Vicks VapoRub Misuse May Hurt Kids

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I want Thomas...

Click to view my 7 sec. video... =)

From I want..

I have to brag =)

Good news!
Last night I got a email from Alex's homeroom teacher. It reads:

Mrs. Camacho,

I'm so thrilled to let you know how great Alex has done in my classes. Report cards will be given to the students on Friday, but I'm just so happy that I wanted to let you know his grades beforehand. Alex's hard work has paid off and he will be receiving an A in social studies, a B+ in reading, and an A- in language arts. I've spoken with Miss Hollis and she told me that he also did well in her classes. Alex seemed so pleased with his grades. He truly makes my job easy and that much more rewarding.

Can I just say how excited I am. Last year was very bad. That middle school, would not help. I had meetings, I emailed teacher, I left phone messages and I even had doctors letters asking for help. They would not do it.

This year, thank God he was accepted to a Charter School. First week he started to struggle, but I immediately contacted his teacher and she contacted the principal who then contacted the case manager who then contacted me. All within 4 hours! We set up a meeting. I got another doctor letter. The school gave him his 504 plan (which the other school never wanted to do, even after I requested it in writing).

AND NOW LOOK! =) We haven't had a single problem. Homework is being done. No missed projects. Teachers are aware of his ADD and help him stay on track.

Can I just say how bad I want to email his old teacher from last year and rub it in their faces. =D

preschool

Yesterday was the first of many to come meetings in preparation for preschool. We met with our home school and a bunch of therapist. They're amazed to see how well Elyse looks after reading all her reports. I guess they were expecting to see a very fragile sick looking child.

They have 60 days to review her case, then schedule more meeting to do evaluations and interviews. They will then decide what services she will receive next year when she start preschool. If that school cannot provide the services she needs, they look for next school in our area that will. Transportation will be provided.

So far, just based on the fact that she still isn't potty trained (we are trying) our home school cannot take her.

If transportation is provided, then we can enroll her in daycare (preschool is only 2 hrs) and the bus will pick & drop her off at that location.

Now i was ok with this. This is what I have been talking to lalo about, but yesterday my mother had to tell me about the daycare worker that threw a 16 month old on the floor. Lalo had mention it to me before, but I didn't know the exact details. I looked it up and I'm heart broken and terrified.
http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/Health/story?id=6689027&page=1

So cold! So cold!

Nothing else to day except how cold it is and I can't feel my toes =(

Ohh no...

Elyse's left ear is also draining junk. Her nurse told me that it was bothering Elyse this afternoon. The nurse has been using hot towels and that seems to make her comfortable.

Elyse started her antibiotics (CEFDINIR)on Tuesday. I don't know if I should wait a bit longer and give Tylenol or take her in?

Tired!

Ear infections are no fun.  Elyse is fine during the day... she does rub her ear a lot and tells me "ear" because she wants me to put the ear drops (maybe it make her feel better?), we even figured out some new flavors she likes (sour cream) to add to her food... but night time!  When the coughing doesn't wake her up, her ear does.

Last night I think it was the ear.  We ended up having to give her the Tylenol around 1 AM.  Then she calm down and I don't remember what time or why, I brought her to bed with us.  I think she was crying..?! 

This morning she was sound asleep between Lalo and me upside down.  I cancelled her playgroup this morning.  She needs her rest.

Ohhh well

Last night, both Elyse and Alex had sick appointments.

Alex has a sinus infection and left ear infection.  He can't hear from his left ear.  They check it for movement and it's flat.  The doctor that saw him is a little concern.  He said if that ear continues to give problems, then we will have to revisit his ENT.   Alex did have ear tubes back in 2003.  He also had his adenoids taken out and his tonsils shrank.

Elyse has also been rubbing her right ear (the one with the new tube).  I was a little concern over the weekend because i noticed junk draining out.  They told me it was good that it was doing that.  The tube is doing it's job and we have to continue with the ear drops they gave us after surgery.  BUT she hasn't been eating or sleeping well.  She still is very congested.  Since Alex was going in, i figure better safe than sorry.  Turns out she also has an infection in that right ear and the junk is puss draining.  We also talked about the weight loss and this doctor said to use the tube again.  We have it, use it.  I said OK.  =)  Once Elyse starts feeling better, then we can go back to not using it.  i guess i have to hide my little ticker over there on the right side.

OH i forgot to mention.  A cute moment (at least for me it was)...

After checking out at the clinic.. Elyse kept saying "Elmo..Elmo"  we sort of ignored her.  we thought she had seen an elmo.  As i was putting on her hat (still by the receptionist area)... she said it again.. "Elmo... Elmo"  Then it clicked.  She was asking for her ELMO stickers.  =D  I turn around to Lalo and I said,   "do you know what she wants.."  the receptionist heard me and heard Elyse and she said to the other girl... "oh... she wants her Elmo sticker"  

Oh my little mamas...  remembered that they have stickers and they normally give her one when I check out.  this time they hadn't because she was with Lalo.

=)

Alex is turning 13 tomorrow!!!

Tomorrow is the little man birthday. Not so little anymore. Alex turns 13! Yikes.

He spent the weekend with his dad & his family. We'll have to do a late celebration next weekend.

My little mama's has a cold. Lots of coughing and congestion. I'm also a bit concern about her weight. Some of her therapist made comment how she's thinning out.. how they can feel her ribs... etc. To me it's concerning because she's not eating too well. We do struggle to get her to drink her 2 bottles of pediasure & 1 cup of water. I got her on the scale this morning and she's lost a pound.

I'm hoping this week will be better. Ida (day nurse) is returning. Elyse does much better with her. Last week with her out sick, Elyse was able to get away with a lot.

Oh yea. Vocabulary is increasing. =) All weekend she's been naming everyone in my parents house. She misses them. "Ethan, grandpa, pinky (dog), coco (dog), claudia). We were supposed to take her over, but the weather hasn't been good.

Friday morning I had a meeting with her Early Intervention team (birth-3 yr program). Overall they are very happy with her progress. She has little areas of delay. PT is still working on strength. climbing stairs, jumping. OT not much. SPEECH & Language is working on two words. SPEECH for eating... well what can I say. DEVELOPMENT she's good. she's working on instructions. her play skills are very good. DEVELOPMENT & OT recommended that I bring Ethan during her OT sessions. They are going to work on Elyse's play skills with other children. Elyse still loves to pin other kids down, so we want to work on that before she starts school in the fall.

Another thing we talked about was potty training. We were a little concern about her not holding it longer than 20 minutes. Their recommendations is to take her to see the specialist now that way we have an idea of whats going out instead of stressing about it.

Sure after I emailed Dr. Bergquist (pediatrician) Elyse kept dry all day yesterday and went potty every 3 hrs!!!! EVEN after drinking a cup of milk. YAY!

so maybe she's now getting it? i think it does have to do with the fact that we are constantly trying to push liquids.

today's small surgery

The procedure went well. We left the hospital around 10:30 AM.

They drain her right ear and replaced the tube. At 9 AM I went to the recovery area and it was so funny. The pink stuff they gave her to relax was still in her system so she was wide awake but all drunk like. She was playing with gloves.

of course 30 minutes later she started to get cranky and her ear seemed to bother her, so i requested some tylenol.

She drank a full bottle of pediasure at the hospital and when we got home she ate her yogurt with cereal. Now she's snacking on chips (she saw the bag and couldn't resist).

I'm so excited that ENT doesn't have to see her for 6 months unless we need to sooner. Her pediatrician will check her ear in 4 weeks. Much easier this way.

Also a request, our day nurse Ida isn't well and is in the hospital. Please keep her in your prayers. She'll be out the rest of this week.

A few pictures of this morning before the procedure.