Rash is getting worst!

Superstar's rash/spots caused by what the doctor's feel to be an unknown virus has gotten worst. I wish I can post pictures, but I promised Superstar that I would not post them on the blog. His face, neck, ears, arms, hands, feet, and legs are covered. He has a handful on his back and tummy, but mostly it's on his face, neck, ears, arms, hands, feet, and legs.

I took him in to the doctor's office again today. We discussed the possibility that he was exposed to something environmental, and determined that was unlikely. I asked about bug bites, (maybe fleas seeing we have the dog) and that was ruled out.

I brought up the possibility of Rosella, and got told No, because Rosella is flat not raised. Pox: chickenpox, smallpox, things of that nature would be raised.  As a matter of fact the doctor, today, said that it effecting his arms, legs, head is characteristic of smallpox. That's one of the major differences between smallpox and chickenpox. The two are often confused, but smallpox effects mostly the arms, legs, head, where chickenpox effects mostly the torso (back/belly).

 Image Source: Wikipedia

With that in mind the doctor said it was NOT smallpox or anything like that because Superstar is not sick. He has NO fever, NO vomiting, NO other signs of illness. As a matter of fact if it wasn't for the rash you wouldn't know he was sick. He also was NOT sick prior to the rash. He just woke up with it last Friday.

While at the doctor's office web-princess vomits all over me with the doctor in the room. The doctor, response: "Now isn't that interesting and did a quick scan to see if she had spots". He then said if she gets worst or develops spots to be sure to let them know."

Because it's viral there is nothing they can give him. However they did give me a steroid cream to put on his spots. Hoping it might help clear them up. If he's not cleared up by Monday then we have to see a dermatologist.

Nothing is worst then seeing your child covered in these spots and not knowing what they are or how to help treat them. I understand there is no medicine for a virus, but it would be nice to have a name to it. Naming it would give us an idea of how long it would take to clear up.

Update: Chickenpox??

So this morning I was sure that Superstar had chickenpox. However after seeing the PA AND the doctor it's clear it is not chickenpox. That is the only thing we are clear on!

It clearly is a viral infection that is causing the lesions on his body. However the doctor and PA do NOT know what virus it is. They can't even tell me if he's contagious. They said it's not any common childhood viral infection. Some virus you are no longer contagious once you get a skin rash, others you are still contagious for several days after the rash appears. 

His ears (besides the lesions) are clear, his lungs are clear, his throat is clear, no fever, everything else is normal.  I got told most likely it, the rash/lesions will get worst before it gets better. That if it starts to itch to give him some benedryl and to just montior him.

Even though is throat is clear he wants only smooth foods. I shared that with the PA AND the doctor. They said the perhaps there is a minor irritation but it looks clean. In addition if you ask him if he has a sore throat he will tell you NO. I know as his mom something isn't right when he overly comments on how smooth water is! Or is saying he wants something smooth to eat like soup, yogurt.

Web-princess said soup! Do you want grill cheese and tomato soup? Superstar No grill cheese but tomato soup sounds good. That right there is my clue something not right with his throat. This kid never turns down grill cheese.

They would only want to see him now if it doesn't start to clear up in a week or 2, or if he develops other symptoms like fever, sore throat, upset stomach, diarrhea, etc. I got told that most likely it would be okay to send him back to school on Monday. I mention to the PA then that we homeschool so I'm not worried about sending him back, I'm worried about being able to go on some field trips and stuff I have plan on Tuesday with our homeschool co-op.

The PA then did offer that if I needed to I could call her on Monday and go back in and have her look at him again if I was still worried about the possiblity of him being contagious on Tuesday. So I don't know!

Chickenpox??

I suspect that Superstar HAS chickenpox. At least that is what it looks like to me. I called our doctor's office this morning to get their input and they said to come in and have him look. (They don't think it can even be chickenpox because he did have the vaccine for it.) We'll know for sure in a few hours and I'll post an update then!

Symptoms:
red spots everywhere: face, ears, legs, arms, hands, belly, back, etc
Most of them are just red spots but the ones on his face and ears are the worst. They look kinda pimply.

He really isn't running a fever now and to my knowledge he didn't have a fever before. However after talking to my mom this morning she said when we were kids and had it our fevers were low grade and we for the most part were still active wanting to go outside and stuff like that.

Part of my is dreading going in because of the last time we were at the doctors when he was sick.  The nurse then told me "You homeschool so how did he get sick?" I can almost hear it now "You homeschool so how did he get chickenpox?" (If they confirm that it is indeed chickenpox).

With comments like that I just want to repsond  with "Just because we homeschool doesn't mean we are hermits. We do go to the store, other dr offices, church, homeschooling co-ops, parks, etc. They do play sports and are around other kids. DUH!!!!"

Okay so I'm projecting what happen the last time around on this upcoming visit. I have never had issues at my normal doctor's office, so I'm sure we will be fine.  I just wish they would have said over the phone "Yep sound like chickenpox and do xyz, but I know they can't really do that anymore because of fear of being sued."

More to come later.....

Books, Books, and More Books!

I've decided to organized, catalog, and make a list of our books. Often the kids want certain books but we have a hard time finding them. They are all on our shelves, but they haven't been organized every well. Often Web-princess wants only the books that are "her reading level" and Superstar just wants certain titles.

So I removed all of the books off the shelves in our living room and put them on the floor. I have a program on my computer that allows me to enter in books. Once the books are entered I can print of a list of how I want them to be organized. I figured once I have a list I will just organized the shelves according to the list.

Superstar suggested that once I'm done I give them each a special place marker to use on the shelves so that they would know where to put the books back when they are done with them. He said, "Mom we already have the rule one book at a time, so if we had a bookmark for the shelf we could just put it in the book's place and when we are done put the book back". The paper list would help them to know where to look for the book, learn what books we have, and perhaps encourage them to read items that they may not even known we had.

I see that it can work, however it just getting there. I'm STILL entering books! I knew we had a lot, but I really didn't think it was THAT much! I have 2 bookshelves in our living room, but only 2 shelves on these bookshelves really hold our books. The program I'm using is counting the books as they are entered. I have already entered in 120 books and I think I have about that much left! UGH! So we have 200-300 books easy! I had no idea that those 2 shelves held that many books. (And to think we are always looking for more and picking them up here and there.)

I had no idea we had SO many books! I'll be thankful when this little project is over! I admit it's a huge undertaking and much more work then I thought it would be, but it will be so worth it when I'm done. I've already discovered that we had some science text books that I was NOT aware that we had; books that I can use the next coming weeks.

AFO adjustments

Yesterday Superstar had his AFOs adjusted to allow for his angle joint to move. He now has a hinge in the ankle joint. The hinge does limit his movement still. As he gets stronger the brace can be adjust to allow for more movement in the angle. The before the hinge picture is not the greatest. However I'm hoping you can see the difference.

BEFORE hinge:

 AFTER hinge:

The gap you are seeing in after shot on the ankle is because he is bending his knees. Bending his knees is causing the ankle joint to "bend" as well. He's using the ankle joint :) If he was to stand up straight then there would be no gap.

The hinge is what is allowing the ankle joint to move. before he really could not stand still and bend his knees because he didn't have that range of motion in his ankles.

Yes he walked and ran just fine. However when he was walking (and running) he kept his ankle at a 90 degree angle, now he can have a little bit more natural movement in the ankle. Personally I don't think he had a 'bad' gait for someone that could not move his ankle joint.

We are going to go this afternoon for ANOTHER adjustment. Adding the hinge also meant new thick stronger padding at the ankle on the inside. His right ankle has what looks like pressure sores started. I've got a band-aid on it to help give it some cushion and protection to the skin while we wait for our appointment this afternoon.

I imagine now that most likely an alteration to the AFO will also lead to going in once or twice for another adjustment. They fitted it and did several adjustments yesterday, we were there for 2 hours, but they just didn't get exactly right. It's okay! I don't mind, I'm just thankful that we got him in again this afternoon.

Oh and we are super excited! I was able to sign him up for 5 week soccer program! It will be 2 practices and 3 games starting at the end of April. They will not keep score, just timed games. 4 quarters 10 minutes each with a 5 minute 1/2 time between the 2nd and 3rd quarter. We also did not need to get special soccer shoes, regular tennis shoes. It's long enough for him to enjoy the game and learn if soccer is a sport he really wants to play. Seeing it's also a short season with just one game or practice per week, it will be enough not to burn him out. He'll have plenty of rest between the games/practices.

The Dr. told us no braces while playing soccer. So I had to get him shoes to wear without the braces yesterday. His shoes size WITH the braces is 5 boys/men. His shoe size WITHOUT the brace is a 2.5 boys. His braces make his shoe size 2.5 sizes bigger! That surprised me! I knew that his braces meant he was wearing bigger shoes, I didn't know it was that much bigger!!!