Life with Strep

February- Zoë got strep throat right after her baptism.
April 29- Miranda got Scarlet Fever (strep throat with a rash)
June 5- Megan got strep throat
July 4- Miranda got strep throat

So, aside from the fact that I really think there is a strep incubator in our house (I have also had strep twice in the last year, and I think I'm missing a time or two of one of the girls getting strep), it really stinks that Miranda got a fever the morning of Independence day.

Nana graciously said she'd stay home with Miranda while the rest of us went swimming as a family at a friends' pool, and while we watched fireworks with other friends later that evening. And, we cancelled our beach trip, berry picking, and postponed a few other things. I didn't take her to the doctor until Tuesday morning because I don't think fever=strep, so I waited a day. But, the petechiae on her oropharynx (ruptured capillaries in her throat) made me highly suspicious enough to request a nurse visit for a throat swab. It was positive, she started antibiotics, and woke up as herself on Wednesday morning: singing and conducting music, dancing, cheerful and sweet and kind and patient.

Not that she wasn't those things and a TOTAL sweetheart and so understanding that she couldn't play with friends, or go swimming. We did let her do some sparklers and watch a few fountain fireworks. But I still looked for her the entire time we were gone on Monday. I really missed her chatter and cheerfulness while we were playing at the pool and with friends. I missed her sunny and helpful kindness.

It's so nice to have my little girl back. And, once again, I pray with fervor in gratitude for modern medicine, antibiotics, and a mother's intuition to know when to take my child to the doctor.

Oh, and I am seriously going to beg my pediatrician to have us all swabbed to see if one of us harbors strep... my guess is it's 'Nica.

Irony or Serendipity?

I was burrowed under my wool comforter (I'm allergic to down) when my phone rang. "uhhh- hmmm. Hello?"

...moaaan, "I'm really sick" is what I almost make out over the phone line.

My little sister was calling me, and she sounded HORRIBLE. I'd just gotten back from getting my throat gouged, I mean swabbed, at the lab cuz I thought I might have strep. Hearing my sister, it reminded me how BAD Strep Throat is and sounds! After asking her a few pertinent questions (fever? check. sore throat? check. Spots on your tonsils? check. Pain so bad you would rather spit than swallow? check. Chills? check. Tender lymph nodes in your neck under your jaw? check. Feel like you'd rather go to the hospital than do anything else because you feel so absolutely rotten? check. Have child(ren) in school/preschool? check.*), I deduced that she had a VERY high likelihood of strep throat, and that she should really be going to the doctor to get it swabbed. Oh, and after hearing this recommendation from my friend, when I talked to my sister I said, "ASK FOR A SHOT!" The last thing a person wants to do when they don't even want to swallow spit is to swallow a giant HORSE pill! I didn't want to swallow ibuprofen that I knew would help, let alone a giant pill that took tons of painful gulps to get down my raw throat. I didn't even think I'd be able to get it down the first couple of doses.


I then thought, Huh, maybe I don't have strep... I have been mostly functional, haven't had fever or chills. But, I DO have a sore throat and NO other symptoms. *shrug* Well, the rapidstrep test was negative (as it was the last time I'd had strep, so I don't put much money in that for me), and I knew that the doc's office would call the next day if it were positive.

Fast forward a day.

Phone rings as I'm playing chase with my girls and I hear a cough, and then a scratchy voice in almost tears, but maybe it's jubilation, "Heeehhhhllo? I have strep!" Yay! I mean, relief! Her horrible illness can be treated with some antibiotics, and she'll feel SO much better in 24 hours!
No phone call for me, and my throat was hurting some, but, come on, I was running around on the floor and laughing with my girls! (and maybe so you don't think I'm all that great, I should mention that only an hour earlier I'd been screaming about [literally] spilled milk). So, no strep for me, it's just a virus and it'll work through my system and I might have a sore throat for a week, but then I'll be good, right?

Uh, wait. There's a message on my phone, and there's that phone call from my doctor's office saying, "Yes, well, the culture did grow strep, and we've called you in a prescription."

So, I load up all 4 girls, driving into the onset of a blizzard we're facing in the next 24 hours, to go get my drugs so I can also feel like a new woman once the Blizzard has passed.

So, is it ironic that my sister and I got the SAME illness the same time? Or just serendipitous.

Is it ironic that I seem to accomplish more housework when I'm sick, and play more with my kids? or is that just my perception... although I'm nearly caught up on the laundry...

Oh, nope. I didn't get the shot. But I can swallow horse pills right now... maybe my immune system is better cuz it's seen this brand of infection before. Maybe I'm getting enough sleep. Whatever the reason, I'm VERY grateful I don't feel like my sister, and I'm praying she recovers quickly!

* Don't use this checklist to self-diagnose. If you think you or your kid has strep, go check it out with your doctor. People often have different manifestations. I only had chills and throat pain with tender nodes. My sister had EVERYTHING. Strep needs to be treated because it can go on to Scarlet Fever and can cause heart damage, or worse, if untreated. It's a rather serous infection. Thankfully, it's usually easily treatable (unless you are allergic to penicillins).

Ice Skating at ND: Videos

Last Friday, on December 10th, the Rec Sports people put together a family activity. We participated in this ice skating night last year (My how they've GROWN!) and had a blast. This year was even better as all 6 of us were on the ice- at the same time! (Nope, no pics of that...)

I'll post pictures later, but here are some fun videos of the girls skating...

Zoë flying around the rink...
it was hard to get a 'still-shot' of her!

Megan was awesome! After holding on to the side of the rink for the first round, she let go and was scooting, I mean skating on her own.

Yes, she is that LOUD!
But, she also has so much fun, it's hard to tell her to be quiet.
Miranda had fun- no matter if she was skating sliding, or walking.

I got to go skating with each of my daughters. This one shows of my time with Miranda, just before I came back and skated some with Megan. I love it when Miranda collapses, and then gets right back up again. She's a total trouper!

I'll try to post some photos of our evening another night... I'm exhausted from wrapping Christmas presents (we got books and I counted 46 packages Travis and I wrapped last night!), getting up to help little ones go to the bathroom, and taking care of Megan- who, as it turns out, has Strep Throat. Poor thing! I'm SO grateful for antibiotics!

Does this look like...?

Veronica started on antibiotics on Sunday for her ear infection. Remember? The ear infection just about anybody can diagnose because there was green pus draining from her ear canal?

So, does this look like a little girl with an ear infection?


The picture was about an hour after dosing her with Tylenol for a fever. And, maybe if you know that Nica wouldn't let me set her down all day, and she woke up every hour last night you might reconsider.

I looked at hear ears this morning (after I scrubbed my face ten times so I could see out of my bleary sleep-deprived eyes). The right one looked horrible. The left one didn't look great either (but I didn't want to look too much since that's the one that ruptured).

So, I called the doctor to see if maybe he'd take my word for it and just switch antibiotics over the phone.

No such luck.

So, after four trips to the doctor this week (Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and now Friday), and four prescriptions for antibiotics, maybe we might get better around here. (See all those conditional modifiers?)

Except, well, Zoë came home with a headache.

And a fever.

*Sigh*

Maybe she's just getting another virus and she'll shake it off. Maybe it'll be FIVE visits to a doctor this week.

I'm glad Travis is home, safely. And that he had a good trip. And that tomorrow the Stake Relief Society is having a conference that I get to attend and I get to be the mommy cat who shakes off all her young and runs away (but I'm know I'm leaving them in the capable and loving hands of their father).

But, I might just sleep through the whole conference...

Again? What's with the Ear Infections?

OK,

So now four of the five girls living in our house are on antibiotics.

I had Strep last week.

Veronica woke up Sunday with pus draining out of her ear (EW!). She's still only marginally better and I can only tell that, not because she isn't smiling, but because she doesn't want to go to sleep.

Does this look like a child with RAGING ear infections in both ears?

Zoë had a well-child checkup on Monday (only the 40% for height! I guess she takes after her mom in that department) and got her Hepatitis A vaccination (she didn't even cry! although she was NOT happy to have a shot).

During dinner last night, Miranda said her ear hurt. I took a look, scooped out some hard wax, and then thought, "Uh, oh, that doesn't look good". But she stopped complaining after I cleaned her ear out, so I let it go. Did I mention that Travis stayed home with Veronica and Miranda on Sunday because Miranda had a fever on Saturday afternoon?

Last night, at 12:15 am, as I was trying to buy airline tickets and reserve a rental car for Travis to head to Houston for a funeral (more on this later), Zoë came downstairs, crying and holding her ear. I took a peek and she had a BRIGHT RED ear drum. I gave her some motrin and sent her back to bed after letting the medicine take effect.

I checked both Zoë's and Miranda's ears this morning. Zoë's ear was a little red, there was more fluid behind it, but it didn't look nearly as bad as it had at midnight. Miranda's appeared to have even more pus behind the ear drum, but didn't look terribly red. *sigh*

I called and got an appointment for Zoë, debating if I shouldn't just get Miranda an appointment, too. We headed to the doctor's office. When we got there, I asked if the doctor would please check Miranda's ear, too. Our sweet doctor! He said Zoë's ear didn't look too scary, but with her throat being red too, he was willing to treat her with antibiotics. He then said that Miranda had a raging ear infection. I said I'd be happy to pay the co-pay since I'd snuck Miranda in under the radar, but he just waved me off! I was VERY grateful.

We stopped at the dollar store and I let the girls each pick out something. Miranda went over to the sunglasses and tried on a pair.
I guess she looked very entertaining with her white tutu, a Princess balloon in hand, and adult sunglasses on her face. A gentleman saw her and started laughing- one of those belly laughs.


We made it through (Megan picked out some foam, Zoë got a recorder flute, Miranda a princess balloon) and at the checkout, this same gentleman brought Zoë and Megan princess balloons, too! Then he took the girls over and picked out some sunglasses for them. I was so humbled and so grateful! My heart was in my throat as I said thank you. I was grateful for this man, who probably had no idea what a crazy couple of days/weeks I'd been having, but his kidness to give my girls some silly toys and brighten their smiles made my day better (in the face of no sleep, three girls with ear infections, husband going out of town for three days). I am so thankful for the Lord's servants, and that people would do good things for others.

With smiles on all of our faces, we headed out to the van. As we navigated getting three huge Mylar balloons into the van, and juggling buckles, and bags, this same sweet gentleman came trotting after us and brought three bears (dark brown, light brown and pink) for the girls. So sweet!

So, we will enjoy our balloons and sunglasses the next few days. I will smile every time I think about that kind man, and about my girls' smiles. I will (someday!) laugh about how so many of us were sick at the same time.

And, I will continue to thank my Father in Heaven for all His help that lets me get through weeks like these last few, and for sending me wonderful friends, doctors, and even strangers to help bring a smile or lighten my load.

Mother's Day 2010

Well, it wasn't the worst Mother's Day ever.

No, that would have been the time that our bunny rabbit was found drowned in the toilet and my mom had a migraine all day long. Yeah, that had to have been the worst.

Yesterday was good in that I didn't have to do much all day except lounge on the couch. The sad part was I had chills, a fever of 101, and a throat so sore I couldn't swallow, talk. Just to take medicine I had to psych myself up.

I went to the doctor on Saturday, knowing this was the worst I'd ever had a sore throat- it kept me up all night. I thought for sure that I had strep throat! But, the rapid strep was negative. Thankfully, they did a culture (I insisted). They called this morning and said it was positive. See? I knew I had a bacterial infection!

The thing of it is, even though I felt miserable, was nearly comatose on the couch, there are still things a mom just has to get done.

Like sew the promised little mouse for the first-grader's book report.

Zoë wearing her mom's sunglasses at Fernwood Gardens
during our visit there last week, May 1st.

Like get dinner into the oven (I'd made carrot pesto last week and froze it and thought that would be the perfect Mother's Day dinner since I'd only have to make a salad to go with it) at a reasonable time so we could eat dinner on time (for all that Travis did, which was EVERYTHING, I don't think he realized he needed to put the frozen stuff into the oven at 4 to be able to eat at 5:30).

Like make treats for daughter's book report (piping chocolate bats; yes, the bats were in the story).

Veronica, in the sling, loved sucking on a pretzel
as we walked around Fernwood Gardens.

And, of course, there was still the necessities of nursing the baby, kissing the two-year-old's owies, exclaiming (without voice) over the sweet cards and papers made by the 4-year-old and 7-year-old.

Megan started a leaf and acorn collection on our walk through Fernwood.

Yeah, a mother's work is never done and certainly doesn't go on hold when she's sick. It's amazing the Lord's support that allows a mom to put aside these things and serve, even when she's horribly sick.

Miranda, not one to sit still for long,
wanted to see everything.
She especially loved the whole "adventure" aspect:
seeing new things, touching, running, jumping

There's also something incredible about a husband who, without even a word, picks up the slack. And, no, he may not do it the same way, but the job gets done (and with Travis, done well). I was VERY glad that he was home to chip in. I am really not sure what I would have done if I'd gotten sick when he was out of town at a conference in Florida this past week!

And, once again, I'm grateful for modern medicine and for antibiotics. I just can hardly wait until I feel better with them!

It's been a crappy week, and it's only Thursday

In the last week, Veronica has had two ear infections, started on a second course of antibiotics. Miranda has had a runny nose and cough and crankiness, sleeping poorly (including naps). Megan got sick at school last week and this week, enough that I had to come pick her up and bring her home. Travis is getting a cold. I've had a perpetual headache, most likely due to severe sleep deprivation (with Miranda and Veronica being sick, I've not slept more than 3 hours at a time).

I'm not super mom. My house is upside down. I haven't done enough laundry (my oldest has had to wear skirts all week because the slacks aren't clean). I haven't been grocery shopping (thankfully we have enough milk to get us through at least one more day, and food storage if it becomes critical- we'll just lack in the green veggies department* but we have vitamins so we might make it) because I got called to go pick up Megan. I think once in the last week I showered before noon, and I won't recount the number of days I didn't shower.

But, my kids are fed, and medicated. They've had some shouts, but lots of hugs and snuggles. They have some clean and warm clothes to wear (but if my four-year-old decides again that black polka-dots on pink go well with multi-colored plaid, that's her choice, not a style based on lack of clean options; I'm still trying to convince the 2-year-old that she has to wear something over the tights, as anchors and hearts are adorable on legs, but people would still rather have something covering the bottom besides the thin tights through which the diaper print shows#).

I'm hoping that my Birthday will be a different kind of celebration this year... not just the conclusion of Winter (my birthday falls on the last day of winter most years), but the onset of SICKNESS-FREE SPRING! That's all I want for my birthday: a few good solid months where I don't have to wipe noses, take axillary temperatures, awaken to my blank-year-old in the middle of the night with fill-in-the-blank illness (options: vomiting, coughing, sneezing, wheezing, fever, diarrhea, etc.) Is it too much to ask? I don't expect to never have them sick again, but just for a little while so EVERYBODY in the house can get a good night's rest.

If I can have that for my birthday, I promise I'll be a better mom; I won't yell as much (at myself or my husband or my children), I might have the laundry caught up, and the house might not have so many dust bunnies. Such a gift of illness free month would be one that would have much more return on the investment. But what kind of effort would it require? Barring the doors and creating a level four lab out of our home? I wouldn't mind having my people pass through a decontamination chamber before entering our home. Nor having a "clean bomb" that I could set off at church so the nursery toys were actually germ-free instead of germ overpopulated. I know the leaders try, but how do you keep 10 2-year-olds from putting anything in their mouth?

I've gotta go. The 2-year-old is making scary noises in the kitchen and the six-month-old is crying miserably on the living room floor. It's nap time. For me, at least...

*Do you have any ideas for storage of a green vegetable that isn't green beans? or peas? My family won't eat either of these. I have corn and tomatoes in our food storage, so far as vegetables go. And, yes, I consider tomatoes a vegetable. If it were fruit, we'd be grossly off the food pyramid, and I can't take that kind of stress right now.

#What is the DEAL with having stupid little prints on diapers? I don't care of they are disney, Pooh, or polka-dots. My favorite diapers are the 7th generation "environmentally friendly"(although it'd be nice if they did print a size on them). But, at twice the cost, I have a hard time justifying the expense at this point in my life. Still, it's nice to not have to see stupid patterns showing through clothes, or peeking out through waistbands. I bet it'd be $0.02 a diaper less if we could forego the licensed prints, and go without any ink on diapers.

So SICK SICK SICK of being SICK!

Well, after two nights of 1-hour stretches of sleep, and after checking her ears once or twice a day, I finally caved in and took Veronica to the doctor's today.

Tuesday she had conjunctivitis and got her six-month vaccinations. Wednesday her eye got better (from drops the doctor gave us), but she started with a cough and a high temperature (not quite fever). Thursday the upper respiratory infection was full-blown, and she reached fever status. Friday she was even worse, and she didn't sleep (she woke up EVERY HOUR Friday night!). Saturday she wouldn't smile. That should've been a SERIOUS CLUE that she was more than just sick with a cold! If any of you have spent any time, and I mean seriously, even 30 seconds, with Veronica, you'd know that she smiles for EVERYONE! and loves to have people smile at her so she can return the joy.

Sunday I'd had enough. I think it was mostly due to the fact that between Megan, Miranda and Veronica, the last two nights Travis and I each got maybe four hours of sleep total- with hourly interruptions, mind you! This is where having more children is really hard! I also think that I'd had enough when, just after bathing both of us, and smelling oh-so-good and clean, she was crying and started coughing, and puked up EVERYTHING all over me, her and the stairs and floor (it just kept coming).

I did look at her ears (actually, just before the puking incident). To me they were a little questionable. But, combined with all the other symptoms, I figured I'd better have an expert check them out. The pediatrician spent, and I'm not kidding, less than 5 minutes with me (I know because I'd been timing Veronica's respirations and heart beat with the stop watch on my phone, but didn't turn off the timer when the doctor walked in. I checked it 8 minutes later when I was sitting in the front seat of my van- after having seen the pediatrician, buckled 'Nica in her car seat, payed our co-pay at the front desk, and walked the short distance to the van. In fact, maybe we were in the room with the doc less than 3 minutes!). He took one look at each ear and said they were "Raging"! Hmmmm, either my diagnostic skills are off, or I wasn't seeing the same thing as he was.

At any rate, Veronica still had a rough afternoon. The cough wakes her up, and she cries after each bout. But, this evening (about 8 hours after her first dose of antibiotic), she had more pink in her cheeks, she fell asleep calmly, and was breathing more normally. Her temperature also seem to have come down (without the help of an antipyretic).

I said a little prayer, as I was cuddling my sweet little half-year-old tonight. Once again, I am so grateful for antibiotics, and the power of modern medicine. I'm grateful that God has given us these tools to help relieve suffering (both for patient and mother!) And, I also prayed that everybody in this virus-infested house would sleep well tonight!

Have I mentioned I am tired of illness?

Wake Up Call

Veronica has ear infections, poor baby! She's been nursing every three hours, and I'm exhausted! (This was the baby that was sleeping through the night!). Now that she's on antibiotics, I thought it'd be better, but she's not quite feeling herself yet (although she started laughing this morning, so there's hope!)

Anyway, Travis got me a GREAT birthday present that is a stereo that docks my iPod. It has an alarm on it that turns on the radio, a buzzer, a CD or the iPod at the preset time.

This morning, after another night of lots of interrupted sleep, I heard this song play LOUDLY at 6:30 am. (I think the volume was turned up in the evening).



Ahhh, so true! I was not ready for an early Monday morning with it being the first day that I realized vacation is over.

Ear Infections

OK, as a Physician Assistant, I have read, learned, studied and kept updated on pediatric ear infections. I have also examined, diagnosed, and prescribed antibiotics for ear infections. I have had some mommy-friends of mine also note that instead of using antibiotics, there are other options.

Now, as a Mom, with three daughters who in the last 2 months have been on 2 separate courses of antibiotics, I am getting a little worried and exasperated. I believe in antibiotics, and I know they work! But, my huge questions is, WHEN do we need them?

Zoë got sick with a high fever on our trip to Indy this last week. Poor thing! She'd feel great the minute the fever came down with tylenol, but then when it wore off, she was MISERABLE. Knowing she had a cold, I thought it was just a viral infection. After 4 days of fever, though, and a miserable child, she saw her pediatrician who said she had an ear infection. I had seen fluid in her ears, but I didn't see a raging infection that would make me think she needed antibiotic. She was not complaining of ear pain, just a sore throat, fever, and some seriously disturbing snoring. But, the antibiotics worked (yea!!) Her fever was gone and she was not snoring so much within 12 hours.

Now, a few days later, Megan is complaining of ear pain. Miranda is cranky and fussy. Both have cold symptoms, and just finished a course of antibiotics one week ago for ear infections. Do they have just a virus? Do they have a persistent ear infection that was not completely treated? or do they have new ear infections? I looked in both girls ears, and both seem to have more pussy fluid behind their timpanic membrane.

BUT! Most of ear infections are caused by viruses (see this article about viral role- it even talks about using vaccinations to prevent Otitis Media!), and antibiotics won't treat that. Neither child has had a fever, and their mucous is clear (and prolific, but I think that's due to being a kid!)

So, we're going to try ear drops. An herbal treatment recommended by a friend. It has "mullein flower oil, st. john's wort oil, garlic oil, goldenseal root extract, lobelia herb & seed extract". Hmmmm. Travis said I didn't sound very hopeful, but I'm willing to try something different when the antibiotics are seeming to be too much on top of each other, and I know the girls have a viral infection. Whether they have a bacterial infection remains to be seen, and I'm up for giving the drops a try a few days to see if they work and the girls' symptoms improve. If not, I'm sure my 10th trip to the doctor's office this year won't be the last. I'll keep you posted.

To see more pictures of our bike trip taken on 4/11 click here.