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In the event anyone has to watch our boys for any reason, I’ve drafted some care instructions.
1. Jude
- He is allergic to dogs. He needs to be given Children’s Allergy meds (5mg) twice a day when he will be in contact with a dog.
- He has a history of supratentorial cortical ependymoma in the left posterior parietal region of his brain. Initial surgery was in November 2010, with no further treatment until recurrence. At recurrence, he had another surgery in June 2012 followed by 7 weeks of proton radiation. He has a history of seizures but has not had one since shortly after his 2nd surgery. If he cannot finish his sentence or shows repetitive behavior, but otherwise appears normal, watch him carefully. He may be having a complex seizure (that involves no jerking or any of the standard seizure symptoms). If it lasts for at least a minute, call 911 and dispense Diazepam rectally. If you are near or in the cities, request that he be taken by ambulance to Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis. Paramedics likely will not believe you that he is having a seizure, but you will have to be firm. He goes downhill quickly and will soon be non-communicative, peeing his pants, drooling out one side of his mouth and non-reactive to a finger stick.
- Jude’s oncologist is Dr. Anne Bendel at Children’s – 612-813-5940. Jude’s pediatrician (also the other boys’ pediatrician) is Dr. Quale at Wayzata Children’s Clinic in Minnetonka – 952-473-0211.
- He has eczema. He needs lotion daily on his face and arms/legs or he will break out in itchy bumps and need you to apply hydrocortisone at 3 a.m. to get it under control.
- Jude will never admit to being tired. If he says he wants to “snuggle,†it’s time for him to quick brush his teeth and go potty before he crashes.
- He likes to help himself. If you don’t want him to eat something, make sure it is out of his site.
- Loves eating vitamins.
- Tell him to keep his finger out of his nose or he’ll be dripping blood in no time.
2. Levi
- He hasn’t quite mastered the art of wiping his own butt, but typically won’t ask for help. If he disappears, you’ll know where to find him. He often leaves a streak of poop on the toilet seat when he slides himself off. Keep Lysol wipes handy.
- He tends to forget to put the seat up when doing a stand-up pee and will pee all over the seat. Look before you sit.
- He’ll drink nothing but juice if you let him. Water it down 50/50 at least.
- If he says he brushed his teeth, chances are that he is lying.
- He throws temper tantrums. Just give him whatever he wants and the tantrum will stop.
- Needs lotion daily on face.
- Won’t eat vitamins.
3. Asher
- When the fight breaks out, chances are Asher started it. If you want to really punish him, he hates nothing more than a time out.
- Needs lotion daily on face, but hates it.
- Loves eating vitamins.
- He hates tags on his clothes. If he asks, just cut it off for him.
- Put up anything you don’t want him to break.
- If he asks for “melkies,” good luck because they are attached to me.