Hives

Initially, it looked like Bryce had gotten a bunch of bug bites after we were at the zoo on Friday. However, by Sunday, we knew he had some kind of severe rash. Sure enough, Bryce has hives. We haven't tried any new foods or medicine lately so we know it's not that. I think he got the rash from the zoo. The zoo has a great water area where the kids can play in the sand and water. I caught him a few times drinking the water. That is what I suspect happened but don't know for sure.

To clear up the hives, he's taking benedryl four times a day. Poor guy also has a mild ear infection in his left ear. The hives could last just a few days or up to two weeks. Let's pray the benedryl clears him up quickly!

Oh, we also got an EpiPen prescribed to us. Bryce hasn't had any respiratory distress with this outbreak but hives are associated with anaphylaxis shock. Just in case, we now have an EpiPen in our lives.

Home from our Ohio Trip

Bryce and I returned from our 13-day whirlwind Ohio trip yesterday. We had a great time visiting with family and friends in Mentor, mid-Ohio and Dayton. I'll try to write more about the trip soon. Right now, I'm trying to get unpacked and ready for Reserves this weekend. Here are a few pictures from the trip!

On the airplane, going to Ohio. We borrowed a DVD player which made the trip SO much easier.

At Huntoon's house, on horse that was Nana's when she was young.

Bryce swimming at the Pleasant Hill Lake with Lisa's relatives.

Bryce playing with his cousins (Lonnie's kids).

Bryce LOVING the construction trucks at the Huntoon's.

Ohio Bound

On Saturday morning, Bryce and I are headed for Ohio! I'm excited about the trip because we get to see so many people. (We will miss Andy who is staying here to work and support our trip:)

Here's our busy schedule!
- We fly into Cleveland on July 5th. From July 5-8th, we'll be with Andy's family in Mentor.
- Then from July 9th to the morning of July 11th, we'll be at my grandma's farm visiting the Wendling's.
- From mid-day July 11th to the morning of July 15th, we'll be near Dayton (staying in Middletown) visiting Lisa's family. Lonnie and his family are coming up from TN for the weekend.
- From mid-day of July 15th until we fly out of Cleveland the morning of July 17th, we'll be back in Mentor with Andy's family.

Thankfully, my sister, Renee, is going to fly into Cleveland on July 8th and travel with us to my grandma's farm and to Dayton. It'll be great to spend time with her AND have her much needed help with Bryce.

I'd LOVE to see everyone while at all the different places but we'll just have to see how much we can cram in and still keep our sanity. Hopefully we'll be able to start traveling more in the future as Bryce gets older and we get his GI issues under control.

I probably won't post much while we are away. Can't wait to share pictures when we get back!

Medicine Update

Finally, we think the medicine MIGHT just be helping Bryce. Three doses a day seems to help take the edge off the reflux or at least a little. He isn't screaming as much and is starting to sleep a bit better (isn't thrashing around as much but still wakes up often). Even once we started the tablet form of the Baclofen, Bryce had diarrhea (even with some blood) and was showing his normal intolerant signs of crankiness and coughing/choking. I thought for sure we were going to have to take him off the Baclofen.

Then we realized that we also started giving Bryce baby food carrots so he could take the tablet form of Baclofen. If he wanted more of the carrots when we gave him the medicine, I'd let him eat up to a 1/2 jar. So, we decided it might be the carrots causing the diarrhea (or at least we changed two variables at once so we weren't sure). So we cut back on the carrots and are giving him just enough to take the medicine. Good news is that the diarrhea has started to subside! Unfortunately,the rash on his tummy and chest remain but I'm praying it subsides soon also.

Keep praying and sending us those good vibes that the Baclofen will work!