Feeling Sick...

Our little Harps gets sick...a lot. She did really well through November and December. No ER visits, her specialists were very happy with her development. After starting a new medication for her allergies in October we had what I would say is about a 60% improvement in her GI issues (which are all allergy related). Harper has what the doctors call 'Delayed Anaphylaxis Allergic Colitis'. This means that if she has milk products they will do a lot of damage internally, specifically in her bowels and colon. This is largely why we have moved to a cleaner style of eating in our home. Most restaurants do not take care with their food and if I make it I know what is in it. Outside of her improved GI issues Harper was kicked out of neurology! Her myelin sheath delay seems to be improved and they were no longer concerned with neurological issues. However, she has been referred to an orthopedist to help with her pigeon toe and gait issues. These seem minor compared to a neuro delay so a happy dance was done in the hospital!

While most things have been going well Harper still struggles with getting sick. It seems to be a never ending cycle of croup and pneumonia. January had three ER visits for us. One for an allergy attack (Harps got a hold of a sippy cup of milk at a playdate).The other two were croup and pneumonia. What started as a simple cold turned quickly into croup. After two and half days of grumpy croupy time Harper got blue lips so I took her to the Children's Hospital. She was given her normal routine of steroids and epinephrine and we were sent home. Two days later we were back in the ER. Sigh. This time because she had run a 40 degree fever for what was now 4 days and even tylenol and advil were not helping anymore. Combined with the fact that Harper hadn't had a wet diaper in nearly 12 hours I figured it was time to go back. Harper's cough was no longer croupy but still really bugging her. My Mommy instincts told me something was going on. At the ER the Doctor checked her over said she was dehydrated and that the would rehydrate her and monitor until she started having wet diapers again. As Harper rehydrated her fever still was not going down so the Doctor decided to do a chest xray. Sure enough there was pneumonia there. Some of it looked bacterial so we began a round of antibiotics and went home. Harps is doing immensely better but at night she is coughing away and anytime she gets worked up, busy or running around she coughs and coughs and coughs. I feel so bad for her everytime she goes through this being sick sucks yet everytime we go in she loves on all the Doctors and nurses, makes two year old toddler jokes and entertains every one possible. She has a smile that can light up a room and a hug that can warm even the Grinch's heart.