When it Rains, it Pours....

Boy, when is this going to end? Eric got here to Philly yesterday with Drexel and Kolya and I noticed right away that Drexel had lost some weight since I last saw him. He had Strep after I left and was on antibiotics for a week, but his Pediatrician was concerned about the lymph nodes in his neck that had swelling and stiffness. She told Eric to call her if the swelling didn't go down by today. Well, around bedtime, we realized that we hadn't changed Drexel's diaper all day. He's usually good to tell us when he's wet and with all the craziness at my Mom's house, it just slipped our minds. When I went to change him, he was completely dry. He hadn't urinated all day, although he had been drinking. Besides that, his neck was still sore, so we took him into the Children's hospital in Delaware. While we were in the waiting room, he told me that he needed to be changed. When I checked, he didn't need to be changed, but he had a rash on his legs. They admitted him last night, put him on IV fluids and IV antibiotics. He urinated pretty soon after they got more fluids in him, but they seemed to be very concerned about the rash.

He had a CAT scan today to look at the lumps on the lymph nodes on hisneck, and they determined that there are pockets of infection. They aregiving him more IV antibiotics in the hopes that they drain on their own, andif they do, he could possibly be released tomorrow. He had been onantibiotics for a week for Strep before coming out here, and hispediatrician was also concerned about the lumps. If they do not go down ontheir own, they will have to drain them. He has been resting comfortablyand sleeping quite a bit. He's a little stiff in his joints and neck, buthas been mostly cheerful. He woke me up at one point today while he waswatching the Disney channel and I was dozing with my head on his bed, andsaid, "Happy Valentine's Day Mommy!" Made my day.

The rash that he has on his legs, the Drs believe is HSP http://www.aafp.org/afp/980800ap/980800b.html We were in the hospital
when the rash began to develop, so while many of the symptoms fit the
description, they caught it quick, he does not have the more severe
symptoms, and it seems that they are keeping it well in check with the
antibiotics since it has not developed further since he was admitted to
the hospital last night.

Eric is staying with Drexel tonight, and I will join him tomorrow. Please
pray for us, because we don't know how long Drexel will need to be in the
hospital, and even how to plan for how we will work being at my Dad's
viewing Wednesday and funeral Thursday. Also, Eric was planning on coming
home to go away this weekend, and we're not sure whether that is going to
happen or not. At this point, we're just rolling with things as much as we
can. I miss Eric. Even though he's out here now, we've hardly gotten any
time with eachother, and that is stressful for both of us.

I'm heading to bed in a few minutes and I'm going to read the book of Job

 

Job sounds appropriate. Maybe Psalm 91 as a counterbalance.

Perfect title for this thread Cindy, you guys have been hit from just about every direction recently. Hang in there. We're still praying for you. Sounds like a good hospital that's taking care of Drexel.

 

Chin up.

I hope everything turns out well for you and your family Cindy. Give Eric my best.

 

Hang in there Cindy & Eric--

Geez, this is definitly a case of raining then pouring

But, hang in there you guys will make it through this, one of you should be with Drexel, I think your father would understand and want it that way, and so should anybody else concerned.

Hope things ease up for you soon, we're saying prayers.

 

Please know I am thinking of you and your family. Take each day as it comes. Try to spend time together if you can.

Gal

 

My prayers are still with you. You're not coming off my prayer list any time soon.

 

Your faith is being tested a lot lately.
Hang in there guys.
You know god loves you and will take care of you.
Our prayers are with you every minute.

 

Vonnie has said it so well.

Still praying for you and your family. Every day.

Everyone loves you Cindy and Eric, keep the faith.

 

Best of luck to you, Eric, Kolya, and especially Drexel. Many many hugs

 

In my thoughts

 

Well, I'm staying the night with Drexel, hopefully only one more night. If he will have a stinky diaper, they'll let him go home.

Yesterday they removed his adenoids and drained out the abcess, and he started improving late yesterday. The stiffness is gone from his neck, the rash on his legs is subsiding, and the sore on his private area is getting better. He is much more alert and happy, and I'm hoping a good nights rest and a stinky diaper will put him over the top and we can get our of here.

Cindy is at her father's viewing, and burial will be tomorrow. I don't think I'll get to go to the burial either, but at least Cindy is there, and I can be here with Drexel. If this had happened in Chicago, I know Cindy would have flown home and missed everything here, and that would have been lousy.

I'm very tired, and I am very ready to get back to Chicago to see all my friends. I'm supposed to go Friday morning with Marty and John on a birding trip to Sault Ste. Marie and see some owls and falcons....it's just what I need.

I hope a similar trip could work out for Cindy and I, and the kids, I think we all need a vacation.....

 

Well, thats some good news.Nice to see things getting better on Drexels news anyway.

Hang in there buddy, it'll all work out. That bird trip would be a nice retreat from the current events in your life.

Just remember, Patty and I are still pulling for you guys

 

lookd like that angels are keeping watch over you.. bet ya never thought a stinky diaper would be a good thing!?!

 

good to hear he's doing a bit better
I hope he gets better soon man!
and you're right, a vacation sounds like a good plan, you deserved it after all the misery you've been put through...

 

Well, Drexel is back "home" here at my Mom's and he's been cleared for flying! I just dropped Eric off at the airport to head home for his trip and I will be leaving with the kids tomorrow morning to get back to Chicago. Drexel is doing better, but he's definitely not himself yet. His little immune system was really put to the test with all this. He's still congested, and a little stiff, and definitely weak. He's been sleeping quite a bit (and much better than he was at the hospital, of course). He's on some really wicked antibiotics. I'm not sure how to even get them in him because they taste so awful! The poor kid was really suffering yesterday when I had to give it to him. Unfortunately, this HSP has some risks to it, and we are going to have to submit urine samples for the next couple of years, weekly and then eventually not as often) to make sure that there wasn't any kidney damage. I think it will be ok since we caught it so quickly (the rash developed while we were in the ER waiting room). I'm going to get him to his pediatrician as soon as we get home for a follow up visit, and have her check him over. I'm looking forward to getting my boy back to his own bed, and having the support of my friends at home.

I've been holding up fairly well, I've melted down a couple of times, but I think it was healthy blowing off some steam so I don't completely boil over. The funeral was especially hard. I really wish Eric could have been there with me. I think it will all hit me sometime after I get back home. I'll be sure to spend some time here at MG once I get back. For the last couple of weeks, I've just been popping in for a few minutes at a time. I miss all my buddies here. :sad:

Thanks again for all your prayers, I know that's what's kept me going. I've felt a little super-human through all this. I haven't been my normal blubbering self. Don't they say, "that which doesn't destroy us only makes us stronger"? Kinda like a virus.

 

Yes, they do say that. They also say that you never really know what you can accomplish until you HAVE to.

You guys have done terrifically during a very tough period. Go home, get some rest, and have a good cry if/when you need to. And give each other a big hug from me. You've earned it.

 

:::hug::: I'm glad he's Okay, or going to be at any rate. I've been thinking about him - and you - Because I remember the 4 sleepless days in the ER with my helpless little kid crying in pain and nothing I could do... I'm so glad your ordeal is over.

Now, what was it called again? And how do they suppose he contracted it?

 

I am just lost for words, I wish I could I find a way to express my empathy for you all who have found yourselves in a chaotic space.


Small consolation I know but if bad things have to happen randomly, it couldn't have happened to a tighter band than you guys. If love and mutual support are needed, hey you're there.

Feelings flying your way







My son is 25 now, that heart catching feeling if they're in danger never goes away!

 

hang in there cindy & eric, as you can see, everyone is here for you & awaiting your return

 

Well, I'm finally home. I feel like I can completely melt down now, and I definitely have. I did alright last night, but today, I've burst into tears just about every time someone has asked me how I'm doing (and there have been a lot of people here who have asked ) Bethany and Jesse have been helping me out and keeping me company, as well as some other friends.

Eric is stranded in the UP with Marty and our friend John. A snowstorm came through, and they thought it safer to stay an extra day before travelling the roads home. I'm sure they'll put the extra time to good use, and do some more birdwatching. I'm not sure that Eric is doing all that much better than I am though. He's been under a lot of stress with all of this as well, of course, and I've hardly even got to see him and talk about how he's handling it all.

I'm sure we'll both be around here a little more now. (that is, as long as something else catastrophic doesn't happen)

 

Hang in there, you are on the downward slope of this.
Let it out as much as you need to, keeping things pent up doesnt work.
Just pop in when ya need a distraction, MG is open 24/7

 

Poor Drex !! Sounds like he's doing better now, which is a blessing.

Cindy - you have earned the right to melt down, everyone will understand.

Give Kolya a big hug and kiss along with Drexel.

As always, Love and Prayers and peace of mind too ! Wayne

 

I missed this one, as I haven't been on-line much lately. At least things with Drex have improved.

You and your family are always in my thoughts and prayers.

Time to unwind a bit now, I guess.

 

A belated welcome home Cindy. Now that it's over, melt down as needed. It's been a very stressful and emotional time, and you've held it together for the sake of everyone else while needed, but all the feeling and emotion of the time is still there, not bypassed. Grieving is a process, not a time period, and will take time to work through. Big hugs, although virtual.

Is Eric home yet? I suspect some time together to deal with all this will help both of you.

Still in my thoughts and prayers.