So Totally Beyond Frustrated

I managed to get into the pediatrician's office today. To see doctor #2 regarding Nolan's unending fever, and the new funny rash.

We got to wait in the parking lot for our turn, because they wanted to keep us quarantined in case it was Chicken Pox. We were called in through a back entrance and put into an exam room. The nurse took a quick look and said it didn't look like Chicken Pox. She took his temp and his low-grade fever is still there. We're on Day Six of a 99-100 degree fever.

Then the doctor came in. He took a look and informed me that the rash was not due to a virus. He thinks it might be flea bites. Except they don't look like flea bites. But he's pretty sure they're not viral. Or bug bites. He just doesn't know.

I told him that sounded like a strange diagnosis, because they've been cropping up on Nolan's belly over the weekend and spreading beyond his torso. Oh, yeah- and he has a fever. THAT WON'T GO AWAY.

The doctor then informed me that 99-100 degrees is NOT a fever.

Really? Because doctor number one thought it was enough of a fever to do a WBC on the kid. I'm pretty sure there's a reason a LOW GRADE FEVER is called a fever.

I am so frustrated, and worried for my little guy. There are just so many unknowns that keep me awake at night lately.

Failure to grow, for no known reason

Hearing loss, for no known reason

And then you add in:

Fever, for no known reason

Rash, for no known reason

Yeah, I'm a little stressed out!

I just don't know what to do. Nolan is due for his immunizations on Wednesday, and if he still has this non-fever I don't want him to get the shots.

Could It Be?

Well, this might explain our unknown origin of the fever... (you might need to enlarge the photo go get a gander at the spots).

I'm not sure what kind of rash this is, but could it be Chicken Pox? Nolan was vaccinated against that disease at 12 months of age.

Now I just need an infectious disease expert to add to our portfolio. Sigh...

FUO

Well, the good news is that Nolan's ears are perfectly fine. And so are his throat, lungs, and nose. There is absolutely nothing wrong with him, except for a fever that will not go away. The official diagnosis? FUO- Fever of unknown origin. It sounds more like an alien disk descending from space than a medical issue, but there you go. So now we watch and wait, and hopefully the fever will disappear eventually. They did do a finger stick to see if his white blood cell count was up, and it's not. He's due for shots next Wednesday (well baby appointment) so hopefully the fever will be gone by then.

He's also up to 20 pounds, 10oz! We're almost at the 21 pound mark, so at least he's still gaining weight. This child seems to subsist on a diet of milk and three cheerios per day, but at least he's still gaining some weight.

Fever, Day Three

Nolan has had a low-grade fever since Tuesday evening. I managed to get into the pediatrician today- I hope it isn't another ear infection!

He has no other symptoms (other than not eating, but that's nothing new).

I want spring to hurry and get here so that we can get past the nasty season of infectious diseases!

Survey Says...

Jodi is fervently working to improve parental support for children who have a hearing loss detected through newborn screening programs. She has posted a short survey for parents of children with hearing loss. Please take a few minutes to help these wonderful advocates out!

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=5eHe_2bpFgBxwGqaf_2fisWQog_3d_3d

Earless

Notice anything missing? Nolan has been leaving his hearing aids in for no more than 15 minutes at a time. If I keep him extremely occupied, I might get an hour of hearing aid wearing. How frustrating is this behavior?

Imagine, if you will, hunting all over the grocery store/house/preschool/parking lot for two very tiny pieces of ear candy worth $3000. Now imagine doing this EVERY DAY. We do have a retention lanyard, but Nolan can disassemble the entire aid faster than I can blink, and the aids are removed from the string and thrown or hidden quickly.

At least he can't hide them well yet.

I keep telling myself it is just a phase. But it is a frustrating phase! I deal with things better when I have a plan-of-attack, so here's what I'm planning on doing:

• This will not become a power struggle. I dont' want his hearing aids viewed as a negative or as a source of tension. When he takes them out, I will wait a few minutes and then replace them without a word.


• I am taking his aids in for some maintenance because the right one sounds a tad "rough." I don't have a better description for the sound, but it is every-so-slightly coarse. There might be nothing wrong with it, but it won't hurt to have it checked out.


• We get new earmolds on the 13th, which might help with keeping his aids in.

I don't think we've had a change in hearing, since Nolan can still say all the Ling sounds back to me (with the exception of ooo and mmm, which he can't discriminate). He is still adding new words daily, though his articulation does give me some pause (daddy has turned into da-yee, coffee is boppy, diaper is bahpoo, cup is bup, etc). Because he has lost hearing since birth, the possibility of losing more is always in the back of my mind. If all else fails, we'll schedule another hearing test.

Fun at "School"

Just a few random pictures from speech therapy today. Speech "therapy" is all play- the work is hidden within all the fun!

Why I honestly believe our SLP should be paid more- she has to handle two at once!