mother can love this..it is not as entertaining as Bill…but it warms my heart so much more.
<embed src=”http://www.youtube.com/v/KUlDzRRrkT4&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0×234900&color2=0×4e9e00&border=1” type=”application/x-shockwave-flash” allowfullscreen=”true” width=”425” height=”349”>

where the baby bonked the daddy dinosaur on the head and hollered NOT THE MAMA!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkAEH6uX7hQ

that’s my son’s approach to anyone who is NOT me.
it’s bad..but I secretly love it.

now this boy is getting smart. He’s figured out that he doesn’t usually go to school when the Asthma is kicking in. I’m trying to avoid a day out. He’s trying to GET a day out.

He told my girlfriend tonight that he COULDN’T POSSIBLY go to school tomorrow—‘cause the doctor there didn’t know what he was doing…AH, a boy after my own heart.

Lemme go spread the wealth of Prednisone and Xopenex.

We were in the Animal Kingdom and he had his face painted. A T-REX dinosaur he said. I said, Sure son, whatever you want.

Now, to you he may look like any other kid with his face painted. To me, he looks like an angel. A T-Rex angel.

and now all these folks want the same thing. ISN”T THAT WONDERFUL??!

My boy loves Thomas the Tank Engine. I want him to be James for this coming Halloween. We have thomas clothing, coloring books, toys, books, blankets, sandals, towels, plates….all Thomas.
I shall miss this when he is growing.

My precious boy has been ill (just read this column!) off and on through out his short little life. He does bounce back very nicely, however, when he’s sick, watch out, HE’s SICK!

One time, we’d only been living here about 6 months or so maybe, he got sick. He ran a fever, his ears were infected, he was throwing up alot, I said to him,
“oh man buddy, you have a fever!”
he said, “a what?” (mind you he’s 3 at the time)
“A fever buddy. It means you are hot.”
“I have a BEAVER?! I got a BEAVER EGG?!”
He was sick and earnest, so I simply said “yes, that’s right.”

and so begins the usage of the word beaver egg instead of using the word fever.

I have a beaver egg right now. He told me what do for it the other day. He said I should eat a popsicle in bed. That would make me feel better. I think he’s right you know.

+

BEAVER EGG

Okay, here’s the edit.

So, The Boy started off last Thursday with left leg pain. I thought it was pins and needles. I said, walk on it. he cried. I said, it’ll be okay, just use it. It didn’t get better. he limped. he cried. So, I started carrying him. It was pitiful
I flexed his left hip to pick him up and he SCREAMED. I got scared. REALLY SCARED. Additionally, he has been carrying low grade fevers for about 2 weeks. Hm.

So, I know leukemia was a possibility. I made an appt. with our pediatrician for Monday, figuring if he bettered up, I could cancel and be none the worse for wear.

He did better up some. The fever persisted. His nose got snotty, nasty like. I thought that was a separate issue though.

So my mother tells me of a thing my brother experienced once called “TOXIC SYNOVITIS” (the following is from Medline and if you care to bypass it, be my guest.)
“Synovitis – toxic; Transient synovitis

Definition

Toxic synovitis is a condition affecting children that causes hip pain and limping.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Toxic synovitis is a frequent cause of limping with hip pain in children. It occurs in children prior to the onset of puberty and is a transient arthritis of the hip that usually resolves on its own. Its cause in not known but boys are affected more frequently than girls (approximately 4 to 1).

Symptoms are usually mild and generally include hip pain and a slight limp. The hip pain almost always involves only one side (unilateral). A low grade fever (usually less than 101 degrees) may be an early symptom. Aside from the hip discomfort, the child does not usually appear ill.

Toxic synovitis is a diagnosis of exclusion, which means that it is diagnosed when other, more serious conditions, have been ruled out. In children there are three potentially serious diseases that can cause hip pain and limp: septic hip, slipped capital femoral epiphysis, and Legg-Calve-Perthes disease. Once these other diagnoses have been excluded, then the diagnosis of toxic synovitis (which is the most common of all these diseases) is usually made.

Symptoms

• hip pain (on one side only)
• limp
• thigh pain, in front and toward the middle (may be present)
• knee pain (may be present)
• low grade fever, less than 101 degrees Fahrenheit (may be present)

Signs and tests

• ultrasound of the hip will demonstrate a joint effusion
• X-ray of the hip (expected to be normal)
• ESR may be slightly elevated
• complete blood count (may show increased white cells)

Other test occasionally done to rule out other causes of hip pain:

• aspiration of fluid from the hip joint
• bone scan
• MRI

Treatment

Treatment often includes limiting activity to make the child more comfortable. However, there is no danger associated with performing normal activities. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDS) may be prescribed to reduce pain.

Expectations (prognosis)

The hip pain resolves within a week to 10 days.

Complications

Toxic synovitis is a self-limited disease with no expected long-term complications.

Calling your health care provider

Call for an appointment with your child’s health care provider if your child has unexplained hip pain or a limp, with or without associated fever.

If your child has a diagnosis of toxic synovitis you should call if the hip pain persists longer than 10 days, if the pain gets worse or if a high fever develops.

Well, he did better up to some degree. The MO of toxic synovitis described the Boy to the T!

Our dr, whom have I told you I really really respect, suspects that I am correct with guessing TS, however, he would like to have a series of films and lab work to rule out LEUKEMIA and Necrotic Hip Disease. I’d like that too.

So, we had lab work done, we had xrays done. The Boy was NOT impressed with the lab work. I was NOT impressed with the lab tech, who was rude and insulting.

I waited for 5 hours. 5 long and seemingly endless hours.
The call finally came. He doesn’t believe it’s leukemia. the lab work indicates the opposite. It says that he has a bacterial infection. The sinus infection. Augmentin will kill that.

So, the news is all good. No Leukemia.

You know, I said to Driver last night that we’ve had quite a few “hold your breath” moments with Boy. We’ve been lucky, blessed or downright fortunate that it’s all been ‘treatable’.

Damn fortunate indeed.

He is perhaps the greatest thing ever….

Who is genuinely a great doctor (I really believe that, I’m not being sarcastic), sounded the ALL CLEAR today. Pneumonia is cleared. Ears are clearing.

Phew, made it out of that one alive.

Thanks for your support everyone. It’s been so appreciated.

His asthma has returned to kick ALL of our butts! His fever is scorchin’ and he’s throwing up.

Oh this poor little boy. My girlfriend says he’s the sickest child she’s ever known. Well, he’s not “hospital” sick and after the trauma of how sick he was at birth, I’m good with this kind of sickness.

Sigh. Such a powerless feeling.