Fevers

Here is a moment when Tylenol kicks in and Symi's Fever is going down. She was even willing to eat something! Both of them were too cute to resist.

Ben insisted on wearing jammies because Symi was. Constantly. They both wanted a snack and to eat in my room. I agreed, on one condition. That they sit against the wall and can't move until their food was gone. They agreed and you can tell my floor was very messy.

I have been trying to get her to nap "normally" for days! She doesn't want to. So as a result, the last few days I keep catching her asleep on our couch.
Too bad the naps only last 30 mins. She's exhausted.

Here is another "Happy Moment" that only a few minutes later was followed by tears.
At least she's cute! I can hang onto those precious moments when her personality comes shining through!

Crashed again.

This was a fever of 103.8. Her cheeks were so rosy and she was just burning up! She wants clothes on all the time, and constantly wants to be in a blanket. Both don't help fevers go down.
At least she'll tolerate a cool cloth to her forehead and back. Help keep the fevers at bay, but she cries the whole time, while I'm wiping her down.

Here's the story. Just after Thanksgiving Symi started to get fevers. At first the Dr thought that she had Strep. She never tested positive for the test, but had all the other symptoms. So he put her on some antibiotics to help. They did help for a few days. But then she was back to the fevers again. When she has fevers, she refused to eat and drink. (Note: She did this last year and we were sent to Primary Children Medical Center.) The Dr kept thinking she was just fighting a virus. I wasn't so sure. It all seemed like a daja vu. We ended up in the InstaCare just after Christmas. She had spiked to a fever of just under 104 and getting higher. With Tylenol she wasn't going down. They tested her for any kind of infection: Strep, Ear, Sinus, and even Bladder. Nothing. So they told us the same thing. She's got a virus. No other symptoms, just a fever. We followed up with the Dr a week later. He was concerned and immediately sent us to the Lab for a multitude of blood test. Checking for blood disorders, cancer screenings, and to see if her blood was infected. We waited for a week. Results were nothing.

She still had fevers. She was also becoming dehydrated and the Dr debated on putting her in the hospital for a while on IV treatment and monitoring of her fevers to get a record. I didn't agree. He let us go home. I've always wondered if Symi really had "food allergies". She was diagnosed too quickly in my eyes. And never showed any "normal symptoms" to the food allergies. But the formula helped her to grow, gain weight, and develop. We know how crucial that is in the first year. I'm grateful to have had it and that it worked for her.

Now what? Our Dr want's us to monitor her fevers still. They seem to cycle in and out. Since she was born, but they always thought something else. I've always thought differently, but I've listened and patiently done what I've been told. Just always felt like it wasn't right. Like a big bandaid was being put over the "real" problem. Our Dr also sent us to an infections Disease Specialist at Primary Children. They are booked until Late April and sent us to Rheumatology. I've left a message and they will get in touch with us shortly.

So why is this post so long and just growing longer? I'm babbling. Frustrated and confused. And just wanting relief for my daughter. I just feel like life for her can be better than this. That there is more about it that we just don't know. I've been praying as a Mother what to do. What more can I do? Where do I need to go to help her? I feel like this is right. That maybe each thing that's happened in the past has slowly brought us to where we are today.

Ben has been so patient through all of this. Kindly trying to give her kisses to help her feel better. Praying for her. Sharing all his toys while she screams and throws a fit, because she just doesn't feel good. Holding her hand while the Dr exams her for the millionth time. Waiting patiently, with knots in his stomach, while Mommy and Symi step into the next room for blood work. When we came out he was in tears asking if she was going to be alright? Then wanting to just hold her when he saw her again.

Why does my 4 year old have to be so grown up?

We will keep you posted.

Belated Christmas Card to All

Another year has come and gone and we are still alive!! Our family has had many twists and turns this last few years, but we wouldn’t have it any other way. We have tread a new road and learned so much along the way.

Dane’s career took a major change this last year. He finished Student Teaching for the CES program, but didn’t get hired. It’s been hard to take, when we’ve been working so long and hard to get him this far. Only to not get hired. We are grateful for the many opportunities that it has brought to us and for all the different windows that have opened up. Now it’s a matter of choice and seeking more education. So he is looking into getting his Master’s and possible Teaching Certificate. He made his first kill and only kill this year over Labor Day weekend. He was so proud to have his picture taken with his little deer mouse that he got with Ben’s little bow. He is working hard to help keep us financially in check during these hard times.

Brittany has been working hard at changing the dynamics of diets within the household. Her and Dane are working on less calories, while trying to increase Ben’s calories, and keep Symi far away from Milk, Eggs, and Whole Grains. So far she’s failed a few times, but has found a few family meals that suit everyone. She has been staying at home and faithfully keeping Symi in good health. She has enjoyed working on cross stitch and other small crafts(that are inexpensive) and meeting new friends in the Ward. She was recently put in as the Young Women’s Mia Maid Advisor. She is looking forward to working with the YW’s again. She’s also learned that gray hair don’t come when you get old, but rather when your body starts to age rapidly from stress, and sleep deprivation. Despite the rough year, she is still looking timeless and silvery on the edges! :)

Ben has grown so much! Not just physically which is amazing for him, but mentally as well. He is so smart and loves to learn!! Always asking new things and wanting to stretch his mind! He loves Primary and thoroughly enjoys being with his peers. He was very excited about going to preschool. He worries every morning that he’s late for preschool. But we’re always very early! He loves to sing and have us sing with him. He can still be very shy, but after a while will warm up. He still loves dinosaurs and has now found a love for guns! He is truly our son. He’s spent most of this summer camping out back with Dad, feeding ducks, playing with neighbors, shooting his bow, shooting his sling shot, pretending to fish in the backyard with a sinker, drawing self portraits, learning to write his name by himself, still loves to read, learning to dress himself, quoting from movies, been potty trained for a year, and is looking forward to turning 5 next summer because he gets a brand new bike. He also cannot wait to go with the big kids to school across the street! Ben also had Oral Surgery on Nov. 18th to correct the damage from his acid reflux. He also had his tongue clipped and is looking forward to licking ice cream cones when it’s done healing. He is doing well and each day is much better than the last.

Symantha (or Symi) has been an amazing addition to our family! Talk about being able to turn a whole family upside down and constantly keep us on our toes! This little girl, now that she’s feeling well, is so full of energy and spunk. She can be a little tease, and loves, I mean, LOVES to wrestle with Daddy and Ben. Nothing makes her more happy than to tease, run, and be chased down to wrestle. We have been in and out of the different hospitals and Dr’s offices trying to figure out what has been wrong with this little girl. It has been a long tough road, but always followed by a stronger testimony and a beautiful and new understanding of the Savior’s Atonement. She has strengthened our family in such a way that no one else could have done. We love her for all she’s taught our family. Symi is fascinated with babies and constantly has one in her arms. Symi loves to be with Ben. She follows him everywhere and thinks that everything he does is so awesome. She is not afraid to try new things and seems to be more fearless than Ben was cautious. Food is her passion and her worst enemy. We found out this year, through many visits to Dr’s, that Symi has GERD just like Ben. She is also allergic and intolerant to Milk, Eggs, and Whole Grains. She loves food!! She loves to eat!! It’s just so hard to find solid foods that don’t make her sick and help her little body to grow. She is petite and tiny for her age, but can hold her own!

Baby #3 is due on May 12, 2011, and we couldn’t be more happy to have another baby so soon! Ben is hoping for a brother, Symi will just be thrilled to have a baby in the house, and Dane and I, are hoping for a happy, healthy, and good baby!

Our lives our full, and so are our hearts. We love being together as a family and wouldn’t have it any other way.

We wish all of you Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, and a wonderful New Year!

Love, Dane, Brittany, Ben, Symi, & Baby Hepworth

Merry Christmas!

Please forgive my blogging skills. Everything is backward. So if you want start from the bottom and go up!

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!!

The only Dr's visit we had was an Instacare visit the day after Christmas because Symi had a fever of 103. She was miserable Christmas afternoon, all night, and into the next day. After a 2 hour wait, and then many tests they concluded that she didn't have an ear infection, no strep throat, and no bladder infection. She was diagnosed with a viral infection that she would just have to fight off by herself. Later that day I found 4 canine teeth round, red, and swollen, trying to make their debut. So I conclude she was feverish because of her teeth.

Dane sporting his new Mini Scripture cover. And trying to send kisses to the photographer.

Me with my new key chain clock (Ben broke my other one that I loved, by dropping it on the floor while I rolled over it with a cart shopping. :(
And I got some new Pearls too!!
We also found out that we are having a baby boy in May.

Symi checking out her new "Barnyard" of animals.

Ben with his much anticipated Pirate Ship!

New File Folder Activities for church.

New Tub toys from Santa.

Waiting to go downstairs. Some of us weren't very patient. ;)

This year for Christmas Dane and I just wanted to be . . . . Home. We just wanted a normal Christmas of sitting together, giggling, opening presents, playing with new toys all day, and not one of us in the hospital.


We got our Christmas wish, and it was far better than we ever imagined!!