Ear Infection Update, School, and Breakfast with Santa

Ear Infection Update

In my last post I mentioned that James had an ear infection, went to see the pediatrician to get it checked out, and was prescribed ear drops and an antibiotic. We had thought that the combination of those two had cleared things up, but a couple of weeks later he was sent home from school because he had a little bit of blood coming out of his ear and had a fever. They do temporal temperatures at school, but James tends to run a bit on the warm side, so those aren’t really accurate for him.

Stacy got him home, took a rectal temp and it was normal. She called the ENT, and he wanted us to put ear drops in James’ ear three or four times a day and see him the following week. Stacy then put a call into the pediatrician to keep him in the loop and of course he wanted to see James before his office closed at 5 pm. He said everything looked fine health-wise, but he must have hurt his ear somehow, which is why it is bleeding. Keep up with the ear drops and see ENT the following week.

The day after James saw the pediatrician, Stacy pulled out her otoscope (the medical instrument used to look into the ear) and was almost positive that his tube fell out. What, doesn’t everyone have an otoscope in their house?

The ENT took a look and said that the tube was still in there, it’s hard to see, but it is there. He wasn’t sure what was causing the bleeding, though. He recommended to keep using the ear drops and call him if things don’t improve over the next couple of weeks or if they get worse.

 

School

James may not come with an instruction manual, but he sure has a lot of paperwork. This is his three-year re-evaluation paperwork for school. Stacy may not drink coffee, but I’m pretty sure she needed at least one diet Pepsi to get through it.

 

A hand holds a thick stack of papers, shown from the side to emphasize how many pages there are. The background is a cluttered countertop with a red notebook, a blue composition notebook, a blue pen, a yellow sticky note, a patterned tissue box, a pump bottle, and several small boxes containing bottles or supplements. A framed photo sits among the items. The scene looks like a busy home workspace with lots of everyday essentials within reach.
School eval paperwork

 

There’s a woman who brings a service dog to James’ classroom every so often. She came to his classroom last week and brought each of the kids a stuffed dog for the holidays. The skateboarding reindeer in the picture is something that James made during occupational therapy.

 

Two small toys sit on a countertop. On top is a plush light‑brown dog with floppy ears, a black nose, and a red ribbon around its neck, perched on a blue plastic lid. Below it stands a small reindeer figurine wearing green sunglasses, holding a green wreath with “MERRY CHRISTMAS” written on it and a red bow at the bottom, balanced on a red skateboard. Behind them are a patterned tissue box, a plaid jacket draped over a chair, and a window with blinds. The scene feels playful and festive, like a tiny holiday display arranged for fun.

 

On Thursday James decided that he wanted to wear his new pajamas to school.

 

James dressed in a red Santa outfit and Santa hat sits in a wheelchair in a classroom decorated for Christmas. A small Christmas tree with ornaments stands nearby, along with wrapped gifts, bookshelves filled with books, and various classroom supplies. A computer sits on a desk to the left. The wheelchair has tennis balls on the front legs. The scene feels festive, warm, and inclusive, capturing a holiday celebration in a school setting.
Santa James

 

Breakfast with Santa

Last weekend a local restaurant that Stacy goes to often with her parents was having a special “Breakfast with Santa” so we decided to take James.

 

Santa Claus leans toward James who is seated in a wheelchair, creating a warm moment of interaction. Santa wears the classic red suit and hat, while James wears a green shirt with red lettering and a striped neck pillow. The setting appears to be indoors, with tiled walls and metal surfaces in the background. The scene feels gentle and festive, capturing a small moment of holiday kindness.
Breakfast with Santa at a local restaurant

 

Santa Claus kneels beside James seated in a wheelchair. Santa wears the classic red suit, white trim, black belt, and white gloves. James wears a green shirt with red lettering and a striped neck support. They’re in what looks like a restaurant or café, with a counter, coffee machines, and utensils visible in the background. The moment feels festive and warm, capturing a cheerful holiday visit in a public space.
Breakfast with Santa at a local restaurant

 

From our family to yours, we hope you have a safe and happy holiday season.

A family photo collage sits on a wooden background with decorative white text reading “Oh What Fun.” Four photos feature Jeff, Stacy and James in a home setting: scenes of them sitting together on a couch and James lying on a brown surface. At the bottom, printed text reads “THE FULKERSON FAMILY 2017 JEFF, STACY AND JAMES.” The collage feels warm, personal, and festive, like a holiday keepsake.
Our Christmas card