I wanted to tell you all that if we were going to provoke DD (not intentionally this time), then she should have been flaring after Friday's long drive during the hottest part of the day. She did need a bath when she got home. But, she is fine, really. Much better than I could have predicted. Yesterday, we also went to a bday party next door, and she was tired from getting up early and the long day before. So, towards the end, she asked to go home to lay down, but it was just tiredness, not pain. YEAH! So, as she does get some back pain, she can cool it down, and be fine. She hasn't had a limp or any major pain since she finished the Doxycycline.

I should be able to get the back MRI results tomorrow. I don't expect anything to come of it, though. IF they were to say that she has some spondy in her lower back, and she just happens to not be flaring for right now, then I guess I can see that. But, I EXPECT they will say it was normal.

And, she is doing sooooo much better right now. NO neuro symptoms most of this time either. She thought she would be sore after the last PT, but not so either.

So, to say the least, either the strep stuff just worked itself out, or the RMSF was the problem, and now it is cured. I know it is said that some symptoms can hang around up to 2 yrs after treatment, but she is just doing so well and I am just so happy.

Yesterday, a lady we know at the party said that we go to the dr all the time with one child or the other. And, I had to correct her. We NEVER went to the dr before the baby. My 3.5yo has never even seen a dr for a sick visit EVER. My 5.5yo never even had to go in for whooping cough at 5mos old. He went once this last year because he had been wheezing, and the dr okayed him using the breathing treatments if he did it again, which he didn't. We are NEVER at the dr or hospital; the baby started that, and DD joined in at the beginning of this year. And, if she is not in bad pain anymore, we probably won't be seeing the drs anymore after this. UNLESS we feel there is something medically we needed, that we can't afford to deal with at home. I am DONE. With all the stuff that we have dealt with, that they missed stuff, or said they did, or they didn't do the test right, or they dismissed me, or they can't figure out WHAT is wrong, or they say she is making it up. I am DONE. I REALLY like our ped, but even he dropped the ball over the RMSF thing. So, I have just really lost what little faith I had in the medical system, although I wasn't too convinced of their helpfulness to start with. IF someone needs ABx (like for strep), oxygen, a broken bone, or they can't walk, we'll go. Otherwise, I think it can do more harm than good.

So, to say the least, I am probably more happy we won't need the drs anymore than anything else. I know she is happy about it. And, it is sooo nice to see her doing bike races, kids' games, going in the car with us without worrying about pain, playing outside, etc.

If she is still mostly "cured" in a month, I will probably drop my group here. You all have been such a great help and inspriration. There are so many nice people here.

Kymberli