January 13th

Last night was great. Only a few short bouts. One from Leah maybe 2 from Cody. They were short and tolerable in severity (when I say "bouts" I mean coughs with gasping and whooping).Evan and Kaiya are still doing great. Coughing but like Evan says "annoying but tolerable" coughing. I feel we are on the up and up! And it's only been 4 weeks which means we are actually doing much better than most! I know it is because of all of your prayers. Cody said (with tears in his eyes) "But how can we thank them?" I knew exactly what he meant.

January 12th

Leah had a wonderful night! Only 1 bout at around midnight. Unfortunately I can't say the same for Cody. Poor guy. I think I will also have him checked for asthma after this is over with. He seems to have constant breathing restrictions with this illness. And it sounds familiar. He has done this before.

Prayer

January 11th
I haven't written because I was waiting for some good news. Waiting has not always been an easy task for me. Especially when it involves seeing my kids healthy and happy. We were all like walking zombies yesterday morning. Matt Redman is playing throughout the house. Something is telling me I should go to church. I arrive at church and Rita and Ann pull me aside and pray with me almost before I get through the door. I love those ladies so much. Russ joins us and continues to pray with me. He gives me this scripture which will be what gets us through the night.
Proverbs 18:10
The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
the righteous run to it and are safe.
I know as soon as he says it that it was all I needed to hear. My babies are safe. Ruth hugs me and lets me cry on her for a few minutes. I am so thankful for all these people. There is something to be said for fellowship and the power of prayer. I don't care what you think you believe. It's real and it's tangible stuff.
So needless to say, we had a better night than the last few. Almost total silence through the house the whole first half of the night. And the episodes that happened after that were short and few. Maybe 3 or 4 between both Leah and Cody. Today they are playing peacefully in their rooms with each other. Barbie's on one side, G.I.'s on the other. Sometimes I like to peek a listen just to bask in there normalness. I have never had so much thankfulness in my life.

January 8th

Well, if I'm being honest ...last night kinda sucked.She had a bout every other hour or so. As well as did Cody. Leah had more blood in her sputum today but I guess it is just broken capillaries in her poor, lil', precious throat. Still nothing a mom wants to see.:(
I can't believe I'm still well. That's gotta be God. Bryan has had a cold for the last week or two (Classic whooping cough is common cold for the first week or two then cough with paroxysmal cough). And now he says he has a little prickly feeling in his chest. Praying for him.

January 7

Last night was a small disappointment but still... I can't complain. Leah had a few whooping episodes. Cody a few. But overall we are definitely improving.It's amazing how you can get used to hearing your child gasp for air. Evan and Kaiya have been doing great. If it weren't for Cody and Leah I would've thought they just had a bad cough or bronchitis or something.I'm posting a LINK to a sound clip of a child with whooping cough but has no "whoop". Just FYI Underneath is a actual sound clip of Leah who has the classic "whoop". It's dreadful.
http://www.whoopingcough.net/Paroxysm.wav



Leah Age 5

January 6th
Last night was very interesting. We have started a few different home treatments. I've read studies about the effects of over saturation of Vitamin C on Pertussis. We are taking between 3-6 grams a day. That is a truck load of vit. C. We're also doing garlic on the feet (goot), Cod liver oil, Probiotics, Wild Cherry Bark and what seems to be the most important part ...
Drosera 30c (homeopathic).
I started Leah on Drosera and Cody on Spongia just to see which one seemed to work with this strain of disease. Drosera is coming out the winner by a landslide. Leah had a bout at about 10 pm and then not another till 6:30 am this morning. Cody on the other hand had about 6 episodes last night.

January 5th

I am amazed. Little Leah who has been the worst all along got through the night with only one episode. This is a 350 degree turn. Unbelievable. My God is so good. Unfortunately her ears are bothering her today. A common complication of whooping cough. So off to the Dr. again . Thankfully we get to see Dr. Malak,our beloved Doctor who we have been waiting for the last 2 1/2 weeks to see. He sat with us for about 20 minutes. Encouraging us. Giving us nutritional and alternative treatment ideas since there is no conventional medicine that can treat Pertussis. He looks in her ears and confirms that they are infected. Back on antibiotics we are.

January 4th

Everyone has been so wonderful. Between support, suggestions and prayer I am feeling optomistic. My pastor was planning on coming down with a bunch of elders to pray over the children. Good thing he called before they came or else the whole congregation could have been sick by Sunday. A darling friend of mine put out a mass email to a few homeschool forums. I can almost hear the prayers going up.