The pediatrician got the test results back from the stool samples we’ve been collecting from Will over the past few days, and he’s got yet another infection, this one in his digestive tract that’s been giving him the diarrhea. They’ve identified the bacteria as Clostridium difficile, and it’s fairly common. Thye’ve prescribed an oral antibiotic (Metronidazole, also prescribed for me for the past few years as an ointment for rosacea) which we’ll have to give him for a week or ten days. In addition, Will had some blood drawn this morning for previously scheduled tests with our immunologists at Cardinal Glennon, so hopefully we’ll get some insight in whether his immune system is developing, and how well.

We have a follow-up visit with Dr. Hill, our new pediatrician, next Thursday before we head to Phoenix. Grandma Lois drove up this morning to help us out by watching Will today and tomorrow, so he won’t have to go back to school until Monday. Will seems to be slowly improving, so hopefully he’ll be fine by then.

Written by Gordy | Tags: cardinal glennon, carle, clostridium difficile, immune system deficiency, malcom hill, will hulten | 1 Comment »

Today is a special day for Dad – Happy Birthday! luv Will & Pam

Written by Pam | | 5 Comments »

Since I’ve been so sick, my Mommy has been taking great care of me.

I just wanted to tell everyone how much I love my Mommy!

Written by Will | Tags: pam hulten, will hulten | No Comments »

We had a very good appointment with a pediatrician this afternoon.  They’re not going to put Willpower on any more antibiotics because they want to culture his stool to see what is giving him diarrhea.  His eyes and sinuses appear to be much better tonight, but he’s still out of energy.  We’re giving him Pedialyte to prevent dehydration, as he lost an ounce of body weight between yesterday morning and this afternoon.   The doctor was very attentive and communicated well and they actually finally had all of his records together.  She looked at his immune system tests and addressed our concerns.

Because he’s had so many problems, we are going to have more regular appointments with our pediatrician.

So now we’re trying to collect as much diarrhea from him as we can to put into four little jars to take to the lab.  Parenting is so much fun.

Written by Gordy | Tags: carle, diarrhea, immune system deficiency, will hulten | No Comments »

Will’s eyes are a little better since we took him to the doctor and started him on eyedrops yesterday morning, but overall, he just seems a little worse.  He has no energy, he’s had diarrhea for more than 24 hours, a low-grade fever, diminished appetite and just isn’t himself.  We can’t get anyone at the pediatrician’s office to listen, and our concern is that he’s got more than just an eye infection, and that eyedrops aren’t aggressive enough treatment for a four-month-old who may or may not have a working immune system.

Are we overreacting?  Probably, but we overreacted with his hip in November, and trusting our instincts was absolutely the right call.  Unfortunately, Will hasn’t really been healthy since we stopped IV antibiotics on January 10.  We had hoped removing the PICC line would be a huge step forward.  Instead, he’s pretty much been sick ever since.

Did having him on IV antibiotics for six weeks after his surgery stunt his immune system?

Does he have some sort of primary immunodeficiency?

Or does everything work just fine, and all these infections are just a coincindence?

Arrgghh.

Written by Gordy | Tags: carle, eye infection, immune system deficiency, PICC, will hulten | 1 Comment »