Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Christmas Mantel!



I LOVE Christmas!! It is truly my favorite time of the year! My mantel is the first thing that usually gets done because it is easy and adds so much to our house!  Check out last year's blog post for a bare before picture! I forgot to take one this year!



I found some new stuff at Hob Lob 50% off to add this year! I need some height in my vases and LOVE the red flower sticks I found!








The sign was a gift a few years ago and we always get a giggle from guests who see it.




Love that you can see the reflection of my tree!  I'm sorry for the bad pictures...not good at lighting and decor pics.  The stockings are PB from a few years ago during a really good sale!

Merry Christmas season and happy decorating!



The Lettered Cottage

Monday, November 29, 2010

we will survive!

another day, another trip to the doctor...well, the hospital actually for a follow up chest x-ray and lab work for jackson.  he had a temp of 99.2 which is usually nothing to worry about, but for him, any little change is worth noting.  the pulmonologist found out today that we had a little oops with his call nurse and ended up going to our regular peds office on friday after the bactrim incident.  he was upset that we weren't connected with him and wanted to follow up and see how jackson was doing.  he stayed home from school today and we got a lot of make-up work done.  he is coloring thank you notes right now and feeling pretty good considering.  here are a few pics from the last weeks to catch up!


jackson coming home from the hospital!

 
my parents made us the most amazing thanksgiving dinner ever!

all of jackson's meds he is home on...

working on getting christmas up!!

Saturday, November 27, 2010

no shopping for me!

trying to get settled back in at home. cleaning and going to start putting christmas up.  yesterday we were back at the doctor after a terrible night of jackson itching and severe diarrhea.  we think his body is reacting to the Bactrim because he has been on antibiotics for 22 days.  the doctor said it may not be a true allergy, but we stopped both the bactrim and the rifampin! jackson is still on his steroids, breathing treatments, mucinex, and using his IS and acapella for breathing exercises.  this morning he looks great and is feeling so much better!! we will go for a chest xray on thursday and update with the ped pulmonologist.  hope everyone had a great thanksgiving! i am so thankful for my amazing family, my precious boys, my faith that gets me through the especially hard times, and that we are home from the hospital after a crazy long week!!!

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

exhausted but excited...

well today we heard what we have been waiting to hear!! we are headed home today!! finally, after day 8 in the hospital, jackson is well enough to finish recovering at home.  he has a very bad case of pneumonia that just didn't seem to respond well or quickly to any treatment.  we have had some ups and downs that included some lows that brought me and my husband to our knees, literally.  kneeling at jackson's hospital bedside, praying and crying over our precious miracle, was so far, one of the hardest things i've ever gone through.  it was only faith and the power of tons of praying friends and strangers that helped us through this crazy week.  the hospital staff here at ochsner has been amazing and we are so happy to be in good hands.  had i posted yesterday, it would have been an update full of gloom and dispair.  a pediatric pulmonologist was consulted and took over care from jackson's regular pediatrician.  jackson went down for a CT scan and we were sure he was going to have to have a bronchoscopy.  some of our pastors from church came and prayed with us, cried with us, lifted jackson up to the Lord, and then we waited.  when the specialist came in, he said that jackson was just one very unlucky kid to have such an atypical course of pneumonia.  the chest x-ray and CT scan showed pleural effusion and infiltrates but no single area of consolidation that would have indicated aspiration or foreign body in his lungs...that was good new and bad news.  when he said he didn't feel the bronch was necessary yet or maybe at all, we took the biggest breath we've taken all week and thank God for an answer to prayer.  dr. hernandez changed a bunch of medicines around, added some, dc'd some, and increased some, and jackson is responding well so far.  he had been on iv vancomycin, which is a very powerful drug, and we were concerned and ready for him to get off it.  he is now on iv zithromax and will go home on yet 2 more, different antibiotics to try to knock the rest of this junk out.  we will have to continue breathing treatments and follow up with xray next week, but are hoping and praying for an eventual complete recovery with treatment at home now!! will update more later!

Monday, November 22, 2010

not gonna lie...

This is so hard.  Watching my 6 year old lay in this hospital bed and sleep is one of the hardest things we have dealt with.  Yes, I'm keeping in all in perspective...he's not on death's door, not even close. But this is still so hard.  IV's, medicines, treatments, tests, questions...and it's my baby...my first born.  After days of ups and downs, today I'm trying to feel optimistic although I am so very weary.  Last night after visitors were gone, little brother was safely with gramma, and all was quiet, john and I spent some wonderful time in the only thing that would make us feel better, prayer.  With our precious gift from God sound asleep in his hospital bed, my hubby and I prayed and cried and asked God to touch and heal his little body so we can go home with a happy and healthy 6 year old.


quote of the night from jackson:
"mom, I feel  yucky, moist...I think I have liquid in my bones."

poor kid doesnt' even know how to say how he feels...

tired and discouraged...

hoping jackson makes huge improvments today. yesterday brought another rash and more steroids and benadryl. 2 more days will complete the 7 days he needs of the IV Vancomycin.  he is still coughing and still needing round the clock breathing treatments. so discouraged and frustrated. the nurses have been great though so that is a blessing. thanks to all who are praying!

Sunday, November 21, 2010

still here...

we are still here...in the hospital...rough night last night after his IV ilfiltrated and it was hard to get another one started.  Jackson is exhausted and ready to go home...me too actually.  waiting for a follow up chest x ray on monday to see how his lungs look and continuing with the IV vancomycin. thanks for all the prayers!

Friday, November 19, 2010

all the days run together...

a few posts ago, I tried to make a log of jackson and everthing that had been going on with him.  he was fever free for the last week although his cough persisited.  He went back to school and had a pretty good week last week.  He was still getting breathing treatments 3x a day and would want to rest after school, but overall, seemed to be hanging in there. On Wednesday the 17th, Jackson came out of his classroom at pickup and came straight over to me and hugged me.  He said he felt bad and didn't want to play tag, (a ritual that has been fun for the kids after the bell rings...they all hang out and play tag while us mom's talk for 15 min.  Jackson lives for that free time with his friends.  I immediately thought, uh oh.)  We went home, started another breathing treatment and talked about the fact that he lost his jacket at school.  He said he took it off because he was so hot all day.  I went over to hug him, and sure enough, burning up...101 fever.  I call the pediatrician who says come in right now.  Get to the office by 4:30 and see our doctor who is concerned at the lenghth of time this poor kiddo has been fighting infection and now 3rd spike in temp over the last few weeks.  Need chest x-ray...head to ER because the outpt lab is now closed.  wait an hour, get x ray, wait another hour to get film to take home.  Head home, exhausted with jackson who is feeling terrible with the fever.  My hubby and I talked about our potential option and have a bad gut feeling.  Jackson has already been on 3 antibiotics and nothing is working.  Phone rings at 8pm...our pediatrician is on the phone, calmly and patiently she describes her thoughts on my baby who is not fighting off this pneumonia.  She says xray looks worse and we need to head to the hospital for a direct admit to peds.  He is in need of IV antibiotic (Vancomycin) for this apparent resistant pneumonia.  I try to hold it together til we at least get off the phone, and knew this was coming.  Tears flow as soon as I hang up the phone.  I try to compose my self and my thoughts enough to pack a bag, get some things together for jackson, and head back to the ER for a direct admit.  I called my mom who was over in 10 min and she took car of Logan so john and I could go to the hospital together.  Jackson was blissfully unaware of what all of this meant and packed his bag happily grabbing a pillow, blanket and the book, Froggy has a sleepover.  He was excited for his first hospital sleepover.  Logan on the other hand burst into tears and cried for his brother and kept saying, "I need my brother! I love my brother! I need to sleep with my brother tonight." It broke my heart.

Once admitted the nurse started his IV and got it first try.  Jackson was a champ and tried not to cry.  The Vancomycin was started along with breathing treatments around the clock with chest percussion therapy.

...so tired...will try to fill in story more later




pastor allen came to visit and jackson really appreciated the prayer and Bible verses he shared.



jackson has been a champ with all of his breathing treatments and chest percussion therapy.



not feeling so good, but always loves a mommy back rub.

my sweet angel catching up on some sleep with fido.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

feeling exhausted

Jackson was admitted to the hospital last night...resistant pneumonia. He is on IV Vancomycin...doing relatively well. I slept 1 hour last night.  hoping for the best. will update more later.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY BABY!!



I can't believe my baby boy is 5 today.  Where in the world did that time go?? He had a party at school wtih cupcakes and we are headed out to dinner at his choice place, Texas Roadhouse!  It has been a full and fun day.  The party will be at Chuck E Cheese on saturday.  Pictures to come but for now it is time to play the Wii with the birthday boy!! :)

Thursday, November 11, 2010

look who is feeling better!!

...and just in time for the social studies fair!!!

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

I think I'm being tested...

...and my true colors today aren't very pretty.  Logan started with fever last night.  I"m tired.  I'm impatient.  I blah.  I want everyone to be happy and healthy, and feel good.  The bright side, jackson is back at school today! Still breaking out in hives and loaded up with benadryl and prednisone to go to school, but he is feeling better and slept good last night!

on a happier note:

Logan quote of the day; "mom, you remember that really bad bo bo on my knee? Last night when I was sleeping, I felt Jesus come in and kiss it."

happy wednesday.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

update on the update...

6:30- take jackson's shirt off to put him in the bath...chest, neck and shoulders covered in red, splotchy rash, totally different that the hives...resolves in 20 min after yet another dose of benadryl.

update for my benefit...

Just going to do some "charting" on jackson as a record of what's been going on so I can remember when I need to.  Jackson has been sick for at least 2 weeks now.  What started as a cold (oct 23), turned into croup(with 103 fevers, then pneumonia.  The first week we started breathing treatments with xopenex and pulmicort. Fever broke saturday oct 30th.  Jackson was in pretty good spirits that sunday, although still had his cough, so we let him trick or treat.  That first week of illness jackson missed 4 1/2 days of school.  Monday,Nov. 1st Jackson went to school and came home with a new fever.  Cough still persisting, around the clock breathing treatments through the night, and sleeping a lot.  By wednesday the 3rd, he wasn't seeming any better so we went to the pediatrician.  She said his lungs sounded like he had bronchial pneumonia and sent us home with Cefprozil prescription.  First dose wednesday afternoon of Cefprozil and Jackson starts throwing up.  Thursday morning of course he is still home from school with me.  Feeling slightly better and eating a little, I give him his next 2 doses of antibiotic.  He complains of general itching especially in his hands and feet.  We try baths, lotion, and benadryl and he gets some relief.  Friday morning jackson wakes up itching his head and noted hives on the back of his neck.  Called ped office, back to the doctor friday afternoon.  Dr. Deeny is there, not Seymour, his regular MD.  Told her the whole story.  She says he still needs to be covered for the pneumonia.  Gives him a shot of Rocephin in the back side.  That was TONS of fun! She says he needs 3 doses and to come back in the morning for dose 2.  Friday night, more itching, give benadryl.  Start wondering about hives and itching and ask about cefprozil and rocephin being in the same family of drugs.  I work friday night the 5th.  My hubby takes jackson back to MD on saturday morning so I can sleep.  I remind him to tell the doctor about the itching and he brings benadryl with him.  Now a third doctor is there this day and John gives the whole story again.  Asks about drug reaction and says he brought benadryl.  They give him the second rocephin shot and watch him for 30 min.  He seems fine although, remember, he's been preloaded with benadryl.  Comes home, sleeps all afternoon, still getting breathing treatments but has now been fever free for 3 days.  By this point I'm sleep deprived, exhausted, and just wanting my baby to feel better.  Little brother has now started coughing and we've started breathing treatments with him.  Sunday morning, Nov 7th, the real fun begins.  Jackson wakes up at 7 and complains of itching.  His hands and feet were especially itchy and notably red.  Within 15 minutes of being awake I give him 12.5mg benadryl and he starts crying saying the itching is bad.  His hands started to look swollen and I get the mommy gut feeling that this is going no where good.  I run to get dressed and tell john to give more benadryl.  10 min pass and jackson is now crying, screaming, sobbing, jumping around the house, freaking out that something is wrong...as only a 6 year old can do!  I pull his shirt up to check on him and he is now covered in hives.  I grab his epipen (he is severly allergic to eggs) and tell my hubby we are going to the ER.  He calls ahead and they are waiting for us.  The hives are now up his neck, on his chin, his entire body covered, his hands swollen, feet swollen, fingers look like white sausages.  We go straight to the back, his O2 sats were great.  Gets a big dose of steroids and starts to feel better.  We are home by 12:30 and I tuck my exhausted child into bed at 1:30.  He sleeps til we wake him up at 6pm to try to eat some dinner.  The ER doc says his right lower lobe still sounds like pneumonia and switched him to Zithromax and Augmentin to cover that.  NOTE: JACKSON IS NOW KNOWN TO BE ALLERGIC TO CEPHALOSPORINS.  I am nervous about starting 2 new ones but do anyway to treat the pneumonia.  Sunday night gets more breathing treatments and 2nd doses of the augmentin and zithromax (first dose in ER where he threw up from trying to swallow the adult version horse pills).  (insert "poor baby" knowing he is my sensory processing disorder, picky eater kid).  Monday morning wake up and REPEAT SUNDAY MORNING ALL OVER AGAIN!!  Although this time, it only takes 5 minutes for the hives to spread everywhere.  We luckily now have the prednisone so he gets that and more benadryl.  I pack both boys up and head straight to the pediatrician to be there for when they open.  (you may now insert the tired mom who is now crying because i just can't take much more)  note: the after hours call receptionist is a moron and there is no nurse or MD on call between 7am and 8am when the office opens.  good to know.  We then sit in the waiting room for an HOUR! really? allergic reaction and we wait an HOUR??!! The steroids and benadryl kicked in and by the time we saw the doctor the hives had subsided and now I was just stuck in the room with 2 brothers who were not getting along.  We get sent for a chest XRAYrocephin in his body and may continue to react and break out in hives for the next few days!"  Wow, that would have been great to know earlier. thanks.  So today is Tuesday, Nov. 9th.  Jackson went to school loaded up on benadryl and prednisone.  I will go to school at lunch and redose him and check on him.  He wanted to present his social studies fair project on George Washington...oh yeah, forgot to mention that with his 9 days out of school we have been trying to keep up with make up work, reports, and projects in between naps, breathing treatments and trips to the ER! This morning little brother Logan had a cough and snot, no fever. Sent him to school against my better judgement though and am sitting here avoiding the 2 weeks worth of house work that needs to be done, feeling like a bad mom for sending my boys to school.  and there ya have it, the last 2 weeks at the marble household.  lovely.  oh, did i leave out the wed trip to the doctor with my hubby? another post maybe. sigh.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

it was back to the pediatrician again today with jackson.  his cough just won't quite.  after a great weekend, he started with fever again on monday.  doc says pneumonia.  he's sleeping right now.  i trying to play catch up in this house...

Monday, November 1, 2010

Happy Halloween!


Halloween! My batman is trying to fly and my spiderman thinks he can shoot a web! The boys had so much fun and I was surprised at the costumes they picked this year! We have never watched or played with super heros but that's what they wanted, so that's what they got!  When they were getting ready they said, "mom, what are you going to be?" I had no idea and no plans to dress up.  They requested cinderella and daddy could be prince charming...didn't happen! So a hair tease and some dark lipstick later, I was ready to go!?


Here are all 7 cousins plus one firefly friend who came to our neighborhood to trick-or-treat!



My sisters, steph and stacey!


We had a blast this year on our new golf cart! We decorated it for Halloween with lights and spider webs.  The kids had a blast riding and it worked well for tired little ones at the end of the night!


Hope you all had a fun and safe night!
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