Friday, February 29, 2008

Playing in the snow

Finally we got some snow!! Here are the boys enjoying (for the most part) taking a walk around our neighborhood. Gabe would take mouthfuls of snow and say, "num num lelicious". Translation - delicious.


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Ben and his Darth Vader gas mask


Ben is showing off some of his best sword fighting poses while wearing his "Darth Vader" mask - it's the oxygen mask he got from the ride to the hospital in the ambulance.

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Why We Love Kids

Friday, February 22, 2008

Adventures with Allergies

Ben has a severe peanut allergy. I found out last night that it means ALL nuts. I was having a delightful snack of pistachios and Ben came along and asked what I was eating. I told him what they were and how Papa likes to eat them too. Then I remembered that Ben had eaten pistachios before. So, I thought he would be okay to have one. I gave him one and asked how he was doing. He said he was fine, but his tongue was starting to itch. OH NO! Here we go. I gave him some Benadryl as his lips started to swell. Then he said his throat was bothering him and started frantically scratching at his ears and head. (This was at 5:00 pm. I gave him the Benadryl at about 5:15). So as I am watching him and dreading the worst he starts desparately scratching his throat. "My throat feels heavy!"

I sat and watched him for about 15 minutes then got out the dreaded epi-pen. I first took the sample pen (which has no needle - it's just to test how hard to SLAM it into the leg) and did it a few times on my leg just to see how hard I would have to thrust it into Ben's leg. I call his doc and ask if it is time to give the epi-pen and he said yes, then call 911.

So this is where the fun really begins. As soon as Ben sees the epi-pen he starts screaming (in terror) and yelling about how much he hates shots. I completely understand and frankly I wish I didn't have to give the shot. Also, I remember that he doesn't have any underwear on (he did a little pre-poop streak earlier and he refuses to wear them once that has happened). For some weird reason I am thinking he needs to have underwear on if he is going to the hospital. Strange, I know. I have to take his pants off anyway to give him the shot. Before I do anything (because I really don't want to do the shot and I am stalling) I call 911. Ben is screaming bloody murder and the 911 operator asks if that is Ben screaming in the background. Yes - he just doesn't want the shot (translation - I am not beating him nor is he screaming in pain - just anticipation of pain). The ambulance is on the way and I am wrestling with Ben to get his pants off. He is freakishly strong. I literally have him upside down and am holding by his pant legs as he is holding his pants on. The only way to get his pants off is to yank his hands away and tear his pants off (more humiliation and therapy).

Once his pants are off I manage to get him to stay still only by putting my entire body on top of him. I take a couple of deep breaths and basically stab Ben in the thigh and hold it for 10 seconds. Crazy! I also got him to put on underwear. Ben's reponse to all this is to accusingly say,"MOM YOU HURT ME! YOU STABBED ME!" This is all true.

The ambulance arrives about 10 seconds later and they check him out and say everything looks good. They ask me if I want him to go to the hospital. I said no, I would rather him be at home if he was ok. Then they tell me that the symptoms may return once the epi-pen wears off. WHAT? They tell us (Mike is home by now) to watch him and call if the symptoms resume. OK. 10 minutes after they leave, I kid you not, Ben starts frantically scratching his ears and head and I lift up his shirt and he has this angry red rash all over his back and tummy, really it is all over his body. He says his throat feels heavy again. So, I call 911 AGAIN! This time we are going to the hospital.

Ben had an exciting ride to the hospital - they used the flashing lights and sirens. Once in the hospital they gave him some sort of anti-allergy medication and after about an hour and a half of observation (which means that the nurse checks in about every 30 minutes) the rash died down and we were free to leave.

CRAZY! So, I promise I will never give Ben ANY nuts or anything that has been near a nut! Giving him the epi-pen was traumatic for the both of us and I don't want to repeat that!

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Will Ben need therapy?

So for the past couple days Ben has had severe constipation. He spent about 3 hours sitting on the toilet on Monday. Sidebar - Ben sat on the toilet completely naked - I don't understand this need to remove all his clothes while he is trying to go number 2. I asked him several times if he would like a jacket or a shirt to which he says or yells, "NO!". Strange. Not only did he log some serious naked toilet time, but he walked around very stiff legged with his little bum poking out. Obviously he was uncomfortable. I kindly offered Ben a solution to his problem - a shot of glycerin in his tush. Ben screamed his objections to this offer. I tried to reason with him..."Ben, you would rather be uncomfortable all day long then experience 30 seconds of discomfort?" Again, more screams of terror. On Monday night after spending another 45 minutes sitting on the toilet he said he would probably never poo again. It was kind of looking that way. He walked stiffly to bed and stiffly climbed in.

Tuesday morning Mike and I were determined to provide him with some relief. Mike and I reasoned, cajoled, threatened, and bribed him. We told him that if he took the "bum medicine" he could have chocolate ice cream in a cone for breakfast. He would still not relent. So, Mike and I were driven to drastic measures. I am so ashamed to admit this, but Mike took Ben, kicking and screaming, bent him over his knee and I pulled down his underpants and VERY QUICKLY administered the glycerin. NOT FUN FOR ANYONE. Ben ran to the bathroom and later exclaimed - happily I might add - that the poo exploded out of his bum. Of course we talked about it later and I told him how we were sorry we did what we did. Then I asked him if he felt better and he said he did. I could tell he was feeling better because he was back to being his happy, silly, moving easily self.

So, the question we asked ourselves later - will our child be in therapy relating to his therapist the painful humiliation he experienced? Hopefully not. Of course now that this is written maybe he will be in therapy for airing his dirty laundry.

Thursday, February 14, 2008

OUCH My Back!

So, I haven't written or posted picts for a while. Partially due to laziness and then mostly due to the fact that on Sunday night, while preparing a lovely Sunday dinner of roast ham - my back seized up on me. I almost landed head first in the oven with the ham - then we would have had roast ham and roasted Jill for dinner. Fortunately, I managed to push myself away from the oven onto the floor. I yelled for Mike - "HELP, I've fallen and I can't get up!" Well, not quite, but almost. So, for the past week I have been a little out of it. I am living on the couch or the bed. Today, Ben and I watched Star Wars movies and we fought with our light sabres while Ben jumped around and I stayed on the couch. I mostly used the force.

Anyway, hopefully I will be back to my fighting self in a couple of days. Went to the chiropractor yesterday. Not sure it helped, but at least now I can walk instead of shuffle. Going to the chiroprator again tomorrow. We have had lots of help. Mike worked from home on Monday so he could run the kids around and take me to the doctor. On Tuesday Margie Clark took the boys to Chuck E Cheese for most of the day - which they loved. I managed the boys yesterday and today. Everybody has been great.

Anyway, hope all is well. I'll post some pictures soon! Love to all!

Jill