Back home from the allergist

Today we took Elliot to the allergist. Let me first say...I love this place! What a great doctor's office (GR allergy)!! We first met with the doctor and went over his history thus far...I don't know how I'm keeping all his medications straight anymore....maybe that's why I forget everything else!! There's no more room in my brain! Anyway...they went ahead and did an allergy skin test and he didn't react to anything. This really surprised the doctor. He did maybe have a reaction to dogs...but it was not even measurable. So the doctor looked at me and said..."Okay I know you're frustrated because we know something is causing him to be sick, and I'm pretty sure he's allergic to something..I just don't know what it is!" This is part of the reason they wanted to wait till he's older to do this..because(from my understanding) is that the body won't show a reaction to things until you're older and have been exposed more. So if we do the same test again at age 4 it will more likely tell us what he's allergic too. Hmmm...reminds me of me getting allergies at age 30! Go figure! So sometimes you're allergic they just can't tell you what to avoid. They did diagnose him with asthma for sure. She said with his eczema as bad as it is, and the wheezing getting worse now with every cold, and he seems to be responding well to the Pulmicort (inhaled steroid) all these indicate some level of asthma. So they are keeping him on the Pulmicort indefinitely and we got some new tips on how to treat his eczema better. So overall the kid was a trooper! I tell you...he puts up with so much! So the visit was very informative in a lot of ways..I just wish we knew what was making him react so we could avoid it...but most likely he'll end up on allergy shots down the road. At least the doctors are agreeing and working towards a solution. Its just going to take time. They did also mention when he turns two we can get him a different vaccine that helps prevent 7 more somethings (those big words didn't fit in my brain today!:))....some of the things it prevents is one of the things they found in his adenoid when that was removed. Towards the end of the visit Elliot was really done with being there and I still had a bunch of questions...so the doctor went out to find a nurse, got an inflatable ball and the nurse played catch with Elliot while we talked. Isn't that fabulous!!! Well that enough for now! Thanks again for your prayers for him.

Elliot

Isn't he cute! He loves to be like the bigger kids and do the "puter" too!!!

Anyway...last week we took Elliot back into the doctor. The antibiotics weren't working (go figure) and he was wheezing a lot. the doctor decided to put him on a nebulizer and have him breath in some steriod medicine to open his lungs up. He still has the abuterol for when he has an attack but we're using this new medicine until we go see the allergist. Yes...he's finally signed up to go see one. So we meet with the Allergist next week Tuesday the 28th, and we'll see if they can find some answers for us. In the meantime we'll continue to give him these breathing treatments until we go. The first time we did it he just screamed...the next time(& every time since)..he just sits there...some times he even points and grunts for it. I think it actually is making him feel better. He leans right into it and just breathes it right in! Scarey...but good if its working. At least he's not coughing so bad all night and not wheezing any more!! So manybe next week the allergist can help us know what medicines he can come off from and what might be our plan of action to keep him from getting more infection. Thanks again for all your thoughts and prayers. We've really appreciated everyone asking and praying for him.

This is his fishy!

Spring pictures

Okay...this is the last post today!! Guess I need to do this more often!!! We took some pictures of all of us on Easter...since we all matched! Here are some of those...

my boys!

papa and the boys...

the five of us!

Easter!

Easter morning.... well Elliot was the first to find the Easter baskets on the floor!!

Isaac was very exctied about ring pops! He's been begging to get one for weeks every time we go to Target....so it was about time to indulge him!!

Here was Madi...this was our first sign that she didn't feel well...she had a low grade fever when she woke up but we still went to church. We sat in the parent room because we were very excited it was her year to do the faith walk at church. KCC does this ever Easter and anyone who has made a decision for Christ in the past year can walk up on stage. Madi was all nervous about this and we had finally talked her into doing this...and then she wakes up sick! But we were able to just hangout in the parent room till it was time and then headed on up! This was so exciting for Jon and I to be able to do this with her!!

Here we are at the Clarks...decorating eggs...and Allison was home! yeah!



Els wasn't feeling too hot either...

silly girl....

looks likes she's feeling better! oh wait...not really..she eventually threw up! Who knew!

Outdoors...finally!

Finally some nicer weather and we can get outside!!!

Wrestling with Daddy!

Playing ball...

The girls ... with Isaac sneaking a peek!

the boys....

Little man...so happy!

and baby hog! j/k...she loves holding babies...so watch out Carter!

Swim Lessons!

The kids started taking swim lessons at EK recently...they just love doing this! They love to be with their friends as well...here are some shots of their fun in the water!


Ethan, Madi & Isaac

Madi & Spencer

Elliot loves the little pool!

The Gang!

Elliot

So this one is all about his big sister torturing him!! We went to a "dance" party at the EGR library with some friends and Madi thought it was hilarious to keep putting more and more scarfs (aka capes!) into Elliots shirt! He didn't think it was so funny after about 15...

I love this shot of him just looking out the window at the Clarks...

Mommy Daughter Day!

Okay... so this was back in March..but who cares! This was a great time for Madi and I! I was all excited to be able to go out just her and I. She had gotten some free tickets from school for Stars on Ice so we headed off to VanAndel for some girl time!! She seemed to enjoy the show for about 2 hours..then she was done! She was very excited to see Collin there! But of course when we went to say hello ... it was just me talking! :)

watching intently..she loved all the dresses/outfits the best....

Dinner at Big Boy afterwards!

Elliot

March has been pretty good for Elliot as far as sinus infections. We've at least had some repreive(sp?) from the doctor...He did have one towards the middle of March but it seemed to clear up fairly quickly with the Rosefin shots...Well last week before we left for Detroit Madi & Isaac came down with Sinus Infections..They had colds for quite a few weeks and it was finally time to take them in...so needless to say Elliot was bound to get it again. We took him in on Tuesday and the doctor had him do another set of the antibiotic shots and then put him back on Agumentin till summer....so hopefully this weather will clear up and we can get over this for a couple of months. Just thought I'd let you know how he's been doing!

hair do...

Madi's new thing...doing her own hair! She did this one night to go to bed...pulled it up with a ton of clips! It actually looked pretty cute! I find her trying to do her hair new ways all the time...Sometimes I can tell she's trying to mimic how her teacher does her hair! The other day when I went to work in her class, Madi asked me to wear a certain necklace when I came....either she's already worried about what i'm wearing around her friends....or she just likes that necklace!

Easter fun!

My parents came over a night this week and we decorated Easter eggs after dinner..



They also got a chance to open gifts from Grandma & Papa!

Does he look excited to you!!

Cousins

Over Spring break the kids have gotten to have some time with their cousins who are usually in school (or at least thier mom is!)....anyway..they had lots of fun craft time!!

Easter Eggs!

When Sydney came over I heard this little voice say...."K-elly, picture please!" I come out to find her all posed for this picture! Too cute!

Then all the kids wanted to join!

Detroit Trip

This past weekend we went to visit friends in Detroit! Here are a few from the weekend!

Daddy playing with the boys!

Elliot was so excited to have someone to play with his size...


He wasn't quite sure about the animals...especially the cat!!!

playing on the tramp!

Jon took the kids out for a small hike on Saturday while the other kids went to a birthday party...the kids loved it! I asked Madi what her favorite part of the weekend was and she said this time with Daddy...that made Jon's day!!! :)

time at the park