Two Out of Three

When I had kids, I always thought we were so blessed because they didn't appear to have anything wrong with them.  No allergies, no asthma, nothing to be alarmed over.  I didn't want to have one of those families where we had a million health issues and such.

I was wrong.  

Outside of my own issues, I never really thought that our family had any health issues that would be long lasting.  I figured I'd just be the one in the family who had to deal with all that, and if that was the case, so be it.  I'd be as okay with it as I could be.  

Today, I had to take Olivia for an allergist clinic after years of dealing with her having these long term colds and upper respiratory issues.  We thought it could be allergies, so our pediatrician sent us to this wonderful doctor.  

Last January, she had a big coughing attack, had been sick for over a month, so I took her into the Stollery Hospital.  The doctor gave her a huge amount of Ventolin, she cleared up and other than bronchitis in February, she didn't have much else go wrong with her.  The summer and spring was fabulous for her, no issues.  I started to wonder if I'd been alarmist.  I DO have that tendency.  I admit that!  :)

Today's appointment made me a bit nervous, because I thought we were now taking up an appointment that some other child could need more.  I figured she didn't have any allergies anymore, if she had them in the first place, and besides a cold, the start of the school year had been just great for her.  Far better than in the past.

As I figured, there were no allergies.  But, there are issues with her lungs.  Turns out, she has asthma.  Thankfully, it's a minor case, mostly on the outer parts of her lungs, but enough that it's causing her inflammation in her lungs to make her cough.  The inflammation holds in the virus, so she can't get better.  A cold for Olivia can last a month to six weeks, where the same could might only last a week for us.  Poor kid has suffered since she was  a baby.  She's always been prone to picking up any bug that blows through.  

Because of this, now she is on a steroid again over the winter.  Especially during cold and influenza season.  I will make sure we get her onto her Vitamin D supplement as well as a boost of extra vitamins while she takes her steroid in the morning.  I just hate to see this poor kid suffer.  She's such a happy, go lucky kid and it's a pity that she has to suffer with these colds so long.  

Two good things came from this.  First off, now we know and we have very specific information to work with.  That's a huge relief.  We aren't left with more questions without answers.  I'm so thankful for that.  Secondly, I feel better having gone.  While it's not an emergent case, at least with the knowledge we have, it will help my anxiety and she will be able to get better faster.  This is a wonderful thing.  Knowledge is power!

With Logan, we are starting to see results from my constant poking and prodding to make sure that he gets seen.  I've already talked to the development clinic regarding his situation, especially regarding the tests that are required, and they called the school directly.  Right now, this clinic doesn't have much of a waiting list, so hopefully we will start to see results very soon.  

I don't want to hear again "We just don't think he's bad enough."  You can take that comment and shove it.  He's failing tests, distracting the other kids constantly, he's disorganized, and nothing that his teacher or I are doing is improving the situation.  We are both at a loss as to what we can do to help this super intelligent, highly social and great kid move forward and meet his potential.  

So this leaves Grady.

My crazy, insane, highly intelligent, social, freak.  He's the best kid.  So smart.  He can say names of dinosaurs, he is learning daily.  He counts, easily, up to 12, not all the time, but he just does it.  There is nothing he can't learn.  School will be a huge revelation for him next fall.  He's going to be thrilled.

He's hyper, frustrating, infuriating.  He can drive me nuts.  But he's my youngest little monster, and I see so much fun in our future.  

I just need him to be "normal".  No more doctors appointments.  No more advocating, no more bugging doctors, teachers, intake people.  I just want one of the kids to experience a more "normal" lifestyle without some "chronic" condition.  

I'll take a broken arm or leg.  Something temporary.  LOL  I don't want him to get hurt... don't get me wrong.  But at least I won't have to be on top of a million different people to make sure that the kid gets all that he needs!  

However.  

If it comes to that, IF, it comes to that, I will work just as hard for Grady as I have for Logan and Olivia.  I will so everything in my power to make sure that we are able to exhaust every avenue available to us for my children's health and mental well being.  There is nothing more important.  And I will teach my children that these aren't things to dwell on.  These aren't things to keep us back.  These are just hurdles to jump.  These are just parts of us that help make us who we are, but they don't define us.  It's our responsibility to take part in our health care and keep ourselves as healthy as possible. 

So.  Two out of three.  I mean, I can handle it.  I've handled a lot worse.  

I just wish that it wasn't my kids.  Really, I wish that no kids ever have to deal with any of these types of things.  I wish that children overall never knew what it was like to deal with chronic conditions or other health issues.  I wish all kids could be healthy, have lovely, wonderful childhoods.  But, we're all human, so that's not to be.  

And I AM blessed.  I'm blessed to have three healthy, happy, smart kids.  I'm blessed to be their mom every day, regardless of how frustrating it can be.  I'm blessed to have access to all of these marvelous people who treat children with such care and dedication, in order to reduce their suffering.  I'm blessed to have a school who back me and support me.  I'm blessed to have family to lean on when these things come up.  

So while I might not be blessed to have PERFECTLY healthy children, I'm blessed in so many other ways, it doesn't even matter.  And no matter what, my pride in my kids drives me everyday, to teach them to be proud of themselves, knowing that they are perfect the way they are, no matter what the deal is.