When it Rains....

Wouldn't you know...it just doesn't stop!

Right on the heels of our "relaxing" weekend, Ben and Ed were both diagnosed with swimmer's ear. With Ben's adamant refusal to see the pediatrician, there came a flurry of 6 arms, 6 legs and additional body parts. Mom and Dad in a physical struggle to put shorts on Ben and literally throw the 12 year old over dad's shoulder and off away into the van. The brain is continuing to play its sordid tricks on Ben and as they drove away, I watched Ben repeatedly try to open the van door so he could leap out. My heart raced, then sank....I hoped the child locks were on.

Diagnosis confirmed and at 4 drops/3x a day, Ben's small life box is getting even smaller. His mind has tricked him into believing that he cannot eat or drink after the administration of any kind of medication...whether it's eye cream, ear drops, or oral suspension. The ear has to be healed by sedation for the MRI on Tuesday and so the struggle begins. The ear drops go in....and all logic goes out. Ben no longer eats lunch or supper and hasn't for the last 2-3 days. All food and drink after 9 a.m. is taboo. He eats 2 bowls of cereal before 9 in the morning. That is his last meal/liquid of the day for the next 24 hours. This is obviously a huge concern for us. If this continues, we will have no choice but to hospitalize him.

3 more sleeps until the MRI on Oahu. We are praying to be able to get on the plane without too much difficulty as Ben has been increasingly agitated and aggressive. With post-911 regulations and nervous airline employees, who knows what can happen.

Please continue to keep Ben and all of us in your prayers.