A trip to the pediatrician

I called the Rheumy office to see if there was a decongestant I  could give him for his runny nose.  They said I really needed to have him looked at by the pediatrician even though there was no fever.  So I called yesterday and got him in at 3pm. 

It was our first trip to the pediatrician since starting the shots.  My biggest concern was him being in the waiting room with all the other sick children.  When I signed him in, there were only 2 other kids in there and I told the receptionist he was on drugs that suppress his immune system.  She had us wait in the hall closer to where they come out and call your name.   We only had to wait about one minute.

Cameron has seen several doctors in the practice.  The one we normally see was not there so we had to pick another.  I picked Dr Beth Hawse who was the one that saw him when we went in about his knee and started the ball rolling on the arthritis evaluation.  If I'm not badly mistaken, she said that she has psoriatic arthritis.  Maybe that explains why we were sent for the evaluation so quickly...

So...  She looked him over and even checked his knees and ankles.  He had fallen at school and bruised one knee up pretty good and she made sure to check it for any tears or injuries that need to be treated... nothing there...thankfully.  Chest was clear and then she went to the ears.  Right clear.... uh oh... left ear is infected!  He had not complained a single time about his ear!   She said apparently he is not a complainer so we're gonna have to watch him closer.  If you remember, he didn't complain but a few times about his jaws hurting and come to find out, he already has some joint damage there!  Also, from what I understand, the drugs he is on will mask any fevers or other signs that tell me he is sick.

So, we get our prescription for augmentin, 750mg 2x a day... he was told to stay home one more day which ended up not being a problem with the snow out there.

Swollen eyes

 

 December 2009

February 7, 2010

Ok, as you can see from the pictures, Cameron's eyes are puffy and you can't see it very well in the pictures, but they are also bloodshot.  His nose has been running so there's some redness there too.

We got out of the house this afternoon for a couple hours.  While we were out, Cameron asked "Mommy, why can't I go back to my old life where I didn't have to take shots that make me feel bad all the time."   What do  you tell an 8 year old child when they ask that question??   I just told him I didn't know why things have to be this way either.  It's just something we're gonna have to deal with.

I may call the Rheumy office tomorrow about the bloodshot swollen eyes.   Hopefully it's just a cold.

Shots, round 3

 

Cameron had his shots this afternoon.  He did fine with the methotrexate.  The Enbrel (pictured above) really stung this time.  He had his shots in his tummy today for the first time.  We've now rotated all three sites (thighs, arms, tummy).  He cried for about 5 minutes and then whined for another 15 or so.  Of course I had to get him up in my lap for snuggles... those always make things feel better.  I'm so thankful he still likes to snuggle!

He had bowling league this morning.   Will took him and I stayed home.   Cameron bowled his best game ever!!  Previously, his high score was 121.  Today he bowled 126 and 96!!! (they do two games)  His average is around 80 so he did extremely well!!

Not now please!

Cameron is getting a runny nose.  I'm hoping and praying that is as far as it goes!  Gonna have to watch him closer than I normally would.

He really enjoyed the warm water therapy pool yesterday at the YMCA.  He had the shallow end of the pool to himself for about 45 minutes.  Then we picked up his dad at work and met his grandparents for supper at Golden Corral.

One more day of school this week and we're supposed to get a little snow on Saturday.  Right now, it looks like something is also coming down the pike for Tuesday/Wednesday time frame as well. 

Stop this ride, I want off!

We never asked to be on this ride!   However, it is a ride we must take.

Psalm 34:17-19 (New International Reader's Version)

Godly people cry out, and the Lord hears them. He saves them from all of their troubles. The Lord is close to those whose hearts have been broken. He saves those whose spirits have been crushed. Anyone who does what is right may have many troubles. But the Lord saves him from all of them.

A long winter's nap

He must have been totally tuckered out!!   I let him sleep until about 7 PM.  That means he was asleep probably 2.5 hours!

As I expected, it was hard to get him in bed... but he finally gave in.

He gets out of school at 12:45 on Wednesday...thinking maybe I'll take him to the YMCA to spend some time in the warm water therapy pool.

Tummy troubles and fatigue.

Cameron complained this morning that his stomach hurt.  It didn't seem like it was that bad so I told him to go on to school and to call me to come get him if it didn't get better.  He said it was still bothering him and he told a sub teacher about it, but apparently there was some miscommunication and she wasn't aware of the medications or the possible side effects.  He stayed the rest of the day at school and seemed ok when he got home.   He wanted to do his homework on my bed so I sent him in there to do it.  When I went to check on him, he was sound asleep.  This is so not normal behavior for him!   I think he may also be going through a growth spurt because his appetite has picked up some as well...  

I'm letting him sleep, but may end up regretting that decision later tonight.