Long time, no post! =0)

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!! (a wee bit late) =0)

Okay, so I know it has been a while since I posted last. A lot has been going on - our schedule is as hectic as ever! =0) Isaiah has PT twice a week (in the form of dance and gymnastics . . . but its intent is a fun form of PT . . . PT=physical therapy). In the middle of the week, we have Awanas, which is sort-of like a social group as well (at least, that's an added benefit). =0) He also has tutoring 3 times a week . . . then, you add my schedule in there and our weekdays can be crazy to say the least. There's never a dull moment around here. =0)

Outside of that, you have doctors visits and interesting conversations (read "arguments") with the insurance company who decided that we can pay - in full - for Isaiah's prescriptions because they're antihistamines . . . yeah, even if I had a million dollars, that would be expensive (three of the prescriptions rang up to $1,500). Thankfully, God had another option in mind - a mostly unmarked (meaning, no name of a company anywhere on the card) prescription card that miraculously covers all of the meds. God is truly awesome! We have Isaiah's most costly prescription back and just in time before a major reaction (he is still coughing from being off the med for over a week). Oh, and he's not having as many meltdowns now that he is back on it, too. =0) If that doesn't scream necessity, I don't know what does.

Apart from that, there's not much to report . . . oh, we also lost Isaiah's local allergist because of insurance issues. =0( She was an awesome doctor, too . . . as soon as we get this stuff straightened out, we're back in her office! What's the point in having more than one allergist??? One is local (all of 10 to 15 minutes away because of traffic lights and in the same town we live in), the other is 3 hours away (plus tolls and hotel room rates - RMD House only takes hospital patients unless they are clinic patients receiving treatments) . . . and Isaiah's case is just that perplexing that he needs more than one doc on the case. Plus, they seem to help each other treat Isaiah and the local allergist can see Isaiah in an emergency (which was nice). Now, we have to drive 3 hours to the AIR Clinic (Allergy/Immunology/Rheumatology Clinic) in St. Pete for emergency appointments because the pediatrician has no idea what to do with Isaiah.

As far as lab results, the 5-HIAA lab test came back normal. I didn't quite explain this test, but it is basically looking for a tumor. His allergists in St. Pete were wondering if maybe the extra histamine running around in his body (and increasing IgE and eosinophils) were caused by a tumor - a tumor that had already metastasized (carcinoid syndrome). This type of cancer (though cancer) is highly treatable (curable) and would have meant that Isaiah could come out of his bubble once the tumor was removed/blasted. So, it could have been a good thing - at least in the sens that Isaiah's counts would have come down and he might be able to try new foods. The bad side being it's cancer, which would mean surgery, chemo, and radiation. Thankfully, that's not the case. However, we still have no answers as to why Isaiah's counts are getting higher.

Isaiah was also tested again for hereditary angioedema (HAE). It would explain the random swelling and anaphylaxis in the middle of the night, but it still wouldn't have explained everything. In fact, it would be just as frustrating seeing as there is still no cure and treatments are the same as we are already doing . . . with a few changes here and there. It still wouldn't explain the IgE and eosinophilia. That test also came back (as before) normal. His liver enzymes are a little off, but not enough to say that he has HAE.

Then, there was the CT scan (after all, Isaiah had a fever for 4 months!!!!). The CT scan came back with a sinus infection (one that just didn't show up on the outside with a runny nose or anything) and significant sinus disease. Basically, Isaiah's fever was caused by the sinusitis (and Masto . . . cuz it does that) and is on Levaquin for 14 days to treat it. The sinus disease just means that his sinuses are not happy. They are swollen, irritated, and the cilia (little hairs in your nose/sinuses) are not working properly. His sinuses are damaged (including cilia), but they aren't to the extent that he would require irrigation (a tube stuck into his sinuses to wash them). He is on a new nasal spray to help the undamaged cilia to heal and work properly.

Apart from all of us getting some kind of virus (yes, I managed to bring home and infect our entire household), we're all doing well. =0)

Of course, there is my dad. He is in pain and cold. He has been shaking quite a bit (so much so that he can't write), so the doctor has taken him off of one of his pain medications to see if maybe the med is causing the problem. Of course, that's not the end of the story . . . we're much to complicated for that. =0} If my dad hasn't already told you himself, he is being tested for Alzheimer's. This has been a consideration in the past, but because he is having progression of symptoms (and worsening of certain symptoms), his doctor is revisiting this idea. Of course, it could just be progression of Waldenstrom's, but the doctor just wants to make sure. I will keep you updated.

On another note . . . it's almost time for Rare Disease Day, again! February 28th is Rare Disease Day. Last year, we were helping to raise awareness for mastocytosis by wearing our purple and polka dots. For Isaiah, we made a shirt using his ideas for things with spots (by the way, most children with mastocytosis have some form of spots . . . Isaiah is one of the rare ones who has no spots). Nai-Nai and Ye-Ye joined in last year, wearing ribbons to support MastoKids (a wonderful support group who have been an invaluable resource of information and encouragement to us). Just as last year, we'll be sporting our spots. =0)

Mastocytosis isn't the only rare disease in our household, though . . . apart from Autism (which is somehow listed on the RDD website) and anaphylaxis, Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia is also a rare disease . . . we just don't have a color to wear to raise awareness for that one. =0}

Sorry, I couldn't resist . . . I just love this picture of her! =0)