Feeling Better

Thank you to everyone who has been praying for Elise. Yesterday we went back to the doctor to do some more tests. They did a urine test, and drew some blood. Poor Elise was catheterized for the urine test and had to be strapped down when they took her blood. But the doctor called back last night with some good news, the first set of results show no bacteria in her urine and they didn't find anything abnormal in the blood test. We should know more in a few days. Plus her fever has not gone above 99.5 since Sunday night! I am so happy to have my baby girl back to almost normal.

Fever... but no cowbell

It's been a bit of a rough week... make that 4 or 5 rough weeks. Poor Elise has been battling a UTI (urinary tract infection), her second since she was born. Actually, I guess technically it's her third, since they found more bacteria after she finished up her antibiotics two weeks ago and had to start her on yet another round of antibiotics.

It all started about 5 weeks ago when I noticed she was feeling a bit warm one evening. So I took her temperature and noticed it was 100.7. Not high enough to get excited about, but definitely something to watch. So I started to track her temps and noticed while they would start off normal in the mornings, they would always rise through the day, and spike right before bedtime... but always in the low-grade range.

I mentioned it to the doc during Elise's 9 month well child visit, so she decided to do a urine test (because of Elise's history with UTIs), and found bacteria. She started her on antibiotics, but the fever still stuck around. Plus she was just not acting like herself... cranky and out of sorts. So after another test, and more bacteria and more antibiotics, Elise is STILL running a low grade fever.

I say last week was tough because I had to take her for an renal ultrasound (to make sure her kidneys were okay - and they were) on Monday. It's not that big of a deal, but try to tell that to a 9 month old who has no idea why a stranger is pushing some strange object on her tummy. They did allow me to lie on the table with her, which calmed her down a lot.

Then on Friday, we had to take her for a CT scan, which would give us a better look at her kidneys, to make sure there wasn't an infection in there. The worst part was, they had to sedate her. I was really worried about the effect it would have on Elise, but she had no side effects from the sedation. We got the results back and everything looks normal. Except that she's still running a fever.

So I'm frustrated because we have done all these tests on her, stuffed her full of antibiotics and we're at the exact same place we were 5 weeks ago, except we know what it isn't, I suppose. Please pray for Elise... we need to figure this out.

Elise playing at the hospital, waiting for her CT scan

P.S. It's not teething

Elise... workin' it

I think we may have a problem. One morning while I was taking Elise's daily picture, I noticed something very disconcerting. My 8 month old daughter seemed to be posing for the pictures. Not just sitting there, but actually tilting her head, dropping her shoulder, and displaying emotion with her eyes. I think she's been sneaking out of her room at night and watching America's Next Top Model.

Check out the photo montage above... you be the judge.

Happy Father's Day, Freddie!

I am so blessed to have a husband who takes his role as Dad seriously, and has such a fun time while he does it. He is a wonderful father to our little girl and someone I can depend on for help when I need it. Going back to when I first met him, I could tell Fred was going to be a natural as a Dad. He has always been so amazing with children and they have always been drawn to him. And now it's even better to watch how Elise lights up when she sees him.

I already know I am a lucky woman, and one day Elise will realize how lucky she is to have a father like him.

Elise discovers the window

They seem to be plotting something...


Check out those legs!

There's my Poppa!

Simple Math

Near 100 degree weather

x 12 days in a row

+ one 9 month-old (who doesn't want to sleep)

________________

one overheated, cranky, stir-crazy Joanne

Sometimes I hate you, Texas.

She Bangs the Drum

I think she gets her talent from her Uncle Stefan

Smarties and Coffee Crisp and Aero... Oh my!

So I've totally been craving chocolate lately. The kind of craving that if I don't get it, I'm going to sucker punch the next person that walks by. I'm hungry and I want chocolate. Unfortunately, the kind of chocolate I want is not readily available here. It's the chocolate of my younger days, when I lived in Canada. Where mountain streams have boxes of Smarties floating in their waters. It rains Aero bars, and snows Coffee Crisp. And you can get the good Kit Kat. I'm sorry, but the Kit Kat here just doesn't taste as good. Did I forget to mention that our roads are also paved with Kraft Dinner and Shreddies?

In truth, I could get my hands on these chocolate bars, but I'd have to pay out the nose for it. I'm sorry, $2.00 for one chocolate bar? Is it a magic chocolate bar that will replicate itself into many more chocolate bars? No? Then take your $2.00 chocolate bar and suck on it.

I'm talking to you World Market.

Daily Picture Reject #3

Something about her smile and the way she's looking at the camera... almost makes you think she knows something you don't.

Feel Like Living

"The grass is always greener,
The sun will always shine
The sky is always clearer,
Just 'cos you're alive."
-Feel Like Living
Hothouse Flowers