Tags
asthma, Bella, Dr. Butler, Granddaddy, Mimi, sick, wheezing
Well, I am happy to admit that Bella is feeling much better and we have not had to use the nebulizer for quite a while now. On Thursday, I took Bella to her follow-up visit with Dr. Butler. The original plan was to take Norah to daycare first and then to head to the doctor’s office with just Bella. I had been prepping her for days that we would see Dr. Butler and Pam, Norah was going to go to Wendy’s and then she would go to Wendy’s afterwards. So, the morning arrives and I get up a bit early to get everything ready.
For whatever reason (probably just because she is two) Norah decided that she did not want to cooperate with me in any way, shape or form. She didn’t want to get out of bed, she didn’t want to use the potty, she didn’t want to get dressed, she didn’t want to get her hair fixed, she didn’t want to eat breakfast…you get the idea. She wanted to lay on the bed with her blankey and suck her thumb. I pretty much had to get Bella dressed and ready and then forcefully do everything with Norah with nearly zero cooperation. Finally we get in the car and set off to Wendy’s. By the time we get to County Line Road I decide to scrap taking Norah to daycare first because I don’t want to risk being late to Bella’s appointment.
We get to the office and check in. I have to go through all the rigamaroo of new insurance, etc. I had put the girls in panties vs pull-ups, so I take them to the bathroom and they both go. Soon afterwards Pam (Dr. B’s) wonderful assistant, calls us back and too get Bella to stand on the scale Norah goes first (so I know Norah is roughly 26 lbs and Bella is 27 lbs now), then we are off to the exam room. Usually we get the monkey room, but this time we get the dinosaur room. Norah was tickled to get to play with plastic dinosaur toys and that the exam table had steps to get up on it. She also kept wanting to get the pterydactl skeleton models and kept asking us for them. Norah was exceptionally rowdy that day. She fought Bella over the dinosaurs, she kept climbing the exam table steps, she fought Bella over who got to sit in my lap…but the worst was that she kept trying to kick Dr. Butler and opening the door wanting to wander around the office. Of course, this gets Bella antsy and she starts telling me she wants to leave, then before I know it she starts loudly telling me, “I gotta poop!” So, I didn’t want to take the chance and off to the bathroom we go again. No poop, just pee…she is already learning to manipulate the power of the poop threat. Eventually we are all done and the girls pick a sucker each and off to Wendy’s we go.
The outcome of the visit is that Dr. Butler does think that Bella has asthma. So far we know that viruses can trigger it. He was discussing triggers and the possible need for controller meds in the future, etc. It seems that Bella’s night coughing is part of asthma, but for now we are just to keep her on her allergy meds and use the nebulizer when she seems to be having more coughing or any wheezing. He discussed the possibility of a referral to a specialist, but she is still too young to really do a proper work-up, so for now we are playing it by ear. I am hoping that she only has issues when she is sick, but only time will tell. However, I get the feeling that we will be using the nebulizer again in the future, so not such a bad thing we now will have one on hand.
This week Aaron’s parents are keeping the girls as Granddaddy took the week off of work specifically for this purpose. It has been odd not having the girls here with us, but we have gone shopping, out to eat, over to friends’ houses and I think the very best part of all was that we have been able to sleep in! Granted, sleeping in has meant getting up at 9:30 or so instead of 7 or 7:30, but it has been nice all the same. We even stayed out very late (almost 4am) on Sunday night and didn’t have to worry about getting home for the babysitter (even though we love Sam!).
This upcoming week is the Dale Fall Fest, so we will be down in southern Indiana for the weekend. The news I have been hearing is that my Mimi will be there staying with my brother and his family (who live two houses down from Aaron’s parents). I have not seen Mimi in slightly over two years as she was already back in WV when we went down to Florida last summer (she usually spends half the year there). I have also been hearing that my uncle Mark is supposed to be there too and I am not sure when I last saw him. Mere and Monte are making a trip with their kids as well. It will be nice to see everyone all together!
Sorry for the lack of pics, but we are enjoying our time alone. Next week there should be a guest post and pics, so stay tuned.
