Update on Erik:
We saw the pediatrician this am then went across the street to the hospital for more IV antibiotics and a steroid push. Now we are home! The swelling/infection seems to be responding to this course of treatment, so we are not going to any more doctors...unless the bugger flares up again. We have 2 more days of steroids and antibiotics. Erik is feeling great, and in fact is at his acting class with Emma this afternoon. On to normal life!

Peritonsillar Abcess...and Erik

On Monday, Erik started to complain of a sore throat. By Tuesday, I looked in his throat and was AMAZED at what I saw: swollen tonsils, but one was SO SWOLLEN, that it went ACROSS the 'dangly thing' in the back of his throat! So I called the dr. The nurse asked how long he's had the symptoms. When I said 24hrs, she said, let's make an appt for Wednesday, and cancel it if he feels better. If anything, his throat seemed to get more swollen and painful as Tuesday went on.

Wednesday rolls around and I pack up my FIVE children to go to the drs. She takes one look and is concerned. She leaves the room to call an ENT. She returns. Rather than rush to surgery, which has been the traditional treatment, they decide to take an aggressive with drugs treatment first. Because of age/weight/required dosages, Erik needed FOUR BIG HUGE PAINFUL shots...in his rear end. Dr. S offered to admit Erik to the hospital to take the drugs with an IV. She said if it was 1 or 2 shots, she'd recommend we take care of it in the office. But FOUR is a LOT for anyone, especially an 8 year old!

So we go to the van, get the stroller, and walk ACROSS THE STREET to the hospital. This time, we're on the 1st floor. Elisha was born on the 2nd floor. We are admitted to a room and the FIVE children start to watch the Disney Channel. We get the pre-IV numbing cream for 30 minutes, then the IV, then the STEROID push and antibiotics. TWO HOURS after walking in the door, we leave.

We're home now. Taking MORE antibiotics and steroids. We go back to the dr tomorrow at 9. We'll do the hospital thing AGAIN, then likely go see the ENT to have the abcess drained...surgically.

We'll keep you posted.

I get the hint...you are all checking my blog daily wondering what's going on here...Finally Angie has the NERVE to comment on my LACK of blogging. Seems like most times I get on the computer I have only one hand free...holding/feeding Elisha limits my ability to type ;-)

So since having Elisha 8 weeks ago, we:
*Had Nutcracker auditions
*I facilitated a Homeschool Association meeting for 40+ moms
*We traveled to NY (1900+ miles with a 3 week old!)...while there attended a wedding, visited with MANY friends and relatives, went to an amusement park and a zoo
*Visited the Memphis Zoo on the way home to see the Pandas
*Got back to kids ballet, nutcracker rehearsals (Emma has 3 parts), drama class and running
*Doug started coaching a homeschool boys jr high basketball team 2 nights/week
*Attended a seminar/luncheon with the president of the Texas Homeschool Assn.
*I facilitated another HS assoc meeting (these are monthly)
And we JUST started back to school this week!

So we are a B-U-S-Y family of 7! I'll try to get back to updating more frequently. Check in with us and let us know how your fall is progressing.

Check out my Slide Show!

Elisha John...taken October 3...8 weeks old...and obviously starving ::snort::