Blook Work Results

Yay, I heard from Dr. Lee today and received Layla's blood work results.  It took me a bit to process the information and actually figure everything out but the short of it is this:  She doesn't appear to have an immune system deficiency.  She does have a Vitamin D deficiency which is mild and can be treated with a multivitamin with extra Vitamin D.  Easy fix and this is quite common for children with asthma and food allergies.  An easier fix would be to move to Florida and play in the sunshine every day... although the likelihood of that happening is slim to none.  While she tested positive to tree nuts and walnuts back in 2010, the blood work did not show this allergy this time.  However, I think we will be avoiding them just in case.  We could do further testing into this, but at this rate I firmly believe that avoiding them would be our best bet.  She is also still highly allergic to peanuts.  (darn) So it looks like we will still be on high alert in that department.  Dr. Lee also feels that she needs the 23-valent Pneumovax Immunization... which when I researched what on earth this meant, I think it simply means the Pnuemonia Vaccine.  (Still looking into this to make sure I'm right)After receiving this vaccine, he then will do follow up blood work to retest her immune system.   

Where do we go from here?  Well we have a follow up with Dr. Lee in 3 weeks.  From there we will see how her current cocktail of meds are working out for her.  She is currently in the middle of yet another asthma bout, however, upon checking her Pulsox yesterday, we seem so be keeping a big attack at bay.  She's on the neb every 4 hours and we have been extremely strict with making sure she is getting her inhalers twice a day along with her Singulair.  If she should continue to have these bouts then we may have to add in an Advair or something of those sorts.

We also have a follow up with Dr. Verhave in 3 weeks for the EE recheck to see where we stand with that and if it is contributing to her asthma and allergies.  I am curious to see where we stand with this but I have a lot of anxiety about putting her through yet another endoscopy now that she is two years older and can process more of it.  That is not going to be a fun day.  So back to Boston we go and it sounds like we'll be spending some time up there over the course of the next several months.  I'll say again how fortunate we are to have this hospital at our finger tips and only an hour away. 
 
I truly hope that I am not missing anything here.  I lay awake at night thinking about this poor kid and what I can do to help her stay well.  I rack my brain to see if there is something we are missing or something more we could be doing.  I just want this Ravioli well. Period.

Other than that I am just continuing to plug along with work, planning the Father Daughter Dance for Hannah's school, planning Han's 1st Communion, and realizing that the Cannelloni is about to be TWO in only a few short months.  My oh my!

Here are the Blood Work results.  I like to post them here so when it comes a time to compare, I'll have them in a safe spot!  ;)

Layla's lab results are below. Her blood counts show no changes concerning for an underlying immune deficiency. Antibody titers were adequate to 1 of 14 pneumococcal serotypes as well as to tetanus and Hib (PRP). Immunoglobulin levels were normal. Overall, there was the immune evaluation revealed no significant issues.

She has a mild Vitamin D insufficiecy and postive test to peanuts. Tree nut testing was negative.

Recommendation: I would like to further evaluate her immune system to see how well she responds to the 23-valent Pneumovax. This immunization can be given in your pediatrician's office. If not available, then it can be given at our clinic in Children's Hospital. Once this is done, she will need to have repeat measurement of antibody titers one month afterwards.
I also recommend that she start a multi-vitamin containing Vitamin D. Regarding tree nuts – she had a positive walnut skin test in 2010. If you are interested in giving her tree nuts, then she should come back to our clinic for tree nut testing. If negative then I would want to do a challenge to walnuts. If she passes that, then she will only need to avoid peanuts.




04/05/2012 16:29
WBC 7.50 K cells/uL 5.98 - 10.80
Hemoglobin 12.1 g/dL 11.1 - 12.9
Hematocrit 36.0 % 31.8 - 37.0
Platelet 349 K cells/uL 208 - 410
MPV 7.8 fL 7.3 - 8.0
RBC 4.26 M cells/uL 3.89 - 4.67
MCV 84.6 fL H 77.7 - 84.1
MCH 28.4 pg 27.0 - 29.6
MCHC 33.5 g/dL L 34.0 - 35.6
RDW 13.8 % 13.0 - 14.2
HDW 2.51 g/dL L 2.69 - 3.17
Absolute Neutrophil Count 1.64 K cells/uL L 2.29 - 6.36
Absolute Lymphocyte Count 4.91 K cells/uL H 1.46 - 3.78
Absolute Eosinophil Count 0.32 K cells/uL H 0.02 - 0.20
RBC Morphology Yes NA
Neutrophil/Band 22 % L 34 - 78
Left Shift Absent NA
Lymphocyte 66 % H 11 - 59
Monocyte 4 % 4 - 8
Eosinophil 4 % 1 - 4
Basophil 2 % H 0 - 1
Atypical Lymphocyte 2 % 0 - 4
Anisocytosis, RBC 1+ NA
Microcytosis, RBC 1+ NA
Pneumococcal IgG Panel Interpretation See Note NA
Pneumococcus Type 1, IgG 0.46 mcg/mL NA
Pneumococcus Type 12F, IgG 0.28 mcg/mL NA
Pneumococcus Type 14, IgG 0.30 mcg/mL NA
Pneumococcus Type 18C, IgG 0.86 mcg/mL NA
Pneumococcus Type 19F, IgG 0.67 mcg/mL NA
Pneumococcus Type 23F, IgG 0.16 mcg/mL NA
Pneumococcus Type 6B, IgG 0.56 mcg/mL NA
Pneumococcus Type 3, IgG 0.49 mcg/mL NA
Pneumococcus Type 4, IgG 0.08 mcg/mL NA
Pneumococcus Type 5, IgG 6.48 mcg/mL NA
Pneumococcus Type 7F, IgG 0.28 mcg/mL NA
Pneumococcus Type 8, IgG 0.18 mcg/mL NA
Pneumococcus Type 9N, IgG 0.08 mcg/mL NA
Pneumococcus Type 9V, IgG 0.28 mcg/mL NA
PRP (Polysaccharide Ribose Phosphate) 5508 ng/mL NA
Tetanus IgG 1.73 IU/mL 0.15 - 7.00
IgG 667 mg/dL 600 - 1500
IgG1 427 mg/dL NA 290-1065 -
IgG2 85 mg/dL NA 28-315 -
IgG3 29 mg/dL NA 4-71 -
IgG4 31 mg/dL NA 0-90 -
IgA 59 mg/dL 50 - 150
IgM 102 mg/dL H 22 - 100
IgE 159 units/mL 0 - 200
Allergen, Almond <0.35 kU/L NA
Allergen, Brazilnut <0.35 kU/L NA
Allergen, Cashew <0.35 kU/L NA
Allergen, Hazelnut <0.35 kU/L NA
Allergen, Pecan <0.35 kU/L NA
Allergen, Pistachio <0.35 kU/L NA
Allergen, Pine Nut <0.35 kU/L NA
Allergen, Walnut <0.35 kU/L NA
Allergen, Peanut 13.90 kU/L NA
25-Hydroxy Vitamin D 22.9 ng/mL L 30.0 - 80.0

Last but not least... HAPPY BIRTHDAY BILLY!  Wishing you many more years of happiness and health!  XO

Easter 2012

Tub time! 

Word Parade Day 

My little Bunny 

The biggest welt on her back is from the horse allergy...  still boggles my mind 

TY Easter Bunny! 

My latest creation

Surprise Robbie Dobbs!  Mom and Dad flew home for your 40th!!! 

My Cherubs! 

Home Sweet Home

Sometimes good things do happen to good people.  It's been a whirlwind of craziness the past several weeks, leaving me little time to update.  However, it is all good craziness.  I'll take that any day over boring and mundane! We are mostly settled in our "New Chateau" as I like to call it.  Even though this chateau is a very familiar one to me.  The first few days were a bit odd, but I can honestly say now that I feel like I never left.  It is a feeling of comfort and security.  It's home.  It's the House That Built Me.  I can't even put into words how much this means to me and I know Billy understands.  Ultimately, it was his decision.  I would not have had it any other way.  We are both in love with this home.  We are both forever grateful for the life changing opportunity this move gave us all.  Fingers crossed that our "old" home will find some lovely new owners and fit the last piece of this puzzle. 

I took the babies for a walk yesterday up the road.  It was crazy to be doing this with them.  Surreal almost.  Trekking the same path that I once did as a child.  I explained to them how much I loved the street and how peaceful it always was and still is.  Cameron had a blast and walked much of the way.  We met some new faces along the way and everyone was so friendly.  It just felt right.  It just felt like .. well like HOME.  I came back and put Cam down for a nap and went back up the road with Miss Hannah who wanted to get a bike ride in.  We happened to run into three boys at the end of the street whom we found out were close in age to Hannah.  She was thrilled, although mortified that I was asking all of these boys questions.  LOL  However, through this questioning, we also found out that one of the boys on Hannah's hockey team also lives on the street.  That was all she needed to hear.  She was happy.  Possibly excited about switching schools.  (My only worry in this whole decision!)

Most of what we wanted to do before the holidays is done.  Cameron's room came out more beautiful than I even expected.  In it's neutral, brown and cream tones, with a love note from Mommy on the wall.  Coincidentally, Billy was a tad upset that his name wasn't mentioned in this love note.  I told him I promised to look for one that said, "Let's play ball" or "Pass me the puck:" - Love Daddy.  He seemed happy with that response! 

The girls have their almost complete Paris Boutique styled room.  All Hannah's idea since she is fascinated with Paris.  Billy just hung the chandelier Friday which was one of the last touches to the room that I had been waiting for.  I love how it looks and the chandelier ties the room together.  Santa will be bringing them new curtains and a rug and it should complete the look!  They also got a love note from Mommy on their wall.. wink wink.

I even painted a few more rooms in the house which helped to bring our style into it.  I have been quite the busy bee which is reason for my now panic stricken state realizing that there are only two more days to finish some birthday shopping and prepare for turkey day!  How quickly these holidays always sneak up on me!  Instead of saying I'm going to have all my shopping done by blah blah blah a date so I can enjoy the holiday, I decided I'm just going to enjoy the season and try not to stress myself out too much.  I have so much to be thankful for and I am going to revel in that.  I have three beautiful children whom I adore more than anything in this world.  I have a wonderful husband whom I am about to embark on a new adventure with in a new home and I have a wonderful extended family on both sides who mean the world to me.  Life is good.  Exhale. 

Falling into cooler weather...

Have I said lately how much I love these kids of mine?  I swear if it weren't for them I would be crawled up under a rock somewhere.  They are what keep me going on the good days and even more so on the bad days.  I am so grateful and thankful that they are in my life.  That they are these three, sweet, adorable little beans and that they are mine.  I'm not sure how I got so lucky, or what I ever did to deserve them but I can't even begin to imagine my life without them.  There's nothing more to it.  Period.  End of story!

We spent the Columbus Day weekend up North.  New Hampshire in the Fall is my favorite, although the temperatures were extremely warm that you would have sworn it was the dead of summer.  Thankfully, the foliage was so breathtaking that it reassured me that this surely was the Fall Season.  We visited our favorite craft fair and I even picked up a few Christmas presents.  I have this thing for the painted wooden country signs with the cute sayings.  Let's just say that the ones I chose fit the people I chose them for perfectly!  The kids then headed up to Loon's Octoberfest with Billy and the rest of the gang while I hung back with Cam so that he could go down for his nap.  Mama ended up snuggling up and catching herself a few winks herself.  Don't remember the last time I did that!  We spent the rest of the weekend visiting our favorite spots.  Sugar Hill Sampler, Harmon's Cheese Shop and the candy store.  I stocked up on my favorite Cider Tea at the Sugar Hill Sampler.  If you ever get there, it's a must have!  We carved pumpkins and raked leaves into a pile so that the kids could jump in.  Seven kids in total and yet you would never even know it.  They were so well behaved!  Sunday night I decided to head to one of the famous moose sighting spots.  (Yes, I am still obsessed with seeing one)  Hannah came along and we began our drive on the Kangamangus.  The traffic coming back into town was ridiculous so I was glad we were heading north and not stuck in it.  As we were driving, Hannah said she wasn't feeling well.  I told her to close her eyes and try to rest.  25 minutes later, I found our spot and it was exactly dusk.  (Best time to see a moose)  We got out of the car and Hannah was just not right.  I felt her head and yes, she was burning up.  I grabbed a blanket for her and we sat on a rock for barely five minutes waiting for a moose.  I knew I had to get her back home and back in the car we went.  (Again, no moose!)  The poor kid was so sick she was whimpering on the way home.  Heading south was a complete traffic jam and it took us forever to get home.  I got her up the stairs just in time and that was it.  Banana just about made it to the bathroom before she got sick.  We were up the entire night with her, but thankfully by morning she had begun to feel a bit better and her fever was down.  We packed it up and headed on home as Layla now had begun to feel warm and my stomach was not right. 


It seems as though we all ended up with a touch of something and now we are all suffering with these nasty colds.  Blech!  I feel so bad for the kids as they can hardly breath and their noses are all pouring.  Layla had a rough day at school yesterday and they said she was just not her usual, spunky self.  I brought her home and on the couch she stayed for the rest of the evening.  Cam's face is all chapped from his nose running and he is just not his happy self.  He hardly ate a bite of lunch and is currently conked out in the pack n play.  Billy went to bed at 8:00PM last night, so I know he is not feeling well either.  I am just feeling plain yucky.  It is the type of day where all you want to do is stay on the couch and watch movies.  Then again, that would only take place in my "Stay at Home Mom" pipe dream.  Hopefully we can get healthy again by the weekend.  We have birthday parties to attend.  Hockey practice, CCD and Hannah has her first game.  Fingers crossed we get on the mend! 


I was able to get an hour and half out with Hannah after work yesterday.  DATE afternoon!  We never get much time just the two of us and I was feeling quite guilty that that the child was suffering in the clothes department.  Everything is too small on her and she just doesn't have many clothes at all.  The other two get tons of hand me downs (TY Ant Denise) to add to what they get for their birthdays and Hannah doesn't get this.  She is the oldest and the biggest.  We didn't have the money to go back to school shopping this year so she has just been making do.  Plus the weather has been so warm that she was able to just continue to wear her summer things.  I scraped some money together and out we went yesterday!  She was so excited and so happy to be buying some new things.  We got her some great boots at Target and finally some new underwear!  Then we headed on over to Childrens Place and picked up a few long sleeved shirts and a jean skirt.  We tried our best to make the money I had stretch as much as we could and she was really good about.  (It drives me crazy how expensive clothes are... especially for kids!)  She was happy!  Her night was complete when her Halloween Costume arrived when we got home.  I was happy to have her feel special for the day.  She deserves it.  We finished the evening out with completing her homework.  She had to find a favorite poem and be prepared to read it to the class.  She chose "My Special Diet" by Kenn Nesbitt.  I have to share it because I just love it too much.  And if you heard her read it you would be grinning from ear to ear. 

My Special Diet

Fish sticks, Tater Tots,

Candy bars, baloney,

Ice cream, Bubble Gum,

Cheesy Macaroni.

This is all I ever eat

Don't knock it til' you try it,

I haven't lost a single pound,

But still I love my diet!

Love it!  The little booger!  I am a smidge concerned about her however.  She woke up yesterday complaining of neck pain on the left side.  It seemed to get a little better by night time but this morning it was worse.  She was crying this morning because it hurt so badly and she had a tough time getting a shirt over her head.  I had assumed that she had just slept wrong the night before but now that it is getting worse I am a little concerned.  At her check up last week, Dr. Sowa mentioned her ear tubes were out.  (great.. ugh)  The left ear is her worst ear and this is also the one where the hemangioma is wrapped around her Eustachian tube.  It's hard not to think that something could be going on here.  I'm sorry, I know it sounds neurotic, but after going through what I went through with her, I will never question my worry.  I told her we would give it one more day to see if it gets any better and then I would take her in to see Dr. Sowa.  I am hoping it is just a little muscle ache or maybe some achy glands from her cold.  Fingers crossed she'll feel better by morning.  

Happy Thursday!

xo



PS:  HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY SHANNY (OCTOBER 8th).. MY TWO TIME BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR!  LOVE AND BLESSINGS!  TO MANY MORE YEARS OF BEING CANCER FREE!

The swing of things

Well I will say that I had a productive weekend whipping the house into shape and getting organized for this school year.  There is still much more to do, but at least I started making progress!  I made the girls a little homework center where they can store their homework until it is finished and ready to be handed in.  Otherwise it tends to get lost in the shuffle of the mail and I am often searching frantically for it the night before.  Now they each have a folder, an array of writing utensils and paper for when they need it. 

I also got into Layla's drawers and began to go through her clothes.  With her it's difficult because she is still so tiny that a 3T still fits her.  Because she is tall however, the 4T fits her length but tends to be baggy in other areas.  So I tend to hold on to the smaller sizes and just pair it with leggins.  Thankfully this allows her many different options and we seriously love our hand me downs from Ant Denise.  I got into her flower basket as well.  We often tend to lose our favorite hair flowers and I am always searching everywhere for them.  I decided to organize them as best I could by clipping them to a long ribbon.  So much easier to find the color we want and Layla loves to be able to pick them out on her own in the mornings now.  Flowers are her trademark.  If you ask someone if they know her, they often say, "Oh the cute little girl with the flower?"  She still hardly has hair, so this is a must have accessory for us and one that I just feel is part of her and her personality.  She is my foofy flower baby girl!  I didn't realize the magnitude of my obsession with them until I began stringing them on the ribbon and actually seeing how many we have.  Slightly obsessed?

I also hung up ribbon for their school artwork.  They come home with so many beautiful pictures and projects that my fridge is just not big enough to display it all.  SO we created this ....

Monday, we ended up having a fabulous time after school.  I decided to not let my worry about dinner and getting it served on time bother me and I just ignored the fact that I needed to cook all together.  We got home, unpacked our bags and headed outside.  We played on the swing set.  We played ball.  Hannah and I played soccer and Layla became the hero when we kicked the ball over the fence into the neighbors yard.  Because she is a tiny bit, I was able to lower her over the fence to get it! LOL  It was so much fun just to let loose and play!  Cameron had a blast in the swing and the crazy man even goes down the slide and cracks up the whole way.  We came in at 5:30 and I somehow managed to put together a meal by 6:00.  It wasn't half bad either!  Steak Stir fry with white rice!  The best part was that the kids ATE it!  We are trying to get out of our macaroni and cheese, hot dog, hamburger, pasta every night routine.  I am trying to cook one meal.  One HEALTHY meal and have the whole family eat it.  This can be tough.  But I am on a mission!  They need to learn to eat healthy NOW and I need to be their example.  Here goes nothing!


Tuesdays.  Tuesdays are suppose to be my "day-off",  I can tell you that it is anything but a day off!  LOL  When I think of having a day off, I think about being lazy to wake.  I think about making breakfast for the kids but being able to make them something special like homemade waffles or pancakes.  I think about relaxing but doing something fun with the kids.  Slow moving day full of sunshine and rainbows.  Apparently, I live inside my head too much because that is SO not what my Tuesdays are like!  Instead, it's the hustle and bustle of getting the banana off to school, running to pick up Mom and then we are tossed into a whirl wind of "in the car, buckle car seats, out of the car, unbuckle car seats.  Running errands and going to eh market.  Layla dances from 1:00 - 2:00.  This is Cameron's nap time so we usually spend the hour chasing after him.  Then I drive around and try and get him to fall asleep in the car before we pick up Hannah from school.  Usually this is to no avail and Layla falls asleep instead.  We pick up Hannah from school and then go home to figure out dinner.  I make enough to send home with my parents and enough for my in laws to eat since they had to watch the kids this week while I had a 6:00PM appointment.  The glitch was that Hannah has dance from 5:00 - 6:30, so I drop her off and then come back to get the table set before I drop off Mom and head to my appointment.  My mother in law picks up Hannah from dance.. and so on until it is 10:00PM and I am completely exhausted!  Although.. dinner didn't come out too badly considering....

I did get to spend some time with Ana this week though and I just love this time we spend together.  I swear we could talk for hours.  I put the kids to bed and headed over to her house where we literally sat and talked for nearly four hours.  We sit outside in a stress free environment and just hash out life's problems.  The more I get to know her, the more I see how similar we are.  I am blessed to have her in my life and I swear God sent her to me at this crucial point when I really needed someone to make me feel like I haven't lost all my marbles.  Thank you Ana for "getting me".  For making me feel somewhat normal and for loving me for who I am. 

Hockey starts this weekend for Hannah and I am so excited to see her skate again.  I feel like it has been forever.  Billy took her to get some new gear since the squirt has outgrown everything!  Mommy's thrilled that she has a new helmet to wear as well.  I am anxious to see where she places and even more anxious to hopefully see her play some games this season.  I think Sunday will determine where we stand with all of that.  I am a little hesitant to see how many days a week it will tie up, but I am also excited to see her continue to excel at this sport. 

This is a picture of Layla's Family Project.  I think Hannah and I had more fun creating it than Layla did, but it certainly came out in the famous Layla style!  It's all about PURPLE!

This is a picture of Hannah from last weekend.  Auntie Jill, her personal shopper always tends to buy her EXACTLY what she loves to wear.  Uncle Dave and I agree that she often looks more like Elton John circa 1980... but just the same... I let her be who she wants to be... within reason of course.

Last but not least, here is a picture of the crazy, little Cameroni!  God I love him!  Even though I spend most of the day frantically chasing after him while trying to say a firm "NO"!  To which he laughs at me and continues to do the thing I am telling him not to do!  LOL

It's just me and the Ravioli at the office today and I am soaking her up.  The kid has had me in stitches most of the day.  Her current favorite songs are "I want to go all the way" by Brittany (oh boy), the oldie but goodie, "Who let the dogs out"  (she seriously makes me replay and replay it) and Foster the People's, "Pumped up Kicks."  She just decided that I must wear her flower and stuck it on my head....  my little booger..

 
I hope everyone enjoys the rest of their week.  Remember... September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month!  GIVE BACK!  It will warm your heart!  I promise!