High Maintenance

 Elaina:

That's the word the pediatrician used to describe Lainey this morning.  Ha!  He wasn't referring to her personality but was trying to warn me that her persistent  cough, congestion, and ear infections are going to make her a high maintenance patient for the time being. 

As you know Lainey had tubes placed in her ears one month ago. For the past 2 1/2 weeks she has had a runny nose and cough.  She has also had drainage out of her left ear.  We treated the ear infection with antibiotic drops for 3-4 days.  It cleared but a week later she has more drainage. 

The pediatrician feels that some of her chronic congestion/ear infections (she has been congested since she was 5 days old) are related to allergies.  So, now he have 2 kids who are on daily Singular and Claritin. Wonderful.  Hopefully it will help.  She was also restarted on Amoxicillin for 10 days to help clear the sinus infection she is dealing with now.

Lainey had her blood drawn this morning (finger stick) and she didn't flinch at all.  She sat still and watched what they were doing.  It was quite impressive.  They checked her CBC.  Her WBC was mildly elevated (indicative of an acute infection) but everything else was normal. 

Carson:

I took him into the pediatrician this morning too.   The doctor agreed that he sounds like a reflux kid so we are starting him on Zantac.  Hopefully, that will help with sleeping and make him more comfortable.

He is growing well.  They weigh the kids with their clothes on so I am not sure exactly what he weighs but it is around 8.5 pounds.  He gained 13 ounces in 8 days!   Big kid!

Erik:

Erik is doing well so far this allergy season.  He didn't have an appointment this morning but I didn't want him to feel left out.  He is on Singulair, Claritin, and Budesonide nebulizer daily.  His worst symptoms last year were the first 2 weeks of April.  I am praying things are better this year.  We'll see.