Bugs, bugs and more bugs

Let me tell you, I think I have gotten my moneys worth out of my washing machine! It seriously has been running NON STOP for almost 3 weeks now. And I am talking DAWN TO DUSK!

After our eventful scare with scabies - which turned out NOT to be scabies, Saturday Keegan came down with the 24 hour stomach bug. Vomiting, diarrhea and all. Monday, at 2:30 am, Carson came down with it, and then me on Monday at 9am. Thank goodness for my mom. I didn't move off the couch the entire day, and when Matt got home I turned everything over to him and I called it a day!!! Tuesday morning I was a total different person then the 24 hours prior.
I am keeping my fingers crossed that Cooper, Riley, and Matt don't catch it!

So, that's what's been up with us!!

How about you?

Round and round we go, where we will stop, nobody knows

I must say it's been a whirlwind of a day.

Talked to a friend just this morning about getting a steamer to get rid of this bug once and for all. I would be able to steam the floors, beds, carpets....just about everything. Something has got to do the trick.

Around noon today, I called the peds office to see if I could get Carson and Cooper checked out. I was able to get in today at 1pm.

So, we get to the doctors, Carson lifts up her shirt, and the doc says, "Ya know, I don't think it is scabies. I think it is something called ~ unilateral lateral thoracic exanthem." It's a virus rash.

Now, I can't even link it because I can't seem to find it. She said it's called that because it does not cross the mid section of the body and just stays on the belly/rib /arm section.

So, now I am totally baffled, I don't know what to believe. After ALL THE WASHING AND CLEANING I HAVE BEEN DOING, stressing about damn bugs.......

OMG!

This would only happen to me.

Have I been PUNKED?

Anyone have any experience with this? Or ever heard of it???

Still at it

I am still trying to fend off these little mites!

If things don't get better soon we will have to cancel our trip to Indiana!

So, If ANYONE has ANY suggestions, I am all ears!

Ok, here it goes....

I have just about dried my eyes from our very eventful week.

So, I know some of you are thinking "What the hell is going on with them", well......

Carson picked up what the doctors seem to think is scabies - skin lice.

It has been horrible......washing sheets, cleaning rooms top to bottom, washing clothes, vacuuming, treating the dog, treating ALL of us with medication......IT HAS BEEN ~ HE dbl hockey sticks. Give me brain surgery, give me skull reconstruction ~ I can handle it, give me something I can't see and I go NUTS!

So far, Carson has been the only one to get this bug, and hasn't had any more bumps since she was treat with meds on Monday night. PRAYING VERY HARD THIS IS IT!

Monday will be a week, after a week the doctors seemed to think things should be in my favor.

So far = MOM 1 - Bugs 0

You will not believe

Ok, I know I haven't posted for awhile, but I have a reason.

I am not going to post it now because I may break down and cry, but when I can laugh about it, I will post it.

Check back in a few days. Here are some fall pics from up at the lake to hold you over until then.

Enjoy!

School pics

Pics

Catching up

I know I have a bit of catching up to do, so here it goes.

1. We have no real answers to Carson's MRI yet. We saw Dr. K - our NS, and he said "no chiari", but he also said that before surgery...... so I don't feel we got any real answers there.
We will be seeing Dr. Frim in Chicago on Nov. 13th.......
Hang on and I'll update on that again in a moment.

2. Still no pennies. I took Keegan in to the doctors office on Monday to have him scanned with a metal detector, but not sure how well that worked. The nurse scanned it over his belly and it did not beep. She scanned it over his crocs and it did beep, but them when she scanned it over something other metal it did not beep..... anyhow, Keegan HEARD " no pennies in there" and that's all he needed to calm down. As for me, as long as he doesn't get sick I guess it's ok too. No more penny diggin'!

3. I got a JOB! Ok, not ones that pays, but it pays in "good feelings". I am now the sponsorship coordinator for a Craniosynostosis and Plagiocephaly support board (CAPPS). My job is to match up mentors with families awaiting their child's surgery. I love it! It's a great way for me to give back. After all, my mentor and I met for the first time in August! I can not wait to meet up with her again!

4. Back to the MRI. On our CAPPS board, once a month they try to get either a NS or CFS to come and chat with the group on line. This past month it was Dr. Schmelzer, a CFS in Utah. He was great. Very helpful to a lot of moms, me included. I asked a few questions about Carson and he became involved with us.
Long story short, we are for a 3rd opinion with Carson.
Dr. S believes that there is more to our puzzle, and was shocked that she already had 2 surgeries. HE contacted another team at Riley Children's hospital in Indianapolis, and we should be hearing if we can get an appointment at the end of Oct. Thank you Dr. S!

OK, So I think I've got everything caught up......
Let me know if I missed something.

20 hours shy of 1 week.....

......no pennies yet.

Chiari Awareness Month

Here's the scoop:

Chiari Malformation Awareness Month 2008

" *Whereas , Chiari Malformations (CMs) are defects in the cerebellum, the part of the brain that controls balance; and,

*Whereas , The condition was first identified by German pathologist, Professor Hans Chiari in the 1890's; and,

*Whereas , The cause of Chiari Malformations are unknown, but scientists believe they are either a congenital condition caused by exposure to harmful substances during fetal development or a genetic condition since CMs may appear in more than one member of a family; and,

*Whereas , Symptoms usually appear during adolescence or early adulthood and can include severe head and neck pain, vertigo, muscle weakness, balance problems, blurred or double vision, difficulty swallowing, and sleep apnea ; and,

*Whereas , The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke of the National Institutes of Health is conducting research to find alternative surgical options and to identify the cause of CMs to create improved treatment and prevention plans; and now therefore be it,

*Resolved , That I, Jennifer M. Granholm, Governor of the State of Michigan, do hereby proclaim September 2008 as Chiari Malformation Awareness Month in Michigan, and I encourage all citizens to learn more about this disease and to recognize the importance of finding a cure. "

So here is my plan, because I don't live in Michigan, but in Wisconsin (close enough) and because it is no longer September, but October (again, close enough) I would like to declare;

October 2008, Chiari Awareness Month on my blog!!! Riley and I would like to sell 25 bracelets to help find a cure for CM. Our NS is doing research and we would like to help! Please help our cause.

Handmade bracelets by Riley and family. $5.00 each. If you would care to purchase one, please click the button on my side bar (please choose either child, teen or adult)

You can also go here to read our story www.caringbridge.org/visit/rileycole

THANK YOU! Hopefully this will be a BIG success! I will keep a tally on my blog on how many we sell.

53 hours......

NOTHING. Not even having BM's!

UUGGGHHHHH!

Tomorrow I will take Carson down to Milwaukee for a post op MRI and then see the NS on Friday morning. Hopefully we will get some answers to whats going on with the ICP (intercranial pressure) and her Chiari.

Wish us luck (and my mom who will be on BM patrol since I will be gone with Carson over night.)

40 hours......no pennies

GOOD GRIEF!!!!!!