3rd Time's the Charm in the ER...

Anthony and I (Sarah) have been to the ER 3 times in the past 24 hours.

Finally, we have some results from the blood cultures taken yesterday.
His blood is growing something that looks like staph.

Fluids and IV antibiotics are started, oxygen is going (at a slow rate, and just for sleepytime!), and we're just hanging out, waiting for them to OPEN the Peds. floor.

Anthony will be the ONLY patient in the Peds. unit, so his nurse was just called in to work.
Basically, his private nurse. ;)

Wenatchee has a new hospital tower, so we get to stay in a brand new room, and hopefully not get to a point of needing transport to Seattle.

It stinks being in the hospital (Happy Mother's Day to me, right), BUT it is very much a relief to not need to worry about him having the shakes, or purple lips, or mottled skin and wonder if he actually needs to go back to the ER or not.

Last night, I would not have brought him back in because he did all that yesterday and ended up fine. EXCEPT, his nostrils were flaring, signifying some distress.

At least this time, he kept it up until seeing the triage nurse. Usually, he stops his symptoms before seeing the nurse or doctor.

ER visit

Anthony has been dealing with fast-moving fevers since 4 this morning. We went to the ER earlier, had blood cultures drawn, and went home because his counts were high enough to not need hospitalization.

We are now back in the ER after he woke up from a 6-hour nap with purplish lips, skin mottling, and shaking. Those symptoms are gone, but he is still battling a fever, after Tylenol dosing.

Please pray that his pneumonia has not returned (x-ray looks better than 2 months ago), and that he will not need to be hospitalized.

Be a hero

During the past couple weeks, I've received a few emails about specific sibling groups of children. Children who are in need of a good home. There are so many "available."

It is heartbreaking to see pictures of children who have no permanent home or unconditional love. They have no family who will stay with them and support them through anything.

I just got this in an email from a foster care advocate. There are so many children who NEED good, supportive families TODAY.

They are just waiting, wishing, and praying for a home. If you are able, consider being a hero in their lives. Foster care is tough (understatement of the year), but it saves children from unfathomable circumstances.

Be a hero.



The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release April 29, 2011 Presidential Proclamation--National Foster Care Month
Progress in America can be measured by the opportunities we pass on to our children. For nearly half a million youth in foster care across our country, the best path to success we can give them is the chance to experience a loving home where they can feel secure and thrive. During National Foster Care Month, we renew our commitment to ensuring a brighter future for foster youth, and we celebrate the selfless individuals who make a meaningful difference in their lives.

Young people in foster care are in the system through no fault of their own, and each of our Nation’s children deserves a stable home and a devoted family. Strong support structures provide children with the environment needed to learn, grow, and reach their greatest potential. Permanence is critical to the future success of foster youth and must be a key component of foster care initiatives.

My Administration is committed to achieving security for every child and supporting adolescents in foster care as they transition to adulthood. The Permanency Innovations Initiative, spearheaded by the Department of Health and Human Services, is providing support to public-private partnerships focused on decreasing the number of children in long-term foster care. Over the next 5 years, this program will invest $100 million in new intervention strategies to help foster youth move into permanent homes, test new approaches to reducing time spent in foster care placements, and remove the most serious barriers to finding lasting, loving environments. Over 110,000 children in foster care today are waiting to be adopted. Across America, there are families who need these children as much as these children need families. I encourage those interested in adopting a child in need of a home to explore the life-changing resources available at www.AdoptUSKids.org.

We are also investing in the health and well-being of our young people in foster care. Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, we have significantly increased funding for the Title IV-E adoption and foster care assistance program to provide safe and stable out-of-home care for children. As a result of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act I signed into law last year, all children enrolled in foster care automatically qualify for free meals in all Department of Agriculture child nutrition programs. Additionally, beginning in 2014, the Affordable Care Act will require States to extend Medicaid coverage up to age 26 for all youth who have aged out of the foster care system.

As a Nation, we all have a responsibility to remain persistent in the charge to provide the best care possible for children when they cannot remain in their own homes. During National Foster Care Month, we recognize the efforts of foster families, social workers, faith-based and community organizations, and others that are improving the lives of young people in foster care across our country, and I encourage all Americans to partake in efforts to serve these children in the year ahead.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 2011 as National Foster Care Month. I call upon all Americans to observe this month by taking an active role in activities across our country that recognize not only these cherished children and youth, but also the commitment of so many that touch their lives at a most challenging time.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.

BARACK OBAMA

Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/04/29/presidential-proclamation-national-foster-care-month

Medical drama--just make it stop!

Here are Anthony's handsome little left leg and foot bones.

We've had quite a week or two.

After all the drama last week, with a broken port, chemo with an IV placed in Anthony's hand, and surgery to replace the broken port, I finally got to see the doctor about a weird bug bite under my arm.

Our hotel last week had a pool. I forgot my swim suit, so when I was trying one on that night, I saw a HUGE red bite-like thing under my arm. The priority until Thursday evening was getting chemo and Anthony's port redone.

So, Friday I finally went in to our doctor.

He said it could be MRSA, strep, staph, or a sebaceous cyst. All ugly things, but the cyst was clearly what we were hoping it was.

It was so gross and PAINFUL to have it drained and packed. Never had that done before.

Almost worse than labor.

After that, Daniel had to go in for his tooth extractions. We got to Sunday thinking we might be done with some drama for a while.

Yesterday, while waiting for me in a couple different appointments, Andy and Anthony hung out in the minivan (to keep Anthony away from germy people).

Andy had just worked a graveyard shift, so his seat was reclined.

Anthony was just behind him, relaxing in his car seat, buckled in and watching Tangled on his DVD player.

Anthony uses his feet like hands often. He wrapped a foot into the handle on the back of Andy's seat, just resting it in there.

We had no idea, and when I returned to the car, Andy tried to get his seat to sit straight up again. Anthony screamed as his foot was stuck in the handle on the back.

He was fine after a few minutes, so we thought he was ok.

Then last night, Anthony woke up every hour or so because he was so uncomfortable.

He normally sleeps through the entire night.

Today, we visited Anthony's doctor, and had x-rays done.

No break that he could see, but he did show me up close where the bones' growth had been stunted because of chemo. Very interesting. I can't be hateful to chemo though. It's keeping my baby alive.

It turns out my bug bite thing was a sebaceous cyst, and I can take the final packing and dressing off tomorrow!

Time for the drama to be done.

Anthony loves his Kelly girl.

At the dentist's office this morning.

Anthony was so happy to be OUT of his stroller to crawl around.

His little leg was hurting.

Bear walking

And looking upside down

Post-Op cuteness, Parade, and Playing with our food

Our amazingly awesome friend, Sarah, came to be with me during Anthony's surgery.

Afterwards, she was having fun letting him play with stuff in the room.

...like the little pink pukey thingies that are shaped like jelly beans.

On our way back from Seattle, we got some McDonald's food...

Josh showed me the Happy Meal bag.

"When Scottie got sick he had to fly to a hospital far away.

Ronald McDonald House gave his family a place to stay close by.

With his family near, Scottie got better quicker...

so he could go back home."

This just reminds me of what a shock it was this week to visit our Seattle Ronald McDonald House.

OVER 700 families are served each year there.

That is a LOT of people.

As we ate dinner at the House on Tuesday, I was blown away by how many families there are at the House right now. Some with just one child, many with several children.

That is WAY TOO MANY DIAGNOSES.

Too many families hearing that something is wrong with their child's health.

This is astounding, and it's only a drop in the bucket.

We are so grateful that we had the House to live in for the 14 months we needed to be in Seattle.

I am grateful for the "family" we met and got to know while there.

I am grateful for all the staff and volunteers who work so hard to make it like home

I am grateful for the support we received there.

I am grateful for everyone who has ever supported Ronald McDonald House Charities, whether through prayer, donations of small change at McDonald's, or donations of items or time.

If you are able, Seattle Ronald McDonald House is always in need of support.

Here is their website.

On our way back, Anthony liked having Josh eat his toes.

Daniel had to have 2 permanent teeth pulled, so his other tooth can come in.

Those things were so HUGE!

They looked big enough to be dog or shark teeth.

Today, we went to see Josh in Wenatchee's Apple Blossom Youth Parade.

Anthony stayed in his bubble because of the amount of people and their germs.

When we got home, Andy saw for himself how Anthony is almost beyond the tall baby gate.

The gate has to be lifted while pushing a button.

Anthony can do half of that.

This afternoon, the girls found a big, inflatable football I bought 2 years ago for summer fun.

Dinner tonight was hamburgers.

We were out of buns, so we had them on bread.

Daniel said the picture below is me...see the fork about to stab my eye on it...

Kelly's friends all think Daniel is "hot."

So when we got to her friend's house after a birthday party, it was a mob scene to see Daniel.

They thought Anthony was cute too.

Josh was on a hike, so they didn't see him.

Hotels, chemotherapy, and surgery

Since Anthony needed chemo on Wednesday in the early morning, Andy, Josh, Maggie, Anthony, and I came to Seattle on Tuesday and stayed in a hotel.

Anthony loved the drawers to climb into.

Maggie liked that, because she didn't bring her swimsuit, we went and bought one.
Josh liked the pool, hot tub, and having cable.


At the hospital on Wednesday, Anthony ended up waiting. A lot.
So, he watched his favorite movie, Toy Story 3.
Check out how close he has it to his face.

Anthony's port was not working, so we needed to do a line study, to see what was wrong.

The port tubing inside Anthony's chest is out of place, and broken in at least 2 places.

So, that needs to be replaced today, Thursday.

They still needed to give Anthony his chemo yesterday, so they put an IV in his hand and that worked.

He didn't notice too much, as long as Disney was on!

Andy and Anthony chilling last night.

See that smug smile on Anthony's face. :)

Colored eggs and Daniel braces

Maggie and Lilly were all excited to dye some eggs on Sunday.

Daniel before

Daniel after

Anthony climbing out/in the toy cube. He just likes to climb!