On hurricanes and sick babies

IKE UPDATE:

So, guess what? Ike is now headed straight for Houston/Galveston again. Some reports are calling for a direct hit of a Cat 4 hurricane. Many counties on the shore have started voluntary and even mandatory evacuations. People like us, out of danger of storm surge, have been asked to stay put and allow people at serious risk to evacuate. So, today Ray went and bought 7 large pieces of plywood. If power goes out and looks like it is going to stay out, we will probably leave at a later point. Otherwise looks like we are here to weather the storm.

This isn't to say that Ike still couldn't turn... It's the inability to predict what he is going to do that really chaps me. I wish we could just know, but at least we are on our way to being prepared.

TURTLE UPDATE:

I usually reserve the blog for fun and cuteness, but since so many of you use it as a means to keep track of the little man, I thought I would share an update on his health. Generally, he is a really healthy and growing boy. Skinny as a rail but has a great appetite. Well, about a month before his 18 mos check up he had developed a little cough. He was [and still is] cutting his 4 incisors and teething often makes him cough. The pediatrician gave him a listen to and said he sounded fine, but keep an eye on it.

Well, about 3 weeks later, the cough was still there. I brought him back and this time a listen to his chest wasn't as clear. Dr Shuman said she definitely heard some wheezing and was a little concerned. She said it could be one of three things: asthma, allergies or a cold that just got stuck. She had us do this... thing... where he had to wear a mask and inhale some medicine vapor. That was misery and the more the nurse tried to help, the worse it was. Dr Shuman said it helped a little but not as much as she had hoped. We got an Rx and were instructed to watch again.

It got a little better with the Rx, so I thought we were in the clear. Then last weekend, Turtle's cough came back with a vengeance. So much so that he couldn't sleep because of it. Monday it was back to Dr Shuman. We did the vapor meds again and this time the nurse left the room. Turtle still wasn't happy, but it was a lot easier with just me. We got a lot more inhaled and Dr Shuman was thrilled that it made such a difference. Based on my observations and what she heard in his lungs, she concluded: Allergies.

However, it wasn't as simple as all that. Since he has had this cough for going on 3 months now, she is concerned that there could be scarring in his lungs! SCARY! So, he now takes Zyrtec each night before bed and twice a day has to take other meds through an inhaler. There is a tube with a mask I have to put over his face. Yes, he hates it. Then the inhaler goes in the other end and I pump it in to the tube. He has to inhale at least 5x and then another pump and 5 more breaths. It's only been 2 days, so no real change but I am hoping that this does what it needs to. The next step would be inhaled steroids and after that seeking help from specialists. I really don't want Turtle to have to go through all that! I just hope this works and he is back in tip-top form. Really, his day-to-day is not affected much outside of a constant runny nose and the cough... He plays, eats, naps and generally acts like a 19 mos old... I'll let you know when we know.

RANDOM CUTENESS: