Friday, November 6, 2009

Another Appointment . . .

. . . more information. =0) Our appointment was canceled a few times (twice to be exact), but we finally got in, thanks to someone else for canceling their appointment! =0)

Over all, the appointment went well. The new doctor, Dr. S., was wonderful! Not that we have had problems with doctors at All Children's - we haven't, they have all been wonderful and supportive . . . and would even call the local hospital to lecture ER docs. =0) Nice to know someone else is out there to give those docs an earful, right? =0) Anyway, Dr. S. was very thorough and has even began more testing for diseases that might just be making things worse for Isaiah (considering the anaphylaxis episodes are becoming more frequent as are some of the symptoms like flushing and swelling . . . which I will talk more about in a little bit). One thing Isaiah will be tested for is a form of hereditary angioedema (basically random swelling that can also mimic anaphylaxis in that his airway and digestive tract can be affected). Of course, edema (or angioedema) can also be part of anaphylaxis and other allergic reactions . . . so, it's really nothing new, but it would be interesting to know about. The appointment, which was only scheduled for an hour, lasted 3 1/2 hours! Talk about thorough! =0) It was really nice to know that someone is still interested in figuring out everything that is going on with Isaiah . . . at least so much so that they aren't willing to say, "I don't know." No one was giving up on Isaiah, but they were running out of ideas . . . then came fresh meat! =0)

Yes, Isaiah still has systemic masto . . . and severe allergies . . . but they are just a little more aggressive than the two of them should really be. If you take into consideration that Isaiah's IgE counts are still not falling (they should be by now), there's just something else going on. So, what kinds of things are we seeing? Swelling of his face, lips, tongue, eyes, hands, etc (at least 4 times a week, sometimes lasting a few minutes to a day or so - it comes and goes). Isaiah also has problems with flushing (almost daily) that is generally accompanied by a rash . . . after which Isaiah usually ends up in pain from headaches and from what we think is bone pain (and abdominal cramping), but we have found that as long as we treat him with Hydroxyzine (Atarax) soon after flushing begins, Isaiah doesn't go through the rest of the process. Before we knew what to do, we would wait until the rash, which would more than likely result in the pain episodes. Now, the pain episodes come and go, but aren't necessarily associated with flushing . . . not always.

Now, all of this sounds just horrible, and it is. It's just that we deal with this so often that it's becoming "normal" . . . that's the really scary part. It shouldn't be this normal. The swelling was the one thing that the doctor just thought was a little too obnoxious to blame masto for it all. Keep in mind, masto is still there as well as the allergies . . . there's just something more.

Another good outcome is that there will be no more steroid treatments for Isaiah unless they are used to treat anaphylaxis episodes (which usually means short-term prednisone doses that are quickly tapered). YAY! =0) It was nice to see Isaiah eating well and gaining weight, but I didn't like all of the negative side effects of the steroids. Since Isaiah doesn't have asthma, the doctor wants us to try stopping the Advair!!!! YAY, another med gone! =0) It is very possible that the masto is affecting his lungs, but it might not be . . . his "asthma" attacks were likely the precursor to/part of anaphylaxis. Of course, the other meds stand as are, but I'll take the minus two! =0) Yeah, that still leaves us at a nice 13 meds a day, but that's still better than 15, right?

Another thing that was discussed was school - should Isaiah attend school even for a partial day? The doctor just about lost it when the question was raised. Her response, "absolutely not!" =0) Okay, so that takes care of the gut-twisting feeling I felt at the thought of Isaiah in a school with a lot of other little kiddos . . . with food, kiddos with pet hair on their clothing, remnants of food on their clothing . . . lots and lots of exposures to all sorts of things (chemicals, molds, etc.) that could send Isaiah to the ER, again. Then there's the issue of part-time nurses, teachers not being allowed to carry or administer student's epi pens (in our district, at least) . . . I didn't even have to say a word about my gut feeling on the subject. The look on her face at our inquiry was a look of complete horror, an almost "why in the world would you do such a thing"-type look. =0) That look said it all. Homebound it is with a few social extras on the side. =0)

Okay, let's see . . . new doctor, masto/allergy/something else combination, symptoms, meds, school . . . am I forgetting something??? Yup, Xolair. In asking about Xolair, the Dr. S. said that Isaiah's IgE is way too high for the insurance company to approve its use . . . apart from his age, his IgE count, alone, was way too high - his body wouldn't handle the shot very well. Apart from that, Isaiah is so sensitive that it might just cause a reaction (as I have mentioned before - yes, it really is a major concern), and he does not have asthma. Apparently, Xolair is only approved right now for use in patients with uncontrolled asthma issues and is not approved for prevention of anaphylaxis because it hasn't proven to be useful in preventing it . . . wow, that might have been good to know when we were considering this treatment. So, our last resort drug really isn't even a last resort any more . . . it's not an option. Good thing, but stinks to know that there isn't anything out there right now that will help us too much apart from what we're already doing.

Which brings me to the downside of the appointment: there is no cure nor preventative treatment for everything that Isaiah is currently diagnosed with (and with the possible extras being thrown into the mix). Of course, there is the common sense stuff - stay away from the known allergens and triggers. Apart from that, the histamine treatments (H1 and H2 antihistamines that Isaiah takes daily - part of the now 13 meds regimen) are our only hope for managing symptoms. Oh yeah, and we have to make sure Isaiah doesn't consume corn too often - his IgE is saying that corn may be a bad thing for him if he eats it too much . . . and his IgE to wheat and soy have actually gone up . . . as did his IgE to cat and dog . . . and mold.

There is One who can heal Isaiah completely . . . when He chooses to heal Isaiah. While I may not understand why God hasn't chosen to go ahead and heal Isaiah, I'm still at the point where I'm not sure I want to know the answer to that question. There are so many kiddos that are suffering from various illnesses, but I know God has a plan and knows the right time for their healing - in His time, not mine. His timing is perfect, so that means when He chooses to heal them, they will be. The situation, the circumstances, those surrounding them - everything will be in perfect timing, with a perfect reason. Of course, I'd still like to know when that is. ;0) However, God understands that more than I do.

Please, don't get me wrong - I don't take all of this without crying (no, I don't laugh through it all). =0) I don't always feel at peace about all of this. I just don't ask God why. I feel if He wants me to know, then He'll tell me. Until then, I'll just keep following Him - He knows where He's headed, after all. =0) My point is, though, I do cry about all of this. In fact, I spent a little time in my car (going to work) crying just thinking through everything.

There isn't a cure for masto. There isn't a cure for anaphylaxis. There's no cure for allergies, including severe allergies. There is no cure for angioedema nor the other things Dr. S. is testing for. There isn't a fail-proof medication to treat these conditions, and the majority of the medications also include side effects with long-term usage (sometimes based on the dosage Isaiah is on). The things Isaiah goes through - anaphylaxis - can be fatal if not treated . . . sometimes they're still fatal even when they are treated properly. These can be serious things if taken too lightly, yet you still have to live as normal as possible - not always an easy task when you know you have limitations . . . living with modifications. We still have to avoid the bakery section at the grocery store, picnics with bags of chips or popcorn that have a powdered substance - they usually contain powdered whey or milk. Isaiah still can't play outside when it's too hot . . . or too cold.

No school means no school parties, no school smells (I have this thing with the smell of the first and last day of school - it just smells good), no "school" experiences for a while . . . at least until things are figured out and until they calm down for Isaiah. Isaiah's school will consist of our house and computer. No school field trips, no bus rides (he really wants to ride a "yellow school bus"), no surprise art projects. It's not all that bad, though. Isaiah won't have to worry about missing school because he's not feeling well or because he didn't sleep the night before, nor will he have to worry about going to a school that's about an hour away (one school for medically fragile children was sort-of an option), no calls from frantic teachers/nurses . . . no worries about Isaiah missing out on a field trip to the zoo or a farm because he cannot tolerate being around the animals anymore. Besides, I like the idea of being able to avoid some of the things they teach our children these days so that I can teach him about what God says . . . not the US Government. I'm not opposed to public schooling, but I do have issues with the system. =0)

Like I said, it still bothers me. I'm not always feeling all that positive, though I try to be anyway. It's almost like the game Pollyanna used to play - for every bad thing, think of a good thing to make the bad seem better. I am thankful that things aren't as bad as they could be. I am thankful that I can have a more active part in my child's education, at least in the early stages. =0) I am thankful that Isaiah can still eat what we've been feeding him. I am extremely thankful that I can still see his sparkling eyes, gorgeous smile (complete with dimples), hear his contagious and melodious giggle, hear his sweet voice, get the biggest and best hugs I have ever gotten, his quirky sense of humor, his vivid and wild imagination . . . and yes, I even love those sloppy kisses and one-of-a-kind hairdos he gives me! =0) Oh, and how could I forget those facial expressions and mannerisms? =0) I'm thankful that Isaiah is my son and teacher (you learn so much from these little guys!). I could go on and on . . .

Anyway, I know this was a long post, but I just wanted to share a bit about what has been going on with him and his appointment. Did I mention we were almost hit by a police officer who pulled out in front of me??? I guess you could say he almost hit us . . . and, yes, this was on our way back from St. Pete . . . Isaiah slept through the whole experience. I slammed on my breaks so hard, that my car was knocked out of drive into neutral - good thing I was paying attention, huh? =0) I wasn't the only one, either - two other lanes of traffic almost had a run in with him . . . he went across 3 lanes of traffic! Anyway, that's a story for another day. Thank You, Jesus, for your protection! =0)

I do have more to post, but that will have to wait for a bit . . . this post was long enough! ;0) Thanks for your prayers! By the way, did you notice that the last 3 pictures were in succession - Isaiah was blowing a kiss! =0)

Monday, October 19, 2009

Waking Up from My Slumber . . . ;0)

Has it really been 3 weeks since my last post (actually, I think it's just a few days shy of being 1 whole month!)??? Sorry, it has been so long since my last post - there has been quite a bit going on here. Thankfully, nothing bad . . . just busy. =0)

Isaiah's labs (the IgE tests) have come back, but I will save the news for a while - at least until we hear more from his next appointment at All Children's. I think I have more questions than I did last year, so I want to make sure I have all the facts straight before I post anything about the labs. One of Isaiah's allergists really wants Xolair put back on the table (Xolair is the IgE-binding med that the docs at All Children's want to use as a very last resort). I'm really hesitant to say yes to this, only because I'm not so sure it would be completely safe for Isaiah - using this drug with Isaiah can raise so many concerns (anaphylaxis from the shot, the side effects, it may not even work, and it might make things worse). The only thing I will say is that the doctor said to be careful with corn. Grrrr. Like I said, I'll post more after his appointment with All Children's . . . which is in about 2 weeks. =0)

Hey, at least you'll know I'll definitely have a post around then, right? =0)

Apart from that, Isaiah is doing well . . . for the most part. =0} Isaiah has had problems with rashes and eczema (especially that obnoxious rash around his mouth). He also hasn't been eating well, though he devoured 3 baked potatoes for dinner this evening. =0) He is getting rather skinny again, which bothers me a bit - you can see his ribs again. =0( I guess that will be something we'll address at the appointment as well.

On a positive note, Isaiah is talking more and more . . . using complete sentences and saying things that are . . . well, adult-ish. =0) For example, at dinner, he said, "Mmm-mmm, this meal is just tasty!" =0) He also told me he was going to "Hamburger Helper," (no idea, it's probably something along the lines of "Scrubbing Bubbles) and that I had to stay here to take care of Nai-Nai and Ye-Ye. =0) So, being facetious, I told him that I wanted to go, too. To which he replied with the most sincere face, "Well, you have to ask." So, I did: "May I go with you, Isaiah?" Again, with the most sincere face, he replied, "You have to say please to be polite." !?! =0) Hmmm, does he sound like someone? It's nice to know that my good manners lessons aren't falling on deaf ears! =0) Hahaha

He has also become quite obsessed with Star Wars . . . yet he has never seen it. Seriously, I would never let him watch it - he's way too young. However, he somehow knows their names . . . all of them . . . and that they carry "light savers" and that there's a "death star." Sheesh! There goes my baby . . . hello, big boy. =0) Any guesses as to what he wants to be for Halloween? No, not Yoda, nor "Ooobie One Kenooobie." Nope, not even Luke Skywalker. If you were thinking Darth Vader, you've guessed correctly! Scary thought - he didn't even go for the good guys . . . though, he will try to convince you that Darth Vader is a good guy. =0) He's a little confused, but understandably so . . . he's never seen Star Wars. =0)

So, now we have Star Wars PJ's, a Star Wars t-shirt (I refuse to buy more than that), =0) and a Star Wars game . . . and a few Star Wars figurines. How did all this start???? One word, 2 syllables . . . neph-ews. =0) Yup, they started it all. =0) Oh, well. I guess it was only a matter of time, anyway, right? =0) Just in case you thought Thomas was out of the picture, guess again. Nope, he fits right in there somewhere amongst Star Wars and the Little Einsteins . . . and Ni Hao, Kai-Lan. =0)

Did I tell you about him arguing with Nick, Jr.? Apparently, Noggin was taken over by Nickelodeon and is now called Nick, Jr. Well, I can think of one unhappy little guy because of that small change - Isaiah was distraught because his Noggin was gone! =0) No worries, because all is well again - Moose A. Moose and Zee are still part of the commercials in between shows . . . but Isaiah still wants his Noggin logos. =0)

That's all for my ramblings . . . for now. =0) I will leave you with a picture of Isaiah dressed in his idea of what Darth Vader looks like . . . thankfully, he never used that potty. =0) Hopefully, I will find a little more time to post. Thanks for your continued prayers!!! For now, I'm off to play "tosies" with Isaiah. =0)

. . . and, yes, his cape is a Wiggles blanket. =0)

Friday, September 25, 2009

Happy Birthday, Dad! =0)

To a man I greatly admire

for his honesty, integrity, and wisdom.

. . . a wonderful role model

. . . an awesome Dad & Ye-Ye (Grandpa)



Happy Birthday, Dad!

Friday, September 18, 2009

Friday Fun =0)

While I thought about doing a Flashback Friday post, I thought this one would be more fun . . . because I just took these pictures and I have been itching to write a post ever since I took them. =0)


Anyway, at one point today, it was actually cool enough for Isaiah to be outside for a little while . . . as the weather usually does in Florida, it quickly warmed up and Isaiah had to come back inside to stay cool. =0) So, what did Isaiah do this morning??? He helped his Ye-Ye. =0) He loves following my dad around, helping him do whatever Ye-Ye's do. =0)


Today, Isaiah had a lesson in carpentry . . . of sorts. =0) Anyone who knows my dad knows that he loves to salvage what other people throw away - he sees a use for everything. Now, of course, he's not into garbage, garbage, but the screws, nails, wood scraps, metal scraps . . . stuff he sees that can be used again, but still the stuff most of us would overlook. Our across-the-street neighbor has been working on some kind of building in his back yard, and happened to be throwing out some lumber that just wasn't working for him. My dad, in true dad fashion, seized the opportunity to collect the unwanted scraps. The lumber was tightly stuck together with a large screw that had broken off and an insane amount of staples . . . that didn't stop my dad a bit. He quickly began working with the stuff to pull it apart and salvage as much of the supplies as possible. =0)


Well, Isaiah decided he needed to help, after all, he's a "super helper." =0) He ran outside to see what he could do, then returned to grab his "whammer-hammer" and his "rusty saw," along with a few other helpful tools (a screw driver, a pair of pliers, a wrench, and another saw). Isaiah didn't waste any time, hammering away as soon as he got back outside. It was adorable! Just watching my dad and son working together was priceless . . . of course my dad has a few bruises on his hands from Isaiah's plastic "whammer hammer" . . . and the poor "whammer hammer" is cracked beyond repair . . . but he oodles of fun! =0)


So, what was I so eager to share with you? These . . .


My Boy and his "rusty saw" =0)


"Gotta hit that staple juuuuuust right" =0) (when he's concentrating, he sticks his tongue out)



"I'll help you pull out those staples, Ye-Ye!" =0)


I can't forget these, either . . .

"Male Bonding" ;0)


Working side-by-side

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Wow, it has been a while. =0)

Sorry about that - no worries, though. =0) Things have been going well around here, I've just been busy.


So, what has been going on??? Well, a few weeks ago (yeah, I know, I should have posted sooner), I finally finished my master's degree - an M. Ed. in TESOL (Teaching English as a Second Language). I was so excited to go back to school, and I am equally as excited to be finished! ;0) If my mom has her wish, I will be a life-long student somewhere. ;0) I was also asked to be part of Kappa Delta Pi, an international honors society. God is awesome, isn't He?


Last week, we also had a few days where Isaiah could actually go out and play . . . really play. He could stay out for longer than 5 minutes and really enjoy himself. Of course, he is still recovering from the cold I passed on to him 2 weeks ago, but he still enjoyed the time outside. Poor guy - I think he was starting to get a bit of cabin fever because he also hasn't been able to go to church either (because he has been sick and because of the whole 5 months of steroids thing . . . with the flu season and swine flu issues going around, we've had to be extra careful). Hopefully, soon, Isaiah can return to church to be with his friends. I feel so bad for him, yet he really can't get sick either. It's bad enough that he caught my cold and his body is still fighting it off. Grrrrrr, steroids. =0) I think they may have even stunted his growth a little, but he has been in the 98th/99th percentile for so long, that I don't think that's too bad of a thing. =0)



Apart from that, Isaiah is doing well - no huge reactions since the last one almost 3 weeks ago (that was the 6th anaphylaxis episode this year). He has gained weight (yay!), and his appetite still seems rather ravenous - though it waned a bit because of the cold. He does have that annoying rash around his mouth (really, all over his face), again, along with eczema flair ups on his legs and arms . . . with a little bit of rash on his back. He's not sleeping well because he is itching at night, but you wouldn't be able to tell based on his energy level during the day! =0) His feet, thankfully, haven't gotten nearly as bad as they were a couple of years ago - the rough patches still remain, but he hasn't had any blisters on the bottoms of his feet. Flushing . . . well, that still comes and goes on a daily basis - I think that's just something we'll have to deal with regularly. As long as the flushing doesn't turn into swelling, rashes, and bone pain, it doesn't seem to be a horrible thing to deal with.



My dad had one appointment for his blood test results. His results weren't too bad, but the doctor still wants him to see his hematologist/oncologist - which will be in the next couple of weeks. He has been irritable, tired, and in pain . . . but he at least has been sleeping well (I haven't heard him up late at night anyway). He has also had times where he just feels awful, but that usually comes and goes. Thank you for your continued prayers for him. I know that he usually tries to hide all of this from people, and he can do a good job of that, but it's when you catch him when he's unaware that you find he really hasn't been feeling well . . . if that even makes sense. Cancer stinks!



I think I have caught you up on just about everything . . . I think. =0)

Friday, September 4, 2009

Midnight Snacks & a Prayer Request

No, this is not about me and my midnight snacks. Sheesh! ;0) I am writing this about Isaiah and his midnight snacking lately. I'm sure you're thinking, "why would Isaiah, a 4-year old, have a midnight snack?" First of all, this is my child you're talking about - he loves to snack. =0) Secondly, the steroids are now taking over. =0) A child who loves to snack has just formed a stomach with a bottomless pit.

This isn't altogether a bad thing - I mean, he wasn't eating well before his last episode. And what he's wanting for a "snack" isn't all that bad, either. It's just the time and his snack of choice that seems to be more of the issue. Take, for instance, last night. He wanted chicken. Yup, chicken. Not the frozen pieces that are easy to stick in an oven and are done in half an hour or so. Not even the Isaiah-safe chicken nuggets or special chicken hot dogs, either. Nope, he wants the real deal. The big, mouth watering, delightful-smelling, roasted chicken - two legs, two wings, the golden brown skin . . . you get the picture. =0)

Well, on to tonight. For dinner, Isaiah wanted this chicken, again. Well, since we just had chicken the previous night, we didn't have the chicken thawed for dinner tonight - I might add that we had leftovers the previous night, with the real deal cooked the night before. =0) So, I convinced him that he really wanted pasta with some extras (veggies and such). Well, he picked "noodles with da gar-wic, and da odder stuff" (rice pasta with garlic, oil, and spices). =0) So, I made his pasta . . . and he ate all of it - I had even made extra for the anticipated midnight snack, and he ate all of it. =0) Thinking he wouldn't want the noodles, again, I was hoping he would just want an apple or one of those special hot dogs.

I couldn't have been more wrong. =0)
Not only did he want the noodles, he wanted the long noodles (spaghetti noodles) tossed with the sauteed minced garlic and spices . . . at midnight. I couldn't convince him to choose a different snack, either. I offered, and gave, him chocolate ice cream (that I made from rice milk) and a fruit juice Popsicle. To top it off, he also had some cinnamon applesauce. Apparently, that just didn't do it for him. He wanted those noodles. So, at 12:30, I had to make the pasta.

And this is him enjoying the pasta . . . served with our best white grape-cherry juice, of course. =0)

And, yes, he is now resting peacefully, all snuggled up in bed while I type this. =0)


-----------------------------------------------------------------


And on a sadder note, my Aunt Sis (my dad's sister) went to be with Jesus yesterday. She was a wonderful person with a huge heart - someone who would invite you into her home and cook a huge meal with whatever she had in her cabinets. She was a wonderful cook. It's hard to think that she's no longer here on earth, but now in eternity with Jesus. It almost seams surreal - we were going to visit Aunt Sis and Uncle Ivan on our last vacation that was cut short (they have never met Isaiah). I know Isaiah would have loved her, just as she would have loved to meet Isaiah in person (she spoke to him on the phone once). I know that she will be greatly missed. Please keep Uncle Ivan (her husband), her sons (Danny and Chuck), their grandchildren, and the rest of the family in your prayers.



My dad has been mostly silent since yesterday - you can tell he's really bothered by this. He's also not feeling the greatest either and has an appointment as soon as he gets back with his oncologist - some tests came back with some not so great results. I will keep you posted on the labs and the appointments. I know you guys will pray for him as well (as you already have been).

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Update from Our Latest ER Visit


Just to let you know how Isaiah is doing today, he is feeling much better - he even ate!

Yesterday, Isaiah spent the majority of the day resting - he wasn't really into playing very much. Every once in a while he would let his personality shine through, but he would tire easily. He ended up falling asleep around 9, only to wake up again at 10 . . . not wanting to go back to bed until 3.

As far as eating, he was still throwing up a bit (reactions can take a bit to calm down, and he hadn't eaten since Friday night around 7 or so). His tummy just wasn't settled, even with all the extra meds.

Today, however, he hasn't thrown up at all and decided that he wanted chicken and "trench tries". =0) While he still didn't eat a ton (as I would have thought given the dose of steroid he is on right now), he did eat. And he has been munching ever since. =0) I imagine that by tomorrow, he'll have the refrigerator and the cabinets cleaned out. ;0)

He has also been drinking a bit more (another thing he wasn't doing much of). He drank a little before going to bed (by a little, I mean 2 cups of Sprite and 1 cup of Coke . . . he did ask for them, after all). =0) Today, he still won't touch juice, but he has finished the bottle of Coke and is almost there with the Sprite (I know, but he really doesn't get this stuff all that often). I also offered his "chocolate milk" (chocolate rice milk), but he really wasn't interested in that either . . . and, yes, the stuff actually does taste good. =0)

Tonight, he's almost back to his normal self - even taking time to play loudly and dance a bit. =0) Today, he plays for a bit, then rests - not 100% normal, but getting there. Recovering from anaphylaxis can be tiring, so I'm not too worried. Right now, he's reenacting the launch from Friday evening with his little space shuttle. =0) Maybe it's just loud because I have a cold and my ears are overly sensitive, but he is unusually loud tonight! ;0) It's good to see he's feeling better. (hahahahaha - he just yelled out, "Mommy! I'm going to space exploring!" =0) Goober.)

Well, I have to give the last meds of the day and get my little "super driver, space explorer" to bed. =0) (hahahaha, no he says he needs "Mommy's" help, who just so happens to have a red, painted-on goatee, because there is a "meee-ter shower!" Sounds urgent . . . by the way, I don't have a red painted-on goatee, just the little figurine that he's pretending is "Mommy" - I love his imagination! ) =0)

Before I go, though, we have been keeping Isaiah in because of the flu - he has been on prednisone (a steroid) for about 4 months now, and is now on a higher dosage of it for the next 8 days. Since taking steroids lowers your body's ability to fight off infections, Isaiah isn't really allowed to be out and about - there are cases of the swine flu around here, too. He isn't able to get the flu shots because he is allergic to eggs. We, however, can get the flu shot and will as soon as it comes out. I do work with kids, so I am exposed to germs. Please pray Isaiah won't catch any of these germs - we really don't need that. =0) Thankfully, there have only been a few times where Isaiah has had a reaction because of an illness (fevers can irritate those overactive mast cells).

Okay, so, yeah . . . it's time to get this little guy in bed . . . he's collecting ants and giving them to us (okay, so there were only 2) . . . the big ants that somehow have sneaked in under the front door . . . silly ants. =0) And now he tells me he needs a red super hero cape with a space shuttle on it because he's a super helper, too. =0) I just love the way he thinks . . . and how he's ever so specific about his requests. =0) Any ideas on how to get a child on steroids to go to sleep??? ;0)