Category Archives: Houston

Erring on the side of caution

Posted on by
Reply

Just got back from round 2 at the ER, but this time we were only there 7 hours. Stephen, Granny, and I had gotten really concerned about Houston. His ibuprofen regiments hadn’t been managing his pain very well.

He was still eating like a bird and getting intermittent fevers, as well, and not improving in arm mobility, which was dramatically limited to begin with. In fact, it seemed to be getting worse!

We were told that he should start showing improvement after 48 hours, and even though we hadn’t quite reached that mark, we had grown extremely concerned. We called Kim, the amazingly compassionate MA at the Urgent Care we saw on Friday, to get her medical opinion, and she agreed with us: err on the side of caution and take poor Houston back to the ER.

We took two cars, since Stephen is sick himself and we knew he may need to leave early. Houston rode with him, so during my whole trek downtown, I kept having these visions of Houston never again being able to throw a baseball. Or write normally. Or give bear hugs. Or have full use of his right arm.

I was certain we had waited too long to get him to the doc in the first place, and that his little tendons and muscles were getting eaten away by the viral infection – or even sepsis. Thankfully, none of that was happening. (He did have to get another x-ray, but no blood work, which made him happy. Turns out, he hates having his blood drawn and has super-tiny veins just like Mommy.)

We got the exact same diagnosis: toxic synovitis caused by a viral infection. We also obtained an Rx for some heavy pain meds, which he needed by the time we got home from the hospital.

But more than anything, I guess what we really got was peace of mind. Knowing that Houston’s going to be okay – eventually. They say it’ll take a week to two to get him him back to the vivacious, funny, and smart kid we all know and love.

He’ll be seeing his pediatrician and orthopedic doc this week, and from there, it’s just baby steps and unceasing prayers on the road to good health. But God is good. So very good.

Toxic synovitis in Houston’s shoulder

Posted on by
Reply

Houston and I made two trips to the urgent care today, as his pediatrician opened late due to inclement weather and appointments quickly filled up. Got sent home the first time with them saying, “Because of all the snow and viruses and flu going around, today’s a very busy day, and it’s a LONG wait. We’ll text you when there’s an opening.”

Finally in, and the NP tells us that she thinks Houston may have septic arthritis in his now nearly debilitated right arm, which she says has been causing his virus-like symptoms (not him having a typical winter virus and then an achy body as a result).

Let me say first that it has been determined (even though we’re still getting a second opinion to confirm) that he does NOT have sepsis. Thank God! But it took us 10 hours – yes, you heard that right, folks – 10 hours in the ER to figure that out.

After …

  • the waiting room from hell
  • triage care
  • more hellish waiting room with everyone donning surgical masks
  • x-rays
  • a return to the now brimming-with-sickness and festering-with-anger waiting room
  • after 3 1/2 hours, an official ER bed
  • a visit from a doc (but not THE doc)
  • blood work
  • lost blood work
  • more blood work
  • a mad dash to the hospital Subway (which was supposed to be open till 1 a.m. but picked tonight to close early)
  • vending machines that don’t advertise prices and require about a dozen swipes to purchase an item
  • an unanswered security re-entry door
  • a plain-clothes man with his wife and kid and a hospital badge who snuck me in an alternate entry
  • a highly anticipated dinner of Cheetos, Snickers, and Grape Crush; hours without results
  • tons of horrid cable TV whiling away the hours ’cause we – in our all grand innocence and with my low-charged cell phone – were highly unprepared for an ER campout
  • a visit from the billing/verify-who-you-are/insurance/HIPAA lady who woke my exhausted son
  • a PA who came in, woke Houston again, got a call, and then immediately went MIA
  • and incessant moans echoing throughout the coveted minimal private-room area just for good measure …
  • we finally got the diagnosis from the now reemerged PA (yet still never saw the bigwig orthopedist): toxic synovitis.

Translation? A temporary form of arthritis that causes pain in the shoulder or hip and develops after a viral infection … they think. Treatment? 382 mg of ibuprofen every six hours.

Needless to say, we would appreciate your prayers on this journey of getting our sweet Houston Lee back to tip-top shape. And if you don’t see us around this weekend, now you’ll know why.

“You just believe!”

Posted on by
Reply

November 24, 2013, is a date Houston will always remember, for it marks the day he publicly proclaimed Christ as his Lord and savior. (Click here to see video of this momentous occasion.)

For a boy going on just 6 and a half, Houston is quite serious about his faith. He’s fascinated with Biblical history and delights in learning about the Gospel.

Houston, Gabriel and Zeke can often be found seriously discussing what they learned about in Sunday school or at Awana. Miss Christie recently overheard he and Asher talking about how important it is to get baptized and what it means to have Jesus in your heart.

A shot of Stephen & me during our final visit to Gramsey & Papa’s house — the place where we got married some 13 years ago. Although I’m happy my folks will be moving on to greener pastures, I sure will cherish those Cartersville memories!

How wonderful it is that Houston has friends and brothers who desire a closer relationship with God, as well as share a rhetorical flair for waxing theological. As a parent, it’s a cool thing to behold for sure.

Houston is introspective about what he reads in the Word and how each lesson applies to his life. Always inquisitive, Houston asks probing questions of Stephen and me, inspiring us to reflect on doctrinal complexities and ponder controversial aspects of Christianity.

So, it was no surprise that Houston had been having heart-felt considerations to get baptized for a while now. I won’t say that Stephen and I were apprehensive for him to take the plunge, so to speak, but we were definitely cautious.

Pastor Brian Croft gives five practical suggestions to determine if a child is ready in both head and heart for baptism. Parents and clergy should look for:

  1. A growing affection and need for Jesus and the gospel.
  2. A heightened understanding of the truths of Scripture.
  3. An increased kindness and selflessness towards siblings.
  4. A greater awareness and distaste for sin.
  5. A noticeable desire to obey parents

Speaking of pastures, Gabriel, Kara & Zeke hang out near Gramsey & Papa’s well-kempt pasture for the last time in early November.

We decided that Houston met all criteria, although some day more than others. And isn’t that the same every Christian? We believe, but we are broken, worldly, fallible and often times even downright disobedient and selfish. It’s the human condition after all — a fallen state of which the Bible describes countlessly.

So, Stephen and Houston went out to lunch with an associate pastor from our church to determine Houston’s understanding of this tenet of the Great Commission. And we also talked with him to make sure he grasped the seriousness of baptism — its meaning, its import, its consequence.

Our first clue of Houston’s readiness was that he started the ball rolling in seeking out the sacrament. It wasn’t something Stephen and I were really pushing; rather, Houston felt the desire to get baptized laid upon his heart and was vocal about starting the dialog.

Our next clue was Houston’s persistence. He always kept the topic near the forefront of conversations. Moreover, Houston’s earnestness seemed to convey a longing to want to make a genuine profession of faith, not just do something he thought Christians should do.

The 3 Amigos’ obsession w/ knights, warriors, ninjas & pretty much anything than entails intense fighting & creative dress recently morphed into experimentation w/ war paint. Houston seems pleased w/ the result (jagged teeth & all)!

Also, it seemed to me that Houston was cognizant of our Creator. Like the other day in the car, he said, “Look at those clouds over there, Mommy. Sometimes when the light is shining through, I think God’s talking to me.”

So, after much honest and loving deliberation, we decided that, yes, Houston was prepared to make this “outward expression of an inward reality.” And that he did. As both a parent and a Christian, I see Houston’s introspection and spiritual maturity as an inspiring thing indeed.

Plus, he’s just a sweet dude. “Do you know how much I love you?” I asked Houston after his baptism. “No,” he said. “You don’t?!” I queried. “No, because it’s probably higher that I can imagine,” he replied. Aw, that just melts a mama’s heart!

We’re at Granny’s house right now for Thanksgiving. Tomorrow, we’ll be heading to Sugar Plum Farm to get our Carolina-grown Christmas tree and frolic around on the Appalachian mountaintops! Here are some other fun things we’ve been up to lately …

On 11/6, Houston brought his pal, Alex, to Bring-A-Friend Night at Awana. The 3 Amigos were psyched that their CC buddy got to ride in the van with them across town and participate in one of their favorite times of the week.

Zeke does his best fight-’em-off jig to scare off his tribal enemies!

A couple days later, Sam, another CC friend, came over to our casa for a beautiful fall playdate. The boys ran wild playing knights in the yard, while Miss Maria and I enjoyed some much-deserved adult conversation.

In mid-November, Houston spent the night at Asher’s for his 7th birthday. The next day, Mr. Logan took the two big bros to Marbles Kids Museum in Raleigh, where much amusement and adventure were afoot.

Houston was only gone for about 24 hours, but the twins, especially Gabriel, missed him terribly. So even though they fight, get annoyed with each other and sometimes say very nasty things, I guess their brotherly bond really does run pretty deeply. Too cute!

That weekend, Daddy took the crew to the Science Center and then to see Monsters University at the dollar theater. The dudes enjoyed their first boys-only outing in quite a long time, while I appreciated the well-deserved mommy break.

Gabriel’s battle cry is the fiercest in all the land (Celtic land, that is)!

Houston lost his third baby tooth on 11/17. He hadn’t been visited by the Tooth Fairy in ages and now suddenly has three other teeth barely hanging on by a thread! So, I suppose Houston’s finally entering that snaggletooth stage of childhood, which I find so adorable.

We wrapped up our CC semester on 11/19. Can you believe we survived (er, I mean, successfully accomplished) 12 weeks of CC memory work on top of our other curriculum and studies? Way to go, boys!

The next day, I attended my first Bible study — something I’ve wanted to do for a long time, but simply haven’t had the time, until now. However, the group happens to fall on the same day as Awana.

We live pretty far out from town and doing both (with boys in tow for each) was actually quite the exhausting feat. But I do yearn to grow spiritually through community and hope I can stick it out for the long run … well, at least through the holidays.