Pediatrician, Dermatologist and Ob's...OH MY!

Well, our poor son was born with super sensitive skin and I have been kinda lazy about it. Shame on Mommy! Thursday night I noticed a little bump on one of his elbows. I told Nick that I thought Neacel had a wart and we should get something for it. Friday, I checked the "wart" and everything looked the same. Saturday, we were getting ready to leave the house for the day and we notice he has more bumps on his legs and arms. I text my good friend Jen who is a nurse, and alot easier to get a hold of than the pediatrician's nurse, and she mentioned it might be chickenpox, among a few other things. We don't worry about it much, but later that evening notice that the bumps are getting bigger and that there are a good amount more; some even are fluid filled.

So Saturday night, I call about 3 or 4 different clinics that are open late and talk to the Dr. or nurse on call. They all say that by the sound of these bumps that it's chickenpox. For me this turns into a panic, as I didn't have chickenpox that bad as a child and have been told that because it was such a mild case, I can get them again. So my dear hubby runs Neacel to Kids Care 3 minutes before they close (10 pm), because we can't take the risk of this being chickenpox and me catching it while pregnant. He comes home saying that they said it was Gianoti Crosti Syndrome, it's not contagious, and it could have been brought on by the immunization he got at his checkup. I couldn't remember the shot, but for some reason I thought it was Hep B, which can be a cause for the illness.

We go about Sunday not worrying about anything and just keeping an eye on him. We noticed some more bumps but after being told what it was and that it wasn't contagious we weren't too worried. After talking about it we decided that I would take Neacel to the pediatrician's Monday, to get a second opinion.

Monday, Nick goes to the appointment with us, and Dr. Palmieri and one of her partners both say it's chickenpox. SERIOUSLY? I'm kinda freaking out because now I've been exposed for a good amount of time and I have to start making calls to all our friends we have seen in the past week and tell them that Neacel has the chickenpox. How embarrassing! They say that there is a 50% chance it isn't chickenpox but can't confirm anything until Neacel sees a dermatologist. She also says that the shot he had this past Wednesday was the HIB shot, which won't cause Gianoti Crosti. She then tells me that I need to get ahold of my OB and get a blood test to see if I'm immune to chickenpox or not.

So after a few calls, I get to the hospital and get that test done (still waiting on results of course). So we treated him like it was chickenpox, because you can never be too sure, right?

Today, we saw the dermatologist, who takes one look at his skin and says it's the Gianoti Crosti Syndrome, not chickenpox. Oh thank goodness! His eczema has gotten the best of him, and because we haven't been too wonderful at remembering to put his lotion on, this is what has happened. I feel horrible. She was explaining to us that the skin barrier is thin with eczema, and so it was easy for him to catch whatever virus caused the rash.

After seeing some pictures of kids with this, we were concerned about how much worse it was going to get. Luckily, she thinks it's at its peak and won't get worse. He has it all over his legs and bum, and then around his elbows. She gave us a stronger lotion to build the skin barrier and one to help the bumps. I'm mostly worried about people that see it and think that he has the chickenpox, and why the heck would we take him out in public? So anyone that sees us and notices his skin, I promise you, he is safe and not contagious! Don't believe me, Google it!

I've learned many important things, and am so thankful for things that I don't even think about. I learned that if the Dr. tells you to remember to put lotion on your child's skin a few times a day, DO IT!

If you aren't sure about something that you have been told, a second, or maybe even third opinion is always best.

I'm so thankful for Nick's job that has been more than understanding with everything. He took off half the day yesterday and all of today to help me take Neacel to the appointments and to make sure I was ok, along with the little baby.

I'm so thankful for our insurance. I don't think about it much, but take advantage of having it. I was thinking about how horrible would the bills be for the past few appointments? With a move coming up, we don't have spare money to spend.

I'm so thankful for our health and for priesthood blessings, which Nick and his father gave me.

This list of course goes on and on but these are the recent ones for me.

Neacel is doing great and doesn't even realize what's on his skin, in fact I don't think he has even looked it. He is doing well, and thankfully isn't contagious! I'm so glad we didn't have to make a few horrible phone calls to some very good friends.

A Mother's Worst Nightmare

See that sweet, innocent face? Please don't let it fool you. I love this child like crazy, but he can be a little monster that; I'm pretty sure enjoys getting into trouble. Don't get me wrong, I love this smile, and those adorable blue eyes; but if you look closer, you can see he is a little monster! I promise.

Neacel has NEVER given me a reason to be a paranoid mom. He listens (most of the time) and doesn't run off. Well on Wednesday that all changed. I was visiting my friend Jen and her little girl Jaycie. Neacel and Jaycie were playing outside on the patio. She lives on the main floor of her apartment, but there are basement ones under her, so I guess you could say she is on the second floor.

Jen was making some yummy cookies and I kept glancing out at the kiddos, they were playing peek a boo and just laughing. Then we hear her little one crying, I look over and the patio door was closed. Well, Neacel has recently learned how to close doors so I thought nothing of it. So I open it and look for Neacel, he isn't there! I look around her home, he isn't in there. I look on the patio again, and on the ground, thinking he might have somehow wiggled through the bars and fell. He isn't there, thank goodness, but at the same time DARN! Then we notice the front door slightly open. I look out there and don't see Neacel. So I look inside again, thinking my child wouldn't leave. He knows better. YEAH RIGHT! I ran around her complex screaming for Neacel, asking every person I came in contact with if they had seen a little boy in a black shirt and blue jeans. No one has. There is a park that is a decent distance away, and a bridge over a ditch leads to it. Knowing my child and his love for danger, I ran over there and check the ditch. I'm screaming bloody murder the whole time and thinking, what am I going to do if we don't find him? It was a split second between checking on the kids and his magic disappearing act! I keep running around and yelling for him, then I hear Jen say that she found him. The relief I felt was incredible. She found him on the top floor, he simply climbed up the stairs! WHAT?! Since when does he do this, he usually freaks if a door is closed and he doesn't know the area, apparently the stairs were too tempting!

I was so mad at him, yet so thankful that he was safe. I never in my life have felt that scared. I'm pretty sure that I had a heart attack, followed by a stroke and a few panic attacks. I felt horrible that I lost my child. I was so thankful that he was safe and nothing happened. I never wish that feeling of a missing child, even for a split second on any mother. Not even my worst enemy. Since then, he stays a lot closer to me. Lesson: Neacel only needs a second to run off, and I'm blessed that nothing happened to him.

On a more positive note, I took Neacel to the Dr. on Thursday for his 18 month appointment. He is 28 lbs and 33 1/2 inches. She told me that she could hear him in the hallway throwing a tantrum over me undressing him. She said that he is definitely going through the terrible 2's. Good news was that it doesn't get worse, bad news was he started before he was 2! She was very impressed with his speech and motor skills. She said he talks almost as much as a 2 year old, but uses some words that kids don't say till well after they turn 2. She said that he is a 2 year old in an 18 month old body.

She gave me the ok to potty train, so we are going to start a 3 day thing next Monday. Please pray for us! All together, she was very happy with everything, and thought it was amazing he is sleeping in a twin bed and never fought us about it. He is growing at a good rate, and it looks like magically he will be taller than average! YAY!!!

Quick pregnancy update. Baby girl (I'm totally guessing but pretty sure it is a girl) is doing great. Heart beat was perfect and Dr. Terry predicts a girl from the heartbeat; he said a boy with Neacel and he was right! I can feel her moving around a little more, but if I'm not paying attention then I don't feel a thing. I was able to do some begging, along with a white lie (I know I'm horrible and impatient) and said we will be out of town most of June (white lie, we will be gone for a total of maybe 4 days) and can I get the ultrasound done a little earlier than 20 weeks. He said of course, just to schedule it as close as I can to 20 weeks.

Well, June 10th, I'll be 18 weeks and 6 days, and we will find out what we are having! I swear it's a girl, but I still want my little Broden. I got my hopes up with Neacel with everyone saying I was having a girl, but deep deep deep down I knew it was a boy, this time, I'm just going with my gut. I really want a little boy for Neacel, and I know how to be a Mom to a boy so it wouldn't be anything new, but deep down I know its a girl. I can't deny it, but will be so excited if it's a boy! Either way, I just want a happy healthy baby, but wish for a boy more then a girl. Does that sound mean?