Crafts by Brandon

More crafts made by Brandon this past week at Frog Hollow's Family Drop-In (we call it "school"). I had to put them out of his reach for now because he keeps picking off the stuff.


A Feathered Birdie


Polka-dot Fish

KidKraft Train Set & Table Review

The train set & table that I've ordered from Costco for Brandon have finally arrived and delivered to our house by UPS. It was free delivery and that was great. We wouldn't be able to carry it back home in our car as there was no room. The box was a bit heavy (49Lbs), so I got my brother and dad to carry it into the playroom downstairs. We waited for daddy to come home after work and assembled it together. Brandon was thrilled and he helped out as well.



It was quite a large table, but I kinda expected that when I checked the measurements beforehand. There were some toys I temporarily put away for the time being to give room.  Installing wasn't very hard. The instructions were easy to follow and the parts were all complete. 

There were a lot of train track pieces that we could also build a different design of our own.  And when Brandon is not playing with the train set, we used the table to play with other toys such as his little racing cars and do some coloring with his coloring books on the table.



Brandon playing with his new train set:

A Visit to the Dermatologist

It was the day for the appointment for Brandon to see the dermatologist at BC Children's Hospital. It was very early in the morning and we got up at 6:30am for the 8am appointment (left house early because of the rush hour traffic). We met Dr. Julie Prendiville and she was a very nice lady. She and her assistant/nurse was also very professional with the issue regarding Brandon's eczema problem.

Here is Brandon in his little hospital gown and waiting patiently for the doctor to come into the room.



I brought all the lotion and cream to show the doctor and hopefully have or will prescribe the right cream for Brandon. Everyone's skin type is different and some lotions/cream may work better than others. We were advised to continue using the Elidel 1% cream as well as a new one she prescribed. She also advised to use hydrocortisone cream and the Betaderm ointment whenever his eczema or rash would flare up.

Brandon's Own Comfy Chair

Toy Story High Back Chair

So Brandon got his own little "comfy cushion/chair". We were browsing around Toys-R-Us and decided to buy a comfy seat for our little Brandon. He had been using my cardboard box to sit on, but it's starting to sink in. We let him choose the color and the characters he like. He chose the Toy Story blue high back chair. We were also looking at the wider ones (the double seats that can fold out), but it costs double the price. It says for 2 years and up, but I find that it's a bit low to the ground, even for my 1-1/2 year old.

Description: Kids will love this extremely comfortable Toy Story chair. It's a great way to add some personality to your child's room. No assembly required.

First Visit to the Zoo

Finally the long weekend (Victoria Day). It was Saturday and Brandon's daddy took us to the Vancouver Zoo. We had the 2 for 1 Entertainment coupon and used it. The weather was okay; not too sunny, but still a little wind here and there. It was Brandon's first visit to the zoo. He saw many different animals and seemed to enjoy his visit. He liked walking down the path and he even wanted to walk on his own without holding hands.

Admission:

- Children 3 years old and younger: Free admission.

- Adult (16 yrs. - 64 yrs.): $20.00 per person

- Child (4 yrs. - 15 yrs.): $15.00 per person

- Students (16+ yrs w/ID): $18.00 per person

- Senior (65 + yrs.): $15.00 per person

- Family (2 adults, 2 children): $65.00 per family

- Train Reservations: $5.00 per person

- Parking: $5.00 per vehicle

You can check out the website for more information.

Here are some photos we took. If you like to see more images of the animals, head over to my other blog at "Jen's Blog of Random Thoughts".

Viral Rash Update 2: Slowly Recovering

So this is day 4 of taking the antibiotics prescribed. As promised by the doctor and nurse, the result was clearly noticeable. Brandon's body rash is clearing up; no more redness and skin is feeling a lot more smoother. I felt relieved.



Brandon is feeling much better now. He will be able to go back to "what-I-call-school" (family drop-in) next week and enjoy his activities there again.

Picture of the happy toddler, the week BEFORE the rash happened.

Viral Rash Update

Brandon had both viral rash and infected eczema. Another weekend at the hospital emergency room. We took Brandon in because his rash seem to look much worse than the last time (which was a week ago). We waited 3-1/2 hours before the doctor/nurse came for our turn, but worth waiting. I hate hospital waits. We had two doctors came in. I wish I had taken Brandon to the emergency earlier for the second time. He was cranky all week. Poor little guy was suffering and we both barely got any good night's sleep.

Photos taken before he was taken to the emergency at the hospital.


Arms and Legs


Chest and Back


When we first took Brandon in, it was a viral rash. It started with red and spotty patches and later turned out scaly and bumpy. Then the doctors examined that Brandon had infected eczema on top. Scary! The doctors took some swab tests and prescribed some antibiotics, as well as a different cream to apply on the skin. We were also told to continue giving him Benadryl. After the 2nd day of the antibiotics, Brandon's rashes were less red and finally under control.

How Brandon felt the past week:
- cranky than usual
- little bit loss of appetite (he usually finishes)
- keeps scratching arms and legs and back of his head
- trouble sleeping at night

How mommy try to comfort him:
- give him gentle rubs where he wants to be scratched
- give him Benadryl
- apply lotion to affected areas
- wrap arms with cloth bandage to protect from scratching
- set up his favorite DVDs to watch & favorite snacks
- give daily bath with soothing bath treatments and/or salt









I'm praying that he'll recover real soon so he can get a better sleep and enjoy his playtime again at the Community Center Family Drop-ins.

Pampers Cruisers Dry Max Complaints

I was reading different reviews about the new Pampers diapers and complaints about it causing diaper rashes. I'm going to stop using the new Pampers Cruisers Dry Max for now and use the Huggies or Pampers Baby Dry I already have. Brandon's rashes have spread to his bum. He never got diaper rashes. I don't know if it's a coincidence with the Pampers issue or also part of his recent viral rash breakout.



I can tell Brandon is in so much pain with his rashes. It hurts me to see him cry like that. I try to give him some treats just to keep him calm.

IN THE NEWS:

P&G being sued over Pampers Dry Max diapers
http://www.reuters.com

Health Canada investigates complaints of severe rashes from new Pampers:
http://www.parentcentral.ca

Health Canada probing complaints about Pampers diapers
CTV.ca

Step 2 Push Buggy Recall

Buggies from Step Two company are being recalled. An estimated 2.5 million push buggies for children because the handle can become loose and allow the handle to separate from the buggy and cause a parent or caregiver to lose control of the toy vehicle.  Models purchased between August 1999 and March 2010 are affected on the recall list.

Brandon's little push car is on the recall list. We only used it indoors and had been watching him closely. I ordered my repair kit online through their website.

More info from the website or call 1-866-860-1887: http://www.step2.com/recall/PushAroundBuggy

Viral Rash

Brandon is in the process of healing of his chin rash. Now he had developed a major rash all over his body just the previous day. What's next? He was having trouble sleeping that night due to itchiness. The poor little thing! I thought it would've been heat rash from that same day we went out to the park and the local aquarium. I did apply sunblock. Maybe there were some germs that Brandon caught around the aquarium or from too many people. (EDIT: or was it scallop bits I didn't realize that was in the take-out congee my in-laws brought home? I don't know. It just happened at the same time.)





I was really concerned for Brandon's sensitive skin and I got scared that night. Since doctor's office doesn't open on sundays, my husband and I took him to the BC Children's Hospital. We waited in the room for 3-4 hours before a doctor came to see us. The doctor said it was a viral rash.

What is a Viral Rash?
- it is usually red
- blanches on pressure (pressing the rash will make it disappear, and comes back)
- red spots can be slightly raised
- it is usually itchy

Treatment?
There is no treatment. The rash will disappear when the body removes the virus from its system.

While at the hospital, Brandon was treated with Benadryl syrup, taken orally, to relieve the itch. Because he kept scratching, there were sores all over his arm. I often apply aloe gel on him to keep his skin moisturized and the aloe can promote healing. This is the medicine that the doctors recommended:

Children's Benadryl Allergy - Fast relieve of: itchy watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing, rashes & hives

Brandon will have to skip this week's "school" (Family Drop-In Programs at Frog Hollow Neighborhood House).

[MAY 11, 2010 UPDATE]

Decided to call the doctor that Brandon has been seeing to let him know about his current condition. There's a lotion he recommend to relieve the itching on the skin: Sarna-P Anti-Itch Lotion.

Happy Mother's Day

Wishing everyone a Happy Mother's Day!


Brandon's first Mother's Day creation. Love it!

Brandon's Chin Rash Update

It's been a week since Brandon was seen by his new doctor using the new type of (expensive) cream prescribed (Elidel Pimecrolimus 1%). I didn't notice any improvements with the healing. I am not sure if it is because Brandon keeps rubbing the rash area. What's also horrible is that the rash area has pus that keeps coming back.


I had to make an appointment for him to see the doctor again and did not want to wait for the follow up appointment, which is another 2 weeks. The doctor looked at Brandon again and decided to write a referral to a specialist/dermatologist. Until the appointment in the next few weeks with the dermatologist, the doctor told me to continue applying the Elidel 1% cream. He said he would also like to see Brandon again after seeing the dermatologist. I will post another update soon.

[MAY 10, 2010 UPDATE]

It's been a week after the first update (and 2nd week after using the medication) and Brandon's chin rash didn't seem to make too much improvement. I think it got less red in color. I'm sure it's slowly healing, but I just wish he would stop rubbing it hard. I still put bandage on when he goes to sleep at night.



Brandon's chin got scratched again. Everytime it starts to heal, he makes it bleed again. It keeps happening like a cycle that won't end. I wake up every night to reapply a new bandage. I don't know what else to do.