UPDATE on Bryce!

We got the CT scan back, and thankfully, Bryce does not have the abscess they feared he had! I have to admit i was very anxious and a bit freaked out. The drs. office was great, and the nurse explained to me why they thought he had it, and thus the reason we were able to get a CT scan done so quickly!
What the CT scan showed was Bryce has fluid in the soft tissues of his neck, and some largely swollen lymph nodes. They think it is due to the strep throat. He is to continue the antibiotics he is on, and if at the end of the course, his neck is still stiff, he will undergo more testing.

Thanks for the thoughts and prayers. The past 2 days have been hectic, and at times, quite worrisome. We did find out about 11 am or so that he was in the clear for the abscess, but this is the first chance I have had to sit down again.

The kids are all tucked in bed, trick or treating is over, and I am cleaning up a messy house! We are all still recovering from three crazy busy weeks! Tomorrow my kids get to deep clean their rooms! Their will more than likely be wailing and gnashing of teeth.....

Again, thanks for the prayers and well wishes, they were certainly felt, and we know our prayers were answered today! Who knew a stiff neck could potentially be so serious!!!

Never a dull moment....

We could use some prayers for Bryce. He woke up yesterday morning unable to move his neck. After a full day at the drs office, we learned he and I both have strep throat. However, that is not the cause of his stiff neck.
We were sent for a CT scan of his neck, and will get the results this morning. They have initially ruled out meningitis as he has no fever, is not photo-phobic, and has had no headache. He has had a cold recently, but had seemed to feel better! (In fact, he doesnt even have a sore throat!)

They are trying to rule out what is called a retropharyngeal abscess. Here is a little linkie loo for you to find out what it is: http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic506.htm

As you can see, we are a bit worried. If it is a retropharyngeal abscess, we have caught it early. If the CT scan comes back negative, the next tests will be spinal tap, to difinitively rule out meningitis.

The dr. is hopeful the stiff neck is just a manifestation of this atypical strep we seem to have. However, b/c of some other symptoms Bryce is showing, he is concerned about the above.

We will keep you posted, and would appreciate the prayers! He has been such a great patient, and did fantastic with the CT scan yesterday. They did it with contrast, so he had to have an IV. His poor little body was shivering and shaking, but he still had the entire staff and other in the waiting room laughing the whole time! They said he was the best patient they had seen all day! He told them that his mom got stabbed in the butt by the doctor today! (I got 2 shots!) He said "Mom had to pull down her pants, and got stabbed in the butt twice! Luckily I missed it, cuz that is gross"
He told the nurse when he got his shot, that he had on clean under wear, but maybe got a little pee on them.

Anyway, we are supposed to get the read from the radiologist this morning. I will post an update as soon as I can.

She's Baaaaaaacckkk!!!!!!

Wow, almost 20 days since I last posted. It isnt because I havent had anything to say (those who know me know that isnt possible). I have literally just not had the time to post!
We finally had our ward super saturday. I like to think it went well. People seemed pleased with their projects, and I was very relieved to have it over and done with!
The next week was spent with field trips to the zoo. It rained! We got SOAKED! SOAKED! Thankfully, my friend Polly had Sam, so he wasnt being dragged through the weather. It was still a fun day. Then the Pumpkin patch. No rain, just a beautiful day. Next came the missionary zone luncheon our Relief Society Presidency had to put on. That is always a fun day. I always think of when my sons are on their missions!Finally, yesterday was my first show. We did really well, and people seem to love our stuff! I came home and had to finish preparing my talk to today. I got home at 615, and put the kids to bed at 730. I literally fell asleep at Blake's desk at 8pm. I got up went potty, and laid on the bed to finish my talk, but fell asleep again around 830. I woke up at 715am! OOps! The talk came together just fine though.
So, hopefully the next few weeks will be slower. I have a good bit of custom orders from the show this past weekend that I have to get done this week. I am excited! So glad I am doing something I enjoy!
I know this is a rather boring post, but I am still exhausted!
One little funny......
Blake brought the kids and the dog to the park to see the booth. A friend of his from work came and helped me for a while. She is the one who talked me into doing the booth! Anyway, Blake was standing with the kids across the traffic path with the kids. He was talking to Kayleigh. I was talking to Jeanine (his friend from work) when I see Sams pants fall from his waist to his feet. Sam didnt notice, Blake didnt notice, but I sure did, as did jeanine and about 10 other people around. Thankfully, he is only 2, and when he realized it thought it was funny. Blake said it happened again on the way to the car. He said Sam was walking slow, and this lady said, "Sir, did you know his pants are at his ankles!?" He obviously is not blessed yet with is mother's gargantuan rear end.

Field Trip to the Fair!

Monday, Jonathon and Kayleigh's gifted program took a trip to the fair. The educational reasoning was "physics in motion". The teacher wanted to go experience it first hand. Blake and I say it was just an excuse to take them to play all day.
The day was a lot of fun! My only complaints (and you know I was going to have some) was the cost! HOLY HECK is it expensive to go to the fair! Second, I forgot sunscreen. We were there from 830 to 2pm. NO sunscreen, hair pulled back. My ears, neck, scalp and face are pretty much fried. And it hurts!

When we got there we had to wait an hour for the rides to open. So, we toured the animal and other agriculture displays. That was interesting, yet stinky. The pigs they were showing in the arena were rather amorous. We didn't stay very long there. They kept having to separate them. Kayleigh asked me, Mom, why is that one pig trying to climb on the others back.......

Moving on!

The rides finally opened, and my kids were fearless. In fact, the scarier looking, the better. I had five kids in my group. Two were more cautious and did not want to ride very much. One kid came with out lunch money. To the parents that send their kids to the fair with no lunch or lunch money, newsflash....I dont want to pay 4 bucks for your kids hotdog, another 2 for his water. I already had to take a home equity line of credit out just to step in the fair, and sold my wedding jewelry to buy my kids the "you can ride everything" wristbands. Then there was the funnel cake that had to be bought.....I pawned the car. And seriously you fair people.....4 bucks for a shaved ice. REALLY. and I kid you not Slush Puppies were 9, yes NINE dollars. We did not get slush puppies.

It was so much fun, so I guess I just wont think about the money. But I am cheap, so I really will, I'll just pretend like I wont. (Sidenote: babysitter at home with Sam for 6 hours, not cheap either. Had to sell Sam to pay for it.)

All kidding aside, it was a great day. We had a lot of fun, saw A LOT of very interesting people, more tattoos than i have ever seen and in places that SHOULD NOT be seen in public, ate all kinds of yummy fair food, watched a "Cool" teenager step off the Gravitron and loose his lunch in front of about 100 people, who instantly laughed. I love getting to see my kids in their social setting. It makes me feel good about how we are raising them, and am proud to see their choices (so far!) in who they choose to associate with. I just hope they continue to be such great kids!