Flu Hits the Sod House

This is my sick baby getting up from his nap this afternoon. I could not resist the picture. His hair was priceless!!!

Jack was at the doctor this morning and tested positive for the flu. He was totally fine until Early Monday morning. Right now he is the only one with symptoms but the doctor put all of the boys on tamiflu. So after a copay and filling 3 tamiflu prescriptions to the tune of $112 EACH we have NO money and will probably be home bound for awhile. Just a day in the life of having 3 kids huh. Pray that this is short lived and that no one else in the house goes down.

The Great Escape

The boys and I had a great week last week visiting grandparents. We really just chilled for a week. No agenda which was nice. My parents spoiled us all. We just signed Hamilton up for soccer last week so my dad took him to get his soccer gear.....cleats, leg guards, multiple shorts, shirts, and jackets. Way over the top but Hamilton was thrilled to say the least. Jack of coarse got jealous because even at two he loves sports. So my dad made a second trip to the sports store and got the same attire for Jack. Can you say spoiled? We ate at Outback Friday night for my upcoming birthday. And mom and I even got in a little shopping without the kids. I must say I missed Kris terribly and was very ready to see him when we returned.

Lessons From My Children

We are well on our way to more pleasant days and more obedient children. I due believe God is constantly teaching me through my children. We are all born into sin and need the gentle and sometimes firmer correction from our Heavenly Father.....even Mommy's and Daddy's. I have always been so thankful for Godly parents. I think my mom warfare prayed me through high school during some rebellion years. I am learning daily that parenting is the hardest job I have ever had. My prayer is to raise God fearing young men that love the Lord above all else. I want my boys to see a God fearing woman in their mother. I guess what I learned from Friday is that more than my boys needed a crazy screaming mother, they need a mother that mimics Christlike behavior and practices the fruits of the spirit daily. Don't get me wrong. Mommy is boot camp is still underway. We definitely have some attitudes, behaviors, and character issues that need to be addressed. But honestly that will be the work of my life. Not only with the boys but with myself as well.

Oh My Gosh....I am going CRAZY!!!

I am so tired of waking up in the morning and having to brace myself for a sun up to sun down day of whining and fighting. It is constant in this house. It never ever ends. Hamilton just pretended to unleash his ant farm on Jack. Jack is rolling in the floor screaming ants are on him. They have already been in a fist fight over the cars soundtrack. Jack got push by Sam and went flying across the floor. When Jack got up it was on. He charged Sam and used his greatest defense....his teeth. Sam just screams and screams and screams and runs to his room screaming "Mommy I don't love you anymore". (At this time, it is not even 9:00 in the morning.) If that came out of Hamilton or Jacks mouth, I would worry. But coming from Samuel it doesn't really evoke much emotion from me. My boys individually would all be angels. But put them in a room together and they will beat the crap out of each other every time. (I swear someone just called wanting me to pledge money to stop child abuse in America. Is there a hidden camera somewhere in my house? Really?) I love being a mother. I especially love being a mother to three boys. But my days are long and hard. We have had a month of very little outside time due to sickness and cold weather. I am sure that has added to the climax today. I know that constant laundry, vacuuming breakfast, lunch and dinner off the floors, constantly picking up and putting away toys, washing sand out of their hair, changing diapers and wiping behinds are all part of just being a mother. I really don't mind those things either. But I cannot deal with constant whining, teasing, and fighting. It makes me CRAZY!!!! So I am going this morning to purchase How to Have a New Child by Friday from Lifeway. It is 50% right now. Hopefully this time next week I will be able to blog about our peaceful home. Until then Mommy boot camp is officially beginning.

Emory Appointment

Yesterday was Samuel's big appointment at Emory in Atlanta. It was a wonderful day from the time we left the house to the time we arrived back. Anna was able to keep Hamilton and Jack. She has her hands full with her two, so Kris and I really appreciated her helping us out. We found Emory without any problems, parked quickly, and quickly made it to our office. Which is all huge considering we were in Atlanta and had never been to the Emory campus before.

From the time we entered the office things just flowed well. We waited about 2 min. in the waiting room and in our room for about 2 min. (All of this being so different than our experience at Children's in Birmingham) I expected a nurse to come in for the run down but immediately the doctor came in. He began juggling for Samuel, which Samuel thought was so cool. It was great because obviously Samuel has some anxiety about being at a hospital. The doctor spent almost an hour and a half with us. He was very impressed that we were currently working with the Mayo Clinic. He knows both the doctors there that I have been in contact with. That was so reassuring because one of my goals yesterday was to find a doctor for Samuel that was more than willing to work with Mayo through this. The two test he would have ordered yesterday had already been ordered by the Mayo Clinic. We had the results for one of them for him to look at and the other was the DNA test that we are still waiting on. I felt like such a great advocate for Samuel. We were already two months ahead by having those test completed. The DNA testing takes around two months to complete.

So where do we stand today? Good question. Hyperoxaluria is still not off the table. Diagnosing Hyperoxaluria is not an easy thing. A positive diagnosis can come from a positive DNA test (which we are waiting results on) or a liver biopsy sent off to London showing the defective enzymes in the liver. We hope we don't have to do the second. But if the DNA test is negative, and he still has high oxalate levels then more than likely that would be something we have to do. 25% to 30% of children with hyperoxaluria respond to a large does of vitamin B6. It seems crazy that a natural substance as B6 in your body could help such a horrible disease. But if it does I consider it a miracle medicine. Samuel has been on B6 for over 2 months now. His latest urine oxalate levels are within normal range so that leaves us thinking he may be B6 responsive. The only issue with the disease of hyperoxaluria is large oxalate levels. Too much oxalate being filtered through the kidneys causes stones and damages kidneys. So if we can control his oxalate levels with B6, then he is good to go. The only issue for me at that point is I want another child. If Samuel has this disease, then that means Kris and I are both carriers of it. There would be a 25% chance that any of our children would have it. And that child may not be as easy to treat as Samuel. Some children with this disease are in kidney failure within the first few months of there life because their kidney's are full of stones. So we will just have to cross that bridge when we get there.

For now, I am thrilled with our new doctor. God was so good sending us the direction of Emory and Mayo. I left yesterday feeling like we were in such good hands. I always left Children's in Birmingham thinking there is more we can do and that we weren't doing everything we could to help Samuel. That was so stressful and frustrating and I was always researching and looking for another door. That door has now been opened, so I feel like I can sit back now and just trust our doctors. We will wait now on the DNA test and go from there. Samuel will continue the B6, large fluid intake, and renal ultrasounds every 6 months to look for stones in his kidneys.

I continue to be amazed at God's faithfulness throughout this process. I truly feel like my steps have been ordained by him. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be the mother of my three amazing boys. We are so blessed.

What do you do when it has rained for a week straight?

...........sneak out of the house while Mommy is blogging and play in it of coarse.

Great News!

Hamilton and Jackson's test from Mayo came back today. Both boys have oxalate levels within normal range. I am thrilled to say the least. One of Samuel's test came back also. It was a hyperoxaluria panel. It too came back all in normal range. Mayo Clinic did say they have seen a normal panel come back with PH patients. Samuel has not had normal oxalate levels since his stone in Nov of '07, so a normal oxalate number for him is great news. He has been taking large levels of vitamin B6 for two months now. We are hoping the normal levels are a result of his body responding to the B6 treatment.

We go to Emory in Atlanta next Wednesday to meet with a pediatric neuphrologist. We are hoping the DNA test from Mayo will be ready by then. (That is the last test we are waiting on from Mayo) We hope to gain a lot of information from that.

I continue to be overwhelming greatly to have found the Mayo Clinic. I am also so grateful that Samuel feels great and has been stone free for almost a year and a half. I hope the good news keeps rolling in!!!!!

Side Note Behind the Song: I like putting music to my blog. If you want to know what kind of day I am having just listen to the song playing.....that usually is my mood in a nut shell. Anyway, Samuel hates loud noises so fireworks really freak him out. So New Year's Eve Kris was shooting fireworks with Jack and Hamilton. Samuel and I move a chair in the living room so we can watch them out the back window. We had the lights off for effect. Samuel sweetly turns my face to him and out of the blue said "Mommy if you ever need me just call me and I will come as quick as I can". I laughed and kissed him all over. But this song immediately popped into my head and has been there ever since.

A Few Atlanta Christmas Pictures!!

Thank you Nana, Mike, and ReRe

My family is so good to my boys. My 80 year old grandmother remembers all of their birthdays, checks on them weekly, and often sends them packages and cards. The definitely know that Nana loves them. For Christmas my aunt, uncle, and grandmother sent books with money enclosed for the boys. They could not have been more excited. On Christmas morning, they made sure to shake the books from HoHo. I assured them that HoHo does not bring money. Samuel is ready to spend his money. No saving for him. Hamilton on the other hand is saving his money for a lawn mower. Yes, my six year old wants and real lawn mower. And yes, I will let him get the one he wants in the Spring. Anyway.....we are sending a big thank you to Nana, Mike and Rere. The books and money were a BIG hit.