Goodbye 5 Restart 6

Alexander is SIX!

Yesterday was AJ’s birthday and it’s one for the books – not in the best way. Before I get into that, I want to review year five.

FIVE

Five was a wild ride. Alexander had so much progress acquiring new skills and experiences-yet faced A LOT of intense sickness.

The week before his fifth birthday, he got the flu. The first time he ever had it. It was tough on him. Then, the next week he was semi-healthy and celebrating his birthday at Disney World.

I wish I had a blog or vlog back then because it was so much fun and AJ surprised the heck out of us.

One would think Disney is everything a person on the spectrum might not like (lights, sounds, crowds, new foods) but the kid LOVED IT!

He rode rollercoasters multiple times and even ate around the world at Epcot. I’m still holding a grudge that he took my fish and chips and left me starving since I refused to pay for another order 😅.

AJ was in his happy place. He looked at all the wording on the plates, stores, rides etc. and would then look at us like “hey guys, we are finally at a place I know.”

If you haven’t guessed by now, AJ is the BIGGEST Disney kid.

Fast forward through the year. AJ tried new foods, became more aware of peers, went to a new school and transitioned extremely well, and has gotten so much better at using his communication device.

He can now express his needs and knowledge at home and school. He’s even working on keyboard skills for future school work. That way his lack of fine motor doesn’t hold him back on expressing his knowledge in the class as he grows up.

In the mix of all these phenomenal achievements, AJ also dealt with some major illnesses.

When he was ten months old, he had pneumonia. They gave us some medicine, one breathing treatment and we were literally driving from Washington to Texas two days later. He champed it!

Around October of last year he got pneumonia again. That stuff was nothing like the time he had it as a baby. It took multiple doctor appointments of getting brushed off before I refused to leave.

At that time, they ran every test and x-rays. NOT ONE DOCTOR picked up his pneumonia from the stethoscope! Only x-rays showed it. I was livid. All this was about a MONTH of visits.

I have experience in the medical field so I am not the one to brush off. I know expectations and standards. I even have a degree in healthcare management.

I always try to be level headed but after seeing the care here, I just can’t be anymore. It’s very easy to brush off a nonverbal child. That’s what happened and he was extremely sick.

I’m talking 104-5 fevers, limp from pain, defecating on himself, and not eating. They always said “virus.”

-Off my soapbox now-

By November he was starting to recover. It took him that entire month! He actually got pneumonia a second time in the beginning of December. His meds didn’t cure it all the way. Around mid December he started to be himself more and by January he was back to 100%.

Now let’s talk February

New Year – healthy goals.

After AJ being SO sick the end of the year, it was my mission to get his immune system up. I bought a supplement and have been giving it to him. It has more than enough good stuff to fill his nutritional gaps and any vitamin deficiencies he may have.

He was doing so well! Everyone at school kept telling me they were so happy he’s back. He missed a month of school with that previous sickness.

About a week and a half ago he got a phlegm cough. That is the worst for him. He cannot spit it out so it just lingers.

I wasn’t too worried because he was acting himself and has his annual well check after his birthday.

OF COURSE AJ got sick ON HIS BIRTHDAY of all days 😔. It’s almost like his body couldn’t take anymore phlegm and got a stomach ache (I mean I don’t blame you stomach) and fever to force the gunk out.

Last night was rough. He had a tough time sleeping through the coughing, but he’s doing somewhat okay today. Little to no fever and drinking water. Phlegm cough is nonstop if he breathes deep so he’s avoiding that – leading to shallow breaths. That’s not good either since he’s not expanding his lungs.

I’m getting him seen tomorrow hopefully by his new provider. If not, I’ll do urgent care until his annual appointment on Wednesday.

I will write another blog about his birthday fun before sickness struck. I didn’t expect to go on a rant, but that’s me and I want to be real with y’all.

In the meantime, I will post a cute picture below. We are going to have to do a redo birthday for him because six did not start off right.

Until next blog ❤