Ready for summer!

CT Scan cancelled

We discussed options with the Dr today & decided to try the 6-week antibiotic before we do a CT Scan. She'll take the antibiotic twice a day for 6 weeks & that will HOPEFULLY kick the sinus infection that she's been dealing with for a few months now. If that doesn't work, we'll try a CT Scan. In the meantime, we got an air purifier for her room, she's taking the Nasonex & Zyrtec daily and we'll continue to keep her room super clean. We also have a follow up appt with the allergist on March 15th. At least she won't be sick for 6 weeks :)

P.S. My goal for this weekend is to take some new pictures of Madison...stay tuned...

Madison update

We've been so busy taking Madison to the Dr. lately that I haven't had time to take new pictures or update the blog!

Our pediatrician recommended that we see an Allergist because Madison has been so sick with respiratory illness lately (she's averaging a sinus infection at least once a month & had had pneumonia five times). The allergist did a prick-test and took seven vials of blood to run some advanced tests on her immune system, blood cell counts and more allergies that they test by blood. The prick-test was 24 needle pricks on her back, each with a specific allergy (dust mites, cat hair, etc.) After the pricks were done, we had to wait 20 minutes to see if the skin would swell around each site. Madison is allergic to most of the tests: cat hair, dust mites, several types of grass and trees, hay, feathers used in feather pillows & down comforters, cockroaches (apparently these are common in older school-type buildings).

The allergist recommended that we try Nasonex nose spray & Zyrtec antihistamine daily. We also covered her pillow & mattress, got rid of unnecessary stuffed animals & blankets & are working on getting an air purifier for her room. Pulling the carpet out of her room is probably next on Willie's to-do list. We've been giving her those medications for a week & she still managed to get sick again. Her nose is constantly draining & she's so congested that she coughs all night. Before I could call the Allergist this morning to schedule another appointment (our follow-up wasn't scheduled until Mar 15th), they called me with her blood test results from last week. Her immune system & allergy tests were fine, but her white blood cell count is elevated which means she has an infection. SO...the CT Scan of her sinuses has been moved up. Since there is no way that Madison will stay still for the CT Scan, we're taking her to Children's Hospital where they will sedate her for the Scan. I'm waiting to hear back from the anesthesiologist to see if they can sedate her with these respiratory problems. They called earlier today to get her history & are supposed to call me back. It scares me that they think it's risky, but I'm glad they are being thorough. I'm sure they won't do it if poses any harm to Madison.

Children's Hospital

We spent the night at St Louis Children's Hospital on Friday night. Took Madison to the Emergency Room around noon & she was given an IV and admitted. She had been fighting a sinus infection for the past few weeks & the oral antibiotics were not working. Chest xrays determined that she had pneumonia, bronchiolitis and Human Metapneumovirus (a respiratory virus). Even with the IV's administering fluids & antibiotics, her fever spiked again to 104.7 on Friday night. Another dose of the IV antibiotic seemed to help on Sat morning & she was finally acting normal on Sat afternoon. We were released last night & are home now. She is breathing normal with no fever - doing 100% better than a few days ago. The Dr's at Children's Hospital are working with her pediatrician to try to find a reason why she keeps getting so sick. I definitely recommend Children's Hospital - the staff, nurses & Dr's are great!

Big Girl Bed

We took down the crib & set up Madison's big girl bed last night. I think we should've left the crib up...it was a long night! Good thing the bed is only 6 inches off the ground - she fell out at least 3-4 times. Then she would drop her Dora pillow & cry until we came in & picked it up. I don't think she realizes she can get in & out by herself yet & no one got much sleep last night.
Madison's hair is long enough for me to French Braid & it looks so cute! I don't do it often since she thinks it's funny to mess it up! She's got quite the attitude if you couldn't tell!!

Madison is officially into Month 20

no more "teen" months for us :(

Madison had her 3-month appt with the ENT yesterday. Her tubes are still in & look fine. She has had them for a year now. Dr said that they usually fall out within the first year, but sometimes stay longer. If they are still there after two years, we can discuss our "options". I'm not sure what those options are since Willie took her to the appt, but I think it may require another surgery to remove them. I hope they fall out soon! She is old enough that the ear infections should not be a problem, and I would LOVE to not have to worry about getting water in her ears every time I wash her hair. And with the summer months coming up, swimming with tubes is not going to be fun for either of us. I highly doubt she is going to like the ear band she'll have to wear if she still has the tubes!

We are going on our Florida beach house trip again this year. I think we will try to drive since Madison is older. We're staying with the same group of families at the same beach house in Daytona Beach. We went in April last year & the weather was still cool. We are waiting until June this year so the weather should be perfect. Madison is going to have so much fun on the beach & in the pool with the other kids. Allie (3) and Haley (4) love showing new things to their "best friend" Madison, so it should be interesting!

Snow Day!

While I hate to use time off work this early in the year (especially just after we just had a long holiday weekend at home), lounging around the house today has been nice. Madison's daycare was closed b/c of the snow, so we've spent the day in our PJ's! We didn't get much snow...probably 3-4 inches, but Willie and I both decided to stay home. The commute on a day like this usually takes 2-3 hours instead of the normal 1 hour.

Madison has been good at daycare this week. She has been using her big girl potty at home, but doesn't seem interested at daycare. I guess we'll keep trying & not push the issue this early. She fell & hit her eye on the step to our bathtub...she had a small cut & her eye was bruised for a few days. But if you ask her about her "boo boo", she points to her knee. So cute - she thinks boo boo's only happen on her knee!

We got Madison her own guitar & mic so she can play Guitar Hero with us. She think it's so much fun & I caught her trying to play the drums today.