I often wonder if other families have as much sickness as we do. I keep a clean house, I’m constantly washing sheets and clothes and hands, I do not take the boys to the grocery store or on other errands…I just don’t understand it.

Since November, at least one person has been sick every day in our house. Pneumonia, chest x-rays, croup x3, stomach bugs for everyone (yippee!), colds, coughs that won’t go away, ear infections, tonsillitis…you get the picture. Thankfully everyone has recovered nicely except my sweet William.

William has been on four antibiotics in the past three months. After multiple visits with his pulmonologist, his pediatrician, and his ENT, we have decided to put in his third set of ear tubes, take out his tonsils, and draw an immunoglobulin workup while he is under anesthesia. I asked his ENT if she would be willing to let me cut his hair while he is in surgery, but that was a no go…I can’t imagine why!?!?

William’s surgery is scheduled for Tuesday morning, and will require a stay in the hospital overnight because of his age. When children have their tonsils removed before the age of three years old, there is a higher incidence of complications since you can not really rationalize with them to drink fluids. He will have an IV of fluids overnight in hopes of combatting possible dehydration. William had a difficult recovery last year from his second set of ear tubes and the adenoidectomy, so we are preparing for a rough time. I’m incredibly thankful Sweetie is flying in for the week from Baton Rouge. Seriously, Sweetie is our savior…she is always coming to our rescue. I have no idea what we would do without her. Well, actually, I do…it wouldn’t be pretty.

Update on husband: Miguel’s platelet count is holding steady around 255, and has been for the past month, which is great news. He continues to wean off the steroids, and is now down to 15mg per day from an all time high of 120mg per day. He continues to have weekly platelet counts done, and his hematologist watches him closely to ensure he doesn’t have any complications from weaning off the steroids. For now any other interventions are on hold. Miguel feels great, and for that we are so thankful.

Signing off from the Wood Infirmary,

Nurse Cara (who had no idea when I hung up my nurse’s hat back in December 2006, I would put my nursing degree to such great use in my own home)