Well after talking to several friends and Tyler looking into it more we might have figured out what is wrong with our computer. I guess it has something to do with the power supply - it keeps overheating and then shutting down. Tyler has an idea how to fix it so hopefully we should be up and running this weekend. Yay!! I'll be able to get to my pictures again!! Unfortunatlely Tyler has already reformatted the computer, which now it doesn't look like he needed to do, so I've lost all my email addresses. Well not all of them as I have them printed off somewhere but I'll have to retype them all back into my address book. He has to reinstall all of our programs and get our internet and email up and running again so hopefully that will happen soon too. Also I had all my blog addresses in my favorites on our homepage so now all of those are gone. ARG!! We'll figure it out but I'll probably need new invites to those blogs that are private. Either put a comment on here or email me with blog and email addresses please!! My email is carrieanneallen@cox.net. I haven't checked anyones blogs in weeks! I have no idea what is going on in anyones life!!
Abby had her IVIG treatment yesterday. It went well. The nurses at the clinic had a hard time finding a good vein to put it in as Abby's skin is so tight and puffy. We spent 3 hours waiting for the IV team from the hospital to come over to the clinic and then they were able to find a vein right away. It was a long day ~ 8am - 5:30pm. After they finally got the IV in they gave Abby a dose of Benedryll as a precautionary measure for any allergic reaction she might have. Then in go the immuno-globulins. It took about an hour and a half for the medicine to peak (which means get up to its top speed) and then she had to be on it for another 3 1/2 hours for the medicine to finish. Abby got to watch 3 movies (High School Musical 3, Pocahantas and Over the Hedge), eat sour gummy worms, sleep some, color and play with stickers so I'd say she had an ok day. She hated the needle though!! Abby's nurse, Laura, was fabulous and made sure Abby was comfortable and answered any questions we had. Abby's weight is up to 80lbs. That is 21lbs she has gained since Dec. 30th and 13 lbs that she has gained since last months IVIG appointment. Wow! However the doctor is lowering her Prednisone dose even more and so hopefully we have reached the heighest weight and will start going down from here. Dr. Shishov said she looked really good and was definatly making improvements in her range of motion. Since Abby has been on Spring Break I've seen her be SO much more active ~ running, playinig, being silly. I told that to the doctor which he was happy to hear and he seemed to indicate that since we were treating it so aggressively that Abs should go into remission sooner than the normal 1-2 years. Very cool! It is hard to say whether it will come back or not or what long term effects she could have because of the disease as each case is so different. Right now we are pleased with the progress she seems to be making. Abby still loves physical thereapy. She said the other day "When I first got this thing I thought it was going to be all pokes and doctors and yucky stuff. But then I saw what physical therapy is like and I love going there!" Her therapist, Jessica, makes the exercises so fun for her. I keep telling Abby she should be a pediatric physical therapist when she grows up. We've also had 2 weeks of counseling which is going well and I think will be really good for us.
New topic ~ we had a lizzard in our house last Friday. How does a lizzard get in your house and make it upstairs without anyone seeing it? Luckily it was in the loft and not in anyones bedroom. Also luckily I have a brave Alex boy who just reached out and caught it and took it back outside. I could NOT do that. It was a baby lizzard and was pretty cute and I did pet it. But I don't think I could catch it. Thanks Alex!
St. Patricks Day was fun. I set the bar a little too high last year. We never really did anything for St. Patty's Day growing up except turn my cup of milk green sometimes. So that is what I did for the kids last year. I tunred their milk green and then made the mistake of saying, "Look, there goes the leprechaun into the pantry!" We have a little hole in the wall of our pantry so now that is the leprechaun's home. They spent all day last year writing notes to the leprechaun and leaving him treats which the leprechaun was silly enough to take the treats and write little notes back. This year after reading some stories about leprechauns, and still remembering that the leprechaun lives in our pantry, the kids couldn't wait to see what mischeif he would do. They talked about it for weeks!! The night before Abby wrote him a Happy St. Patrick's Day note and the boys left him a bowl of Lucky Charms by his hole. That morning they woke up to mischeif. Our leprechuan decided to turn over all of our kitchen chairs, put one of the chairs on the table, take the curatins down and hang one of them over the light, throw Ben's bibs all around our kitchen, make towers out of our bottles of juice, and spill Lucky Charms all over the table. He also left them each a green sand toy and yes, the milk was green. They kids were so excited. I guess I set the bar high this year too huh. Now it's almost Easter and I can't believe it. Time goes by too fast!!
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Wow! I am so sorry that Abby has to go through all of this pain, pills and weight gain. What a nightmare for her and you. I am glad to hear that she did okay once they got the needle in. Ouch! By the way, tell Abby thank you for the wonderful pictures she sent to us. We love her so much and wish we could live closer so we could see each other more often.
It is a good thing you have a brave boy who can help out with bugs and critters. I don’t think I could actually catch a lizard either. Way to go Alex! You also have some amazing leprechauns at your house. I have fortunately never had that much problem with them at our house. The only thing that ever happened at our house on St. Patrick’s Day was that I would make corned beef and cabbage for dinner. I guess we missed out on lots of fun and craziness. You are amazing! I love you and stand in awe of all you do for your wonderful family. Thanks for being a part of our family.
Love,
Mom Allen
1 comment:
Wow, what a fun St. Patty's Day tradidition! My kids would just eat that up! Abby is a real trooper! I am glad she's enjoying physical therapy my kids always have!
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