Landmines

We've been remarkably blessed as a family when it's come to avoiding illness since Logan's diagnosis. And it truly has been remarkable with 3-then-4 children, including one in public school, a 2-year old who is out and about with fair frequency, hundreds of treks right past the oft-packed Emergency Department at CHO, and now, a young baby.

But it seems that our 'luck' has run out. Abby was off-kilter all week long with a runny nose and some mild congestion; she was crankier than usual and skipped a lot of her usual activities, including dance and extended post-school playtime at the park. She woke up in the middle of the night yesterday -- right as I was typing out my last entry, in fact -- screaming that her ear hurt. Ear infection was my immediate diagnosis as Dr. Mom, and I felt awful for her, since I had one myself a few years ago and know precisely how terribly painful they can be. She finally settled after I gave her some Children's Tylenol and a warm washcloth. I took her to see Dr. H yesterday morning. He couldn't see her eardrum because of waxy build-up, but took a listen to her chest and diagnosed a fairly severe case of bronchitis. (It always makes me feel just sooo competent as a parent when one of my kids goes to the pediatrician to address one ailment and he finds another one that should otherwise have been as obvious as a hot pink sheep in the middle of a field of white ones. But I digress.) So she's now on antibiotics, and is our Landmine #1.

Number 2 surfaced when I got home with Abby post-appointment and saw how horribly congested Isaac had become overnight. The poor little thing was just miserable, with dark circles under glassy eyes, drippy nose and congestion. Since he's a self-respecting 2 and a half year old, he's still been in go go go mode, but he's markedly more tired and certainly not himself.

So yes: Our two healthy, non-immunocompromised children are now sick, which means that the two vulnerable ones are at risk. On one hand, I feel the extra protection of God's hand on Logan and Brady; after all, when exposed to germs you'd think they'd be the first ones to be affected, but they weren't. For now.

On this rainy Sunday, I ask that you pray that Logan and Brady will remain healthy despite Abby and Isaac's illnesses. Logan's MRI is in two days, and he can't have it if he's congested or otherwise sick. It would be frustrating at best to experience a delay at this point in the process.

Thank you for keeping us in prayer and for lifting up our needs to God.