The Sock Game

Claire had too much fun playing with her socks and looking for Dad!





On a medical note...we got another oxalate level back and it wasn't what we were hoping for. It was 75.1 It is what it is. At least it's not 100. Too bad it's not 50. We're still hoping and praying the medicine will help.

We also took another lipid level today and things are looking better there. Previously, her cholesterol was 348--now it dropped to 292--below 200 is normal. Her triglycerides were 880--now they are 615--normal is below 119. SO they are obviously still HIGH, but at least headed in the right direction. She's taking fish oil and niacin which are helping, but they don't believe her lipids will ever get normal until after her transplant and is off dialysis. SO I guess we're doing all we can and we'll just keep doing it!

This is Jared's VERY LAST WEEK of grad school!! HIP HIP HORRAY!! He'll be done-graduated-completed-finished with 2 1/2 years of graduate school at DU and will officially have his MBA in finance. Happy DAY!

Jared and I had a rare opportunity to go see a movie on Friday night, thanks to our neighbor watching the kids. We saw "New In Town" and it was so FUNNY!! Jared and I are still laughing about it today! Just a fun movie (only rated PG) with some fun humor that will definitely make you smile!

A Woman's Work is NEVER Done!

I'm not complaining. I'm just saying.

It's a TRUE statement.

Post dialysis today....I went on a walk with the kids. We played outside. Took Claire's stool sample to UPS. Ate an Oreo. I went through the mail. Gave Claire milk. Payed bills online. Gave Benson a bath. Cleaned up the kids rooms. Warmed up dinner (sunday leftovers are the best). Milked Claire. Cleaned the dishes. Reviewed Benson's sunday lessons with him. Finally took care of the kids Valentines box, candies, and valentines. Started Claire's dialysis. Milky Milk Time. Got the kids to bed by 7:00. Cleaned the kitchen. Picked up the floor. Thought about tomorrow's dinner. Cleaned syringes. Loaded them back up with medicine. Cleaned the milk container. Loaded it back up with milk. Ate another Oreo. Started the towels in the wash. Got Benson's Special Water ready for tomorrow....and I could still clean out the fridge, sweep the floor. Throw another load in the laundry. Clean the basement. Pick up our bedroom...and the list goes ON!!

I'm sure all of our lists could go on and on! It's knowing when to say ENOUGH that counts!!

I'm going to bed. (after one more Oreo.) :)

Good oxalate numbers!

So Claire has been on the new experimental drug, oxabact, for about one month now. She hasn't had any severe side effects from it; but has had increased vomiting/reflux. She's gone from having reflux/vomit 2-3 times in a 24 hr. period to around 5-6 times. But as far as Jared and I are concerned, it's not of concern and although it is painful to watch her do it...and I'm sure painful/uncomfortable for Claire to go through it...if it can keep her oxalate DOWN, it is worth it. The blessing of it is that although she is vomiting, nothing comes out of her mouth. Her throat is "tied" so things can only go down, not up. We "vent" her through her tube when she's vomiting...but she still makes all the sounds, movements, and responses of a normal person vomiting. So that allows the food/calories she so badly needs to stay down in her tummy and not all over the floor! I guess it works out good for both of us, but like I said, still NEVER fun to watch your child go through that numerous times each day/night.

Well, the good news that we got this past week is that Claire's oxalate number is going DOWN! We're hoping it's headed down as a result of the oxabact, but still can't say 100% for sure that this is the case.

They drew an oxalate number Feb 2 and it was 86.7. Then we started the oxabact that next day and drew another oxalate two weeks later on Feb 16. That number was 68.8! Yeah! It has been down to 64 before, but only once, and we don't really know WHY/HOW it got down that low on it's own. Every other number she's had has been between 80-100.

Just to give you a frame of reference, an oxalate test done in you and I would be less than 2.

We'll be drawing another oxalate from Claire next Monday, Mar 2, and if that one is considerably lower, then they may be able to say for sure that the oxabact is working for Claire and performing the miracle we're all praying for! We're trying to keep Claire's body as safe as we can from the elevated oxalate prior to transplant!

FLIP

My mom got me a Flip Video Camera and I love it! It is so convenient to whip out and take video...and uploading it to the blog is a sinch! So you may be seeing more video as we go on!

Craft It Forward

The first three people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice. For you.This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

1- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
2- What I create will be just for you.
3- It'll be done this year.
4- You have no clue what it's going to be.
5- I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.

The catch is that you must repost this on your blog and offer the same to the first 3 people who do the same on your blog. The first 3 people to do so and leave a comment telling me they did win a FAB-U-LOUS homemade gift by me! Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it! And if you could include your address with your post, that would be most helpful!

Who's in?

V-B Day

I really do enjoy having my Birthday on Valentines day. It's just a good day to be happy. Everyone around you is usually happy. Love is happy. Hearts are happy. Flowers are happy. Cupids are cute and happy. Valentines candy is one of the best of the year...which makes me happy. Why not be born on one of the happiest days of the year! I love it!

My birthday started out as any other day with a trip for me and Claire to the hosptial for dialysis. We came home to a Mickey-Mouse-decorated birthday party done by two excited boys. Jared also gave Benson a much needed hair cut and he looks so grown up now!

We went to eat at Casa Bonetia's which I'm sure means nothing to anyone. It's one of those restaurants that has cliff divers in the center of the restaurant and other entertainment for your dinning enjoyment. They claimed it is the "most entertaining restaurant in the world," but I don't think I'd go that far. The atmosphere was fun but the food has much room for improvement. Fun just to get out and do something different though.

Back at home, a heart-shaped-cake and presents were quick to follow a full-tummied-family. An early bed time for two tired kids was just around the corner. Jared and I watched a movie on the love sac and were compeletely exhaused by 10:00.

Thanks for a great 27 B/V day everyone! You make me happy!

It's been kind of a 'downer' week since then. Benson and I are coming down with some kind of sickness. It hasn't been a bad one, though. Just feel compeltely drained of energy, a light cough, and a little runny nose. Nothing that has kept us back too much, thankfully. Let's hope Jared and Claire don't catch the same thing!

Time for bed! (that means you too, Claire...I can still hear her chatting away up there in her crib! At least she's happy!)

Smile

Claire got her two front teeth finally!! This is what she does when you ask her to show you her teeth!

WE had a great Valentines party today at the Hospital. The kids decorated boxes and exchanged valentines with each other. They invited Benson to come and had some goddies for everyone!!

Claire has now moved to the floor! The crib was just getting to be too confining for this active little girl! So the mats and toys on the floor sure help to switch things up! It's also nice for me because I get a chance to sit!

Her "throne"

Just couldn't pass this picture up. I love dressing our kids for Sunday! They're too cute...saying prayer!