Back to School and More

The kids have been back to school for a couple of weeks now -trying to get back into the routine of things. It's been kinda of tough the waking up earlier and everything. Also the week before school started my son had a really bad ear infection and when I say bad I mean like nothing I've seen before bad ... blood and other drainage came from his ear on a Sunday so took him to the minor care. Even though I was kinda freaking out they seemed somewhat nonchalant about it saying that it happens sometimes. They prescribed him ear drops and an antibiotic. He was pretty out of it most of that week -at times he did say some pretty funny things in his delirium though - he rested most of the time-it was really hard when he would wake up crying in pain at night we did give him med. for the pain and even took turns sleeping on an air mattress in his room -we gave him medicine, tried to get him to eat a little and pushed fluids since he didn't eat much. To our relief he finally started to get around more and get better by Thurs. But, then I kept noticing something didn't seem quite right -it wasn't all the time but sometimes when he'd talk he'd kind of talk out of the corner of his mouth I had looked up complications of ear infections which kind of helped but, of course can have you thinking the worst also - there was mention of the infection spreading like to the brain and stuff -I had also came across how when one side of the face doesn't move it could be Bell's Palsy we had him close his eyes and sure enough the left eye would squeeze shut all the way but, the right eye could only close to a little slit. I was sure we would definitely need to get it checked out by his Dr. -of course that Friday in preparation for school starting Monday I was to help get all the PTA stuff situated -my husband already had taken the day off to help -he took my son to the Dr. then I helped out at the school but, I was a bit of an emotional wreck. I found out the news by phone call- my family came up to the school later to meet my son's teacher and we explained the situation to her. By then I was ready to go home with my family -so I did- luckily there were a few other people handling the PTA stuff as I hoped they'd understand why I left early. I wanted to know more detail about what the Dr. had said -basically inside my son's ear was so swollen that it was affecting the nerves on that side of his face -we also setup an appt. with his E.N.T. -he currently already has tubes in as well. So my son missed some of the 1st day of school for that appt. we have seen the E.N.T. 3 times over the last couple of weeks and we have another appt. in a couple more weeks -hopefully by then everything will be back to normal *crossing fingers*.  So there's all that and of course getting all my daughter's school supplies and everything (Ugh -Teenagers a whole other issue). Anyways it seems we are finally starting to get into the swing of everything -my son is improving and now we're looking forward to a leisurely Labor Day weekend. Here's hoping to a good weekend -Happy Labor Day to you too!

About my son...

After becoming pregnant with my 2nd child I decided to be a Stay-at-home-mom. I knew it would be a transition. And I know each kid is different but there have been some difficult times. I've probably mentioned that ever since my son was a newborn we've dealt with his milk/dairy allergy. There have been other things that stuck out as "different" to me like when my grandma visited us and said my son "is different -he's very wiggly"-This from a woman who had 4 boys of her own. So, often times I would think I know my son is active but that's pretty normal for a little boy-Right? But could he be too hyper?
I think as much as we don't want to admit we go over in our heads "evaluating" our kids -Are they "normal" ? Of course I know some of it is the transition of being a stay-at-home-mom. So this has been a constant round and round in my head -Maybe he's normal and I'm just not used to being around and dealing with it all day. He's just a rowdy little boy that does different things or is there something else ??
So, just to be sure we went to the Dr. last week-They evaluated his speech/behavior. It was interesting the Dr. gave my son chalk to draw on the chalkboard. Then he threw down some blocks to see what my son would do...At 1st my son just ignored them. Then he picked them up and put them on the little kids table and proceeded to line them up. The Dr. asked if he lines things up a lot?- "He does" I answered. (I had always wondered about that too). The Dr. would just observe and talk with me -It was kinda difficult cause my son tried to leave the room a few times and sometimes I would stroke my son's hair. And the Dr. kept reminding me to not "interrupt". The Dr. would say as a mom I'm trying to protect him and our roles are different in that way -But really try not to interfere-So, I tried not to.

So what all came of this Dr's appt? Well the Dr. said that obviously he is intelligent like when he started counting the blocks. And he's not too bad on his speech. But, his brain does work a little differently. The Dr. compared him to Bill Gates(obviously he's smart but, Bill didn't talk until he was 4 and was a bit "different")
My son does exhibit some ADHD behaviors and some Autistic behaviors but,would not be fully considered that. So he falls into the category of PDD or PDD-NOS. I still don't know much about it but of course have researched it some. I have found this website informative. At this point there's not really any treatment just another evaluation in 6mo's to see his progress. I think it will be 1 of those things that we'll have to see if this affects him at school or not too. The Dr. did say a few other "tips" like when my son kept trying to get into my purse even after saying not to. The Dr. said I should move my purse -That it could fall into his "repetitive behaviors" so it may not be him disobeying on purpose and that we should move him or the object away. Another thing that was interesting is that my son has always been "underweight" part of it is not being able to utilize milk,creamy sauces,etc. Some is also his picky eating/behaviors. The Dr. said that my son probably does have a bad association with food since his allergy experience-Causing pick eating behaviors. Which does make sense-I never thought of it that way. So, it was all interesting and at least I know more. As they say knowing is half the battle-And we will continue on.