Sickness Abounds

Sickness has plagued our house this year.  We rented a condo in Destin for the New Years.  Ended up coming home a day early because all the kids were sick!  K's respiratory virus turned into croup for the 1st time.  We followed that up with everyone having a stomach virus.  That was definitely not fun!  C had few days where he wasn't sick but he wasn't well either.  Then 2 weeks ago, K started with a runny nose and congestion...which turned into croup for the 2nd time.  And she shared it with all of us except Zine.  Our youngest C has complained of her ear hurting today.  K is to the point of needing an antibiotic I think.  So...I am sure hoping that when spring comes the sickness leaves.  It actually could leave today and that would be awesome!  I think for the entire year of 2011, I have gone to church about 3 times!

My mom's lung disease has resurfaced.  She has what they call MAC disease. It stands for Mycobacterium avium complex.  She is back on three medications a day for that.  She has Alzheimer's Disease and takes two medicines for that.  She takes a heart pill daily as well.  So when we added those three lung medicines back, it definitely increased her pharmacy bill.  And then this week, the pulmonologist  put her on some asthma medicine as well.  With Medicare, you can change drug providers once a year.  You base that decision on your current medication.  I changed hers in December.  So I am sure crossing my fingers with the addition of the new drugs that it will still be a good plan choice!

My dad had a big scare with his health as well.  He had some blood work done, and his white blood count and platelet level was low.  They referred him to an oncologist.  He had a bone marrow biopsy but thankfully, it came back normal.  So...we are definitely going to have those blood numbers watched closely but for now I am so thankful that he had a good report!!

Zine's parents have had upper respiratory stuff going on since before Christmas.  They couldn't seem to shake their gunk.  We were  beginning to be concerned about his dad.  But he finally perked up.  They just spent a couple of days here so we are praying that the respiratory junk we have here doesn't make them sick again!  We enjoyed them being here.  Zine's dad helped me get a couple of things done here that would have been impossible for Zine and I.  K  absolutely loves them!  She was so excited to see them.  I bet K called Nana a hundred times in two days!  It was sweet!  And...they filled my freezer up with beef and C's deer that he killed over Christmas.  So...we'll be eating good for awhile!  I can't wait until everyone feels like eating so we can have some of C's first deer!  C and his papa are already planning a week of deer camp in the fall!

Zine continues to struggle with stiffness.  That seems to be his number one complaint!  I'm so thankful that for the first time in over a year, the past two weeks he has seemed happy again.  I don't know if it will stay or not but I'm enjoying it right now!  It seems hard to believe we started this process a year ago.  After a couple of months of begging him to go to the doctor, he saw the primary care doctor for the first time on March 30.  He saw neurologist for 1st time on April 5.  Had MRI on April 11.  On April 14, we received his probably diagnosis of MS.  On April 19, he had a spinal tap to confirm diagnosis.  On May 10, we were finally given the news that the lab had made a mistake and his labs were never sent to Mayo!!  So...on May 11, Zine had his second spinal tap.  On May 14, we returned to HH for a blood patch due to horrible headache.  On Wednesday, May 26  we received the confirmed diagnosis of MS.  Zine was sent straight to HH where he recieved 3 days of IV steroids.  And then he took 6 weeks of oral steroids.  On August 23rd, we went to UAB and saw a MS specialist where Zine recieved a diagnosis of Primary Progressive MS.  That was definitely not what we wanted to hear.  So the week of October 25, we spent at Mayo in Minnesota for 2nd opinion.  And the diagnosis was indeed PPMS.  So all that to say, it has been quite a year for him.  I'm thinking he has every reason to be sad and not happy!  But I personally like him a lot better happy!

C goes once a year to Richmond, VA to see a MD specialist.  We always go in the fall.  However, I moved her appt. there due to our trip to Mayo Health Clinic in Rochester, MN.  So it is scheduled for April 20.  It is just not a convenient time for us to go.  I am currently debating on how to handle that situation.  Do I push her appt. back a couple of weeks or do I just push it back and get us back on the fall rotation.  Decisions, decisions, decisions...

The good news about all this sickness that abounds...God has been with us every step of the way.  Even when we haven't felt His presence...He has sent reminders along the way to us that He is apart of this season of our lives.