Thursday, September 27, 2007

It's been awhile



Hello Bloggers, it's been awhile since I last posted. K.C. has been sick with Asthma and it's been very rough. We have been taking him to the Dr. twice a week for breathing treatments. That has been hell because he doesn't know how to do a breathing treatment even though the technician has demonstrated it to him 6 times. She finally got a clue and just held his treatment near his nose. If I were K.C. I would be afraid too. This little inhaler type thing has so much smoke coming out of it and you are supposed to be breathing it in. Even though K.C. doesn't understand, her holding near his face has helped, the only thing is it makes him very jittery. Inhalers are out of the question. K.C. doesn't understand that when I "press button" "he breathes in." I am terrified he'll have a freaking asthma attack and the inhaler will be useless. He has been taking Alupent liquid and it has finally started to help. I wish there was a way to teach him to use the inhaler so that the medicine could get in his lungs quicker. Scares me to death. His ABA teacher is determined to teach him to use the inhaler.

He has been absent from school on and off, but has finally started going back as of yesterday and today.

Yesterday he had OT where his OT watched him walk on a treadmill slowly and walk on an obstacle course. He also got to play "parachute." Since K.C. has been going to his new school I have noticed the majority of the day is spent on OT related things. If K.C. could get past his OT issues I know the school could focus more on academics. But for now K.C. needs help with sensory issues. He is doing great in his new school and I feel very lucky to have him in this school. Since going to his new school, he has been letting me comb his hair a bit more and he is willing to try new foods more. Huge change!

Big Brother has been doing good. In the evenings since it's cooled down some, he's been going outside and riding his skateboard. Sunday he wants to go to the skate park :) I have noticed when children talk to him at the skate park he will not utter a single word. The last time we went, a little boy about 9 years old was trying to give Big Brother "advice" as to where to "roll in" on his skateboard. Big Brother would not look at him and wouldn't answer. I said nothing to Big Brother about it until we were home. We are going to work on talking to other children when we go to the skate park. He wants friends he says, he really does, maybe he's just a little shy. We will work on it.

Yom Kippur came and I decided to take BOTH boys to synagogue. I had a back up plan which consisted of my sister. If K.C. couldn't handle it I would take him home and she would stay with Lynn Lynn and Big Brother. K.C. sat for about 10 minutes! 10 minutes! I am so proud of him, I hugged and kissed him to death and told him what a good job he did "sitting nicely." I am amazed at him.
I haven't been visiting blogs very much these days and have alot of catching up to do. We hope you are all well :)

9 comments:

Casdok said...

10 mins is a good start!
Asthma must be tough, but maybe when he realises the inhaler helps, he may cotton on.
Good luck!

Niksmom said...

Wow, so sorry to hear KC's been having such a roug time with his asthma. For the inhaler, have you tried using the spacer/chamber? This works well for Nik b/c all he has to do is breathe normally for 5-6 breathes. It's worked well for him. If you haven't already tried it, I recommend it.

Sounds like KC is really making some progress too with the OT and sensory issues. That's wonderful.
We've missed you guys!

JUST A MOM said...

Tina they should write you a script for that treatment mach. if not I HAVE one you can use,,,, keep it at yoru hosue adn maybe if he can use it in HIS HOUSE it will be easier.. they didn't try to use the mask?? OHWAIT probley stupid question huh.. hang in there really you want to use it I got teh stuff to put in it too.

GClef1970 said...

I was hoping your silence was because of all of the holy days. Sad to hear that KC has been having asthma problems. :-( I don't know if this will help at ALL with the inhaler idea, but I have worked and worked and worked with Conor about taking deep breaths to calm down when he is melting down. I sat him on my lap and put one hand on my abdomen and one hand on my mouth. I took a deep breath in and then a deep breath out. It taught him what I meant and now, when I yell at him, "DEEP BREATHS!!!" and start doing it myself, he joins me. Doesn't always help the meltdown, but maybe it will help KC learn how to take that deep breath for the inhaler? (grabbing at straws, here!)

So happy that Big Brother is enjoying his skateboard! :-)

Mom without a manual said...

Hi! I was just thinking about you guys the other day and hoping things were okay!

I'm sorry to hear about the asthma. That has to be frustrating. I can't even imagine how hard it would be for him.

And I'm glad school seems to be going well! Take care!

kristi said...

TC suffers with asthma daily as well. We have a portable nebulizer which we do at home and he has one at school too. Can you get one thru your insurance? Tc hates his too but if he can't breathe, he realizes the nebulizer helps. Hope KC feels better soon!

Donetta said...

Hay girl good to see you back. Dash uses a spacer that is a chamber that plays a tune. I spray and he breathes a tune in and out. I'll post a picture of it for you.
Fondly and good to see you around
Donetta
Jaye and I both have a machine it really helped to do it at home it is perfect for an emergency too. Middle of the night.

kristina said...

I used to have asthma when I was a child and things got much better as I got older. It also helped that I started exercising (running) and ( I guess) strengthening my lungs. This was in the days before inhalers and it is a very scarey thing to have an asthma attack: Hope KC is pulling through, and you too.

That's fabulous about KC sitting for 10 minutes u synanagogue!

A Bishops Wife said...

I wanted to say hello!

I have not been able to blog or visit much and I have been trying to at least get out and say HI.

I do love the pictures.