Skipped again/Diagnosis

(Ok, so I just spent 45 minutes writing this post, and because the power was out, when I tried to post it, it deleted it!!!- So I'm going to try to write it again.... without being really mad at the internet!)

So, either we are on an every eight week schedule, or we skipped this last fever again. It started just like normal, fussiness, low fever, swollen lymph nodes in his neck, but then he caught a little virus from school, and the fever stopped. I know that it was a virus this time, because he passed it to his sister. (At least I think it was a virus, and not some weird part of PFAPA that happens every other month).
His PIDS doctor called a couple of weeks ago about the results of Rowan's blood work. He said that from what he could see of the blood work, and because of the fever stopping with the Prednisone, he feels pretty confident giving Rowan an official PFAPA diagnosis. I feel a little relief with the "official" diagnosis. At least it gives me something to really research and focus on, "officially." The Dr. did say that there is a very, very slight possibility that it could be something called Cyclic Neutropenia. He said that he would speak with Rowan's Ped., so that he can keep an eye out, just in case.
Since Rowan had such a terrible reaction to the Prednisone (which is the medicine most used with PFAPA), we ALL decided it was best not to go that route again. The PIDS said that Prednisone can cause Psychosis, in rare instances, and it sounded like that may have been what happened to Rowan. Of course it is difficult to tell if a two year old has psychosis, being that they are "out of touch with reality/have crazy meltdowns throughout their twos anyway! ;) The Dr. said that there is another medication that can be used called Tagamet (or Cimetidine). It is basically a medication that inhibits stomach acid production and is used mostly for the treatment of heartburn and stomach ulcers. For some reason it seems to help with PFAPA too. I guess it make sense with the mouth ulcers and all. Rowan tends to complain of his tummy hurting during the episode, so maybe he has ulcers in there too. =(
The PIDS said that we can give him the Tagamet one of two ways. We can give it to him twice a day for 6 months to see if it decreases the intensity or stops the episodes all together, and then stop after the 6 months to see if they return. Or we can give it to him when an episode starts to see if it decreases intensity, or stops it. I think we will try the second way first!
I still feel like I am in denial sometimes, and that we are wrong. Maybe it is just a bunch of viruses that he is picking up. Then reality hits, and I know that it can't be a bunch of viruses- it's just too scheduled and exact. Plus, we now have the proof we needed from the blood work and the fever going away with the Prednisone. Things seem so great, and run so smoothly in-between episodes (as smooth as they can with a two year old and a 10 month old), that I almost forget about them.  I actually started thinking about considering trying for #3!! And then I remember what it is like when he is sick. He needs so much attention, that I already feel like I can't give my little girl what she needs, while an episode is going on.
Of course another option would be to contact a Pediatric ENT and see what we need to do to schedule the surgery. I know that this is an invasive procedure, and our PIDS thinks of it as a last resort. He believes that one needs their tonsils to fight off "infectious diseases," and he of all people knows!  I guess I keep hoping that he will just grow out of it, and that it won't return. I know that if/when the next episode comes, I will be making all kinds of phone calls. I guess it's kind of like labor- you forget what it's all about, until you are in the middle of it again! ;)
Rowan's fever tends to come at the beginning of the month, so right now we are just waiting. He is really doing great, and developing on schedule (or ahead - in my opinion ;)- don't all mom's think that!). Based on what happened, and how bad it got the last time he skipped a month, I am worried about what this one will bring. I am checking him every couple of hours, and watching for a change in his behavior. So far he is our typical, rowdy two year old- that decided not to take a nap today, but instead pull his wet diaper apart and throw the insides all over his room! I am so thankful for our healthy little guy. He's almost 30lbs now!!! One of the other benefits to skipping a month.
Here are some pics of our guy feeling great!

 Learning all about what Pa does!

 Hanging with mommy and JJ!

Loves his sister so much!!

My blue eyed babies!