Thanksgiving and such...

It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving is over already! We went to Brent's parents' house for the weekend before Thanksgiving. We had a lot of fun, but it was tiring too. It was also the first big holiday without Brent's grand-dad. That was rough. We came back on Sunday, worked Monday. Brent had his promotion ceremony on Tuesday. He's now an E7, or Sergeant First Class. Wednesday, we drove back down to Illinois to spend Thanksgiving with my parents. My brother and sister-in-law made it up too. Caleb finally started warming up to my brother...he even informed him that "Uncle Tyler wants to take me downstairs to play." The family/rec room is in the basement of my parents' house. It never fails....Abby, for some reason, absolutely will NOT sleep in her bed at Mom's house. She sleeps great if we bring her to bed with us ('lil stinker!). Do you know how much room a one-year-old takes up! Sheesh! She's not THAT big. Anyway...we came back on Friday, and I work this weekend. I was dragging big time due to the lack of sleep from the last week. Today I got to go home early! Yippee!! Okay, so I did feel guilty sending my self home (I was the charge nurse)....but technically it was by seniority....and I don't ever take the opportunity. And...it meant missing the snow storm! :)

Relief!!

So, a while ago I blogged about Abby and her lead level....and the predicament we had about where she could have ingested the lead. Our house is completely lead free, the water system, etc. The only place we could think of was our daycare provider...the kids go to an in home provider who lives in an old house. We love our daycare provider, and the kids really like going there, so I was hoping it wasn't their house. Well, the health department sent over an inspector, and the daycare house is completely lead free. Yeah! That means we do NOT have to change daycare! It was likely the house that our provider was renting before they bought the one they're in now. So...that means that the kids aren't getting exposed. Abby will have a follow-up blood test in a few months to make sure that her level is going down. That is definitely a weight lifted off our shoulders!

Abby's Baby Dedication...

Sunday, Abby was dedicated at church. For those of you who don't know what baby "dedication" is...I'll explain. Our church doesn't do infant baptism. We believe that baptism is an important, vital part of the Christian walk. However, we also believe in waiting until one is of an age where they can understand what it means to be a Christian, and make that decision for them self. We don't believe that infant baptism is wrong....it's just the parents' decision, not the child's decision. I for one, didn't get baptized until I was seventeen...and it was in done in the Atlantic Ocean on a youth group trip to Myrtle Beach. Brent was baptized as an infant. He was also baptized about six years ago as an adult. A baby "dedication" is more of the parents' public commitment/conviction to raise their child to know God and choose Jesus Christ as their Savior.

Having said all that...here are some pictures and video from the day. If you want to see more pictures, click on the "Our life in pictures..." link on the left side of the blog.

Got some answers....sort of....

So, the county health department came to the house today. They were coming to inspect the house for lead. The guy walked into the house, and said ….”When was this built?” I told him that it was built in 1987. He then said “I can tell you I probably won’t find any sources of lead, just by walking in here, but I’ll definitely look.” He’s been doing lead testing for 14 years…pretty sure he knows what he’s talking about!! He then asked about our blinds. I guess some vinyl blinds had lead in them until 1997. Well, what blinds we have are aluminum, so they’re not the source.

I asked about the water system. He said that they stopped making lead pipes for houses in the 1910’s. Same goes for city systems. So, even though I have a water sample pending…it’s not going to be the source.

I then asked how reliable the home test strips are for lead detection; because I had heard that they weren’t reliable. He said that the ones they make now days are the same ones that the health department uses. The only thing that might happen would be to have a false positive. They wouldn’t cause a false negative. Okay…that means that all the toys I tested are definitely negative. He also said that all the panic about lead in toys wasn’t all that necessary. When they found lead in the toys…they pretty much had to melt the toy down to release the lead that was present. So, unless the child drank the melted toy, they wouldn’t be able to take in the lead or digest it into their systems.

He found absolutely NOTHING in the house that could have caused Abby to ingest lead. That leaves the daycare or church. The church is new…that eliminates that. Now, we’re back to the daycare. Now, I’ve been to the daycare (obviously) and there wasn’t any chipping paint, etc. that I could see. They did all new carpet, and repainted everything before they moved. The house is definitely old enough. However…he also said that even with lead based paint, if it’s not chipping, the child would have to be continually chewing/sucking on it. Abby really doesn’t chew on things…toys yes, but nothing else.

So, I asked the inspector about what needs to be done if lead is found. He said it was actually a simple process….and there wouldn’t necessarily be a need to switch daycares unless the house is covered in lead. Wiping off window sills once a week would take care of lead dust on windows/furniture. Using baby wipes is the easiest way to wipe off the windows…or using a cleaner with phosphorus in it (he suggested Cascade dishwasher detergent). Replacing the sash in the window, covering the sash in the window, washing kids’ hands before they eat and before nap time would be all that it would take (again…unless high levels are all over). He also said that if the siding has lead based paint, it would be in the dirt around the house, and that the play area would need to be away from the house. I guess for sidings…if lead based paint is used…it sheds…which means that the siding “cleans” itself, but the lead goes into the ground. If the kids are digging in it, or eating the dirt, they’d get it into their systems.

I asked again, how long it would take for the lead level to increase in a kid’s system. He said…it could be a little bit over a long time, or it could have been a one or two time occurrence….if Abby somehow ate one or two pieces of lead paint, especially if it was right before the test was done, it could explain the level she’s at. He also said that they just recently decreased the level for which the health department is required to investigate. They used to only investigate levels of 20 or more…then decreased it to 15, which is what most big cities go by. In the last 10 years, they decreased it to 10 in Dane County. In the last 5 years, they went even lower to a 5. Which is why Abby’s level triggered the call….she’s just over the 5. I also asked how long it takes lead to leave the body. He said if the child is anemic, it will take longer because iron pulls lead from your system. If they have a low fat, low sugar, high fiber diet, it will decrease faster (given that the source is found). Luckily, Abby will eat whatever I give her, so that wouldn’t be difficult…plus we don’t eat high fat, high sugar stuff… So I guess the end of the “story” is, that we still don’t know the source…but I feel better about how to remedy the situation if we do find it. We have a little more time to figure out the daycare thing….our provider ended up having a c-section, so she’ll be taking off a bit more time…more time to figure out the inspection, etc.

ps...my doctor's office called and the lead level that I had them draw is barely detectable. (definitely NOT our house!)

Hodge Podge...

I got some better video of Abby walking :)



Other updates...Brent found out today that he for-sure got the promotion at work. This means a lot more adjusting daycare for his time away from home, but it's worth it.

We still don't know anything more about the whole lead situation with Abby...I had my own blood test taken and should get the results by next week. We're having our house inspected tomorrow. Part of me hopes they find something so we know...but I honestly don't think it's our house, or anything in it! Then...I get to try to pressure my daycare person to get her house tested. Good news is...she's doing well with the twins!! No complications so far...except that they were a c-section....so she may be taking more time off. We have back-up daycare for as long as we need it...and Caleb loves going there....so I'm not worried about how much time she'll take off.

She's walking!!

Okay, so it's not the clearest video clip, but I've got proof!! :)

The plot thickens...

Okay, so I called my pediatrician's office again today. Basically to question them about why the letter they sent with the lab results seemed no big deal, and then the health department sounded completely different. They still insist that a 6 isn't a level at which they deem medically necessary to treat...and to follow up. The doctor's office says they treat a level of 9 as lead poisoning...and needing medical treatment. Okay...no offense, but a 6 is close to a nine...and the same person also said that the lead levels can rise very quickly, and they can take a LONG time to come down again. SO....to me that means, it's a bigger deal than the pediatrician's office is making it. Anyway. I also asked if I need to have Caleb checked. They're going to wait until our usual pediatrician is back and ask him....next week. We'll see... I may be hauling my kids in to both get another level drawn. That doesn't sound fun. I went to Menard's today and bought a TON of home lead testers (by the way...they're really easy to use if you're interested, they're in the paint department). My mom thought that is may be the old matchbox cars that Caleb was playing with. They all came back negative according to the home kits. I also tested Caleb's train sets/table. It was all negative. I'm thankful it's all negative....I just wish we'd find the source.

Oh...and to vent a moment. I went to Menards. Normally...I can find whatever I need...i'm pretty resourceful. Like I knew where to start looking for lead test kits. So I asked a guy. There was my mistake. He said, and I quote, "I have no idea if we have them, and if we do, I don't know where to look." RUDE! And...he wasn't DOING ANYTHING when I asked him. Then...I walked until I found a woman sales associate. Funny...she knew exactly what I was asking about and who to ask about where they were. AND...she was doing something when I asked. SHE took the time to help me. It wasn't like I was asking the rude dude to solve world peace or anything! Sheesh! That's why I usually don't ask questions when I'm there. I leave the questions for my neighbor (he's a handy-man). Okay. I'm done venting.

What's up with Abby?

I know I just posted another, happy blog, but I thought I should mention what else is going on...especially for everyone that prays for us!! Part of Abby's one year check up is a blood test to check for lead and anemia. She's not anemic, but her lead count came back at 5.7. The "acceptable" range is 0-10. There is no reason why a child should have any lead in their system unless they are directly ingesting it somehow. I got the results about a week ago, but the doctor's note said that it was just "a little higher than we'd expect, we recommend rechecking at 18 months." Okay...so that lulled me into a false sense of security, I guess...and stupid me forgot to think like a nurse. That brings us to today. I get a call from the Public Health department. Yup. They reported Abby's results to the health department. I guess they have to. Now, why would a doctor tell a parent that it's basically just something to recheck, and then notify the health department? Do you not think that maybe you should let the parent know that it's serious enough to get the health department involved? And then...I look up/ask the public health nurse more details...after a lead level of 10, it's considered lead poisoning. Abby's basically at a 6. Where in the heck is she getting it? We have a newer home, built in 1987. No flaking paint anyway. We have city water....and if it was our pipes, Caleb's blood level would have been high when he was a year old. His was 0. I looked up the government website for toy recalls related to lead....we have none of the recalled toys. I'm taking away Caleb's matchbox cars...they were Brent's when he was little...and that makes them old enough that it's a possibility. Abby doesn't really play with the cars (Caleb takes them away from her). That leaves our daycare. It's an in-home daycare....and the house is old, so my gut is kind of leaning that way. However, she's a county certified daycare and gets inspected regularly. The public health nurse, of course, had to ask a bunch of questions....and I had to give them the name of the daycare. They said they wouldn't tell them that it was me. Like I can do that to them! I then called my daycare person to tell her what's going on. I told her we have someone coming to inspect our house next week...and asked if she could inspect hers. She's more than willing. It took her by surprise too. The kids are going to a different daycare for a few weeks anyway...the other part of it is that my daycare provider gets induced on Friday with twins. She's taking 3 weeks maternity leave. I do have a back up plan....and my gut says that I'm not sending the kids back until she gets her house inspected. This is not fun. I'll keep you posted about what we find out. Oh...today I also sent out a water sample to get tested. That should take a few weeks. Anybody got any other ideas?

Did she? I think she did!!

Well, I'm going to count it anyway!! Abby took a step today. It was a step and then a dive into my arms, but it was a step. She did it more than once! I'm counting it!!

Abby's 12 Month Pictures

Heather's Baby Shower...

I co-hosted a baby shower for a friend of mine from work. Brent took Caleb train-watching, so Abby stayed with the girls. :) Here are the pics from the day! (click on the "Our Life in Pictures" link on the left of the blog page to see more)


This is Heather, the guest of honor...


What's a baby shower without babies?? These two kept everyone entertained!

Trick or Treatin'

Okay, so normally, I'm a planner. I have back-up plans, and plans that back up the back-up. Yeah...not so much with this Halloween. I should have remembered my head-strong child and the fact that he doesn't want to do what you want him to do. I also should have remembered my fast-growing daughter that is going through clothes like they're going out of style. Now...hear my sad story of figuring out Halloween costumes. We borrowed a Thomas the Tank Engine costume from a friend. Caleb LOVES Thomas. Figured I had it in the bag...didn't try to costume 'til a week before Halloween. Needless to say, he didn't want to wear it. Hence, picture one:



We also have a bat costume from our neices that would have worked for boy too. Yeah, didn't even get it close enough to Caleb to get a picture.

Now, for my second dilemma...I got a costume this summer at a garage sale...an adorable little lion costume. Abby is just over a year old. I figured I was safe with an 18-month costume. Wrong. See how small the thing was! Every time she moved, the velcro came undone in the back 'cause it was so tight.



Ah, but thank you for people who think for me!! On the day of Abby's b-day party, my sister-in-law brought our neice's costume that she wore when she was little. It was a TON more adaorable than the lion....and IT FIT! (it's a strawberry)





My neighbor girls came over on Friday to play with the kids...I had stuff to do, and they were bored since they were out of school. Once my kids went down for their naps, we hopped online to find any ideas that would work for Caleb...and we found one. He's a UPC code.







Here are Caleb and Abby with the neighbor girls.



We made it through the night still smiling! :)