Happy Birthday ET!

Your 3rd birthday is one I will not forget.  Taking you to the ER is definitely NOT anything I thought about doing on your birthday.  I'm so glad that you are feeling better, despite still having hives.  ET I love you so much!  I am so glad that you are part of our family.  You bring me such great joy!  I see the love that you have for your family, especially your brother.  You are continually learning and growing.  I am proud of you for adjusting to preschool.  You are doing so well with new words and and learning to put those words into sentences.

You have gotten so big and although you are only 3 years old, it seems like you have been with us much longer than that!  I cannot imagine our life without you.  

I love that you are still a momma's boy and you love to cuddle with me.  Today, you wanted me to lay down with you during nap time.  I loved watching your eyelids get heavy and your breathing deepen.  You look so peaceful as you sleep.  And it always makes me laugh as your binky falls out of your mouth but you still think it's there and continue to move your tongue .

I love how silly you are.  You love to be a daredevil and give mom heart attacks almost every day.  You are VERY independent and like to do everything yourself, including climbing into your carseat.  

ET you are THREE years old!  It makes my heart so happy to see you growing into the little boy you are.  I just can't express it enough.  So I'll end this post and go see you sleep in your room and kiss you again.  

XOXO MOM

Hivey Birthday!

On Monday night my kids spent the night at my parents house because there was a 2 hour delay for school the next day.  When the kids woke up my mom noticed hives all over ET's torso.  She sent me this picture. I didn't think much of it, give him benadryl and I figured they would go away.  

The next picture she sent was this one, she took KK and ET to the splash pad and he looked like he was having a great time.  Mom even said that the hives were clearing a bit.

After working 13 hours, I called Mr. H. to let him know that I was on my way home.  He was KK's soccer practice and he said that ET's hives were still there and now he refuses to walk or sit.  Mr. H. said the only position comfortable for him was to lay down.  I asked for a picture.

By the time I got home, his hives spread to his face, neck, arms, and legs.  His legs and feet were swollen, as well as his hands.  He couldn't walk/stand or even hold things with his hands.

After baths, brushing teeth, and nightly prayers we tucked to boys into bed.  My plans were to call ET's doctors office in the morning.  Mr. H and I have been binge watching Big Bang Theory and after a couple episodes, I went to check on the kids and kiss them goodnight one more time and I noticed that ET's lips were swelling and there were more hives.  My first thought is his air-way.  I was afraid that if we waited until the morning that his airway would be compromised and we wouldn't know because we all were sleeping.  I was already tired from working my shift, but we made the decision to take him to Children's ER.

It was midnight when I left for the hospital.  KK was still asleep so Mr. H, stayed at home.  By the time I got there, his eyes and ears were swelling.  They got us in pretty quickly.  He was satting at 100% and no wheezing or stridor, which was good.  The whole time we were there he kept saying, "I go home and take a nap".  He didn't want to be there anymore.  I cuddled and sang to him, hoping he would fall asleep.  He got VERY tired, but didn't sleep.  The doctor was awesome, he made ET feel comfortable while he poked and looked at ET.  One of the nurses also gave him 3 new hot wheels cars for his birthday!  I digress, Doctor said, "a lot of times we have no idea what causes an allergic reaction."  Which, if you think about it, it's kind of scary.  Since benadryl didn't seem to be working, the doctor prescribed atarax and steriods.  He received his first dose before we left the hospital.  We got home at about 3:30 in the morning.  I was exhausted.  And after getting ET comfortable in bed and texting family to let them know we were home I finally went to bed and closed my eyes...only to check on him about 5 more times until I woke up for the day.

This morning, his hives almost completely went away.  He is able to walk and to grip things in his hands.  That made me very happy.  He took his meds like a champ throughout the day and we celebrated his birthday by going out to lunch with Mr. H.  We plan on doing something special this weekend.

His lips are still a little swollen, but nothing like they did at the hospital.

About 2 hours after these pictures above were taken, I noticed that ET's hives were coming back.  All over his back and face.  I'm worried because we don't know when he is getting into.  Nothing is different...soaps, detergent, food, I can't think of anything, except that he slept over at my parents house and he's never done that before.

This is at bedtime, after medication was given.  You can see the hives around his eyes.  He has a doctor's well check visit tomorrow and you better believe that I'm going to want her to address this and give me guidance.  He can't continue to have reactions like this.  I'm hoping for some answers.  In the meantime, I will continue to check on him throughout the night...because I LOVE THIS BOY SO MUCH!

First Big Boo Boo

Last night KK wanted his nails done, this was his pattern idea.  He wanted to take a picture and send it to his Grandma in Virginia.  This morning when he woke up, he couldn't stop looking at his nails and he was happy.  

On this Valentine's Day I am grateful that I wasn't working.  We didn't have anything planned except to go to church and be with family.  Church was uplifting, I love my calling as a primary teacher.  Mr. H. and I are team teachers, which is perfect for when I am at work, he can teach the kids.  We teach KK's class, kids who are 9 and are going to turn 10 this year.  10 years old, I cannot believe that KK will be 10.  He has grown up so fast.  I have loved most every minute of it.  While I am thinking about it, ET will be 3 this summer.  He also has grown up so fast and I have loved most every minute of it.  Except for the Boo Boo's.  Tonight before dinner ET was crawling off our bed and his feet slipped from under a box he was standing on and he smacked his mouth on the foot board of the bed. I didn't see it, but Mr. H. was there.  He either bit through his lip, or when he hit the foot board with his mouth he bit his lip too.  Not quite sure, but he was bleeding pretty good.  He probably needed a couple stitches under his lip, but the trauma from the numbing shot and doctor and nurse in his face, I didn't think it was worth it.  More than likely he will have a scar.  The bleeding eventually slowed and he was eating and drinking normally so we didn't bother with an urgent care visit.  I've made the same decision with KK, click here.  I guess being a nurse, my kids will need to have bones sticking out and missing limbs in order for me to justify taking them to the hospital.  But, in all seriousness, ET seemed to have recovered nicely, but now has a swollen lip.  Tonight, sucking his binkie was hurting him, but his binkie still gives him that comfort so he's been just keeping it in his mouth.