Allister's 2 year check.

Allister had his 2 year well check last week.

He's a big boy like his brother! It funny because I thought he was going to be more average height, but apparently he too is off the charts in height. I guess I'm just used to his big brother!

Height - 37" greater than 97%

Weight 31lb 87%

Head 19.3cm 60%

So once again we have a tall boy. He's doing everything he should and more. Talking up a storm! Jumping, counting. He's learning his colors, shapes and numbers. Everything is red or purple :)

Here are some adorable photos of him after a recent nap and a funky hairstyle he woke up with.

 

 

 

Specialist.

We finally had our appointments with the Allergy and Asthma doctor today and it was very informative!

We had a consultation with our new wonderful doctor- who came highly recommended! And went through the boys history. Then we had allergy testing. This is standard for asthma sufferers as allergies can set of asthma so it's important to be aware of any reactions. That way we can help the asthma by avoiding or treating the allergies.

They do this with a number of tiny pin pricks on the back, see the inflamed dot on the lower left as you look? That's the "control" histamine test so therefore there is a reaction. All the other actions were very mild, and we're gone within the time frame, and therefore both boys were given the all clear on allergies! That's good news for them and Guinness :)

 

Needless to say the boys did not enjoy the procedure! But handled it so very well. I hated it and wanted to cry! It was over very very quick, they have these little gadgets with like 8 needles in so they get the whole lot done and over with very quick.

Because the boys mainly have asthma symptoms in the winter we are not going to start new treatments right now. Both boys have rescue inhalers as needed, and both have tried singulair. Harrison suffers a little with activity induced coughing, so if this continues throughout the warmer seasons we will get him some preventative care. The same for Allister. But nothing right now.

Here are some things we learned about asthma:

You never grow out of asthma. People who have asthma as a child, always have it. It's just that as your airways grow and your lungs mature, the symptoms tend to be less bothersome, or go completely. It is common for people who think they had "childhood asthma" to suffer with coughs and wheezing occasionally As adults and not Realise it's their asthma.

If left untreated asthma in children can lead to complications and reduction in lung function later in life. The peak of lung function is around 30, after that age the function declines. If childhood asthma is not controlled the peak is lower therefore the decline later in life is also lower.

Coughing can be the only symptom of asthma. Wheezing isn't always noticeable.

Croup is a symptom of Asthma! This will explain why Allister has had croup like 4 times this winter! Both are closely related and go together.

He gave us a super huge book to read so we can learn all about asthma! Thankfully the management of their asthma should be pretty easy as they don't have allergies. The goal is to go back in 6 months and get a preventative plan for next winter. And providing the boys don't continue to have symptoms we shouldn't need to see the specialist again till then.

It feels good to know we are being preemptive or preventative. Or both!

Poor is sick boys :(

Here is Allister camped out on the couch because he's sick :(

It seems I went to the doctor about their asthma just in time. Just 2 days after the boys got sick. First Harrison and then Allister. Coincidently (probably not!) there was a sudden change in weather. It got very cold very quick. 

So Harrison developed his usual cough, and still has it a little. 

It hit Allister much harder. On Wednesday night, Allister started coughing. He threw up all over himself, right after his his bath. He then had a pretty good nights sleep, but when we went to take Harrison to school on Thursday I guess the cold air hit him. When we got back he coughed. And coughed. And coughed. I called the doctor and couldn't get an appointment till 2:10pm. Urgh. 

I called back after pretty much non stop coughing for 2 hours, he was short on breath and red in the face. And very fidgety like he was really uncomfortable. 

The doctors were already running over an hour and a half over. So they said to get him In a hot steamy room, and call back if he didn't improve. Thankfully, he did improve as soon as I got off the phone. Once we got to the doctor they gave him a nebulizer treatment which he hated  They checked his breathing and oxygen levels which were a little low at 96. After diagnosing him with an asthma attack they sent us home with a steroid (prednisone) instructions to use his rescue inhaler every 4 hours and to start his singulair. 

He is doing a little better, but not great. He still feels miserable and is of course very clingy! But his breathing is improving. I hope once he kicks this bug he'll be back to normal. 

Prevention.

 Harrison and Allister have both  finally been officially diagnosed with Cough Variant Asthma. I've neen convinced they had it a while, but we wanted to make sure it wasn't just a fluke winter. Come every  winter so far,  my boys start to cough, around Halloween time. Then they pretty much cough straight through till spring. With a few gaps here and there. So we had an appointment to talk about prevention with the Pediatrician. Of  course as soon as we get to the appointment both boys stop coughing completely. And seem fine, so I start to question my judgment! But then the day after our appointment the coughs are back. It's seems to go in cycles with the weather. Cold and damp = cough. 

Harrison is particularly bad. Allister has episodes mainly when he is sick, and seems ok I between. Harrison's school have spoken to me as they sit him out during play time sometimes because he can't stop coughing. Poor boy :( he vomits during the nightly episodes, sometimes 3/4 times, and it's hard for him to catch his breath. As soon as the cycle starts we begin using his rescue inhaler, albuturol, every 4 hours. But this takes a few days to have full effect.  And we are all misserable with lack of sleep until it kicks in. So we are getting both boys allergy tested, and starting singulair. Harrisons first day was today, we are going to wait and see how Allister does as he seems to have a milder case right now. I'm hoping the medicine does the trick and has no side effects. It takes up to 6 weeks to have the benifit of the full effect, so let's hope it helps soon! 

Yesterday Harrison said to our babysitter " coughing makes me sad". Me too :(

I'll keep you posted!

 

Harrison's first Dentist visit.

Harrison had his first dentist visit today, and he did so well! I'm so proud of my big boy. His dentist was great, we went in and watched a cute little video about 2 doggies and their visit to the dentist. Then in we went, he got to have his photo taken and then try out the big dentist chair.

He let the dentist check and count all his teeth, and then got a great new toothbrush. The dentist also showed him how to brush his teeth. He said his teeth were nice and clean and he had no problems or cavities. He didn't manage a cleaning today or fluoride treatment, but we hope next time he will be brave enough to do that too!

The cast is off!

It was a good day! Allister had his cast off, and as you can not tell from this photo, he is very happy about it! Not so happy about the scary cutter machine though. He is running around again already, even though the doctor said he may be crawling and not wanting to walk for a week or so.

The doctor said he will limp for a while, up to many weeks. But I don't think there's much stopping this boy!
Oh and we were all so so happy to give this boy a long warm bath :)

Beware.

They say a photo speaks a thousand words.

It's true.
This little lot of drugs is how sick we are in this house right now. I've had strep throat (bacterial tonsillitis) and now a bad cough and cold on top . Harrison has a cold and cough, raised nodes and a little rash, Matt is on strep meds because he shows signs and has a race this weekend. Allister has conjunctivitis and a bad cough and cold, and even Guinness is on meds for a rash.
And winter hasn't even begun.

Allister update.

We had a follow up appointment on Wednesday with an orthopedic doctor. They said Allister is healing great! There were a couple of things to watch for with a broken tibia Firstly there can be over healing, causing the tibia to grow longer than it should leading to a crooked leg. Apparently this is very common. There is no cure, time is the only healer, and that can take over a year. Let's hope that doesn't happen! Limping will apparently be likely, and for many weeks as the tight muscles learn to relax again. But this is nothing to worry about.
Allister is no longer on any kind of restriction. That's a good job, this boy is now trying to walk on his bent leg cast. Yeah. And climbing like the monkey he is! He has been very very fussy and clingy the last few days, not helped by the fact he now has Croup. I told you we wouldn't escape the ER free from germs! He will barely let me put him down, and even though I like the cuddles, it's tough trying to get stuff done. We have a lot going on in the house right now- another post coming up.
Allister is scheduled for the removal of his cast on November 2nd. That day can not come fast enough! We will have another Xray and make sure all is good.

Please let me know your getting your new blog subscriptions! :) oh and feel free to leave comments, I'm sure the boys will enjoy those in years to come.

A little update.

Allister is doing great! Kids are so adaptable.
He had a rough first night, but since then has slept through as normal. Just the odd whimper at night, I'm assuming he's a little uncomfortable. Understandable with that huge contraption on his right leg!

Allister is learning to get around again, and I'm getting great biceps. He is a chunker and "up" has become a favorite phrase. He can now pull up on his one leg and get up on the couch. He's crawling around again, but it doesn't look that easy!

Our neighbors and Harrison are being very sweet while Allister is restricted. They are playing so sweetly with him. We have been trying to get out and do things more immobile! We went to the Library story time for the first time in a while, and it was a lot of fun. We have many many little boys in our neighborhood. There are 6 boys under 4 between just us and the 2 houses behind us. And there are many more!

Harrison is getting on great at Moms Day Out. His teachers, and everyone, have commented on his good manners! He says please and thank you, and excuse me without prompting. In fact the other day I was passing the front desk and Ms Patti said "I was just bragging about your son and his wonderful manners!" it makes me so happy to see I have a polite and friendly little boy :)

There was a little incident at MDO last week, and Harrison got bitten. His friend Carson, who is also a boys boy, and Harrison, were fighting over a toy car. I guess Carson won! His mom was so apologetic, and Harrison and Carson play and get along great normally. I just hope it was a one off!

I still have photos to post of England, I'll catch up soon!

Another ER visit :(

Poor little Allister has broken his tibia. That's the bigger of the two bones in the front of his lower leg, for those who do not remember their biology class.
While I was cooking dinner last night, and daddy had just got home, the boys were playing in the living room. Jumping around and being boys as usual! Next thing I know Allister is on the floor, crying. A very hurt cry. A different cry. My first instinct was he's broken something. It's funny, when your instincts say you need to go to the hospital they are normally right! I'm not sure if Harrison fell on Jim, or if he jumped or fell from the couch. He tries to copy everything his big brother does, and Harrison has a tendency to play rough!
So Daddy Matt and Harrison eat their dinner, while Allister and I venture off to Children's A&E on a monday night. It was PACKED! So many sick kids, if we didn't catch a cold I'll be very surprised!

I saw this rainbow on the way, and there was a beautiful red sky behind me! Its the first rainbow I've seen in many many years!

So we end up at the Children's Urgent care down town hopping to be seen quicker than in the ER. Its in the same building and actually the same waiting area as the plastic surgery clinic where Allister had his surgery a year ago. It was very deja vu!

We wait an hour to be seen, then head off for X-rays. Yup a broken bone :( here is his X-ray. Allister laid as quiet as a mouse and didn't move a muscle through all the X-ray's. He was such an angel! I think he was so tired by that point you could have done anything! The fracture is near the top and starts on the right and goes up and to the left. It's kind of hard to see.

Trouble is we have to then be transferred to ER because they don't cast at urgent care! Crazy but true. So off we head and wait another hour to be seen. Thankfully the casting wait and casting itself was pretty quick, and Allister fell asleep during the casting itself! So funny! By the time we got out of there and home it was midnight. And needless to say we didn't have a great night sleep. Allister slept all morning though, and after a few rounds or ibuprofen is almost back to his happy self this afternoon.

We have a follow up appointment with an orthopedist surgeon next week, and the cast will be on 4-6 weeks. Fun fun fun! I feel so bad for the little guy. Although aft trying to stand a few time, he's getting used to the cast and is sitting happily playing!

Allister spent almost the whole morning like this!

Allister's 18 month well check.

Tuesday Allister had his 18 month well check at his pediatrician.

Here are his stats.

Height. 34 1/4 inches 91st percentile
Weight 28lb 2oz 76 percentile
Head 19 inches 62nd percentile

He's doing great! He's tall, but not quiet as tall as Harrison. But things can change quickly :)

He's talking up a storm! He will copy pretty much anything you say! He knows all of his super heroes, important stuff! Spiderman and Batman are his favorites. He can run, jump a little and climb a lot!

He figured out how to climb out of his crib this week. That's been fun! If he's super tired he will thankfully lay down and sleep, but we've had a lot of frustration this week with a tired boy who just won't lay down. I've tried laying next to him and that has helped a little. I'm so not ready to have him in a big boy bed, but I guess we don't have a choice! I'm sure it's. It safe to have a toddler scaling his crib, he could slip and hurt himself.

Doctors well checks.

Harrison and Allister went to the doctors today for their well check ups. Harrison's 3 year, and Allister's 15 month.

They are both doing great! Doing everything they should, and some things they shouldn't ;)

Harrison:

Height 40" (3ft4") Greater than 97th percentile- I had him at home at 41" and he was tilting his head a little today at the docs, so he may be in between.

Weight 40.4lb 95th Percentile.

Blood pressure 76/46 which is the first time he has had this taken!

BMI was fine, he is the average size of a 4 year old, the doctor said they have a saying 4 year old and 40 inches. No wonder I get looks when I say he is 2, although I cant say that much older so I will lose the shock value lol ;)

Harrison has been doing summer school a few days, he loves it! Its so much fun for him. This week they have been playing zoo's, each kid has a pretend zoo map, and they made their own binoculars -or noculas as Harrison says. He came home and rummaged around for a map, and proceeded to hunt the house height and low for animals! So cute :) He is so into make believe right now, he will make up stories and tell you them at night time. They sound allot like the ones we tell him. He is the youngest in his summer camp class, but the tallest. They put him in a class with older kids because of several reasons. He is so big that when he roughhouses with the boys he tends to be a little too rough because he is so much bigger than them! Also because he is potty trained its better for him to be in a class where they all go potty, not just him and the little guys!

I feel like he is much better suited to the older kiddies, he seems to have a lot more in common with them.

Allister also did great on his check!

Height 32 1/2" 85 percentile

weight 26.6lb 80th percentile.

He is exactly the same weight Harrison was at 15months old, but a tiny bit shorter.

He is doing great, using his words and signs! He's is walking well and adorable- Her words not mine :)

Weight

Cough Cough Puke.

Yeah- Sorry.

But that was Harrison last night! He coughed so much he threw up, poor boy.

It brings back memories from my childhood!

He has a cough which he has had for around 7 weeks, sometimes it seems a lot better, then like last night, its bad again. Yesterday we visited the doctor and she mentioned he could have mild asthma, or CVA (Cough Variant Asthma).

His coughs linger, and this isn't the first time he has been sick with coughing.

So for now we watch and wait. The doctor said his lungs sound fine, no congestion, wheezing or anything, and no infection. She also said it can be normal to have a cough for months at a time, that one I'm not sure I trust her on!

If he continues to cough like this, I shall go back and see my actual doctor this time, because coughing all night and throwing up I do not consider normal!

Also because I had Childhood Asthma (Or more likely CVA when I think back) it is much more likely the boys will have this too.

Click on the link to read more about CVA.

Allister's well check.

Today we went for Allister's 9 moth wellness check.

His stats are..

Weight: 22lb4oz (80th percentile)

Height: 30 inches (Greater than 97th percentile)

Head 46.5cm (80th percentile)

So he's still a big boy, he's a fraction taller than Harrison was at this age, and a fair bit heavier!

He's doing everything he should be, and had 1 shot.

It's off!

Allisters bandage that is. We went for a follow up appointment at 8:15 this morning -yeah we had to be out the house for 7:30am- it didn't happen!

Everything looks good and you can barely see the scar.

The boy and his bone.

Here is Harrison and his collar bone. I'm still having a tough time keeping this guy from climbing, and therefore falling, he just has too much energy!

You can see its now swollen and bruised.

The trouble is, when we first went to Urgent care, there was no swelling and no bruising. Although the doctor didn't even take his shirt off anyhow!

Mend soon baby boy :)

Edited to add- Its his left shoulder, so right as you look at the screen, in case your eyes are bad ;)

Harrison update.

Harrison is doing great after his broken bone. He still wont wear his brace, but it doesn't seem to be bothering him! The doctors and his teachers were all surprised at how well he is moving about, especially considering how he has an actual break not just a little crack.

Trouble is, because he isn't too bothered by it I cant seem to prevent him from climbing! He has been climbing over all the furniture this morning and I have been constantly telling him not too. When Harrison is tired or hurts (like teething) he goes a bit hyper, i guess that's how he deals with it. So he has been more active than normal! He was climbing on Allister's swing earlier and just as I was saying get down or you'll fall on your owie, he did. And it hurt of course!

This boy needs a tether!

We have a follow up appointment next week with our doctor.

Speaking of teething, Harrison has cut his last tooth!!! Yipee!

His final 2 year molar is half way through then we are done till he's like 6!

Another ouchy

So Harrison has broken his left collar bone :(

We spent another long long day in doctors offices and urgent care! We had an appointment with our doctor at 11.10am, and then went home had lunch, and then back to urgent care. We got home just now at 5:20pm.

I want to scream!

It was so hard keeping Harrison happy and amused, he was tired, grumpy and not feeling great. The X-ray part went quick, then we waited what seemed like forever just to have a bandage put on that I could do in 5 seconds. So much for speedier service when you pay!

Anyway, I think the whole experience was tainted by the fact that we spend a couple of needless hours there on Sunday (I will explain below.)

Here is Harrison's X-ray- the break is pretty obvious and everyone said how well he is doing despite it! He's not very fussy and moving his arm fairly well, just not holding it right up.

So the story goes a little like this...

Saturday night 1am- THUD. Harrison falls out of bed (First time ever!) cries for 2 or 3 hours, and so I give him Ibuprofen and he goes to sleep with me in his bed. After I leave to go back to my bed, Harrison comes into our room, so he sleeps with us and does fine till 7am or so, then wakes up crying again and holding the side and back of his neck. After much debate with Daddy Matt we decide to call the doctor, he has a bad cold and bad cough too, so we wonder is it the fall or an ear infection?

The doctor tells us if he is moving around fine and seems fairly happy wait till urgent care opens at noon, so we do and off we go.

Once we get to see the doctor, I explain everything and she checks his ears, no problem. She checks his throat no problem. She assumes a sinus infection because we cant see anything wrong. She doesn't however feel for a broken collar bone. the most likely broken bone on the body, especially on children and especially after falls from the bed!

I regret not questioning the doctors authority.

We go home with antibiotics and instruction to visit our doctor if he isn't better in 2 days.

Over the next few days Harrison seems a lot better, but I can see his shoulder just looks different and he is favoring his right arm, he also complains of it being "ouchy" and asks me and daddy to "kiss it better" lots and lots! Even Ickle Jason had to kiss it better!

So I decide to trust my instinct and off we go again to the doctor today, who says, yes it looks broken. And so after lunch we return to Urgent care. We wait WAY TOO LONG to be seen by a doctor who is just sitting at a desk, doing "nothing" I'm sure. Or so it feels to my "two tired grumpy" boys self.

Harrison has a shoulder brace that he has already removed. Our doctor said if he doesn't want to wear it don't force the issue, its doesn't aide healing, just helps him feel more comfortable.

He wont be climbing any monkey bars soon!

Our first broken bone?

We are off to Children's Hospital again this afternoon, Harrison has a suspected broken collar bone.

I am just waiting for the baby to finish a nap today before we go, he hasn't had a nap yet because i have been running around like a crazy mum all morning!

Its a long story which I will share later, but Harrison fell out of bed over the weekend, and the Urgent Care doctor misdiagnosed him. So, after a visit back to our doctor today, we think his collar bone is broken and so off to get X-rays we go!

Poor little chap.

Ill update later when we get back, I'm finally going to go do the dishes!

PS.

Allister was 18lb 10oz at today's appointment!

What a porker ;0)

I wish my fat rolls looked this good.