Sorry for the Radio Silence

This past week has been busy and stressful, which is why I haven't managed to post. I've been rushing Luke back and forth from the emergency room, the outpatients clinic at the hospital, and his own doctor's office. (Imagine -- in one case we were actually able to get a same day appointment with our doctor! Probably because someone else died.)

First I thought he might have pneumonia (he didn't, it was just a bad virus), then he had an outbreak of giant hives on his face, then we went for severe constipation (he hadn't had a bowel movement in six days and was running around clutching his bottom in pain), then for wheezing brought on, I think, by Lansoyl, a mineral oil jelly I'd given him to induce a poop. Mineral oil is very dangerous for small children -- they can aspirate it. The pharmacist assured me that the jelly formula was designed to prevent that. Well, it didn't. And he's still constipated. I could write a book about poop problems, I think, and probably one about the gigantic stinky mess that is our health care system, too, but I'll spare you. Instead, I'll start trying to post in earnest again. If I disappear again, though, keep your fingers crossed for us.

Apparently, Mercury is in retrograde. And god only knows what havoc has been played by an eclipse of the full moon. You know, if I actually believed in any of that sort of thing. Which I don't. Except at 3 a.m. when I'm staring wide-eyed and panic-stricken at the ceiling.

Comments

[Sara]

Mercury's mysterious power is the only thing I actually believe in. I wear a Victorian intaglio ring with a head of Mercury on it as a sort of charm for warding off the havoc that ensues in my life every time mercury goes retrograde. I don't even follow such things but when things are going badly, someone invariably mentions it to me.
Hope Luke's feeling better soon & that you get some sleep.

[Megan]

Ahhh...you hav brought to mind my own childhood constipation challenge that resulted in an emergency room enema. Fun! Hope Luke's episode has an equally relieving conclusion and brings sanity back to the crooked house. =)

[Kerry]

I've been missing the Crooked House and cross my fingers for its return to healthfulness.

[Gwenda]

I hope he's feeling better soon, and you too. I don't believe in astrology either, but Mercury Retrograde sure seems to f things up.

[Working Dad]

Good luck. Hopefully things are beginning to settle down.

[Nela]

Sounds like Aaron with the wheezing and the pooping. Must be a first child thing. We still (and he's turning 7 this year) are struggling with it. My advice? If I had good advice I wouldn't still have the problem, would I? Try lots of popcorn - shove it out from the top end. A nice back rub, for him AND you, also can't hurt.

[Sonya]

Oh, poor Luke. Have you tried giving him essential fatty acids (EFAs)? Omega Junior is a kids version that tastes like butterscotch; they should have it at your local health food store. Also, be sure he's really well hydrated.

Hope things are better soon!

[ta]

Sorry to hear about Luke. That sounds awful. We had our first emergency room visit last week. Stomach flu. Then we got that so under control that we had the constipation problem too. We gave our son babyfood prunes, dried cranberries and an orange. What worked most was just holding him and rubbing his back. Of course, then we were so successful in our efforts that he pooped five times in 24 hours. I feel like I'm always talking about poop. Hope Luke is better and things get back to normal for you, too.

[babelbabe]

tis the season...watch out for locusts!