Back to the Melmed Center and Other Interesting Things!

Being Yelled At By The Big Boss
Photo Credit: eHow.com

My life is still busy.  I am taking a timeout for a bit this weekend so I can get some of my thoughts down on paper.  I have been working on my big project for work.  It has been SO stressful the last two weeks.  As the deadline for my project was coming I kept finding out people were pushing up the due date.  The environmental consultant working with me suffered an anxiety attack the night before the project was due and I was so stressed out my eye was twitching (the sign *I* get when I am SUPER stressed) and my back muscles between my shoulder blades was sore letting me know the muscles were in knots. Yesterday (Saturday) I left the children for a bit and had a massage done.  I could have spend the money on other things but I BADLY needed to destress from the week.  Starting on Monday (April 15th) I got to a meeting and was later yelled at by the BIG boss.  During the meeting my Section Manager was called in and I was called to task for what had been going on but in my defense there was nothing I could have done better and my Section Manager stood up for me.  I am VERY grateful he did that!  Monday is also when I found out my deadline for my project (originally due April 22) was pushed up again to Wednesday evening (April 18).  The consultant and I scrambled even harder to get everything completed on time.  We did make it but not without getting yelled at by several people along the way.  Stress from this project, for everyone working on it, was running high!  Even now we are not finished but the bulk of the project, the part we said we would complete, IS finished!  I swear I have NEVER felt such a sense of accomplishment in getting something completed!  This project will continue to need additional work but at least it should not be as stressful (I hope!).

Recap of things....

April 4th I was able to speak to a human being at the Phoenix Children's Speciality Clinic.  Last time I called I did get to speak to someone but only after I was on hold for about 45 minutes.  I am not lying!!!  I was at work and had the call on my cell phone bluetooth so I could listen AND keep track of the time.  I was able to see the time when someone finally answered the phone.... 43 minutes and 18 seconds.  NEVER have I been on hold for SO long!  At that call I was told someone from the office would call me back in two weeks (after my insurance gave approval for the referral) and I could set up an appointment for the children to see the psychologist.  I was asked (by the Melmed Center) to have the children tested and evaluated by a psychologist to determine cognitive function and academic skills. I waited until three weeks had passed and called back because I had not heard from anyone. Honestly I NEVER expect a doctor's office to call me back, because I have not seen it happen...lol.  I called back and got someone in a mere 12 minutes.  I was pleased to hear the insurance had approved everything so I got to set the appointments for the children.  They started July 11th and go further out.  Just glad to get the ball rolling on that one!  Finally!

April 10th I had my appointment to my Primary Care Physician (PCP).  Since I was a new patient I had to wait THREE months to get in to see Dr. Baier. When I was SUPER ill over the winter and went to the Urgent Care I was SO sick that I should have seen a doctor sooner.  Even when I went to the doctor at the Urgent Care I was not given the medicine I needed to stop my coughing including an inhaler.  From the time I was last sick to now I cannot breathe right.  I told the new PCP and she said not to worry.  It might be the pollution level in Phoenix or allergies.  Not to worry???   LOL   She does not know me well!  SHe give me a prescription for an inhaler.  That will be much nicer.  The new doctor said if I was ever sick like that again to come and see her IMMEDIATELY and she would get me in!  Wow!  That is a HUGE relief!  I also got a bunch of blood work I have to do so I set an appointment for this Wednesday (April 24).  Got to get the blood work completed and check back into the doctor.

April 17th I got James's paperwork in from the Melmed Center.  It is the write up on the clinical diagnosis that was sent to the children's regular pediatrician.  It basically stated that James is very bright but he is fixated with certain items of interest, he cannot hold a 2-way conversation, he does not maintain eye contact during a conversation and socially he is very immature. With all these characteristics James meets the diagnostic criteria for autism.  So James was officially diagnosed with autism for the state of Arizona.  Just one more child to go...Joseph!  Got to get his paperwork that was sent to the regular pediatrician.

Photo Credit: merchantcircle.com

On April 18th Margaret went to her appointment at the Melmed Center.  I was glad she finally got to go.  It was ONE of the worst times as far as my big project was concerned because I needed to deliver information to and be seated in a meeting in Holbrook.  Instead I pulled several stings and told people I could NOT go because I had set this doctor's appointment with this specialist about 4.5 months ago so I was NOT going to miss the appointment now!  I took Margaret to her the office appointment.  It was nice to just have Mommy and Margaret going out alone.  I am hoping I will be able to do that more with her soon.  Anyways, we leave the house and Margaret is whining.  Bailey had told her she was going to the doctor. This got her upset because she was starting to worry she was going to get shot with a needle.  That is a long story on how/why that would bother her so I will skip it for now. We get there and I reassure her that she is going to be okay.  We went inside and she say the large fish tank.  She kept asking me questions about the fish.  She asked me where they lived, what were they doing and she kept saying over and over again that they were happy...LOL.  We met with the doctor there and she did fine with the physical exam expect that she kept staring and whining at the resident developmental pediatrician that was following Dr. PeBentio.  Once we get to Dr. PeBenito's office and Margaret saw she could play with toys she settled down.  The doctor and I start discussing Margaret's medical history.  The good news, compared to Joseph's medical history, Margaret's is rather easy. I told the doctor that Margaret had been diagnosed with autism in Nevada by the school district AND a pediatrician but the state of Arizona would not could that work so we were in her office today. I said I believe that autism, for most people, is not a disease but a symptom of something else going on.  I told Dr. PeBentio that I had genetic testing on Margaret completed and nothing was found.  I next had an MRI done and she was diagnosed with hypoxic brain injury.  I explain what type and where she has brain damage.  I said her brain damage explains her impulsive behavior, short attention span (though it may be auditory processing problems but not sure at this age and the doctor said she do not test until children are eight), and speech issues. The doctor agreed with me.  She said she had no problem with giving Margaret her diagnosis of autism.  So I walked out of the appointment with her autism diagnosis and that was one of my main goals. Yea me!  Hopefully I can get her services here.  It has been SO hard to get therapy services for her here because Phoenix does not have many private therapists.  They seem to be working with DDD or the school district. Since Las Vegas had a school that graduated PAs and therapists while Phoenix has a school that graduates doctors of various specialties.  Some of the surplus therapists from Vegas NEED to move to Phoenix!!!   I am going to have to deal with DDD and get the children on the Long Term Care system here to get them the services they need.

This brings me to what I did on April 19th.  I called their Long Term Care case worker and told her I was sorry I did not get the paperwork filled out but I had a HUGE project and I had to get it completed first.  After a bit of a conversation she said she understood and was going to help me.  She closed out their case and started it over again.  I told her I would stop by her office Monday afternoon since the office headquarters is not far from where I work.  I told her I would bring in all their information.  This would be helpful in get the paperwork going again.  She also said she would do what she could to expedite the process.  Heck, even if she does nothing the offer to help was GREATLY appreciated!  So this is what I have to do Monday along with my work stuff.  This is why I have been busy lately and not blogging.

Something else that has been slowing me down blogging is John.  No, it is not his fault really....I just enjoy spending time with him and I rarely have any time alone to blog (since I am trying to relax I am making it a point to blog; which I find relaxing).  After the work week I rarely feel like dragging out my computer and working since I had been on a computer all week.  When John comes to visit (which as been every other weekend lately) I stay and hang out with him. It is amazing how much things have changed between us.  I don't think we were going to make it before/during the dark days of our marriage but I can see it is possible for us to be happy again and for a LONG time I was not sure that could happen.  I enjoy spending time with him and talking (listening) to him.  He and I both realize how important it is that we start communicating again.  That ONE item alone has made a difference!  Seems to blatant and simple but we just could not manage it for the last few years.

Now my dear reader you are about as caught up as I am on my life as I am.  I know, that is not saying much at the moment but I am living by the seat of my pants.  I will be going into work tomorrow by 6:30am or 7am and work until 4pm to 5pm.  Each day I have a LOT to do at work and then I try and manage my home life and the children as best I can.  Each day passes too quickly.  I miss the children.  I wish I was there with them more.  I am hoping things for work will slow down after June and I can spend more time focused on them and John too.  John will be here for the summer and hopefully coming to stay. One day at a time...one day at a time...it is all I can do and slowly... I am making it...

Picture from our trip to Tumbleweed Park in Chandler today.
Glad I got to spend some time with them today and wear
them out before bed tonight...lol. 

The Day Before Monday...

Photo Credit: ReeseAndrews.com

Lately that is how I have been feeling about life and work.  The weekend is NEVER long enough, I have too many errands to do and I am wanting to accomplish more than I can.  I have taken the children to several appointments.  Actually, just recently, John was kind enough to take all the children to the dentist for me.  I went with him when we had to take James and Margaret.  James was being a bit of a pain but Margaret did great for her.  Normally she vomits somewhere along the way but this time she kept her cool and was able to get her teeth cleaned.  I was amazed! James also did well too.  Both children allowed the dentist to look at their teeth, take x-rays, clean their teeth and brush them with the rotary brush (this really surprised me because I thought the noise would bother them). The good news is there are not problems with the teeth! Yea!

The next day Joseph went.  He did a good job. He did not complain about having his teeth cleaned.  The dentist said his molars were not infected with cavities but they are demineralized.  He will be having a problem soon with cavities I am afraid.  I need to see what I can do to strengthen his teeth.

Work is a whirlwind at the moment.  I worked a lot of hours recently but if I can get this project pulled off it is practically historic.  I want to spill more about what I am working on but I don't think I can until this project is over.  It should be completed by the end of the month.

Having Funs Showing Off the New Shirts They Made!

Where did the last month go???

Photo Credit: Chasedumont.com

When it becomes a long time since I last made a journal entry it becomes harder to get started because I know there is a lot I want to say but I never seem to have time. I get up at 5am-ish and leave the house no later than 6am so I can be at work by 7am. I work until 4 or 5pm and drive an hour home. By the time I get home, feed the children and put them to bed the small window I have to myself I do not feel like typing on the computer. Though I HATE the hour commute each direction each day I LOVE my job. I can barely say how rewarding it is to be working in the career field I went to school for AND be good at what I do. I have had several people in the office in the last two weeks tell me what a great job I have been doing. That really makes me feel good!

So let me give a brief run down on what all has been happening.

February 12 - I took the kids to a pediatrician. He is new to us and we had a great visit. I am happy we went there. As I have gone around to other specialists they know the new pediatrician and say he is a great guy. How is that for giving you confidence in your primary care doctor!

February 15 - John came to Phoenix for the weekend. We are working hard at re-building our relationship. I am hoping it can happen (for our sake and the kids).

February 19 - Joseph went to the Melmed center to be evaluated. Dr. Melmed examined Joseph and said he may be labeled as autistic. He would need additional psychological testing. It really saddens me to hear this. Mostly because that is not what I think is wrong with Joseph. To me autism is a list of symptoms of a disease. I want to know the disease (root cause) on what is going on with my baby. I am glad of all the improvements Joseph has made in the last year and a half but I would say he is now, at least linguistally, where Margaret was two years ago. I am hoping he will continue to rapidly improve with his speech. I have contacted a psychologist to do the additional testing. I am waiting to hear back from their office.

February 28 - We finally got to see the ENT. I was FURIOUS at first with the doctor's office. I had gotten a call the day before and I asked them if they had received all the information for the Margaret and Joseph to be seen the next day. I was told yes. I had spent an hour in the office last time filling out paperwork and medical releases for them on Feb. 6. The day of the appointment I was called at about 10am. The nurse asked about Joseph's surgery. I said he did have surgery but I did not have the records handy. They were at the hospital and I did not remember any of the details because this surgery happened back before Joseph turned one. The nurse then tells me the doctor will have to have the records and Joseph would not be sent that day. I was LIVID! Here I was having the appointment cancelled on me at the last minute. I got snippy with the nurse but I ended the call very politely. It completely took her off guard because I KNOW that was NOT how she was expecting the phone call the end....LOL. About an hour later I had the ENT doctor call me. He said he wanted to discuss Joseph and would I please call him. He said he was out at the hospital on an emergency and gave me his PERSONAL cell phone number. I was shocked! Every bad thought I was having I lost at that moment. I called the ENT back and spoke to him. I explained about Joseph and why I wanted to bring him in. The ENT agreed with me and said he was looking forward to seeing Joseph this afternoon. I told him his office staff had cancelled Joseph's appointment. He said there was no need for that and to bring him in. He said he was going to call his staff and tell them to put Joseph back on the books. We went to the appointment. I took everyone with me. I had me, Bailey and Alexa along with all three children. In the waiting area James decided to misbehave so I had Alexa take him back to the van for a bit. I know he screamed like a banshee but he did finally calm down. He was able to rejoin us before we went back to the exam room. While there the James was having a fit. He wanted to see the doctor too. Plus Bailey had told him he would get shot if he had to see the doctor...you know what, James agreed. This is the danger to threatening James with something you can carry through. He takes things so literally and he would expect you to carry though with what you promise. He would NOT let it go! When the ENT came in James INSISTED he get a shot. The doctor tried really had to humor him. The fact he took the time to do that made me like the guy! He brought in suckers in the end and James was at least distracted for a bit. We started to talk about Joseph. I explained all that was going on with Joseph and the multiple health issues he was having. Bailey piped in and said I did not believe in vaccinating the children or giving them medication. I explain why to the doctor since he had asked about giving Joseph the flu shot vaccination. When I was done he turned to Bailey and said it was a good thing I was not giving the vaccinations or medication consider all that is going on with Joseph and there are still a lot of unanswered questions. So the ENT examined Joseph and Margaret while we discussed Margaret. Margaret was found to have enlarged adenoids and inflamed sinuses. We are going to treat her with medication at the minute since the only other real option is surgery. I have no interest in having her go through surgery at the moment. I had also given the ENT a list of all the specialists we had seen in Las Vegas. The doctor was nice enough to recommend local doctors for each of the specialties. That was SUPER nice! He is a really great man and I can tell he care a lot about the children. What more can you ask for in a doctor?

March 8th - I get a notice from my insurance about the visit from the Melmed Center for Joseph. I had checked and there was not a problem. The insurance comes back though and says that the Melmed Center is out-of-network and I about nearly panic! The bill is for $660! I cancelled my appointment for Margaret (since it was for the March 13th) because I panicked! I wanted to make sure the medical insurance was going to cover the bill. It took several days and several phone calls but we finally think we have it straightened out. At least the insurance admitted there was a billing error on their part.

March 12th - I called the Geneticist's office. OMG, I wait on the phone for someone to pick up for 40 minutes! I get through and give them information. I find out they are booking appointments into October at the moment. Not shocked but I was hoping for better. They would not schedule an appointment for me until I fill out all the new patient paperwork. I got the stack in a few days ago...WOW! So I will be working on this information so I can fax it in and set an appointment.

You can see the height difference in the boys. It's a lot!

March 15th - I took Margaret and Joseph to the endocrinologist. It was nice because Joseph I was able to talk to someone about all the hormone concerns I have for Joseph. Joseph does not produce growth hormone on his own. When injected with insulin he did produce the growth hormone. So he is CAPABLE of producing growth hormone so I want to know WHY is he not producing the hormone on his own. Normally you have to fight hard to get growth hormone therapy approved since it is expensive ($2k to $3K a month) plus you have to give it as an injection every day. I would like it if we can find the root cause of why he is not producing growth hormone on his own because we might be able to fix that earlier AND we could skip having to go through the expense and daily injections until he is in his late teens. We spent 50 minutes going over Joseph's medical information. The endocrinologist doctor said he had received 60 pages of information on Joseph and did not want to have to read through it all (sad yet kinda funny). I explain in he end my speculation that Joseph my have cerebral folate deficiency and/or mitochondrial disease. The endo. doctor agreed with me that there is a strong chance Joseph could have mito. John said he was the first doctor to agree. I think he was a bit shocked to hear that news too. I had been telling him my suspicions for sometime but I don't think he has been paying a lot of attention to me. I am just the mom who spends too much time on the internet reading and researching stuff but to hear it from a specialist was different.

March 18th - Finally got someone from the Long-term care people call me. They supply the funding for the services I could get the children (such as therapies (OT, PT and ect) along with anything else) through the DDD. I tried to do this before but I could not. I am hopefully I will be able to get it done this time. Got the ball rolling again at least.

Happy Birthday Bill!

March 19th - James had his appointment with the Melmed Center. Since we got the insurance issues worked out I felt safe in taking him. The doctor examined James. It was rather funny. James has become VERY outspoken lately (sometimes good but sometimes bad). In the waiting room James was talking to a little girl (about 8) and then went to her Dad and asked if he could kiss her. What?!?! LOL At least he was polite enough to ask first BEFORE actually trying to kiss her. So some social skills are kicking in! :) When we go back to the exam room the doctor hold his hands so he cannot move away but he would not really ever look the doctor in the eye but let me say the boy developed diarrhea of the mouth! He was saying EVERYTHING including my phone number and our address. I am glad he knows this information but he does not know when it is okay to share and when it is not. The doctor asked me if he has a social filter and I said not really. Then we tell him a story of when James was at the doctor's office with Bailey and he saw an African American. James pointed to him and said, "He is black. We are white. Why is he black?" Know I acknowledge we lead a sheltered life and we could expose him to more ethnic diversity but he has seen African American people before. Bailey apologize and the man was okay about it but it you saw that at the wrong time in the wrong place (especially in the south) you could get beaten up for that. In the end the doctor said he agreed that James is autistic and he is most likely Asperser's. He wrote on his evaluation for James that he is a bright, high-functioning kid. I have to say...I agree. We have another appointment to go back later.

That evening we celebrated Bill's birthday!  The kids were SO excited!  They LOVED eating cake and seeing the candle blown out.  I am glad they had fun!

My Baby lost her first tooth!

March 20th - Mark it on your calendars...Margaret lost her first baby tooth and she is the first of the babies to lose ANY baby tooth on their own (Joseph has his two top teeth pulled awhile ago). I cannot believe she lost her tooth. I am glad she did though. She had her permanent tooth emerging in the floor of her mouth. It looks HUGE compare to the baby teeth. I am hoping the tooth will move forward on its own but I am worried it may not. Will be making an appointment for her to go to the dentist. I got to help play tooth fairy. I had found a small Hello Kitty bag with a toothbrush, toothpaste and dental floss. I put that under her pillow along with a dollar bill. I also placed a dollar bill under the boy's pillows. I did not want them to get it into their head that they had to get a tooth out to get something from the tooth fairy too. In the end the money meant nothing to the children...everyone fought over the Hello Kitty stuff...LOL!




March 27th and 28th - James and Margaret have an appointment with the dentist. They will go first and the next day Joseph will go. It will be good to take them in and have them examined.

Now you are caught up on at least part of what has been going on. I have been SO busy with work and other things too. At least I have been able to get things squared away though. In getting all of this off my mind it leaves me free to think about other things and do write the stuff I need to for work.....Thank goodness! Got to get a paper researched for school and then one written for work. Back to work for me...

I Had A Moment Yesterday...

This post was written on February 14th. Got to catch up on my blog. Swear I need more hours in the day and get over this BLEEPING cough!...

For a hot moment yesterday I was Queen of the world... Well at least I felt like that.  LOL. I was telecommuting to work yesterday . The kids had been SO sick and so had I .  That morning I slept in for a bit since I did not get to sleep until 1:30am  because I was at the hospital with Margaret.  I woke up and knew there was a vitality important project that was going in art work and was EXTREMELY time sensitive. I went down to Starbucks so I could work. Just add things for my project really start to heat up I have to leave and pickup up the children so I could take them to their pediatrician's appointment. So I leave and very the children to the pediatrician. Bailey comes with me. This is the first time to this pediatrician. I have NO ideas what to expect!  I am in my phone checking my work emails and trying to fill out new patient paperwork . Bailey is trying to keep the sick children under control. We get everything done and submitted. Shortly after submitting the paperwork we were called back. The kids were weight. James was about 42 pounds, Margaret was 31 pounds, and Joseph was 26 pounds. I was disappointed to hear their weights.  In the last four days Margaret had lost at least four pounds with all the vomiting. Joseph had lost two pounds since his greatest weight. The new pediatrician came in loud and boisterous.  I tell him I am new to the area and I was looking for a good pediatrician that was close to the house. I needed someone who could coordinate care for Joseph and get referrals/other paperwork completed as needed. He said he world be able to do that.  I told him what brought us into the office that day... Nasty cold/flu symptoms. I said we had Margaret in the hospital the day before getting fluids.  I told the pediatrician what I had observed at the hospital.  That as Margaret was getting additional fluids she was starting to sniffle again, once that started the coughing began and shortly after more vomiting.  The pediatrician asked if I was going to take her to a GI doctor and I said that was on my to-do list.  I said I had an appointment coming up with an ENT doctor for Joseph and Margaret.  We had a really nice visit with the doctor.  He was able to write us a prescription for cough syrup for the children.  I am SO happy for Margaret.  Can't wait to get her to the ENT.

After we left the office I was back on my phone checking my work email.  I was able to check the work I needed to and give approval.  I was on it and I called the consultant I was working with and told her what I needed done since I was no longer at a computer.  In the end everything got done for work while I was out. Through the use of my phone I got all my work done and looked like a champion.  Actually got kudos from my boss on the great work.  At the same time I was able to take care of my children too.  It was a good day and I was queen of the world until that night when I started to feel sick too...

Margaret Was Not Having A Good Day!

Margaret making herself
comfortable. We JUST got
to the room. 

So Margaret was not having a good day today yesterday! She did not want to wake up and spent most of the day in bed. We were having a lot of problems with her. So after spending 19 hours in bed and not wanting to eat or drink it was time to take her to the hospital to get her some fluids. We went to Phoenix Children's and things went pretty well.

I was really worried about her getting an IV. It turns out they did a super job! She did not even cry. They distracted her with an iPad and put numbing medicine on her arm so she did not even feel the stick. They put a bag of fluid in her, swab her throat for strep, and took x-rays of her chest. The x-rays were negative so she did not have pneumonia are any other respiratory illness. We heard back that the strep swab was positive even though she does not have a red throat, blisters or white spots in the back of throat. 

Margaret FINALLY eating a goldfish cracker!

As Margaret was getting re-hydrated I noticed she because to sniffle again.  I could hear her snorting.  Then she began to cough.  At first it was a little cough but as time went on the cough got worse.  Right before we were discharged she was coughing hard again and then she vomited.  I told the nurse and doctor that I thought it was the nasal drainage that was irritating her throat which caused the cough that in turn caused her to reflux (vomit).  They did not listen to me and we left the hospital with a prescription of antibiotics to treat the strep and a medication for nausea (which I do not think she has).  Today we have an appointment with a pediatrician.  I am taking all the children.  The boys need to be swabbed for strep and I was just told James vomited everywhere.  Poor Bailey said she not not even sure how to clean the mess. Can't wait to see what the pediatrician has to say!

It Takes A Village

Photo Credit: perspectiveparenting.com

It took a village, at least a lot of hands, to take care of this mess!  I was recently woken up because Margaret had barfed all over James and his bed. Bailey and her grandfather get up too. Bailey cleans Margaret off while her grandfather changes James bedding and takes the bedding and all of the clothes and throws them into the washing machine. I take James and go get him medicine and a new change of clothing. Margaret gets out of the bath and I get her some medicine too.  We get everybody cleaned up and straightened out.  With the three of us it took about an hour and half to get everyone sorted out and back into bed!  I hate that Margaret is so sick but I am not sure what to do for her. I don't think taking her back to the urgent care would be helpful at this point. Thankfully we have an appointment with a new pediatrician Tuesday. Hopefully the pediatrician will be able to help us.

Now the Third One is Sick Too!

Joseph in the Urgent Care getting
his breathing treatment

It has been a long weekend!  Thursday is when Margaret was sick and barfing all day.  She would vomit and then pass out.  So she was taken to the urgent care where they gave her some medicine.  By Friday James was coughing too and barfing.  So Friday night I took James and Margaret to the urgent care.  Even on medicine Margaret was still barfing and James had joined her.  The doctor at the urgent care said there is something viral going around and there is not really anything else we could do.

Saturday Margaret and James were still sick.   Margaret still coughing and vomiting and able to hold down little.  James is coughing also but mostly could hold down food.  Saturday evening I noticed Joseph's breathing was getting noisy.  I put him to bed.  By 1:30am Bailey came to wake me up and said Joseph does not sounds right.  She brought him in and I could tell he was having a problem and we would have to go to the urgent care.  It had been all most 2 years since I last had to do this for Joseph.

I was lucky in that I filled out paperwork and gave the urgent care Joseph's information the day before.  I felt pretty sure we would be in there within a day or two.  So I was just able to go in and not have to worry about filling out paperwork last night.  We were there from about 1:45am to 4:30am.  Joseph had his steroid and a breathing treatment.  We get home at 4:30am and I find a naked Margaret running around the house whining.  I see Bailey she tells me Margaret had vomited all over the both of them.  So Margaret was stripped down.  I asked Bailey to put Joseph down to sleep while I gave Margaret a bath. I got her all cleaned up and sent her on her way.  Bailey made a pallet in the living room for the two of them.  They laid down and I finally got to make it back to my bed near 5am.  It was a LONG night last night!  Glad it is over and hope all the children are finally on the road to recovery!

I have to give Bailey a lot of credit. She has been cleaning up barf and poo all over the place. I told her thank you and that I would have to treat her to something special for all the extra hard work she is had to do lately.