The Rheumatologist

(forgive me if this sounds scrambled, because I'm very tired but can't sleep - I've been in a lot of pain the last couple of days)

He says that from the last round of tests he has found some "clues" but no answers yet. I have to say, I kind of thought I might get some answers. But that was clearly wishful thinking. Lots of Autoimmune diseases can take over a year to diagnose. Part of it is waiting to get in to see different doctors.

Anyway. One of the blood tests came back positive, B27. As far as I can understand, it is a protein found on the surface of the white blood cell. 5-7% of the population can test positive for no reason. Otherwise it is indicative of an Autoimmune Disease, specifically Chrones, Behcets, Spindiloytis, and a few other things.

The x-ray tech thought that he saw the beginnings of sacroiliac inflammation, AKA Arthritis in my lower back. Dr. said it was probably in my upper back too, but only xrayed the lower. He's sending me for an MRI to determine to what extent the inflammation has progressed, and to get a better view of my spine and my organs. PRETTY.

So the Rheumatologist thinks it's either Chrones with Arthritis or Behcets. He said it's more likely Chrones simply because Behcet's is so uncommon. However, he wants me to go to a gastroenterologist for a colonoscopy, and to swallow the camera for views from both ends to diagnose. PRETTY.

For the last two days I have had more pain in my whole abdomen than I have in probably the last six months. And my back is pulsing it hurts so bad. But I have to carry on, because it's T's family birthday party here on Sunday and the house is a disaster. I just haven't had the energy to do anything lately. Never mind the strength.

So now I wait. For appointments with the Gastroenterologist, and an appointment for each of those tests. And for an MRI. It'll probably be a long couple of months.

Now I know

which direction my kitchen floor slopes - towards the dishwaser :( (see the last post from half an hour ago!)

The first thing T said when I picked him up from preschool, and asked him what his favourite part of the day was "when we ate cupcakes for my birthday". I found that funny for a kid who doesn't really like cake.

He had a really good day/s. Yesterday the kids and I went to the aquarium with my parents. If we'd waited for DH to have a day off it would have been next year. Anyway, he and K were really well behaved, and all of us had a really great time.

Today, he was great. I greeted him with Happy Birthday this morning, and it put a huge smile on his face. He had a moment of not wanting to go to preschool, but when I surprised him with the cupcakes I made for his class, he decided going wasn't a bad idea. He was excited to pick his own clothes, and to present the cupcakes to his teachers. They made him a birthday crown and sang to him at snack time. When I picked him up we went to the library per his request, and got him a few books. The librarian gave him a sticker for his crown - which he was still wearing (WHY NOT?)

He wanted to eat lunch and chill in front of the TV. I just let him, we've been so busy lately. It was what he really wanted to do, so why not?! While K was down for a nap, I read him his library books.

Then daddy came home, and we went to Whitespot for dinner, and then to buy his bike. We'd been looking for one, we'd told him he might get one soon. So at dinner we told him that we'd found one we thought he'd like, and that we'd go buy it after dinner if he wanted as his birthday present. He was so excited, I thought he'd burst!

Went and bought the bike, picked up the new washer, and came home. We didn't make it in the front door. He rode for at least the next half hour. Then I told him we had to go inside, and when he said he didn't want to I told him he had more presents to open, and he was shocked. Pure innocence. It's so nice. He never once asked me throughout the day if he had presents or when he was getting them. He was nicely surprised there was more than the bike. And after he opened the other presents, he said "thank you for all of my presents, I like them all the best." He is so damn cute sometimes. He didn't want to go to bed, and we didn't blame him, he got to stay up an extra half hour to play with his new stuff, and then he happily went to bed. What a good kid I have.

I hope tomorrow is as good as today, but I doubt it. I have my follow up appointment with the Rheumatologist.

Do you know

just how far seed beads, mini buttons and small scrapbooking embellishments travel on a laminate floor when you drop them from about 4 feet in the air just before midnight??? Cause I do. And I won't be able to post about T's birthday until I clean them up.



I was merely looking through a box to see what I had for T to decorate the acorn that he has to take back to preschool on Friday with his picture on it. Just trying to be a good mommy and see if I had to buy anything tomorrow morning while I'm out.



UGH.

POOP on my hands, only shaved one leg, an ODE to Motherhood

Okay, so not exactly an ode. It would be if I knew how to write poetry.

What happens when you try to do something when you or your kids are sick???

Last Saturday, DD, who is now 14 months old had a fever of 102. It lasted until Monday night. Tuesday it was down to about 99/100 on and off. I, however, on Tuesday, woke up with a nasty ass headache, plugged sinuses and ears. By Tuesday night, I had the fever.

Wednesday brought a fever for DS and I. I tried doing laundry anyway. I have a really bad burn on my thumb to prove how well that went. And every time I tried to draw/cut one of the stencils for my niece's room I thought my head would explode from bending over. Oh, and DS, who is almost 4, and is FINALLY almost potty trained, and had worn underwear monday and tuesday, had to wear diapers and pullups all day b/c he pooped about 8 times, not making it to the bathroom half of that.

Thursday my fever finally came down. Finally. The weather had been so hot in addition to the fevers. DD was still cranky. DS was still pooping. We didn't leave the house. I actually had a nap while DD had one, and made DS sit in my bed and watch TV while I slept. Apparently, the mailman tried to deliver a package while I was sleeping. CRAP. That means a trip to the post office. At about midnight, I realized I had forgotten to cut a few of the stencils. CRAP. Painting was Friday.

Friday, I get everything and everyone packed (Or so I thought) into the car, despite the plugged ears, imbalance and pounding head. I decide to go to the post office. But, lo and behold, in my befuddled state, couldn't find it. CRAP. Oh well, I'll just go to Dsis's. Get onto Highway 1, and the traffic is a nightmare. Oh ya, long weekend. I get about halfway there and realize I've left the stencils at home. DOUBLE CRAP. DD at this point hasn't fallen asleep like she should have and is whining. DS wants to know when we'll get to aunties. I get off the Hwy, and get turned around and have to take a back road to the next entrance back onto the HWY. I get back on, traffic is slow. Just past 232, we come to a standstill. WTF. It's 11am??? Apparently it had something to do with a semi in the median and a bunch of chickens. Needless to say, It took me an hour and a half to leave home and get back again. We stayed home. Which ended up to be a good thing apparently, because it would have taken me about 3 hours to get home later in the day, if I'd actually have made it to DSis's.

Today. Saturday. I finally try to have a shower while DD is sleeping and DS is watching TV. It's the first time all week that I haven't waited until DH is home for fear of DS pooping or DD waking up from her fever. We are supposed to be going out this afternoon. So I am in the middle of shaving my legs. Okay, leg. I only got the left leg done. Because while I was finishing it, DS waddles into my bathroom, pullup and shorts around his ankles shouting "Mommy, I got poop on the side of the toilet, but I wiped it up and I wiped my bum." OH GOD. HE DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO WIPE HIS BUM YET. I finish rinsing the conditioner out of my hair (cause we all know what that looks like if you don't!!!) and hop out of the shower, running down the hall. There is poop all over the toilet. None on his clothes or pull up. All over his backside. The bathroom counter is wet. I asked if he got poop on his hands. Him "not anymore. I tried to wash it with water, but that didn't work, so I just wiped them off and that worked." OH GOD. Where did you wipe them?? "I don't know" WHERE DID YOU WIPE THEM????? "Just on K's bath towel." OH GOD. More laundry. THANK THE LORD ABOVE FOR LYSOL DISINFECTING WIPES.

Oh, and I told him to come and get me out of the shower next time BEFORE he goes POOP.