Update

Shelby's labs have improved; just a smidge, but in the right direction. Off to school she went today. She will need another test, though, because I've tested positive for H. pylori. Shelby does still have occasionally mysterious tummy pain. You can read the link to see why she needs to be tested because I'm still not feeling up to typing too much. I've started my 2-week triple-therapy (2 antibiotics & an acid-reducing medication) regimen. Let's hope I can start feeling better!

What's up with low WBC's around here?

Look at how bruised her little hand is from her broken finger!

Daddy was up to his usual goofiness - look at Avery bubble-head!

So, as I said, I'm sick, too. I went to Immediate Care yesterday and I was dehydrated, but not enough to need IV fluids. My WBC (white blood cell count) came back low, though. Its normal for your WBC to fall when you have a virus, but mine was lower than the anticipated drop. In fact, mine is just a few point above "dangerously" low. Ah, hello, this is what happens to Shelby, not me! So, today I am headed back to my regular doctor to be seen again and have labs re-drawn. I still feel really crappy.

Shelby will have her follow-up labs later this morning at her Pediatrician's. We'll see how those turn out, too. She is still feeling great. Enjoy the pictures!

Home yesterday

Sorry to be so slow, but I hit the ground running yesterday with my after school program and then got sick last night! This is my first chance to attempt an update. Shelby was discharged yesterday morning with orders to stay at home and get labs repeated in 3-4 days. We have to see an increased in her ANC before she can head back to school. She is feeling great and bouncing off the walls. She declares now "I love school! I don't want to miss it!" I'll update later in the week on her labs.

Sunday update

Oh the drama today has brought thus far! It started out this morning about much concern over her labs. Long story short, it looked as if she needed a blood transfusion. Question of the accuracy of the labs was brought up, so a new set was drawn (like the 4th? poke in 2 days, not including the IV) and came back more like Shelby's "normal." Phew!

Then she was moving around in bed and cried out that her IV hurt. When she was hooked up again for her meds, she cried that it hurt and the IV site started to swell. That IV was a goner. But, because her white blood cell count is so low, fevers can not show up even when there is an infection. So, the IV was removed, but a new one had to be put in to continue the meds so she gets 48 full hours of medication while we wait on the cultures. Sigh. What an ordeal! Her veins are starting to show some wear-and-tear from being poked so many times over the years. Finally, the second site they tried worked and the meds are running again.Riley is here for the afternoon and I thought it would be helpful - as in she plays with her sister and I do some work. WRONG! She's as high-maintenance as Shelby today! I just ate some lunch (its 3 p.m.) and think I have them settled enough to attempt some work after this update.

Shelby is in here until her ANC (germ-fighting off ability) is stable or heading back up. Right now its in the 400-range = not good. She's on neutropenic precautions (again) and is having the oh-so-not-fun IV antibiotic diarrhea. If you saw her, though, you'd never guess.

Gotta go work!

Club Med Update

7:27 p.m.
Today has been uneventful. No fever; not really hungry, but her tummy isn't really hurting either. I'm still at home working away on my after school program. Daddy and I may still switch tonight, but Baby A went home with my Mom after her nap and Riley is spending the night at a friend's house. Hopefully, the night will be calm...

Hope you all enjoyed the picture above!

Guess where we are?

12:44 a.m.
Getting settled in our room @ Club Med RMH. Yup, she was admitted. What a hellish wait in the ER. Not a visit that will get high rankings from me when they send that little survey to us in the mail. Grrrr.....From what they've told me, her labs look o.k., but they want to keep her on IV antibiotics until her cultures come back...so that means we're probably here until Monday morning. My after school program starts on Monday and I have a weekend full of work so I'm not quite sure how this will all work out....but I'm thankful we're in Rockford and not Chicago. She finally passed out a few minutes ago and I'll do the same when the nurse is done taking her history and then the doctor comes in and examines her. Sigh...what a long day.
7:16 p.m.
Yup, its our 2nd trip to the RMH ER this week! Shelby came home from school not feeling well. Grammie assessed the situation as Shelby and Riley were to have a sleepover there, and I was called. I actually had a doctor's appointment after work because I've lost my voice...again! I'm fine, its just my body's reaction to allergies and/or a cold. I sound horrible, but just have some sinus congestion. Back to Shelby. By the time I got to my Mom's her temp went up even more and she did not look like herself and was just laying there. I (with my Mom as my voice) called Chicago and they said get her looked at. We're taking a gamble with coming to RMH because if she needs to be admitted, they may not accept her. It might be another ambulance transport to Chicago. We're hoping we get lucky (I know that's warped thinking) and maybe she has strep throat or something. Sure would be a liver infection. Updates to come...

By the way, I've been swamped with work so I didn't update on her finger like I said I would. Its broken. She snapped that little bone all the way through. We're lucky the bone didn't displace. Two more weeks of no gym and a splint. She's not a happy camper, especially with where we are right now.

Avery the Bag Lady and Shelby Fracture #8?

This morning Scott was folding clothes and Avery came up to him and insisted he help her put on her green pj shorts even thought she was already fully dressed. Here is the final product. She had tons of toys on her doll stroller and she just kept adding things as she found them. She stayed quite occupied for a long time.

This afternoon we headed up to my parent's house to help put away tables and chairs from their birthday party yesterday. We probably weren't even there 20 minutes when Shelby was climbing up on Grammie & Papa's bed to watch TV and bent her finger back and she and Riley heard a loud crack...and then Shelby started screaming and crying...I have never seen her in pain like that. She could move the finger but cried out that it hurt. I bet my odds on getting through the ER faster than Immediate Care (they know her in the ER) and was right. We were registered, triaged, taken back to x-ray and seen in no time. Yea for Mommy instinct! It is a "suspected fracture" and splinted up. We are to follow up with Ortho in a few days. Seriously, this kid was hardly doing anything to break a bone! She was weaned off the Fosamax 2 months ago...what does this mean for her? Who knows!?!?! I'll call Chicago in the morning.....sigh...I'll keep everyone updated.

What have we been up to?

First of all, I want to say "Sorry, Dad." Yesterday was his 75th Birthday and I did not even acknowledge it on here. I feel awful!!! I love you so much! Thank you for everything you've taught me and all the love you've given me. My daughters are so in love with their Papa and I know exactly why.

O.k., so we've been busy with me trying to get my ASAP program up and running, Scott taking Microbiology and applying for RVC's RN program, Avery being a funny 2-year-old and Riley & Shelby busy learning as 4th and 2nd graders do. Here are some recent pictures of the girls. Enjoy! Health-wise, Shelby is doing fabulous! She made it through an awful hacking-cough that her sisters shared with her and didn't spike a temp once! Whoohoo! Please pray (hard) that she does NOT have a repeat of last school year (9+ hospitalizations). THANK YOU!

Check out their shoes!

Avery's potty chair...she's so not ready, but it doesn't hurt to start introducing her to the concept!

Then, the potty chair turned into a hideout for her toys.

Hey, Grandma Marian's here for a visit - Yea!

To My Mom:

Happy, Happy, Happy 60th Birthday!

We love you!!!

Chicago Day

So...Shelby had a cardiac stress test today to get her exercise o2 sat reading. It only went down to 93 so she's good for now. Then we had liver clinic where Dr. Alonso told us that Shelby doesn't technically have the Hepatopulmonary Syndrome diagnosis until her o2 sats start falling. Good enough for me. As long as we hear tomorrow that her labs look good and, as long as she doesn't have a rough year of illness like last year, we don't have to go back for 6 months!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Whohoo! I'm beat! I decided yesterday afternoon that I don't really need my head and smacked it (again). Mild concussion is the diagnosis. Yup, I feel like an idiot. Night-night.