Eczema, or Werewolf?

I feel like apologizing for my rant before I go ahead and get it out of my system. So if you're having a bad day like me, I'm sorry for the extra downer. 

First, we're trying to tackle Cohen's medical issues. He seems like he's getting sick again and I hope he handles it okay. I thought we could get further testing to follow up on the suspected diagnosis I mentioned in my last post, but NO! We are on hold people! Until when, you ask? Until people get their act together. This is not something to play around with and while I hope Cohen does not have what they think he might, I also want to RULE IT OUT. Immediately. Or as soon as possible. Instead we wait. We saw a geneticist, all right. But not one who secializes in metabolic disorders, which is what the hematologist suspects. And the only one in our area who specializes in said disorders is in between practices right now. although he's providing some basic consults over the phone. I am so frustrated. We are frustrated. In addition, the geneticist seemed more interested in our parents and siblings than in Cohen's siblings -- namely Hannah, who has begun to have some pretty major issues (again) and we are trying to find a link between the two. We went in to the appointment thinking maybe, just maybe, Hannah's issues might shed even more light on Cohen's and vice versa. If we're talking genetics, it makes sense, right? Well, we're just crazy parents so what do we know, anyways?

So our path to find Cohen help has gone like this:

Pediatrician to Developmental Specialist to Therapists to Opthalmologist to GI to Neurologist to Infectious Disease to Hematologist to Geneticist, and finally, hopefully, to Metabolic Disorder Geneticist.

And right now, Hannah looks like this:

Do you see this stuff? I mean, I know eczema can get bad and all, but she's actually trembling this morning, and there's blood all over the sheets from last night. What the heck? Can't people figure out what causes this? It's so painful for her and Cohen.

It's acutally oozing fluid, y'all. Like it has a life of its own down there in her pores.

And yes, we have her on anti-itch medication (my name for it) three times a day and we had her on steroid cream for three weeks, then stopped it because I know you can't keep slathering that stuff on, her skin needs a break. The DAY after I stop applying, it flares right back up to what you see above. What do we do? Yesterday, I actually tried applying some of her Aquaphor ointment (like vaseline, except more expensive, so why don't I just use vaseline then??? Who knows...) and wrapping her wrists and knees in Saran Wrap like burritos because, yes, she has the same stuff behind her knees and little puffy spots all over her legs and arms - even has it flaking on her forehead, behind her ears and on her eyelids. I'm going to take her back to the doctor and I'll probably feel like the idiot mom again but I'd say this qualifies as a "flare up," don't you?

I wish I could stop the pain. It sucks. I'm tired of feeling helpless.

And, well, on another note, I wanted to introduce you to Lizzie:

Her first night home and taking a bath upstairs, courtesy of Aunt Joan.

All done! Clean now and SANS smell, so I can stop snapping the pictures and take her from Aunt Joan :)
She's been a great dog so far, except she got sick and was hacking and throwing up a little bit. We already took her on her first trip to the vet, who thinks she picked up something before she got to us - "kennel cough?" - or maybe has allergies. She's on antibiotics now, in case. I can't believe it. I have another kid.
Sorry for the vent. Please pray for us as we continue our search for help and answers! We will be okay, I know it. I just wish it wasn't such a long road to a solution, treatment and relief!