The Latest

Has it really almost been a month? WOW! My success rate is getting worse. Things here are plugging along. Kate fought a tummy bug for the last 3 weeks. She was really bad off for about 10 days and then it was come and go for the next week and a half. She has officially quit nursing and I have officially quit pumping for nutritional purposes (only occasionally for comfort). She has been pretty cranky this month. She has been evolving into a two year old way too quickly for our liking. Fits, fights and talking in sentences. She is growing up quick!

Speaking of growing, Leah is turning has completely lost anything remotely toddler that she had left. She is constantly spelling, trying to read and has mastered the teenage attitude. Her behavior has been MUCH better than it was a few months ago. She has spent a lot of time soaking in the last days of summer, swimming and playing with our neighbor, Ava. As of last week, Ava's older sisters all went back to school, leaving Ava lonely. No later than 8:00, every single day, Leah is in asking if they can play. They spend all day together and they are very excited about starting school together on Tuesday. The other day I took her to buy school shoes, as she has lived in flip flops all summer. Her foot had grown 2 whole sizes since I had last bought her shoes! She is becoming more beautiful daily, inside and out.

The past week has been one of the most productive weeks of my life. I cleaned out and organized every room and closet in the house, purged off season and "too small" clothes, pulled all of the hand me downs out of the attic, wash and ironed all of the clothes for summer, fall and winter, cleaned the house top to bottom and we disassembled, moved and reassembled a huge play structure we were given for the girls. This was all on top of the "normal" jobs of the household. It felt GREAT!

About two weeks ago, I chatted, via email, with the mother of a sweet boy who has the same deficiencies as Kate. It was very nice to get some advice from a mother who has dealt with this all and I appreciate her contacting me and sharing with me so openly. After talking with her, I realized that I still hadn't received a copy of Kate's lab results and had them faxed to me. I soon realized that Kate's counts weren't that far off from her son's, who is on IVIG transfusion therapy. This left me with all sorts of questions and concerns over the coming flu season. I already had it in the back of my mind to get a second opinion. Later that day my cousin, whose daughter has the same deficiencies as Kate, called with a report from their immunology appointment that day. Even later that day, my mother-in-law called and explained that she had been at a doctor's appointment and mentioned Kate's issues. This doctor highly recommended getting a second opinion from the medical center and referred us to two pediatric immunologists, one being a Dr. D.

I took this third knock as my "sign" that I should go ahead and schedule a second opinion. While I know that Kate's case is not severe and is probably even mild, I still have so many unanswered questions. I also worry (especially since she's had such a rough time in the "off season") that by the time we get referred to a specialist through our doctor, she will be really bad off. At that point, I know from experience, if we can get in, it will be a game of treating symptoms and illnesses to get her well enough to figure out what is going on. I would much rather get her in while she is somewhat "well" and see what we can do to help keep her that way. Ideally, a second opinion would tell us that we are already doing what we can and we would continue care with our pediatrician. Even in this case, that still gets our foot in the door as an established patient, in the event things go south. Worst case scenario, we waste the day, hopefully get some questions answered and go on our way. I'm willing to risk that!

I wanted a doctor close to home, but came to the conclusion that we have one of the best medical centers in the world in our backyard. People travel across the world to be treated here. Why would I not utilize it? I called the number that I was given by my mother-in-law and was surprised to hear Dr. D, herself, on the other line. Luckily it was her voicemail, but it was obvious I had been given the number that the other doctor uses to reach her at. I left a message, stammering and stuttering, letting her know that I had been given this number, was sorry to have used it and was hoping to get an appointment to have my daughter seen.

I then googled her name to find her office number. I called and was put through to the mass appointment scheduling desk. There I learned that the next available appointment was March 2010. I decided I better go ahead and schedule it in case we needed it, so we wouldn't be put on the end of the list later on. I figured we would have plenty of time to cancel it if she improved. I then spoke to my cousin again and got her immunologists info. Called them and they didn't take our insurance. Called another friend and got the doctors info and was able to make an appointment for mid-September.

Fast forward to yesterday. I was upstairs visiting with a friend when the phone rang. Daddy-O took the call and almost forgot to give me the message later that day. It was Dr. D who called. He explained what we had called about and she was totally cool. She stated that we needed to call and set an appointment, that it would probably be for March next year and register in the system, all which we had done. She said to then call her personal nurse at this number and explain to her that we had spoken directly to Dr. D and she would move the appointment up for us. Sounds simple, but seriously? What are the odds?

I called her nurse, who was not only sweet, but super knowledgeable too. She explained that they were a teaching hospital and walked us through what to expect at our appointment, covering every detail. She set us up with an appointment the same week we were scheduled to see the other doctor, in mid-September. She asked a couple questions about Kate's history and immediately started listing tests the doctor would want done that day (one of them being one that I had asked our doctor about). She said to allow 4 hours for the appointment plus lab time. I was SO shocked, I didn't even realize that I was agreeing to be 2 hours (with rush hour traffic) from my house at 8:00 in the morning for this appointment. Beggars can't be choosers.

The way it all played out so flawlessly tells me that there is a MUCH greater hand orchestrating our lives. What a great place to be, securely in our Father's hands! When the nurse set up the appointment it wasn't with one of the doctors that had been recommend. I felt silly asking, but inquired as to whether or not the doctors all worked together since this is a clinic setting. It was then that she informed me that the doctor we had an appointment with is actually the Head of Pediatric Immunology for Texas Children's. As she stated, "You are in GOOD hands". If she only knew. WE are in the BEST hands!

I am totally at peace knowing that God lined up this appointment and am excited to get this second opinion. While I fully trust our pediatrician, I feel like I need some questions answered and a little more specific information. As you all know by now, I don't deal with unknowns very well. I know that we can rest assured in what we find out. God has cleared this path for us and I am excited to head down it.

I don't think the appointment will be any too early either, as Kate is on the upper respiratory bug fast track again this week. Sneezing, sniffling, coughing, hoarse, fever, fussy, wheezing.. oh yeah, we've got it all! I'm sure by Friday we will be on around the clock breathing treatments. Please pray that we are able to keep her off of oral steroids during this, as I know that those will throw the upcoming tests.

I PROMISE I will get to Kate's 15 and 16 month posts, Leah's 5 year post and some funnies real soon!!!! I'm afraid I've bored my audience and they've all left.