Bitter/Sweet

BITTER

 Our week has truly been hard.  On Monday I took all four little ones to the pediatrician for rashes and sores that they have had on their bodies.  We had been in the past two weeks for the same thing, just thought to be different things like yeast infections and Strep, but not all four children.Cultures were taken and medications were prescribed.  Our doctor thought that Strep was the cause of the rashes and sores so she told us there were three different types and she would call with the results.  Kids were allowed to go to school as long as their sores were covered.   

Alex HATES having things rubbed on him and taking medications.  We have had a lot of medication on the floor, his shirts, his hair etc.  I get to have this war not once, but twice a day.  I have tried to hide it in drinks, food etc and he just refuses to eat or drink whatever I am hiding the medicine in.  Tonight he spit it out not once but twice, but at least he got some in him right!!

Thursday arrived and I received a phone call from the doctors office with the results.  All four children have Staph Infection.  Now we all have staph living on our bodies, but this was obviously inflamed and contagious.  Contagious...that's right I have been sending my little ones to school all week.  My heart sank immediately.  I gave the nurse a few questions to ask the doctor like...Are they still contagious?, Do they need to stay home from school? Do I need to be treated for this as well?  An hour later I received another call.  They could still be contagious through the weekend.  Yes, they should stay home from school.  Yes, I do need to be treated, but the doctor can't prescribe anything to you because you are over 21.  I got to take all four kids to my doctors appointment at 6:00 pm!

Out of all of those answers I am sure you are thinking the worst is not going to school right. NO!!!!  The worst part is that my brother Jacob, his wife Rachel and their little Gavin are in the Untied States visiting from England.  They were coming to spend three days with the kids and I this weekend.  I had to call Jacob and give him the news.  After much research and debate Gavin not being in our home was best.  I have truly been waiting for MONTHS, but my excitement was building with the days getting closer.  Seriously, can I never get a break?  Why do I feel like I am being punished?  Needless to say I have had a steady stream of tears since the first phone call from the nurse yesterday and as I type they are still rolling down my cheeks.

NOW FOR SOME SWEET

When I got in contact with Jacob and Rachel yesterday they were already in Arizona visiting Rachel's family.  We decided to meet in an outdoor place so that we could at least see one another.  The zoo at 11:30 am was our meeting place. 

I woke up early as always and this morning washed the kids and myself in Hibistat soap.  The doctor had given us the script, it is an antiseptic/antimicrobial skin cleanser that surgeons us before surgery.  The kids and I got dressed, I cancelled the 8:00 am appointment with the car dealership to repair the van (I didn't think that 4 kids in the waiting room, let alone contagious with staph would be a good idea) and then cancelled Alex's rehabilitation for the afternoon. 

Amelia took an early nap and when she woke up we were off...until I broke a bottle of medicine walking out the door.  After I took care of that though we were off!

On our drive over I received a call from the School District's Head Nurse at the District Office.  We talked about the medications, band-aids used and possible contamination to the school.  (This is a bitter though so we will move on!)

We arrived to the zoo late, but Jacob and Rachel didn't say anything though.  We started into the zoo and took our usual path of choice.  Most of the animals were out today so that was very nice.  I thought that by noon they would be in deep hiding,this is Phoenix in the summer. 

My kids love playing on the trees across from the lions.  I don't mind stopping there because they have misters hanging from the trees.  We enjoyed our conversations and really getting to say hi to each other for the first time.  Gavin was cruising in his stroller and as you can see he and Amelia enjoyed there first meeting :)  Alex took a pretty good fall so that lead us away on our journey.

 The splash pad was our next stopping place which was nice because it was well over 100 by the time we arrived.  Each of the kids were getting in their swimming attire and I couldn't find Amelia's suit.  I dropped it when I broke the medication bottle walking out the door earlier in the morning.  Luckily though I had a pair of training pants in my bag!  

Everyone was dressed and ready for some fun!  Addison and Adam were so good with Gavin.  I loved watching them play with their cousin.  While the kids were in the cave part of the splash pad they would tell the other kids "Be careful, this is our cousin!".  Addison was carrying Gavin around the splash pad and I have to say I was more worried than her Uncle and Aunt were!  Adam spent a lot of time with Gavin watching the ducks and birds in the lake. Aunt Rachel took lots of great pictures and I will add them to this post as soon as I get them :)   Amelia wasn't very sure about him though.  He was cutting into her attention time and she wasn't ready for that.  She also cried every time she couldn't see me because I was around the corner or in the bathroom!  Alex of course interacted with Gavin very little, but when he did he was very sweet and kind to Gavin.  He even spoke a little baby talk to him!!! Yay!

We ended our trip to the zoo in the air conditioned orangutang exhibit and stopping by the kimono dragon habitat.  

We just weren't ready to part (my heart of hearts was hoping for the possibility of them saying...I think we will stay) so Chompies was our next destination. Jacob and Rachel had seen the Man vs. Food episode and the original restaurant was right around the corner from the zoo.  

Great food (Gavin was so much fun to watch, he was covered in orange slices and savored every bit of his fries) and company was had, but my little ones were fading fast.

I love the pictures above of everyone outside the restaurant.  I love that one of the photos have my kids looking at Gavin and in another photo he is looking at them!  I was speaking with Rachel today and told her that I love it when my kids get to spend time with their cousins.  Even when they are meeting for the first time or haven't seen each other for months they act like they have known each other their whole lives and not a day has gone by since the last time the were able to play together.

My three days with Jacob, Rachel and Gavin where cramped into three and a half hours, but I was and am so grateful for those hours.  I don't get to see my family very often and the time that I have with them is truly a treasure for me. (more tears, must keep moving)

Bitter

Not having Jacob and Rachel stay with us was devastating to my soul, but I guess that I needed another good kick.  Jared Berniger called this morning and had asked about possibly visiting for the weekend and once I explained our health he stayed in ABQ for the weekend !

We are trying to get a few things for Alex.  He is now on a wait list of 75 in front of him to be looked at and evaluated for and IPAD.  We were told 60-90 days just for the evaluation and then of course the waiting to be approved or denied.   Alex had a hard week at school and his teacher was talking about using the weighted vest again.  We will have to go through Cigna and see if they will approve it.  I am going to see if making one is something I can do...I really don't like the yucky process of getting your child the things they need, but I am sure the process is in place for a reason.

Sweet

We had two great meetings for Alex and Amelia yesterday.  Alex even took a field trip (before we learned the bad news) to Jason's Deli with his therapist to work on his sensory issues.  Amelia was evaluated for Early Intervention and a language delay was found.  Not anything to shake a real stick at though.  I received a phone call today though and because of our special family they accepted her into the program.  We will be meeting early next month to set up her program. 

Adam and Addison are signed up for their after school  classes for Wednesday afternoons.  Addison will be taking her first dance class and Adam is continuing his participation in the Chess Club!!  They are both very excited!!

Dadam has been enjoying his time in China.  His classes went well and he was able to get a good idea of what the next two years are going to be like.  Look for his blog post when he gets home.  He has the camera so hopefully he is putting it to good use!!

Bittersweet

We received Adam's test results from our developmental pediatrician.   Adam is on the Autism spectrum and he has been diagnosed with Aspergers.  WE HAVE NOT TOLD HIM!  Dadam and I  spoke with his pediatrician during his check up in June when she noticed a few things in the short time of being in the room with him.  We had him tested and after receiving the results I contacted his teacher and she has already noticed in just the first week of school that a few of his tendencies are visible.  

I am grateful to know so that we can help Adam reach his full potential.  We think that he is amazing just as he is and we don't want others to shy away from him, we want them to embrace the incredible young man that he is.

I would just like to say that every time we get a big  result like Alex or Adam's diagnosis my husband is on a trip...not bitter, just saying...