Sew It To Me

I'm really excited with the new project I've undertaken.  One of my really good friends, Eva, and I have started a new blog.  This blog features sewing projects and just sewing projects.  We'll feature one person's work a day and in the process I get so see some really cute stuff and how to make it!

If you are a seamstress and would like to be featured or know of anyone that would, check out our blog for information at http://www.sewittome.blogspot.com/.

And just check it out anyway because it is really cool.  I designed it myself and learned a lot about html code and how to alter it to your liking.

Oh, and become a follower.  You'll want to!

We are also on FB and Twitter. :)

Really?

As I look back on last week, all I can think is, "That's really weird."
I met with Daniel's pediatrician and he went over all of the test results with me.  Everything was normal. 

I wanted to know exactly what happened and asked him lots of questions.  I'm a pretty relaxed mom when I visit him, but not this time and I prepared him for it.  And . . .  he was very thorough and resolved all of my concerns.

Now that we know what happened, I can write about a few of the illnesses we were afraid Daniel had:

1.  Leukemia
2.  Juvenile Arthritis
3.  HS purpura

Some pretty scary stuff.  Let's just say last week was extremely stressful.  I shared an experience in my Relief Society lesson yesterday and I'd like to post it here.

After the doctor saw Daniel's bruises in the ER, his treatment immediately went from oral Benadryl to blood panels, a urine sample and an IV with three medications injected through the IV.  I was freaking out inside.  Carlo had to go and do something at work before he could come to the E.R., so for three and a half hours I sat by Daniel's side not knowing what was wrong.

Daniel is a special spirit.  If we were to know our "spiritual age", he would be much older than I.  He is a wise, old soul even at the age of five.  I've even had quite a few people mention this to me.  I was thinking about all of this while in the ER and I knew it would be okay if he was taken from us.  He's already done so much good in his five years of life.  He's an example to me and I'm his mom!

To some, this may seem like an unusual thought process for a mom, but I know we will all be together again after this life.  My family is eternal. 

While in the ER, I was given the peace and comfort I needed.

And so, in the end, Daniel was allergic to his viral infection.  Weird.  Right?  It baffles me that we already get sick from viral infections, but to then have your body literally be allergic to the virus.  Really?  So, his antibodies attacked the virus and then started attacking him because they were confused from the histamines released from the allergic reaction.  That is according to my understanding via an explanation given to Daniel from his pediatrician using verbage from a Wii tank game he loves.  Wow.

Each day his skin reacts better to being touched and no one would even know anything happened.  Over the past week, he has been taking four medications to get his body back on track. 

I'm grateful for modern medicine.

Waiting for the Unknown

Compassion, sympathy, thoughts, kinds words and prayers offered are just a few of the things that have brought me to tears today.  These things have been the good parts of my day.

On Monday morning, Daniel broke out in hives.  They disappeared before school started and broke out again before his scheduled well check with the pediatrician.  Our pediatrician examined him and said the hives are normal with viral infections- he's getting over a cough and cold.

Tuesday afternoon, Daniel began complaining of foot pain.  By dinner, he was limping around the house and crying.  His feet were swollen along with his hands and he cried whenever I touched his feet.  In the middle of the night, he woke up to go to the bathroom and didn't quite make it.  I laid him back in bed and tried to change his pajamas, but he screamed every time I touched his feet and just lay there curled up in the fetal position.  The way he held his hands made it look like they were deformed and crippled.

By the morning time, he wasn't looking much better and we'd already given him a few doses of Benadryl.  It was time for the emergency room. 

I love the Summerlin Pediatric ER.  We were in right away and only had to wait for the doctor to see a few other patients before us.  He came in and wanted Daniel in a gown so he could check his whole body.  Well, while putting Daniel in the gown, I noticed his feet and hands had started bruising.

The doctor came in and looked at the bruising and immediately started whispering (so Daniel couldn't hear) that he needed to take blood to run a clot test along with some other tests, a urine sample and he needed an IV put in.  At this point, I was scared.  But I had to put on a brave face for Daniel

This was the first time he had an IV and his blood drawn.  He was a champ.  I joked with him about being a vampiire and now he had blood to drink.  All the while I had my arm around his head and held down his arm so he wouldn't jump.  He was so brave and it helped me to be calm.  I felt like crying so many times.

The doctor and nurse were amazed with him and claimed he was the easiest patient, so they showered him with popsicles, toys and stickers.  That was nice for him to get pampered.

After awhile and lots of medication pushed through his IV, Daniel finally started looking better.  The doctor came back with the labs and said everything looked good, but I needed to follow up with his doctor in two days.  We also need to wait for a few days to see what the urine and blood culture show up.  The hives are from a viral infection causing angioedema, but we don't know what is causing the bruising and swelling in his feet.  Hopefully, we will get some answers when we meet with his pediatrician on Friday.

I am frightened out of my mind to be honest.  I tend to overreact, but I'd just like to know what is causing this.  He's my baby.

He was fine the rest of the day, but this evening he started breaking out in hives again and his feet are bruising again.  I can hardly wait until Friday.  I hope and pray we get some answers then.

This is how it looked when it started.

 

This is what he looked like tonight right when he started breaking out again.  And if anything touches him more than a soft touch, it leaves a mark for almost 30 minutes.

 (I really wish I had taken my camera to the E.R.  He looked so horrible while we were there.  And I just kept thinking, "Why didn't I think to bring my camera?"  I'm such a great mom!)

 

The Primary Song

Life has been extremely busy lately.  Honestly, I love it.  I'm happier when I am busy. 

Sure, it comes with some complaining on my part, but I love not wasting time.  Alas, the love affair I have had with my T.V. has come to an end.

My volunteer work took up a lot of my time this week.  I had two peer support groups along with a newly established monthly meeting with my co-coordinator.  Along with the meetings, I have spent a lot of time getting organized and reading support materials.  Once I get my feet wet, it will get easier and slow down- so I've been told.

My mother has been my biggest supporter and a huge help.  She spent so much time this week watching my children.  I even started getting emotional when I dropped them off on Friday.  It's been awhile since I had spent so much time away from my little darlings.  It was good for me to miss them.  I am so blessed to have my mom near by so I can go and not worry about my children.

With my busy week, my home and laundry had been neglected.  I decided this morning I would follow the Primary song, "Saturday is a special day, it's the day we get ready for Sunday.  We clean our house . . ."  I know some of you are singing the song in your head as you read this.  It's going to be stuck in there all day long!

Yes, I cleaned my whole house today and did all of my laundry.  I'd like to insert a little pat on my back *right here*.  I'm so glad we don't have a huge house. 

But cleaning did come with some mishaps.

1.  I went to get my broom and dustpan.  The tiny broom was missing.  I called Carlo.  He took it to work.  That was easy to supplement.

2.  I was in the midst of cleaning our master shower.  I hate cleaning this more than anything.  I just start and the lights go out.  For the second time in two weeks, someone flipped our breakers!!!!!  The crazy woman in me is convinced they are trying to break into our house when I open up the door to go flip them back on.  So, I walked out the front door with a Mag light in hand (the only weapon-like item I could find) and left instructions with Daniel to keep the door locked.  No one attacked me, thank goodness.  But Carlo is buying a lock for our breaker box on his way home from work.

3.  I went to get my handle brush to scrub the bottom of the shower.  All three were missing.  I called Carlo.  He took it to work.  Do you see some sort of theme here?  He did that recently with my blowdryer.  That was a fun day.  Anyway, our shower is not as clean as I would like it, but I did my best.

I feel accomplished.  And I'm looking forward to a clean house for Sunday.

The Coolest Cupcake Blog Ever!

My best friend Cory started a cupcake blog with pictures of cute cupcakes.  I think the blog address speaks for itself.  View it, become a follower and make some cute cupcakes!


http://cutecupcakesallthetime.blogspot.com/