Hasbro: It's a summer destination too!

We never did make it to the beach last week.

The next morning, the Doodle Bop woke up with blood sugar issues (from dropping weight earlier in the week I am sure) that I had not seen in over two years with him. Then? He started breaking out like crazy. We could only use the Benadryl every six hours, but less than four would go by and he would be all blotchy. I called the pediatrician and spoke with the nurse. They said I could not under any circumstances give him more Benadryl before the six hours was up and assured me he would be fine.

But he was looking like this...

And this. And crying that he was oh so itchy. As time went on, I started to panic.

I took the boys to Al's office because the Doodle Bop was missing Daddy. When I got there, Danielle called me to come over so she could take a look at him. Once she saw him, she agreed he should go to the hospital. These photos don't even really do what he looked like justice. She and her husband kept my other two guys and off to Hasbro the Doodle Bop and I went.

Everyone was so nice. They got us in immediately upon seeing him. I was showing everyone I could some of the photos I had taken of him as the week went along. I do document so many things with the boys, but not usually stages of sickness. Something about this time though, made me feel like I needed to keep photos of what I was seeing. Something felt so... off. Yes we had been to the doctor's office twice and I had called in on the other days ... but something made me store photos here and there on my cell.

The first doctor didn't seem very concerned, she told me the same thing my pedi's office had. It was the second doctor who finally put me at ease. I hear you have some pictures, he said ... and he asked me some questions before he took a look at them. As I answered, he was telling the intern with him it sounded like a classic case. He needed to see the photos to be sure.

I showed him what his throat had looked like, along with the progression of the splotches.

Yes, the other doctor's had all been right - the irritation he was having now was an overactive auto immune response to his body trying to fight off the germs. But what everyone else missed? Was that it started with Coxsackie. In his throat only.

Because of course. Because the Doodle Bop always has his two fingers in his mouth...which is how he got hand foot and mouth when he was two. I am always warning this child he is going to get sick from picking up germs like that.

While it would not have changed anything medically, had we known about the Coxsackie, I never would have exposed him to other kids that morning when we thought he was no longer contagious. I couldn't help feeling mad. How did 3 other doctors miss what another could tell just by looking at some cell phone photos (photos that 2 of those 3 doctors saw in person).

More Benadryl, a Popsicle and a few hours later, we were sent home with a script for something similar to Benadryl but stronger. And a warning that he would still be considered contagious till Monday. It was awful having to give up taking everyone to Boston on Saturday to see some old friends from college. We sent Al to represent the family and spent the day on the couch.

Today is the 9th day since the Doodle Bop got sick. The Big Guy fought off what I think was the start of the same thing, the Bunny Bee never got it. Tomorrow we can go back to our old routine. Tuesday means swim lessons, then wrestling practice. While I cancelled all appointments through today, I decided we were close enough and the boys had been stuck inside enough.

We took off to the beach for a few hours.

The crew.

They were all pretty low key today, but the water was cold and I think they were still moving a little slow from being home for so long. They actually asked to leave the beach. Usually it's me trying to drag three boys out who do.not.want.to.leave.yet.Mommy!

I think we will head back again tomorrow. For however long they want to stay - but not all day - because we have swim and wrestling to get back to. I think it will be good for them. No matter how sick they were over the last week, it never fully stopped them from randomly practicing wrestling and gymnastics moves.

I am so looking forward to being back in the swing of our normal routine, as busy as it is. I feel like I need to soak up every last bit of summer over the next few weeks. 

16 days

16 days without blogging. Might be some kind of record for me... although I suspect I may have gone that long with all the Boston stuff I could not blog about. I hate having so much to say and not being able to say it in this space. Especially when I want to shout parts of it from the rooftops.

The Doodle Bop is shouting it from the rooftops if you see him. I will just tell you that the twins got recognized for the first time this morning and while I wasn't sure how I felt about it, they were ecstatic and grinning from ear to ear. After that? Every stop we made ended with the Doodle Bop telling a random cashier his news. And every single one ignored him. My poor guy.

Part of me gets it. When a five year old is telling you something sort of unbelievable of course you don't believe it. But it would be nice if you gave the littlest smile, nod, or even an oh really?

The last few weeks have been crazy as usual, and crazy different at the same time. The Doodle Bop and I got rear ended by a car full of teenage boys on our way to the market a week and a half ago. We were just one block away, stopped at a stop light for a good minute ... and bang. I could not even comprehend what had happened because I had not been in the act of stopping. We had been stopped. What the heck happened?! 

I was so thankful to be in a truck. LOVE my Ford Explorer. While we are still waiting to see what is wrong with ours, it appears we may only need a new bumper. The other car? The entire front was smashed up. The teary eyed kid admitted to me he took his eyes off the road for a few seconds and he was so sorry - and then tried to tell me we didn't need the police because only his car was damaged. Um...no. I explained that I had a 5 year old in the car and we were calling the police. The Doodle Bop ended up being taken to Hasbo by ambulance as a precaution and it was horrible to see him on a backboard in tears.

He ended up being 100% OK. That news alone left me teary. I was beyond thankful. I hurt my neck and shoulder but all I cared about was that my baby was OK.

This week I need to repeatedly remind myself of what is most important - that he was OK and everything else can be fixed. Because I am oh so aggravated right now. When I say everything that could go wrong with this insurance claim since then has gone wrong? It has. From the kid not reporting it, from an adjuster who acts like he is doing me a favor, to fighting with rental car companies. I spent so many years working at an insurance company handling these things for clients myself that I thought this would be so easy to take care of now. I couldn't be more aggravated. And if you follow me on Facebook you really saw me lose it over the last few days with the rental car situation.

Changing rental car companies on the advice of a friend yesterday afternoon was the best thing we could have done (till the adjuster gets wind of it I'm sure - but the amazing girl at the company vowed to fight for us). We went from a small SUV that did not fit 3 booster seats in it (which was Not OK) to a newer Ford Explorer with 7 seats that the boys are beyond in love with. And I can start to breathe again. (I think.)

Trying to get back into the daily routine of blogging again. More posts this week to come, I promise. The boys got word they are finally allowed to cut their hair so you KNOW that will make the blog. I'm so sad! I hated the in between stages when it was everywhere, but I am loving the way it looks now. Just as they are ready to pretty much shave their heads. We will see what they end up with - but I can assure you there will be before and after pictures.

See you all tomorrow. There WILL be a Thankful Thursday post. I promise.

xoxo

Vacation spot for February break? Hasbro Children's Hospital!

What a mess this week turned out to be.

Just when I was starting to think that Al was right, that maybe I could turn this into a funny blog post... like how when the Bunny Bee got sick at the start of the week he shook his head at me while he was getting sick and said so seriously
The stomach bug? Is PAIN.
Or how when the Big Guy was getting sick the first time he turned to me and blamed it on his brother. The B-b-bunny bee! He k-k-kissed me. On the cheek! Not what did it buddy.
The Doodle Bop yelling This is the worst day EVER! EVER! as he got sick. But things went downhill so fast yesterday it didn't seem like it could be funny anymore.

We did not make it to Monster Jam. The Doodle Bop and I spent yesterday afternoon and most of the night in the hospital instead.

While it seemed like he was starting to get better Thursday, he was really going downhill from the moment he woke up Friday morning. Three bites of a bagel? Sick. Two sips of a Gatorade water mix? Sick. A few showers and two loads of laundry later I convinced him to take a nap. He really fought me on it but he was asleep in minutes. And then he kept sleeping... and I debated on waking him up or letting him sleep. The Big Guy? I would have let sleep without question. The twins on the other hand have an occasional blood sugar issue and I was starting to worry it might become an issue again.

Just under three hours into his nap, I heard little feet running down the hall. And lots of tears. Sick again. Cleaned him up, he took a sip of water and he instantly got sick. Right then and there I knew we had to go to the hospital. He was crying without tears, lying on his bed with his arms out and not moving. Terrified me. I called Al at work, threw the boys in the car and dropped the Big Guy and the Bunny Bee off with him. The Doodle Bop and I went to Hasbro. They gave us his own room in the ER (where amazingly enough Joanna was right on the other side with her little girl) and I got him changed and into bed.

He was so dehydrated it took them several minutes to get his IV in. For a moment there I thought I was going to pass out. He was screaming and crying and trying to squeeze my hand (though he was barely holding on) and I felt so helpless. I was so glad I thought enough to bring his Iron Man and his giraffe at least, because it made him feel a little better after.

Disney channel on the TV (thank god for that), a few video chats with Daddy and his brothers and an entire IV bag later and he was starting to perk up just enough to get mad that he couldn't eat anything. At that point they were still telling us we might have to stay the night. After another half of an IV bag (that's right, he needed two of them) he was able to eat a Popsicle.

Best.thing.ever. Can you tell? Totally put a smile on his face. Then he wanted to send Daddy pictures.

By 10pm they finally let us go home... and that kid was still awake. Let me just say, this is my baby that could crash out anywhere at anytime. He was adamant that he was not sleeping in the hospital, no matter how many times I told him I would not leave him. No, he wanted to be home in his own 'comfy bed' with the Bunny Bee there. And to keep the hospital pj's. Which I am pleading the fifth on.

Today he looks pale and kind of swollen but he has his spunk back. And he can eat without a problem, though we are taking things slow. I am so thankful to all the awesome nurses we saw at Hasbro last night, they were all so sweet to the Doodle Bop and he loved them. He's a celebrity today at home telling his brothers all about his hospital stay last night and they are all excited to go back to school and talk about how the Doodle Bop was in the hospital over vacation.

On another note, Joanna got to go home before us (which was great news) so we didn't actually get to see each other in the ER - and just a day or so prior Liz was there with her son getting stitches. I'm thinking we need a Rhody Blogger vacation week discount. Who's with me?

Give and Glam fabulousness

Last night was Give and Glam, a girls night out event to benefit Hasbro Children's hospital.  I was on board from the minute my friends at Rhody Mamas announced it.  Lianne and I bought our tickets right away. 

And we had the best time!  It didn't matter that it rained on our walk in from the parking lot, that it took forever to order drinks, or that I very nearly cried after standing two hours in my glittery heels from hell.  It was all still amazing. 

Lianne and I dorked out on the red carpet.  Instead of striking a fashionable pose we hugged each other around the neck. 

We took crazy photos.  Like this one.  Li pulled over a random older guy in a tux before the night ended because we had to have a photo of us in these uber cool swing chairs.  When he couldn't do it from her phone his wife came in to 'help' and like 10 minutes of smiling and wait and hold ons later, we had this.

                                                                       So yeah.

We chatted with so many awesome girls.  There was hair chalking (which I have been dying to try) and tattoos and I somehow managed to miss it all going on because I was too busy chatting.  And this is where I get mushy.  My life has changed so much over the last two years and it is all because I started this little blog right here.  I have amazing amazing women in my life now that I am honored to call my friends.  And it all started right here.

Li you are stuck with me forever and ever and I thank you for coming to all these events with me. And you know, standing at the bar for us while I hobbled outside to the deck with my fabulous glittery heels from hell... for bringing the drinks and sitting down on wet chairs and not caring and chatting away.

And to my Digital Media and Rhody Blogger friends, each and every one of you rocks.  I love you all.

Digital Media girls on the carpet!

With Rhody Mama's Audrey and Jen

                                        Becky - seriously, you NEED one of her Haute Tags!

                                    Grace is so sweet!  Have you checked out her Patemm Pads?

                                                           With Li and Becky
                                                       

                                                                          Kisses!
            Yes I made Li do this while we waited in a massive line at the bar to pass some time/

Seriously can not wait till the next Give and Glam event.  They even have a short video up already.  (I made a few cameos, see who else you spot.)

Not taking no for an answer

Today was the big day.  The Big Guy was getting his first round of botox.

What went on yesterday though?  Is maybe an even bigger part of the story.

We started prepping the Big Guy for this last week.  All he knew was he was going to get some medicine at the hospital that would hopefully make his muscles move better.  Yesterday morning his panic started to set in.  When he panics, it's really hard to calm him down.  Much harder than my other two.

Coming home from school Al called to tell me there was a message that I'd just missed on the machine cancelling the botox for the next day.  And I lost.my.mind.  Hell no this was not happening.  The Big Guy was already stressing out, Al had taken the day off, I had rearranged my schedule, my mom had taken time off to watch the boys during the procedure...  Hell NO.

I called the neurologist's office and lost it on the woman who answered the phone.  She explained that the botox comes from a pharmacy that ships directly to the hospital in advance of the procedure.  In order for the shipment to arrive, that pharmacy has to contact me for my verbal approval - and they said they did not get it so they did not ship it.  Surprise, I wasn't even contacted - nor did I know I should have been waiting to be.

The staff at the office tried their best to keep the appointment for me, even tried to get it approved so we could just use the supply at the hospital ... but red tape - the insurance company said no.  I was in tears.  We rescheduled for next week and she gave me the number of the pharmacy (in Minnesota) and advised that I call to complain.

Which is just what I did.  Immediately.  After sitting on hold with them for like 20 minutes.  A woman picked up and I practically yelled 'Yeah, I have a COMPLAINT!'  And I went off on her even.worse.  I told them it was all their fault and I was not having this, that we were having the procedure the next day as planned.  More yelling and several phone calls later?

I GOT THE BOTOX OVERNIGHTED!  Overnighted people!  Which I was originally told was not possible.  I was so proud of myself.  (And a bit worried I would still get cancelled on in the morning when it didn't come in.)  Like maybe they just said it to placate me.

Last night the Big Guy had a tough night.  Once he found out he would get medicine which would make him sooo tired he would take a quick nap (because no way could I tell him he was being put under and getting injections) he was hysterical.  I hadn't expected that.  It was so bad Al promised to wake him up when he came home from work after 9pm.  We let him have a snack and sit on the couch in the dark with us and watch TV for an hour.

This morning he was furious again.  No smiles, not much to say to me ... and yelled at me outside school when I went to tell his teacher he couldn't have a snack at snack time.  She was so great with him, welcoming him in... even gave him special jobs at snack time so he felt like a big helper. 

After we picked the boys up from school early, we dropped the twins with my mom and checked into Hasbro.  I seriously held my breath and prayed as we checked in because I was sure we would be turned away.  But the next thing I knew the Big Guy was getting a bracelet and we were upstairs settling in.  I can not say enough about how nice each person who dealt with him was.

They saw how nervous he was and went out of their way to be sweet to him and get him smiling.  He got to sit in a big comfy chair and play all the Wii games he wanted thanks to the Starlight Children's Foundation.  Amazing. 

We met the anesthesiologist team, an intern and some nurses who marveled at the Big Guy's sideways front tooth as we had to tell the story of how it was knocked out.  They examined his right arm, right leg and marked both with a pen.  'Huh!  No!  You aren't supposed to write on people!', he gasped and furiously tried to get it off.  I laughed so hard.  Then it was show time.  They told him he could pick one of two vehicles and DRIVE to the procedure room.  Seriously!

Adorable.  Except for the part where he threw it in reverse and nearly took me down, but hey he's still learning to drive.  He was thrilled until he had to get off of it and walk into the room.  Al went to a waiting room and I went in with the Big Guy who was getting teary again.  We sat him on my lap and I suddenly felt like a celebrity as the people in the room started congratulating me when they realized who I was.  The mom that got the botox overnighted.  No one had EVER made that happen before.  I was a little embarrassed but also pretty proud that I did that for my son.

The Big Guy sat on my lap and got to make 'Darth Vader noises' into a cherry scented mask he picked out.  He could not stop laughing as they turned up the sound of his breathing.  When he was half out he started slow motion kicking and throwing his arms around.  That part scared me.  Everyone jumped to hold him down and they said lots of kids do that.  A long minute later he was asleep and we moved him to the table.  They tucked his favorite stuffed animal Mr. Monkey under his arm which meant so much to me and let me give him a kiss on the cheek before I went to the waiting room.

About 20 minutes later it was all done.  We got to meet him in recovery and were told he would be asleep about a half hour and to let him be.  That lasted all of 5 minutes.  The Big Guy was up and turning and trying to get the monitors off.  I held him until he was awake enough for the Popsicle he'd been dying for.  Red just like he requested.

A little while later we were on our way.  He got to pick out two brand new books and instead of a wheelchair ride, he opted for a piggy back ride out of the hospital from Daddy.  We stopped at Burger King at his request and he had a cheeseburger, apple fries and an apple juice.  They told us he wouldn't have much of an appetite but he ate the whole thing.  They also told us he would be really sleepy but that kid was fighting the tired like no other.

He spent some time at my mom's with his brothers and we stayed for dinner to see my dad after Al went to work for the night.  We didn't get home till the boys' bedtime but the Big Guy still had some homework to do.  The twins were great.  They kissed him goodnight and went to bed.  The Big Guy did his homework and then I threw him in the shower.  Figured there are all sorts of germs at the hospital so better late then never, right?  

When he was all ready for bed I gave him a big hug and told him how very proud I was of him for being such a big boy today.  And I felt teary.  He did amazing for being 5.  I'm not sure what tomorrow holds - how he will feel, if he will be sore... if we will notice any difference at all.  Right now?  I am just so incredibly grateful that we made it through this day in one piece.