Back on Track

Thank you to my blogger friend for mentally reminding me that I need to write in my blog. I am a little jealous that I have to type this on my blackberry, not a notebook. A lot of things have happened since I wrote in June. And in my last post I was frustrated with all the bad things happening... Little did I know that was just the beginning. It started on a Sunday night, towards the end of June. Slade woke up in the night crying that his legs were hurting. He goes a couple days laying on the couch and then I realize he hasn't been walking. And when he does he cries and falls over. His "wonderful" drs office says they can't get him in until Thurs, even with me stressing my concern. So we take him to the ER. We leave there with us saying he's constipated. I inform them that he has had regular BMs. So we stick it out until thurs. Him getting worse and worse. The dr thinks it is some viral that affects the joints, but to rest my concern he will admit him to the hospital. After the first night his Dr said he tested positive for strep and they would start to treat that. Doy and I swapped days/nights. Thankfully family helped with the other 3. They put him under to do a MRI of the brain, then the next day put him under again for a spinal tap. After 3 long days the neurologist diagnosed him with Guillian Barre Syndrome. It is a temporary paralysis which affected him in his legs, and could last up to 6 months. The neuro said he would def be going home in a wheelchair. The odds of this syndrome are 1 in 100,000 and follow a viral infection. We also found out the he has IGD, immunoglobin deficiency, and he has and always will have. So we decided to do a 5 day in patient treatment of gammaglobulin. It is a very rare medication that is used in war. They administered it late at night thru IV, also neurontin for his nerve pain. It had the reverse effect on him it made him extrememly hyper. So no sleeping at night. But every night he would want us to lay in his bed. I was wanting to blog while I would lay there at night with him. All the things that go thru your mind when your life changes dramatically. It made me realize all the petty everyday things that we stress over, and look at that compared to the big picture. What we are sent here to accomplish. I would just lay there awake and watch him sleep and shed a few small tears and thank god for all I have in my life. You know what's very ironic is that ever since Slade was born I always had this feeling and fear that something bad would happen to him. And one night Uncle Dustin stayed at the hospital and me and doy went to Panchos. I told him about my feeling and he said he had always had that feeling also. So I guess I was not crazy! Slade has a special soul. He lights up every room he is in, and everyone loves him and his charm. So the last night of treatment they let us take him home. Me and Dustin loaded him up around 11pm on July 3rd. The day before my birthday. We were at the hospital fo 8 days! We took Slade for many wagon rides during that time. We put him in a bed of pillows, tied the IV pole to the back of the wagon and Slade called that his trailer. When we left he was starting to regain his strength and attempting to walk again. We went up to Prescott on the 4th. It was a little draining for him.Uncle Dustin had bought his wagon which we used in place of a wheelchair. He was very fatigued and irratable in the beginning. At home it was hard to balance him plus 3 more but he has gotten better and better and today if you looked at him you would never know. He's doing great! He has actually started potty training this week. He's doing awesome!
Another thing that happened was a lifestyle change for me. Exercising, eating healthy, being aware of what I eat. I have lost 25 lbs and couldn't feel better! I have started a new job in Scottsdale as a cna and I like it! I am also going thru the steps to become a Correctional Officer!
Well that's as much as my thumbs can take at the moment... I will continue to work.