Saw the pulmonologist

Last Thursday as we were driving to the ice skating rink a receptionist at the Pediatrician's office called to tell me that they had scheduled an appointment for Oliver to see a pediatric pulmonologist on the 14th. On Friday I called to try and change the time  because it interfered with Nadia and Ian's gymnastics class, but they said the next available appointment was in February. Normally the kids won't see Paul on Wednesdays this semester because he has class starting at 8am and his recitation is supposed to end at 7:52pm, but he said other professors don't conduct recitation the first week of classes so he decided to go that route this semester, which meant he would be able to get Nadia and Ian from their class and take them home while I was at the hospital with Oliver. Then the gym director called this morning and cancelled today's class. Paul graciously offered to still come home early to watch Nadia and Ian so I would only have Oliver at the hospital. The kids have seen quite a few specialists over the past 5 years - ENT, cardiologist, gastroenterologist, allergist, opthomologist, psychologist, urologist, etc. Today we added one more to the list - pulmonologist.

We were at the hospital for two hours, and then on the way home we stopped at CVS to pick up his new prescription for Singulair. The doctor discussed the various potential causes of an asthma attack. I think that respiratory illnesses have been the culprit for Oliver every time. He did blood work today to make sure allergies aren't part of the problem, and if the Singulair doesn't help, he will also have him tested to make sure he doesn't have reflux. He'll be chewing one Singulair every night for the next few months, and it might become something he takes once a day all year long. When he has a runny nose or cough, we will immediately start the Pulmicort and Albuterol by nebulizer again. He's staying on the Pulmicort twice a day until he's been on the Singulair for ten days. Oliver was certainly a trooper as he didn't even cry when they gave him a flu shot, and he cried for only a couple of seconds when they drew blood from his arm. The doctor gave him an airplane and a matchbox car, and he also received a mylar balloon from a coupon I hadn't redeemed during his PICU stay. On the way out I popped into the RE's office to say hi for a minute. I am hoping and praying the Singulair will prevent another hospitalization in the near future.