The Illness That Wouldn't End

Let me start by saying that if you think you have the flu or any sort of congestion, please see a doctor right away.  This year’s flu is nothing to laugh at; not to mention all the other non-flu things going around.  Please get checked out, especially your little ones.  You know them better than anyone.

There is nothing scarier than a sick child, especially one that can’t tell you what is wrong.  I know many other parents with children that don’t speak or can’t speak having this same problem.  It is even more difficult when trying to explain to a physician who isn’t familiar with your child that they can’t tell you what hurts or where.  After this 3-week long illness struggle, Hayden has seen 3 different physicians and multiple nurses.  My physician was the only one who understood that he couldn’t tell him what was wrong and to listen to what I noticed and to fully check him over.  The important areas like ears, nose, throat and chest – not blood pressure and oxygen levels.

This speaks to the differences throughout healthcare from facility to doctor to state.  For both Hayden and I, this started in New Mexico, so we both had to go to Urgent Care.  My visit was great and straight forward, but I had Strep and tested positive for it, so it was a no brainer.  Hayden’s visit was much trickier.  Both the nurse and the doctor asked him what hurt, even after I had told them he was autistic and didn’t talk yet.  He was resistant to being examined, like most children with autism, and his symptoms had just started.  Did I mention he started on the day we were flying back home? They got him on an antibiotic, but this turned up to be a more serious infection (for both of us) and we were in to see my physician the day after we got back. 

In the meantime, we were to have several meetings for Hayden’s annual re-certification in both school and in-home services.  Those had to be cancelled and rescheduled and there would be no school for Hayden.  He did still go to outpatient therapy, but I should have kept him home the first day.  Both speech and OT stated he was very quiet and lethargic – two words not used when describing Hayden.  In Hayden’s case, he had a cough and a runny nose and had been on an antibiotic for 2 days.  We figured he was ok to go.

As I wrote about last time, Hayden did in fact relapse and so did I.  I ended up back at the Dr. before he did.  We both went on something new and are (knock on wood) in the clear.  It was difficult to tell what was going on with Hayden, but I could just tell he was off.  When he spiked two fevers after the antibiotic was done, we got him right in.  Now, thankfully, we are all better and with that comes the return of our normal, healthy Hayden, energetic and full of life.

It seems he is making up for lost time in all areas.  I feel as if we are feeding a teenager right now.  The child eats non-stop, where it goes I don’t know.  Plus, he’s into everything and wants to help.  Anyone who has or has had a toddler knows how that goes.  He’s having trouble understanding that while things were lax while he was sick, it is not the case anymore.  We’re adjusting back into following the rules.  A much bigger challenge to say the least.

My point to all this is don’t hesitate to take your child to the doctor, urgent care or even the ER – or yourself for that matter! It’s better to be safe than sorry.  I’ve heard of people having what Hayden and I had, individuals with the flu and others with something respiratory – all very difficult to fight.  Take care of yourselves – rest and fluids.  For many of us, it’s difficult to not take on too much and get run down, but do try.  If you start to feel sick, watch yourself closely and drink plenty of fluids.  I love Vitamin Water (I should note that I am not affiliated with them.)!

Take care of yourselves my friends!  Continue to BE THE CHANGE!

Always,

Sheri

I'm Back Part Deux

As soon as I posted that I was back, reality said, “Yes you are and I’m taking advantage of it.” Since getting back from New Mexico, we have been hitting the ground running, not as fast as was planned at first, but running nonetheless.  Ok maybe a jog, headed into a run, as Hayden and I recovered from some pretty nasty infections.   I had strep throat and a horrible sinus infection; he had a double ear infection and a horrible sinus infection with a croup-like cough.  You can hopefully see why it’s taken me so long to get back – this was tough to bounce right back from, especially when you add jet lag. 

My little man is still recovering and may be relapsing.  He started spiking a fever today and doesn’t want to eat or drink or take Tylenol.   I can’t blame on the Tylenol because he has been on some pretty serious stuff that I’m sure tasted awful – a steroid and the thickest antibiotic I have ever seen for a child.  We ended up hiding it in his Danimals smoothies that he drinks.  Luckily for us, he drinks them quick and completely.  It was a struggle with meds this time around.  The most bizarre thing is that Tylenol was never in that group, nor was the antibiotic, but now he is group them all into one category.

It is amazing how their little minds work.  I wish I could see what is going on in there.  He recalls things I would never remember, if it weren’t for him.  Now mind you he still isn’t talking, not much has changed on that front, but once I figure out what’s going on and I realize it’s because of something that happened before, my mind is blown. 

If I am really honest, this child blows my mind every day.  I think he is severely underestimated for what he knows and can do because of his lack of verbal communication.  I am with him every day and have just started realizing some things myself.  For example – letters of the alphabet.

Awhile back his TSS and I decided to start an activity with him called a letter of the week box.  Each week would feature a new letter of the alphabet with different items starting with that letter, activities, etc.  the purpose was to teach him the letters of the alphabet and recognize them.  What we found out was that he already knew them, EVERY letter.  I can’t tell you when this happened or how, but he knows them.  We (meaning my husband and I, his TSS, his teachers, his therapists, etc.) work with him on many things and at some point he picked up on what the alphabet was and each letter in it. 

This is where special needs children can blow your mind if you let them.  Instead of individuals looking at them for what they lack, I hope they look at them for what they are and what it is that they excel at. I’ve really had my mind opened.  I can admit that I wasn’t as open as I should have been and I’ve made a vow to be better, which is the best an y of us can do.  Once I made that vow and started paying attention, it was like a whole new outlook on things came forward.  I was looking at everything differently, things I’d been doing or experiencing and seeing my whole life changed.  It was amazing.

 I credit my son for making me a better.  I’ve changed a lot since he’s come into this world and even He helped me change, now I want to fuel others to change. 

As I wrap this up, think about what you could do in your life to change.  It could be anything, believe me the list is endless. I still have lots to adjust.  I challenge you to start looking at yourself and make a change.  This is the essence of the be the change movement.  If we change ourselves, we can change the world!

Always,

Sheri