Fever and Thrush

Shaun has been battling lots of respiratory viruses once again this fall. I am not sure but I think the stress it put on his body last year "turned on" this disease process in him. I am praying that it does not hurt him again and we don't regress from the steps forward we have made. The last two weeks Shaun has battled congestion, sinus infection, and mild fevers. Yesterday he woke up with 102 temperature, still congested, and white in his mouth. I decided to take him to the doctor because I am worried about him being susceptible to pneumonia. His lungs sounded ok, but his upper airway continued to crackle and he is spitting out an amazing amount of slime. The white in his mouth is thrush, a fungal infection from all the antibiotics he's been taking. He has to get oral nystatin 4 times a day, 1 mL in each cheek. He doesn't like it very much. Last night he had a lot of trouble clearing it and choked on it a few times. We were given a suction machine and luckily his occupational therapist, Leslie, will be here today to teach me to use it. He also spiked his fever to 103.8 and I was really worried. I gave him some cold pedialite through his g-tube and tried to keep a cool cloth on his head to help him out while the Motrin kicked in. Finally he was able to get comfortable, after shallow breathing and tons of mucus and shakes about 45 minutes after taking the Motrin. He just needs to get better. Stay better. Have his immune system strengthened.

I am really battling fear right now. I see his ability to swallow diminishing and I am scared. He needs to protect his airway. I don't want the suction machine... Sarah had to have one.  Reality hit when I looked back at my pictures from 1 year ago... Shaun has lost some strength in his core... What does that mean? Are we ever going to get any answers? Is it always going to be more tests, more doctors, specialists, problems with even the most basic functions of our body? WHY does Shaun have to endure this?? Its not fair!! But life isn't fair. There is sin in this world. What am I going to make of today?

God, today I choose to look to You for strength. I choose to love my family, our baby boy, to have a good attitude and try my best to give him my best. Help me Father to look to you when I am downcast or heavy laiden. You are my strength when I am weak, the treasure I seek. You are my all in all. Help me to minister to my family, show Your mercy to them and give me the wisdom to know when I am over my head and he needs to go to the doctor. In Jesus' name. Amen.