Tuesday, February 26, 2008

HBOT boy




HBOT...4 down, 36 to go!

So here we are in Lynchburg at Dr.Mumper's. Brady did his first two dives yesterday and two more today. He has been great too. We aren't forcing the entire hood yet. For now we make him wear the ring which he is suprisingly tolerating it very well. Today in fact he went over to crawl into the chamber on his own accord. I laughed. Inside he gives no indication that he's feeling the pressure change. He happily watches his Spongebob DVD. He is content to watch the menu most of the time. Today he rewound it to the opening song so that I would sing it over and over. He makes the most amazing eye contact when we sing to him, with a giant smile to boot. It's amazing and I could drown in his eyes.

Sadie and I are going in with him. I've timed it so that we dive when she is tired so I nurse her during the pressure changes and she sleeps between them. She's great in the chamber. As well as the dives are going the thought of 36 more is daunting. I wish it weren't so many. I miss home but I think this is going to be AMAZING for Brady. I'm super excited about his upcoming appt with Dr.Kaplan.

Robin and Drew.....we miss you guys!

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Brady had the flu for a week. On Monday I took him to the ped because he had a fever for 6 days at that point. They checked his ears and they were infected. Superb! The first ear infection of his like happens one week prior to him starting HBOT. He can't do HBOT if he has an EI. The doc presribed an oral antiobiotic but I knew he wasn't going to take it. I called them the next day and requested an injectable antibiotic Rocephin. They were hesitant but we needed that ear infection gone. So he went on Tuesday and got the first dose. They had to split it into two syringes so he got one in each thigh.

Brady seemed better today. I took him and got his haircut. I'm trying to discourage him from twirling his head bald. Did I mention that he twirled the hair on the crown of his head so much it created a bald spot? Best cut yet. He cried but sat there *mostly* still. The lady cutting it asked if he was only *mildly autistic*. They always ask me that there. She said she thinks he's mild because he's ok for his haircuts. As though the scale for autism is based on haircuts. LOL BUT....she did mention Jenny McCarthy and seemed to understand the relationship between toxins and autism so that was great.

Brady went back today for his second dose of Rocephin. I had to hold him down for the dose yesterday and it broke my heart. It took me back to all his vaccines and I wanted to hurl. I wanted to throw my arms around him and tell him how sorry I was for doing that to him and how I wish I could change things. How I wish he didn't have to struggle so hard now because of the choices *I* made for him. I know guilt only strangles and can't change things but sometimes I need to feel that guilt. Some days I wish so badly I could turn back time and undo the damage done to Brady.

Monday, February 18, 2008

In your face!


I'm getting kind of in your face with my radical beliefs. I can't help it. I feel so strongly about certain things especially the poisoning of our planet and particularly our children.


Here's how in your face I'm getting.

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Still better than the flu shot!

Oh man. I haven't posted in some time. Our family has been hit hard with the flu. It started last weekend with Brooke. She never spiked a fever but layed on our sofa most of the weekend. And we suspected something was up with Sadie as she was not eating like normal. And normal for her is lots of food, especially mushrooms. The sad thing about this is that last Saturday was Sadie's 1st Birthday! Can you believe it? Our baby girl is one! More on that in another post.

So she wasn't feeling well. She started spiking a fever and coughing. You could just see the sickness in her eyes. Then Tuesday morning I fell and fell hard. Oh my gosh I felt like crap. And I still had to take care of Sadie and Brady (the 80's as I call em). Then when I picked Brady up from his ABA session on Weds they said he was falling asleep during his session. I knew then that he was next. We came home and I took a nap with the 80's. I heard Brady whimpering as he drifted off. The next few days were hell. Thursday was my birthday and Valentine's. I was too sick to care. I ended up taking Sadie to the Urgent Care Clinic on my birthday. She had been fairing the flu very well but the Wed night and Thurs all she did was sleep and cry. Nothing made her happy, not even nursing and that's saying something. Sure enough she had an ear infection. Now while I know ear infections can run their course and resolve, I know having the flu and ear infection is miserable. I also know being the mommy with the flu taking care of two kids with the flu I needed some help. We chose to give her the antibiotics and double up her probiotics.

Brady has been running a fever pretty much continously. We've been using suppositories to keep his fever down and to help with the body aches. This is actually a pretty awesome thing. For the first three years of Brady's life he NEVER EVER ran a fever. He never got sick. His immune system was too depressed to actually run a defense. So the fact that he is getting a fever and sick is good news. Things are starting to work. The things we are doing for him are working!

Now I'm behind in getting ready for HBOT. I can't believe we start diving in a week. Thank god the flu hit this week and not next week.

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Avoiding chemcials and cloth diapers...

We cloth diaper Sadie and I actually thoroughly enjoy it, even making some nice bamboo velour prefolds myself. I feel good about my efforts to keep our landfills free of disposable diapers. Cloth diapering is easier than I thought. I am currently in the process of switching Brady over to 100% cloth. His skin is *super* sensitive and he reacts strongly to chemicals especially those in disposable diapers and pull-ups.

In general we try to limit his exposure to chemicals as much as possible. I just ordered him two organic pillows. He recently moved to his big boy bed and I plan to get him an organic mattress for that as well. I use biodegradable and enviromentally friendly detergents and cleaning products. We run an air purifier in his room. I have this dream of creating a green-zen-like bedroom for him with bamboo floors and blinds. A nice organic wool rug. Ahhh! It'll happen but slowly. Unfortunately it's expensive to do these things. I have more to say on the chemical front but not enough time. I need to go get the kidlets ready and take Brady to ABA.

Getting nervous....

Less than 3 weeks until HBOT and I'm getting nervous. Not so much about the actual dives but rather taking care of all three kiddos by myself. Sadie and Brady as we affectionately call "the 80s" can make an ordinary day very very long.
See I'm a crazy mom who will do all sorts of crazy things for my kids. HBOT isn't really crazy but moving away for a month and spending the money to do it is.

Brooke will be taking a hiatus from school to go with me. She just can't live without me and her teacher is all for it. We will have to officially un-enroll her but her teacher is going to send her work with us so Brooke can stay on track. She's made amazing grades this year and will be fine.

We are all allowed to dive together if we choose, even the baby. The only issue is the pressure on our ears. I figure I will nurse Sadie and that should help with that. Of course if Brady is ok he could dive with just Brooke some times. I of course am worried he is going to go buckwild on me in there but many times he's surprised me.

It's going to be very interesting living away from home. I know I will miss home. I will miss Robin and Drew and our goofy dog Charlie. But I've learned that you have to make sacrifices in life. It's only for just over 4 weeks and we can come home on the weekends. It's a 3 hour drive.

Pray for awesome results!