down. We found out he had Rhoda Virus, which they now have an a imunization for. Mica went home with a perifrial IV when they were unsuccessful getting a Pick Line IV in, and we gave him home IV antibiotics.
  • Later he had a reaction to Penacilin, so we had to switch his antibiotics.
  • Through time he got better, we had a lot of follow up appointments.
  • The thought was that he got staph through his ear infection that were on the same side of each other.
  • What to expect with a sick baby: Lots of counting with their diapers. They actually weigh the diapers in the hospital. Nursing was so hard! Remember his neck had the infection. Plus there were wires attacked to him everwhere it seemed. I had to get creative and nurse him sitting up. He had this sick cry that melted my heart, but then would turn around and play when it seemed like he was too sick to play.

Awareness Week

  • I'm calling this week awareness week. Each day this week I'm going to talk about something new. All the things I've chosen to talk about are very personal things that have effected my family. Just because they are personal, if something hits home, if you simply just want to add something, do, or you have a question to ask, ask. If I can't answer something, I have 6 nurses in the family I can ask, or I can look it up.
  • I'm hitting up my side of the family mostly because it's what I know more about.
  • Sunday will be on Staph Infections.
  • Monday will be on Meningitis.
  • Tuesday will be on Trisome 18, Edward Syndrome.
  • Wednesday will be on Alzheimer's disease.
  • Thursday will be on Macular Degeneration.
  • Friday will be on Polio.
  • Saturday will be on Diabetes.

"Look At All My New Books!"

  • Today I went through the boy's books. I put all the easier picture books in Isaak's room, and added a step up of book level in Mica's room. We have a lot of hami downs from our nephew/the boy's cousin Ethan.
  • Mica now has more Berenstain Bears, Disney, Shel Silverstein and others.
  • Mica was so excited to open his book cupboard! When Daddy got home from work Mica said, "Daddy come see all my new books that Mommy got for me!" I told him that I didn't get them for him, but whatever he's excited and that's all that matters.

Disclaimer

The opinions on this blog are my personal take on products and topics relating to motherhood. This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me.

I am not compensated to provide opinions on a variety of topics. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are my own. If I claim to show knowledge of certain topic or product I will only endorse products or services that I feel, based on my expertise, are worthy of such endorsement.

If you have any questions about this blog, or want to get in contact with me please email me at: anapeladay@gmail.com