This morning was a leaky diaper blowout once again. If you recall, this happened early in Cast #4 during the plague of stomach virus and flu. At that time, I used my mad casting diaper skillz to pull the shirt down, cut out the offended tee, and re-tape.
Fast forward to this morning - not only has all the excess tee been used, I cannot get so much as a pinky up the back of his cast because it is so tight. Every time we try to use a wipe to clean it up, he screams. By mid-morning, it was obvious that this was not going to do - if the - um - waste product remained on his skin, he would have an open sore in no time. We called T at Dr. K's office and left a message, then emailed her photos of the tightness of the cast in addition.
Then, I made the executive decision that this cast was coming off NOW. If we had to deal with bounceback from him being out of the cast, we'd deal. We had no other options at this point. So, we called the hospital and they cut it off at 1:30 for us. WHEW - good thing, too! It was baaad under there - far worse than we could see.
And, now, without further ado, the unwrapped present that is my son's spine...
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Sunday, March 23, 2008
A Beautiful (albeit Bizarre!) Easter
We had an awesome time with a small family gathering today - lots of yummy food, too many of my Grandma's best-in-the-world deviled eggs, and the most heavenly dessert from my Aunt. And, would you believe - SNOW?!
It was great just sitting around, talking, and listening to stories. That's a past time that we don't make time for often enough in this day and age. It reminds me of backyard barbecues, with the boisterous laughter of generations gone by.
Today was a sign that the tide is turning. Nothing went wrong, nothing was in crisis, no major problems, just good food, and good friends. We are blessed to be surrounded by loved ones and are so grateful for their time with us. Not only did they come and spend their afternoon and evening with us, they spent time hiding eggs, collecting eggs, making desserts and side dishes, driving a long way to sit and chat, and entertaining our kids. They brought laughter and joy (and a carpet cleaner!!!!) to a home that has been rather tumultuous this past week, and for that, I am grateful. The memories, and house, are fresh and life is good.
Happy Easter.
It was great just sitting around, talking, and listening to stories. That's a past time that we don't make time for often enough in this day and age. It reminds me of backyard barbecues, with the boisterous laughter of generations gone by.
Today was a sign that the tide is turning. Nothing went wrong, nothing was in crisis, no major problems, just good food, and good friends. We are blessed to be surrounded by loved ones and are so grateful for their time with us. Not only did they come and spend their afternoon and evening with us, they spent time hiding eggs, collecting eggs, making desserts and side dishes, driving a long way to sit and chat, and entertaining our kids. They brought laughter and joy (and a carpet cleaner!!!!) to a home that has been rather tumultuous this past week, and for that, I am grateful. The memories, and house, are fresh and life is good.
Happy Easter.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Should've built an ark...
Torrential rain
Rain. Lots and lots of rain.
Sump pump malfunctions.
Sump pump back up malfunctions.
Sump pump alarm malfunctions.
8 hours to fix with remote pump.
Basement play room.
Basement family room.
Basement office.
Basement full bath.
Basement utility room.
Carpet, pad - soaked. Entire room. Water pooled behind baseboards.
Bad. Very, very bad.
Not covered by insurance - priceless.
Rain. Lots and lots of rain.
Sump pump malfunctions.
Sump pump back up malfunctions.
Sump pump alarm malfunctions.
8 hours to fix with remote pump.
Basement play room.
Basement family room.
Basement office.
Basement full bath.
Basement utility room.
Carpet, pad - soaked. Entire room. Water pooled behind baseboards.
Bad. Very, very bad.
Not covered by insurance - priceless.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
A Foodie's Baby
Who would have thought that a foodie would have a child who didn't eat. Do you know how difficult that is?
Jack's solid efforts have backslid yet again. Sometimes we don't see it immediately. I think the stomach virus last month is the original culprit, but we know that solids are just not something he enjoys eating. A bite of banana here, a piece of cereal there - but no real meals, no real food.
He's been nightwaking terribly lately, and while I know that the second molars are part of the problem, a friend suggested that perhaps he's just genuinely hungry. So, we set out last night to find some kind of beverage to boost his calories during the day. There are so many issues tied to his eating. For the last 9 months, he has been denied the opportunity to eat with some regularity. I think the impact of that, psychologically, has played a huge role in his feeding issues. In addition, the cast is against his belly at all times. Surely drinking the most readily digested thing on earth is far more comfortable than eating, and perhaps he's just learned that at an early age.
So, we are continuing to offer a variety of foods, and I will continue to make him plates of food (just to throw them away a half hour later), and I will continue to stay neutral on the issue when inside I am pleading and begging.
Jack's solid efforts have backslid yet again. Sometimes we don't see it immediately. I think the stomach virus last month is the original culprit, but we know that solids are just not something he enjoys eating. A bite of banana here, a piece of cereal there - but no real meals, no real food.
He's been nightwaking terribly lately, and while I know that the second molars are part of the problem, a friend suggested that perhaps he's just genuinely hungry. So, we set out last night to find some kind of beverage to boost his calories during the day. There are so many issues tied to his eating. For the last 9 months, he has been denied the opportunity to eat with some regularity. I think the impact of that, psychologically, has played a huge role in his feeding issues. In addition, the cast is against his belly at all times. Surely drinking the most readily digested thing on earth is far more comfortable than eating, and perhaps he's just learned that at an early age.
So, we are continuing to offer a variety of foods, and I will continue to make him plates of food (just to throw them away a half hour later), and I will continue to stay neutral on the issue when inside I am pleading and begging.
Thursday, March 06, 2008
Groundbreaking case in autism/vaccine link
http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/03/05/autism.vaccines.ap/index.html
Although some slight misinformation was given (the thimerosol link isn't the only one - there are still heavy metals in vaccines that react in the body the same way and even though it's not allowed as an ingredient anymore in pediatric vaccines - yet - there is no link???? How does that make sense? We're not allowing it, but it's perfectly safe? Huh. Reaaally. It IS still in stockpiled vaccines and is still regularly distributed to our children.) It is STILL a fantastic advance on the vaccine/autism front. As I've said time and time again, I believe there is something far more complex than just this one particular ingredient, but that it plays a huge role. We don't know if it's toxicity, assault on an immature immune system, ingredients, dosages, or what - but we DO know there is a link between autism rates and vaccines and we're glad to hear that the courts are beginning to agree.
Although some slight misinformation was given (the thimerosol link isn't the only one - there are still heavy metals in vaccines that react in the body the same way and even though it's not allowed as an ingredient anymore in pediatric vaccines - yet - there is no link???? How does that make sense? We're not allowing it, but it's perfectly safe? Huh. Reaaally. It IS still in stockpiled vaccines and is still regularly distributed to our children.) It is STILL a fantastic advance on the vaccine/autism front. As I've said time and time again, I believe there is something far more complex than just this one particular ingredient, but that it plays a huge role. We don't know if it's toxicity, assault on an immature immune system, ingredients, dosages, or what - but we DO know there is a link between autism rates and vaccines and we're glad to hear that the courts are beginning to agree.
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Does anyone have a rental house at Gulf Shores?
Condo?
Time share?
Bueller??
Thought I'd ask here first :)
Time share?
Bueller??
Thought I'd ask here first :)
Jack Sign
Jack has started watching Signing Time movies and really picking up on the signs in them. Here are just a few that he's learned this week, and his new word!!!
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Cast Redo
Once again, the tummy bug has landed in our house.
Jack threw up for two days and now has the second phase of this virus, apparently. Yesterday we woke up to a horrific leaking diaper, having already been soaked from sleeping at night, it went out the front, back, and legs. His cast tee was soaked - under the tape and everything!!! Panic ensued. John changed him and then we went to work trying to clean it. We thought we'd been successful until the afternoon when I kept noticing he smelled sour. Having the most sensitive nose in the group, I thought maybe it was just me. But, I finally went to change him and decided something was off and I needed to investigate.
I started un-taping the cast and could not believe how bad it was. Soaked through the tee shirt, into the cotton padding, and UNDER the tape from the inside! I had to remove the entire bottom part of the cast's taping, the cotton underneath, and CUT OFF the shirt! It was that bad. Luckily, after four casts being padded and taped, I kind of knew what I was doing. This new hy-tape that they use in Birmingham is awful. It's SUPER sticky, but rolls at the edges. The colored duct tape we were using, per Chicago's cast tech's recommendation, worked so much better. But, I didn't want Jack to be mis-matched, so I went to work with the salmon colored hy-tape. I used the whole roll to re-do just the bottom. The new shirts are grey and supposedly anti-microbial, but the fibers are so much more rough and abrasive. I'm going to ask if we can get the old kind. It doesn't really make a difference in "odor" that I've found. But, the weave is much further apart and it makes for a less-soft interior. I noticed a spot at the top didn't look right, took it off and it was a HUGE JUMBLED MESS! The tape had, apparently, gotten stuck to itself, so they just taped right over it. No wonder this cast looked so wonky to me. So, I taped over that and tried to get it smoothed out.
Then, I did the underarms again. Poor baby! They were SO red and raw under his arms, and that's such a sensitive place. I pulled the shirt out and it was totally discolored - I assume from the raw skin weeping underneath! :( Poor boy!!! I pulled that part out, cut it off, and saw that this hy-tape had left adhesive and must've been repositioned underneath there when it was too close to the skin - so there was white sticky stuff against his skin this whole time!!!! No wonder it was irritated. Much to his dismay, I stuck a piece of moleskin underneath by carefully shifting his body to one side and laying him on his side. It hurt for a bit, but I think now he'll be much more comfortable.
I'm just so frustrated with this cast taping and SO SICK of stomach bugs. I was ready to go get the whole thing cut off last night and just move to a brace with a local doctor. But, I know this is important and we'll keep it up. I just hate that he (and we) have to go through this some days. It's just not fair! He shouldn't have to deal with a tummy bug AND a cast. :( Yuck!
Jack threw up for two days and now has the second phase of this virus, apparently. Yesterday we woke up to a horrific leaking diaper, having already been soaked from sleeping at night, it went out the front, back, and legs. His cast tee was soaked - under the tape and everything!!! Panic ensued. John changed him and then we went to work trying to clean it. We thought we'd been successful until the afternoon when I kept noticing he smelled sour. Having the most sensitive nose in the group, I thought maybe it was just me. But, I finally went to change him and decided something was off and I needed to investigate.
I started un-taping the cast and could not believe how bad it was. Soaked through the tee shirt, into the cotton padding, and UNDER the tape from the inside! I had to remove the entire bottom part of the cast's taping, the cotton underneath, and CUT OFF the shirt! It was that bad. Luckily, after four casts being padded and taped, I kind of knew what I was doing. This new hy-tape that they use in Birmingham is awful. It's SUPER sticky, but rolls at the edges. The colored duct tape we were using, per Chicago's cast tech's recommendation, worked so much better. But, I didn't want Jack to be mis-matched, so I went to work with the salmon colored hy-tape. I used the whole roll to re-do just the bottom. The new shirts are grey and supposedly anti-microbial, but the fibers are so much more rough and abrasive. I'm going to ask if we can get the old kind. It doesn't really make a difference in "odor" that I've found. But, the weave is much further apart and it makes for a less-soft interior. I noticed a spot at the top didn't look right, took it off and it was a HUGE JUMBLED MESS! The tape had, apparently, gotten stuck to itself, so they just taped right over it. No wonder this cast looked so wonky to me. So, I taped over that and tried to get it smoothed out.
Then, I did the underarms again. Poor baby! They were SO red and raw under his arms, and that's such a sensitive place. I pulled the shirt out and it was totally discolored - I assume from the raw skin weeping underneath! :( Poor boy!!! I pulled that part out, cut it off, and saw that this hy-tape had left adhesive and must've been repositioned underneath there when it was too close to the skin - so there was white sticky stuff against his skin this whole time!!!! No wonder it was irritated. Much to his dismay, I stuck a piece of moleskin underneath by carefully shifting his body to one side and laying him on his side. It hurt for a bit, but I think now he'll be much more comfortable.
I'm just so frustrated with this cast taping and SO SICK of stomach bugs. I was ready to go get the whole thing cut off last night and just move to a brace with a local doctor. But, I know this is important and we'll keep it up. I just hate that he (and we) have to go through this some days. It's just not fair! He shouldn't have to deal with a tummy bug AND a cast. :( Yuck!
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