First birthday

I find myself beginning to prepare for Zachary's upcoming first birthday. It is so hard to believe that our 'baby' is going to be one in a little over a month. I find myself thinking back to Joshua's first birthday. It's hard to believe that was over 7 years ago. It truly makes me realize that life goes by entirely too fast and I need to slow down and enjoy the little things! I know that I spend way too much time worrying about work, school, the house, etc. I need to spend more of those times focused on my kids! They are such a blessing. Next time Zachary is wanting to play and all I want to do is clean, I promise to sit down and play wrestling on the floor! The next time Joshua wants to play a board game, I will not be too busy with school work, I will ask, which game? May each day give my kids joy and they will know how much they are loved and valued!

Asking for more prayers for friends

I come asking for prayers for more friends. My little friend Tyler will be 3 in May. I met him and his family when he was just a little over 4 pounds and had under gone his first heart surgery. He touched my heart and his family and I kept in touch after he got better and went home from the hospital. He has had several more surgeries and now finds himself at Riley hospital being worked up for a heart transplant. He's a strong little boy with a very weak heart. Please keep Tyler, his mom Christy, and his entire family in your prayers during this difficult time.

Cruising!!

Zachary has been so much fun lately. He is laughing all the time, giving big wet slobbery teethy kisses, and becoming much more comfortable standing on his own two feet! He is taking a few steps at a time and has found himself standing unassisted several times. I still think he could walk if he wasn't so lazy! It's just easier to crawl. Plus, he can crawl so fast!

Joshua is doing well at school. He comes home from school and Zachary's face lights up! They love each other so much and I'm so glad. Who knows how long that will last! Probably until Zachary gets into Joshua's video games! ;o)

We are beginning to plan Zachary's first birthday. We can't hardly believe it's just a short 6 weeks away! Should be a good time, hopefully all the family can make it down from the Fort Wayne area!

1274!!

Finally, our boy is normal! ;o) I called the hematology office this morning for the results of Zachary's cbc and she said his ANC is 1274! That has doubled in the last week. She still has to run the results past the dr to see if we will need to do anymore cbc's. But we are all very pleased with this number! After she told me the number, I looked at Zachary and said, "You're finally normal, baby!" He just giggled. Guess he's thinking, "That's what you think mom!"

Things are going well

I am almost afriad to write that! Zachary is doing well, he gets another CBC drawn on Thursday morning. Joshua enjoyed his 8th birthday and got embarrassed when mommy kissed him in front of the kids at school.

Thanks for the prayers! Every prayer matters and has truly helped us all!

My heart is broken for friends

Please keep Andy, Krista, and Seth Layman in your prayers as they just lost their angel Kate. Kate was a patient of mine at St. Vincent and I love their family greatly. You can read their story at www.layman4.blogspot.com

God bless them and be with them during this time of pain.

Our Monday update

Dr. Razzouk called this morning to let us know that one of the blood tests they did on Zachary, checking for antibodies against his neutrophils, was negative. He was pleased with that and said now it is just a matter of time to get his levels back to normal. Zachary seems to be feeling well. He's eating like a little piggy and back to getting into everything.

On a different note, Joshua will be 8 years old tomorrow! It's hard to believe that he is growing up so quickly. Aunt Kelly is coming over tomorrow evening to stay with Zachary and mom and dad will take Joshua out for dinner for his birthday.

Thanks again everyone for your prayers. We truly appreciate them and they work!!

How do you spell relief?

Dr. Razzouk! He was wonderful this morning with us. Assured us that this truly looks to be viral. He informed me that it can take weeks to months for Zachary's counts to come back up to normal (would have been nice if they'd told me that in the hospital). He said it can be caused by several viruses. 5th disease (which Joshua had on Christmas) or Mononucleosis (Zachary's been kissing the girls again!) are the two big ones! No need to test for either one of these right now because it won't change the treatment plan.

We are going to check frequent CBC's (did one in the office today and will do another next Thursday) to watch the counts. He said if it looks like they are just not coming up or are dropping, we may need to look at doing a bone marrow aspiration or further testing for viruses.

If he spikes a fever we have to go to the dr to get a CBC and be seen. If he starts looking very ill, to the hospital we go for antibiotics. Still keeping him out of public as much as possible for now, until his counts get higher. I have a new education on CBC's, calculating absolute neutrophil counts, and neutropenia that I didn't have prior to this appt. But all in all, I feel much relieved. Zachary even laid still for two pokes for blood (3 tubes) and didn't cry at all. What a trooper. Thanks for keeping us in your prayers.

Friends in high places

It helps to have friends in high places. My friend Kate, who I used to work with at Lutheran and St. Vincent's, is a nurse practitioner at the hematology office. She has gotten us in tomorrow morning. That way I can get my fears calmed before Monday!