Some recent pictures from my phone

This is from at least a couple of months ago...one of my all time favorites!

Virus' Suck!

The infamous "Fisheye"...we say "fisheye" and this is the face he makes...that's my boy!

Jack exorcises the demon virus!

Welcome To Your 30's Lady Friend and Why The Ped Has Got To Go!

As I mentioned yesterday, Susie turned 30 and now I don't feel like I'm a decade ahead of her. Despite the week from viral hell, we managed to celebrate the big day in very small fashion with an evening of relaxation provided by The Keith & Jack Spa managed by Jack, of course, and courtesy of Bath and Body Works, Godiva chocalates, and French Silk Pie. Not much for a 30th birthday, so a mulligan was called and we will continue the celebration at a later date.

Jack is returning to form. He has learned to play the guitar, with a pick mind you, and even tries to strum with his toes (rock star?). The virus seems to be gone and the ear infection that accompanied it is hopefully going away as well, as today is the final day of antibiotics.

The search for a new pediatrician has officially begun once again. Here is a breakdown of why we are moving on to our 3rd pedicatrician...this is more for venting purposes than thinking anyone in the world really cares to read all of this:

• Our current pediatrician just started to charge a fee for after hours consultation with a nurse (not a big deal really, but still rather crappy considering the money we already give them)
• When Jack fell ill last week, with a temp of 103, the doctors office sent us on a 30 minute trek to get a blood sample done...after the initial sample, they decided to do a full blood workup only to send us back again to the original office. (still not that big of a deal)
• Then, after getting bloodwork done at Quest and capturing a urine sample...with no instructions on how or what to do with it...we were told to schedule a 48hr follow up appointment by our doctor to check on the results of the blood culture. At the 48hr follow up we were told by another doctor (who is part of the group) that they did not yet have the results but instead they would call us later but "not to worry, it's probably just a virus". Noone called ahead to let us know the results of the test were not received, further noone seemed to even remember about the results until we asked for them before leaving(starting to piss me off)
• While waiting to meet for a 3rd appointment in as many days, we were asked by a nurse outside the waiting room why our son was so upset (in the middle of a full on temper tantrum and a 102 temperature), she also asked why we were there...uhhhh you asked us to come back...I don't know why? (Enter Red Raskin)
• After being called into the examining room we waited another 40 minutes...when the doctor finally came in (3rd different doctor in as many days) no apology for the wait was given (okay whatever) and then she --the doctor-- asked "so what are you here for today" (chart in hand, clearly unopened/Jack screaming bloody murder).
• Oh, I almost forgot, an ear infection was found on the second visit when the doctor examined him much more closely than the 1st doctor did...only to conclude that he probably had acquired it since the previous days visit (bullshit!)...the 3rd doctor indicated that the ear infection could have been the cause of the fever all along (I suggest a staff meeting or doctor dinner or something)
• Then, here's the kicker, nearly 72 hours after waiting for blood results on what we were told should be a 48hr test, our assigned pediatrician called to say no results were back yet but she just wanted to check on Jack (never said she wasn't nice)...she added that we would be called later in the day with the results of the blood work...no call followed. At 4:30 Susie called before the office closed and was informed that someone would call before the end of the day after checking with Quest on the results...at 5:00pm Susie was called and informed there were still no results received! Red Raskin called back to chew someone out but the office was closed, alas, closed.
• Next day, I called the office and spoke with a nurse at around 8:30am...the nurse informed me that no results were received yet and that Quest was at fault...I was also informed that the doctors (her superiors) should not have informed me wrongly that I would recieve 48 hr results to begin with and that "sometimes the doctors don't understand how Quest works". (Waaaahhhhttt?...are the doctors at war with the nurses?)
• Later that same day...nearing 2:30 pm on a Friday I decided to press until recieving results as the weekend was approaching fast...once again I was told by a nurse, "sorry, still no results"...I lost it explaining the whole fiasco, refusing to await another call back (which I added never happened as noone ever called back as promised, and requesting a doctor to speak to...I was told that the fault was with Quest but that a doctor was going to call to see what was happening as of that very moment(despite the nurse insisting there was nothing that could be done---then why was the doctor calling now after I insisted on getting to the bottom of this???)...I indicated that I would call but I couldn't apparently due to the lab/doctor kahootz game going on so it was up to the doctor to see that the info was obtained and advocated for appropriately...I lost it some more as the nurse informed me that the office was very busy (I informed her that they should not be so busy that they can't take care of their patients...especially those with a baby and a 104.7 temperature!)...that's when a doctor got on the phone with me, finally.
• A doctor, the one who initially ordered the blood work, then indicated, after trying to explain how the blood tests work and the time tables for bloodwork as if I just didn't understand how labs work (the same one that asked us to come back in 48hrs to get the results in the first place), she suddenly realized that the results had actually been available all along and that whomever I spoke to must of simply missed them! So, 96 hours later...the 48 hr results, which were actually available all along, were given to us!

WHAT THE F***!

• I proceeded to tell the doctor, that I was ecstatic about the positive results...and appalled by the handling of my son and his case. I then was forced to tell her to stop talking as she attempted to convince me that all was okay because Jack is okay! I informed her of our decision to seek out a different pediatrician itemizing the poor communication, advocacy, and overall care my son had received on what should have been a simple case...god forbid it was something more serious, which to be honest, we still didn't know at that point and were worried to death.
• Oh yeah, one other thing, when Jack got the antibiotics in his legs noone mentioned the pain that would follow rendering him unable to walk for 4 days...the next day, while receiving the second shot of antibiotics, we were told the medicine was incredibly painful...thanks for the heads up...a**holes!

AHHHHHHHHHHH, I feel better!!!!!!!!!! But we're still finding a new ped.

The Virus? and Susie's Birthday!!!!

A week ago yesterday, Jack came down with what would turn out to be a virus, at least we think. Over the course of 4 days, Jack maintained a temperature at or above 103 reaching as high as 104.7 on at least 3 occassions. I missed 4 days of work as we were on pins and needles, going back and forth to doctors appointments, filling the boog up with antibiotics and motrin, driving around in the car for hours in the middle of the night, and sometimes just staring at the poor little guy laying helplessly. After blood work, two injections of antibiotics (in case the blood work revealed a bacteria, and a ridiculously bad experience with our pediatrician (who we are firing once again), Jack's fever finally went away. So, we think it was a virus? But, as usual, noone knows. The important thing is the boy is eating and drinking and laughing, and sleeping (not through the night but sleeping all the same), and basically returning to normal.

Meanwhile, today is Susie's 30th birthday. I was planning all kinds of fun stuff but in the midst of The Virus everything was put on hold. We did get to go stay in a hotel Saturday while my parents releaved us of our caretaking duties. We danced the night away after a nice dinner at our favorite club, Independent Bar, and got a little messy. Anyway...HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my best friend in the whole world! A "due over" birthday is definitely in order!

Verbose Child

In all the craziness I don't think I've mentioned what a good talker Jack has become.

He basically can say everything now...a great deal of it he just repeats and doesn't fully know the meaning of...however, he seems to be beyond the typicall 18 month milestone.

These are some of Jack's words that he does know the meaning of and common phrases he actually uses in correct context:

The basic stuff...
bye bye, milk, more, no, no, no, no, no, no, apple, cat, orange, star, moon, night night, mommy, daddy, cat, dog, woof, meow, snake, ssss, turtle, lion, roar, hungry, doctor, sand, yucky, hat, shirt, pants, diaper, garbage, car, truck, house, home, walk, outside, shoe, sock, stinky, grandma, grampy, Sunny, garage, run, fast, bus, airplane

...while writing this I realized this list will go on for forever so I will skip to the harder more impresive stuff like....


Where did it go?
I don't know?
I love you (the newest one)
I'm a model...Susie tought him to do this when he sees people in magazines
Ready, set, go
1, 2, 3
I'm hiding
I see you
helicopter (he can say all 4 syllables---genius)

At his check-up the milestone indicated he should know at least 20 words...I think he knows somewhere near 100 and seems on the brink of full on conversation. Actually, I don't think this has a thing to do with intelligence but an intense desire to communicate as this kid from the beginning has seemed extremely alert and attentive to people and their every move.

Soon he can help me with paperwork and maybe even begin tutoring at The Homework Club...he needs to work off the diapers and monthly college fund payments.

I'm glad you can talk, now get to work Jack!

Temper Tantrums and Terrible Twos Commeth?

This weekend, while the family was attempting to fully recover from the Great Stomach Plague of 2007, Jack decided to crank up the temper tantrums about ten fold. During the Plague the tantrums had progressed which Susie and I wrote off to the poor guy feeling sick and, of course, we catered to his every need. However, this weekend, Jack appeared to be fully back to normal aside from the mental breakdowns. Apparently, somewhere during the past week Jack decided that temper tantrums, by this I mean screaming with fists clenched, face reddened from lack of oxygen intake, crying uncontrollably for 10 to 20 minutes straight, and stiffening the body like a board as to prevent any conceivable activity from being accomplished, needed to take place about once per hour and, at least once in the middle of the night at or around 2am.

Today is our wedding anniversary and I must say it is overshadowed by lack of sleep and PTSD symptoms triggered from the colic of 2005. What the hell? Right when you think, life is getting easier, wham!