ear infection?

Last night, around 5:30am, J came into my room crying that his ear hurt him, and he couldn't sleep :( Of course, my first thought is an ear infection, but he hasn't had one in over 2yrs. Yes, he keeps getting tubes yearly, but they've been bc of fluid on the ears affecting his hearing, not bc of infections. So, I gave him some tylenol, and after about an hour of tossing and turning, he finally fell back to sleep.

When the alarm went off from preschool, EVERYONE was sleeping soundly in bed w/me (Asher had joined me in bed around 4:30am), so I turned it off and went back to sleep. I figured if I was this exhausted, they probably were as well...well, at least J was probably exhausted. Asher slept through everything non-phased which is a good thing I guess. When everyone woke up at 9am, the first thing I did was make a doctor's appt. J said his ear felt better, and I was beginning to think I was just going to waste my time. But, I stuck w/my instinct to take him in.

So, we get to the doctor's and the first thing she does is listen to his chest. Normal, it's what they always do. She tells me she hears wheezing in his chest. I was surprised. She said she never would have guessed it either w/out listening to his chest. So, his asthma is flared...yay, NOT! She looks in his right ear and asks "which ear did you say was hurting?" I let her know it was his left ear he was complaining about. She says, "well, the right ear looks clear, but the tube has fallen out." She says, "it's still laying in the canal, and there is a hole in the ear drum from where it was." She goes on to explain that if the tube just recently fell out, it could heal itself. But, depending on when it fell out, he could need to see the ENT if it's not healing on it's own. Then she looks in his left ear and says she understands why he woke up in pain. She says that he has a nasty ear infection, and she wouldn't be surprised if his ear drum ruptures. YAY again...NOT!!!

He went home instructed to continue his pulmicort, start his albuterol, and was put on omnicef and given ear drops. Yep, he took home the pharmacy. I'm just really praying that he gets feeling better soon bc he's supposed to go skiing next week w/Shaun and his family. And while, I know Shaun wouldn't keep J home bc he knows how much J loves skiing, I fear that actually taking him skiing will only flare his asthma more and hinder the ear infection healing. So, I'm praying that my baby heals fast, and that Shaun will use good judgment when it comes to what he lets J do and for how long when he takes him away.

He goes to the ENT monday the 8th, and I guess we'll go from there.....

Happy 4th Birthday Asher!

Disney World

I got the idea in my head a few months ago, that depending on how much I got back from my tax refund, that I wanted to take the boys to Disney World. After getting my money back, figuring out how much was going into savings, and how much was needed for the things I needed to buy, I then looked at how much I had left to see if it was doable.

When I first started exploring, the price was a little steep, which I guess is to be expected. I mean, I'm sure it wasn't really a bad deal, just more than I had planned on. I'd been hoping to drive and stay w/a friend, but the staying w/a friend fell through and driving sounded more and more like a bad idea the longer I thought on it. So, I'd almost given up after getting my first few quotes, bc I knew how much I was and was not willing to spend. And, the quotes I'd found were just not something I was willing to pay. But, I kept looking and tweaking things, and almost cut the cost in half. Originally I was planning on a 4day trip, staying in Disney so we didn't have to rent a car, and doing 2days in the park. What I ended up doing was renting a car, staying out of Disney, and going to Disney 1day and Seaworld another day. I really think the boys will enjoy the variety more than 2days at Disney, and I found some really good deals that I just couldn't pass up.

So, I'm excited to say that March 29th through April 2nd, the boys, my mom, my sister Charity, and I will be going to Florida for a vacation!! I'm SOOO excited :D It's kinda like an early bday present to myself, and I must say I'm THRILLED to be able to have this memory w/my boys! This will be their 2nd year of going skiing w/Shaun and his family, which J talks about and remembers as if it was yesterday. It's something he really enjoys. I'm hoping that this will be a memory that years from now, he'll still be talking about!

Happy 5th Birthday Jaden!!

Asher's Evaluation

So, on Wednesday Asher went to be evaluated for a mood disorder. I had no intentions of putting him on meds, still don't for that matter, but I wanted to know all of what I'm dealing with when it comes to my son. So, after taking a history and observing Asher, the conclusion is that he is probably ADHD and that he has an up/down mood disorder which when googled points to bipolar. They lady wants him to be neurologically tested, though she's not sure if they will since he's so young. We go back to see her in about 6wks. She wants to have his hearing checked and do some blood work on him. She agrees that OT is the best thing for him at this time. In fact, I'm in the process of having him switched to Kinetic Kids bc I'm told they do a better job not only w/the child but w/involving the family. Kyle (his current OT) does a great job w/him, but most of the time, I don't find it very informative or helpful for me. So, we're going to give this other place a try bc Krissy (his worker) thinks he should be making better progress by now.
On the day of the evaluation, I wanted to post this, but I was just too overwhelmed by it all. I just feel like, if it's not one thing, it's another. J has all these health issues, and now Asher is having mental issues. Sometimes I wonder just how strong God thinks I am, bc He sure is giving me a lot to handle! I just ask for prayers. Prayers that we'll find the best way to help Asher, and God willing, that he'd be healed all together!! I love both of my boys, and all I want for them is to have the happiest and fullest life they can!!