Wednesday, August 17, 2005

ear trouble

Since the last update...

Ethan went to see Dr Long on Monday. He began getting hot easily and then a moist cough developed as well as grunt breathing. As the xray still wasn't right a prompt visit to get on top of any pneumonia. All was well other than a noisy chest. After much discussion, the outcome was to prescribe some steroids rather than antibiotics.

He wasn't even out of the surgery for 30mins before he started discharging ooze from his left ear. A phone call and script left at the front counter for some antibiotics. Another perforated ear drum. How unlucky can he be.

On Tuesday before the script was collected he was very mucusy and his cough had worsened another appointment. Plan to continue with steroids and commence the antibiotic. Come back again if not getting better.

Today started off pretty good. The thought was maybe he'll get better without further intervention. That thought passed pretty quick when his right ear drum perforated. So another appointment tomorrow. Lucky he likes Dr Long!!

He is looking pretty blue at the moment. A result of having an infection and being clumsy. He was jumping on the bed and fell onto his cheek. He has a massive blue bruise from ear to nose. The fall hasn't stopped him though. He was caught jumping on the coffee table today. He sat in time out for 5 mins before he got up and did it again! He is very mischievous and naughty at the moment.




Attempting to hide in toy box.



And he wonders how they get scratched



Mum won't be mad for long when she realises I've made her a coffee!



Stacks On!

Friday, August 12, 2005

oncology appointment

Ethan had his oncology appointment and scans the other day.

He had to fast for the abdo ultrasound. I didn't think this would be a problem as he usually wakes in the morning and starts playing. It can be a real struggle to make him eat. He is also the last up so I thought we could all eat and he wouldn't know any different but that wasn't the case. Ethan woke first, and came to me with a bowl and the box of wheatbix!! Why is it when he is not allowed to eat he wants to? Very hard explaining "no you can't eat".

So to make it fair the girls and myself were made to fast too, we couldn't eat in front of him when he was so hungry. The ultrasound was at 8:30am so it wasn't that big of a deal. I packed enough food for breakfast and lunch so they could eat straight away. Ethan also had to have an xray and blood tests. Before the ultrasound they noticed the food bag. Tears everywhere. Not happy campers. The ultrasound took longer than usual. A new lady, three hungry kids, and a mother who needed a caffeine hit, not a good room to be in!!

He was shoveling down some food when they called for the xray. He wasn't happy about this and decided to tell them with a mouthful of food of course! Once he realized what was happening and that he gets to smile at the light he was very apologetic and even cuddled the nice apprentice who came for us. He sat up like Jackie, puffed out his chest and showed them how it is done! After the xray he apologized again.

The blood test was next. Another interruption in the eating cycle but they have the wiggles behind the door so it is OK. First he tells the nurses, separately of course, who each member is before he takes a seat and puts out his arm. This is where the girls begin to get upset. Needles and blood and its not fair etc but all is forgotten when the hear the word sticker. Ethan chooses the biggest Pooh bear sticker just to piss Adele. He smiles at her the whole time pointing. Adele and Erin push, shove, scratch, hit and miss out. More tears from the girls!!

The kids polish off all of the food before we get upstairs. They have full tummies, Sonia, Katrina and Kate upstairs. Happy campers finally!

While I am still getting through the door gasbagging Kate has weighed and measured all three kids. Ethan put on 1 kilogram and grew 1.5cm. We were all pretty excited until Kate told us Adele's measurements. She is officially taller than him. All was forgotten about the pooh bear sticker as "Me taller!"

The waiting room was busier than usual but plenty of activities and games so I could finally sit and relax. There was a girl in the waiting room, we had run into her during our scans. I had never seen her before so she was obviously a few years off treatment. Leukemia kids don't have ultrasounds and chest xrays, must be a solid tumor, maybe kidney?. I pulled out my badge and began questioning! The girl had her left kidney removed when she was four (Now 9). An amazing morning swapping stories with the adults in the room. One thing that came from it is that....We are extremely lucky.

We saw Peter and all is good. No signs of cancer. Still some signs of pneumonia. Another appointment in 3 months. I spoke to Peter about kidney tumors and finally meeting someone else. Over the last 11 years there has been an average of 1 diagnosed every year (in Victoria).

Wednesday, August 03, 2005

ENT review

Ethan's left ear was still discharging at the time of review. A change in antibiotics and some more ear drops were ordered. The change in treatment wasn't really doing much when I noticed a bloody discharge from his right ear. Another GP visit, more ear drops and a referral to an ENT (ears, nose and throat specialist)requesting his opinion about grommets (tubes in his ears). He has had 5 perforated ear drums since feb, not good for any one especially a boy with speech delay. We have an appointment in a few weeks.

Ethan has also had his developmental assessment. This was conducted by an early intervention worker and a speech pathologist. It was very interesting. They will send out a formal report. However they did make some comments on the day; "His chronological age is 42months the assessment placed him at 34months", "His visual capacity is very good", "He is good at matching shapes and colours", "He lacks some problem solving skills", "He has good concentration". Overall I was pleased with the intense 2 hours.

The speech pathologist has recommended Ethan have a full ENT review. (This will fit in quite well as he needs the ENT for his ears. He isn't sure about a couple of things and would like the review to hopefully rule out throat/nose problems. He has also given us some exercises to try and teach Ethan how to move his mouth and tongue. After he masters these exercises he can move onto exercises to help with sounds.

Other than the ear infections, things have been pretty positive.