6 years.

6 years. Whew.

How is it even possible that six years ago I went into labor with my first born. Six years ago I went to sit down on my couch and felt a gush. Six years ago I held the baby I had tried so hard to conceive.

6 years. Yikes!

Dear Mason ...

I can't believe it has already been six years since you entered my life. You have taught me so many things and you have made me so incredibly proud. You have achieved so much ... and worked so hard to accomplish your goals.

You are the best big brother we could ask for. Even though your sisters push your buttons at times, your compassion for them is like no other. My heart swells to watch you do what you do best ---> be a great big brother.

You are a miniature version of your father ... it is a good thing you are obsessed with him. To say you are a Daddy's boy would be an understatement. Your Daddy loves you very much and he will always be 50% of your #1 fan.

Daddy's boy or not ... you and I have a special relationship as mother and son. I'm not quite sure how to put it into words, but the love I have for you ... my only son ... is incredible. It is a bond that will never be broken ... and I will always be the other 50% of your #1 fan.

Happy birthday Bubs! You deserve the world and I feel confident that you will get everything you want out of your life.

Loads of love ...
Your Mama

****************

On a side note, Mason did not go to school today because he can barely move his arms. In addition to everything else that happened with the dermatologist last night, she applied Canthacur to places in Mason's armpits that there was no Molluscum.

When you apply Canthacur to the skin, it causes it to blister. When you apply Canthacur to a Molluscum spot, it gets covered with a piece of tape. Within a couple hours, you remove the tape and the spot is left looking like you see in this picture of Mason's armpit.

Do you see the recklessness here? This is what Mason's armpit looked like this morning. None of those blisters should be there. That is where the Canthacur was placed on his skin and not removed ... even though the doctor know it would cause his skin to blister.

Maybe they were more worried about not having to pay $1 per minute since someone had a kid in daycare past closing.

Mason woke up this morning in tears ... unable to lower his arms to his sides. I sterilized a needle and popped the blisters in an effort to drain them and relieve some of the pain.

He wailed.

In an effort to calm him, I said, "See ... look at the water coming out of the blisters. That will help them deflate."

Through his tears, he said, "Water is a form of matter."

Why yes ... son ... it is. I am so happy to see that you have been learning great things at school ... and that it is in the forefront of your mind as I prick you with a needle.

Love that kid.

My poor baby.

Molluscum.

It is a nasty little thing. In addition to strep, it has overcome our world.

This picture was taken when Mason was home sick with strep ... poor kid looks out of it.

Back in October, Mason was diagnosed with Molluscum. Our dermatologist applied Canthacur to each of the spots he had at the time and sent us on our way. Each of the spots blistered, scabbed and left nice little scars all over his body.

My poor baby.

While we were trying to kill the spots he had, new ones appeared. And they keep appearing.

We were given a topical cream to put on any new spots, but insurance limits the amount of cream we can have in a certain time period and the teeny, tiny packets it comes in are not nearly enough to cover all the spots he has. Our hands have been tied and we have applied cream as we can get it.

It sucks. And it frustrates me.

This evening we went back to the dermatologist ... only our old one has left and a new one replaced her. A new one with a really snotty, holier than thou attitude ... not to mention her complete lack of bedside manner.

Poor Mason ended up in tears after they applied Canthacur to a few spots that had busted open. Really -- was that a good idea? And ... she refused to treat more than 10 of his spots -- so I guess we leave the rest to keep growing? Pff.

I was so furious with this dermatologist -- I am not sure why I didn't walk out in the very beginning like I started to do. That was after she lectured me for being 10 minutes late, thanks to a car accident that closed two of three lanes of traffic.*

*I'm sorry lady, but you didn't have to see me if it really was putting you out. And considering I typically wait an hour to be seen in this office, I'm pretty sure you have no room to talk. And I could care less that your nurse is having to pay $1 per minute right now for her daycare -- hardly my problem that she did not make childcare arrangements when she knew she needed to be at work. And I also don't care that it wasn't you that has made me wait in the past -- the point is you work for this practice, and I'm sorry if you don't like all that comes with it.

*ahem*

Mason also has a bit of a yeast infection in his underwear area. He has never had anything like this before, but I assume it came after he was on Augmentin for a few days after Christmas. I had the dermatologist look at it, however she was convinced that it was Eczema.

Umm no. He has never had Eczema before ... and knowing how easily he sweats and how moisture is probably having a hay day in that area, it is so a yeast infection. She even agreed that Eczema typically does not present like this, but she decided she needed to disagree with me and treat it as Eczema.

Whatever.

I disagreed and already had it in my mind that I'd take him to the pediatrician to see what they think. I also knew I already had some Lotrimin to treat it with -- hoping that would help.

So ... just for curiosity sake, I asked the dermatologist if the product she wanted to use for treatment would treat both Eczema and a yeast infection -- ya know, kill two birds with one stone. She told me that no, it would not, and in fact it would make a yeast infection worse.

Oook. That went in one ear and out the other ... I'll take this matter into my own hands.

Seriously ... this entire experience made me so mad. I honestly have never come across a doctor as rude and hoity toity as she was. Blech.

I'll be finding a new dermatologist ... quickly. I let them know I would not be returning and the dermatologist said, "Well, you need to follow up with someone."

Ya think?!?!?!

Seriously lady. I do plan to complain to the head of the practice ... it is a shame that they hired someone like this to take the place of what was a wonderful dermatologist. I can only imagine how many patients they are going to lose.

Vent over.

31 for 21: Day 28 {Molluscum}

Uh ... Mason has Molluscum.

Seriously, my typical kid (ya know, versus my kids with special needs ... verbiage people, verbiage) isn't allowed to have anything wrong. Not that Molluscum really ranks up there in the serious department, but ... ya know. I just am so not used to dealing with medical issues with him ... I don't have that hard core for him that I have for the girls.

Anyway.

A couple months ago, I started noticing these small, little zit type, blistery bumps on him. A nurse at our ENT office told me she thought it was Molluscum. I had never heard of it, but after asking about it on Facebook, I found out it is pretty common. I called the dermatologist and they said, "Sure, we can see him in October."

Seriously? We have to wait that long? I had read that the bumps will eventually disappear, so I was secretly hoping that would happen. Yeah, not so much. His bumps were also pretty much only on his back (which is strange, since they are typically known to be on the stomach), so they were covered by his shirt and not a contagious threat to anyone. His sisters have not even come down with it ... and they have close contact. I think Mason got it at the pool, but that is my own little theory. I mean, where else would he have been without a shirt on in order for his back to be infected, so to speak? Ugh.

Fast forward to this week, it was time for his dermatologist appointment. The bumps have grown in number and in size, so I'm glad it was finally time to see the doctor. She applied Canthacur to each bump, which causes them to blister and then go away.

Poor Mason was either really scared or embarrassed ... I'm not sure which. He was standing in a room with three women, practically naked. And he knew the doctor was about to apply the stuff to each bump, so I think he was afraid it would hurt.

He cried. I almost cried because I felt so bad. I mean, I can go through so much more with the girls and not even blink because I am so hardened with them ... I am used to it and I am prepared for it. With Mason? Not so much.

Once they started applying the stuff, Mason realized it did not hurt. He just couldn't wait to get the heck out of there and get to Target to get his toy I promised him. Ha.

Fast forward about 24 hours later, the bumps are a mess. Some are blistering, some have the skin torn off ... poor kid. I really hope it all heals quickly and goes away!