Update on Isaac

Good old Isaac. He still struggles with whether or not to nap, especially when he's been sick. And after never getting sick in Denmark (because they never played with other kids), he's been sick all winter long this year. Last week he had ear infections in both ears, pink eye in both eyes, the flu, followed by a head cold, all in the space of a week. It's no wonder he never wants me out of his sight. All the kids had a rough couple weeks, but I think he's feeling better finally. Some days it's obvious he just has no energy and no attention span, and thus no ability to obey me, but other days he seems happy, healthy and cheerful.

We went to the doctor in the midst of all the sickness last week and got medicine for the ears and eyes, but I also finally was able to discuss with her all my other concerns, and Isaac's health history over the last couple years. She was more than willing to do tests, and he had to give six little vials of blood. Well, they are little to us, but he was wiped out afterwards. His skinny little body just doesn't have much of anything to spare. We haven't got the allergy test results, but all his other bloodwork was normal--thyroid, blood sugar, iron, etc. That's good news. Sometimes I feel like there's something in there that's keeping him from being totally healthy, but maybe not. I have learned, however, that he does better on days when I just let him eat every hour or so. Maybe his body just works better with constant intake. Who knows? We'll see what the allergy tests say.

So his preschool kind of fell apart, but we have two, sometimes three regular playdates each week and he really enjoys those. He's starting to show some interest in letters and numbers, thanks to the They Might Be Giants DVD "Here Come the ABC's". He and Mary love to play hide and seek, and he always greets her after school with a big hug and an "I missed you so much!" Trains are his most beloved possession and he can spend hours entertaining himself on his new tracks. He hates to get dressed, but even more so hates to say prayers. He makes a game out of trying to keep his eyes squeezed completely shut for the whole time, but it's only once in a blue moon that we can get him to actually say a prayer. He like to tell me he says them in his heart.

He sure looks grown up in a white shirt and tie.