Long story short:
Went to the pediatrician yesterday for a routine ear and weight check. I’ve never seen the place so crowded with so many sick children! I forced Nik to actually sit in one place while we waited and wouldn’t let him touch anything. (Um, yeah, hello Autism and ADHD…) He was a pretty good sport about it.
The good news: Nik’s ears looked great and he’s gained some more weight!
The bad news: His chest sounded junky and he needed a nebulizer treatment —something he hasn’t needed in nearly a year. Generally, he only needs those when he’s either super sick or we’re trying to hold illness at bay. Our pediatrician usually tells us to trust our instincts and to listen to him from time to time if we’re not sure; she trusts us. Not this time; this time she stood firm.
We came home with a strict schedule of neb treatments for the next week. We’ve all had our regular flu shots but Niksdad hasn’t yet gotten his H1N1 mist. Since he works with very young and medically fragile children he has to have it. We were on the fence about getting the shot for Nik but this clinches it for us. His health history is too complex and his ability to fight major infection/illness is not as robust as the average child.
As a precaution, I canceled all of our appointments for the remainder of the week. Looks like pj days and Mary Poppins (or Signing Time which is back in rotation lately) and, if I’m lucky, some extra snuggles.
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ETA: I finished this post last night and then forgot to publish it. Oops!
However, you’ll be pleased to know Nik is doing well and we’ve had a lovely day together. I’ve even gotten some snuggles!
Oh, and the boy likes his nebulizer waaaay too much. See for yourself:
love you.
Hope Nik continues to improve.
And we never had luck with neb treatments. It was like TORTURE for the entire household, when only a couple ever needed them.
Ah, as Vicki so aptly said – “This lovely life.”
xo
Yep, we do them often. TC hates them.
Oh no. Poor Nik. I totally understand canceling appointments and keeping him home. I have had to do that a lot with M. Sometimes I can tell people get frustrated with me but it has to be done.
My biggest fear right now is keeping M healthy. I am sure you are right there with me. Nik has very unique health concerns and no one understands them as well as you.
I kept M home for three days last week and the Dr. put her on Tamiflu because someone in her class had Swine Flu. M has one dose of the Tamiflu left. Her teachers keep me up to date on how many children are out but I feel like I can’t keep her in a plastic bubble and yet when she gets sick she gets sooooo sick it is terrifying.
She had the flu vaccine for the first time this year since The U of I hospital insisted last year when she was hospitalized from the flu/pneumonia/CVS and almost died that we had better get her the vaccine this Fall. There is no swine flu vaccine here yet. We have been waiting and waiting.
Hugs for Nik. Thank you for your kind comments. It is really good to be back and feel such love and support again. I was getting very lonely and this is helping me a lot.
No vaccines left here, not even the regular flu…apparently I was sitting next to and talking with someone on Tuesday night who on Wednesday night ended up with chills and today was dx with H1N1. I don’t know if I am doomed or not. I have had my PJs on all day just in case…it’s a nasty, rainy day, so why not?
Oh no poor baby
hope he is all better soon
sometimes hunkering down is good for the soul, too .. wishing you all good health!
Hope Nik is back to health soon and you get loads of snuggles
Ah, yes. I remember these days. My oldest grew out of his need for this. Amazingly he’s one of the fastest runners for his age in the state. And that’s even when he still occasionally needs his asthma meds in the Spring.
I hope you don’t have the same problem when Nik is a teen. I’ll hear my son’s “asthma cough” tell him to take his inhaler. He won’t…too macho. But his doctor got on his case. The best part? I didn’t even mention his difficulty breathing to the doctor…my son did.
P.S. I LOVE your “header” or “banner” or whatever you call it. I was telling my friend about it but I couldn’t remember whose sight it was on. Glad you posted again so I can remember now.
I was up all night doing nebulizer treatments on my son and spent 2 hours in medical aid this morning trying to get him breathing better. Steroids seem to be doing the trick but we are having a “rest day” at home – mamas tired and he’s not! I debated taking him up to the children’s hospital but didn’t want to sit in there with everyone who has the flu! Hope he’s feeling better. Sick kids are so worrisome!
Awww! I can’t get over what a doll he is.
so funny! i love how Nik kept trying to look/smell inside the tube of the nebulizer (i’m not so up on the terminology, I confess). What a curious guy!
Hope you’re all hanging in there!
aw, and even though he’s never had a nebulizer treatment, that video reminded me so much of Tristan I almost cried.
I think Nigel was about 7 when I had to do the nebulizer treatment on him. He would just scream and I would have to pin him down to do it. UGH! It was so awful. Hope Nik’s chest improves soon!
have a sweet week, you two (and sometimes three).
sending xxx.
Yes a healthy kid is so important
Makes mommy happy