God is Good!

Hallelujah!  Praise the Lord!  We received some great news today, but before that I will tell the whole story.

Just after Easter weekend Conor our oldest came to me about 7pm and asked me what the lumps on his chests were.  He had two small lumps near his clavicle region.  I knew right away that these were lymph nodes and that they weren't in a spot that they should be.  So we headed off to the hospital for a quick look with Ultrasound to see what they looked like.  One node looked like a typically node but the other was round and dark and with my experience looked like a cancerous node.  So that night I got no sleep, all kinds of worries flooded my mind.  I cried for a long time.  My husband couldn't figure out why I was getting so upset about two little bumps on Conor.  The next day we got him in right away to see his Pediatrician.  And it was obvious that he too was concerned.  He had just examined Conor two weeks prior to this for a sports physical and these nodes weren't there.  So he ordered blood work and an X-ray.   The blood work came back good but the X-ray was showing suggestions of maybe another node in the chest.   So then he ordered a TB test to be performed.  We left the office that day with no new answers and set up an appointment two days later with the surgeon.  The day we seen the surgeon Conor's TB test was showing signs that it was probably going to be positive.  A lump had formed and the redness had increased to about 1 cm in size.  The surgeon suggested that we wait and watch the nodes to see if they changed in size, if not we were to check back in a month for surgery.

So the next day we came back and had the TB read.  It was positive and now the doctor was even more puzzled.  He ordered for our whole family to get the TB tests done.  Everyone but Parker were with us that day and received their TB test.  Steve took Parker in the next day after soccer.  On Sunday we went back to get ours read, Zoe's was positive but that was to be expected since she had had her TB vaccine in China.   So that day Zoe received an X-ray just to make sure.   The next day Parker's was checked and came back positive also.  So he too had an X-ray.   At that point after consulting a TB specialist Doctor in Portland the Doctor ordered for Echo our foreign exchange student to get an X-ray and quantoferon test.  Conor and Parker also received this blood test.
It took a week for these test to come back and  they were all negative.  So at this point TB was thrown out.

We then made an appointment for the surgery to be a week from then.  We wanted this nightmare to be over and to finally have some answers.  So Monday Conor underwent surgery to have the two nodes removed.    That brings me to today and the great news that we received.   The nodes were not cancerous and were reactive nodes most likely due to a shot he received the day of his physical.
We still don't answers to why he had a positive reaction to the TB test but at this point we are not worried about it any longer.

During these last three weeks I have never prayed so hard in my life.   I prayed as I was waking up, as I was taking a shower, while I was driving to work and home.  After the first appointment all I could do was cry, at this point we were thinking it could be Lymphoma.   My husband said to me that night,  why don't you use your Faith to help you through this.   It's like the light bulb went on and I started praying from then on.  I didn't shed another tear after that point,  I had a calmness that only could have come from God.  Somehow everything didn't look so scary, I knew he was in control and he would take care of Conor no matter what the outcome was.  I looked at my kids and loved ones differently, I told my kids I LOVE YOU so many times one day they asked me what was wrong.  I wasn't going to take anything for granted anymore.  During those deep prayers with God I made some promises.  Promises that I will do anything and everything he has in store for me, whether it be hard or difficult.  I feel that this has been test to see it we could handle what he has in store for us and the paths he has for us to take.  I've felt for a long time that he's wanted me to step out of my comfort zone and take chances. 

So today I am thanking God for this experience even though it has been tough it has forever changed us.

A walk to cure Juvinile Diabetes

 

all of us riding on the train

waiting in line for the balloon man

Conor

Zoe and her butterfly wings

Zoe acting embarrassed about hugging Anna's baby

Chase's hat

Parker's hat

On stage for the speech

Chase & Grandpa

Zoe & Uncle Sean

Racing

Zoe skating

Robin & Susan (Steve's Parents) skating

Zoe & Grandma almost fell out on this corner, very scary

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Today was the JDRF walk in Portland.  We've done this walk for the last 5 years.  As most of you know our oldest son has Type 1 diabetes.  This year was a little different, he was chosen to be ambassador along with three other kids.   They got to go on live tv and filmed a commercial.  Today he had to get on stage and say a short thank you, he had his line memorized but was really nervous.  When it got to his turn he lost track and stumbled a bit but came through.  We then went on a 5k walk and had a great lunch.  We had both grandparents there, my brother and his wife and friends from Corvallis who also have a son Conor's age with Diabetes.  We had a fun day, we got to ride lots of rides after the walk and we even skated for awhile.  Now were all exhausted and hate that there is school and work tomorrow, one more day break would of been nice.

Hearing test

Zoe and I made the 1 1/2 hour drive to OHSU on wednesday to have her annual hearing test.  She did awesome I was so proud of her.  Her hearing is pretty much the same.  We talked a little about a BAHA (hearing device for her right ear) and I will be checking more into it sootn.  We rode the sky tram up to the hospital on the hill.  After our visit we stopped by our adoption agency to say Hi to our social worker and let her see how big Zoe was getting.  Then last stop was the mall, Zoe needed a Mermaid tiara for her costume. This weekend Soccer games start, pictures to come soon!

Crazy everyday life!

Yep that's the story of my life right now.   Crazy....   Just to give you insight on one little day, that is way to much like all the other days in my life.   I woke up to a sick kid, a very sick kid who could barely breathe.  I immediately started calling all my options for someone to come and stay with the other kids while I rushed him in to the ER.   But noone answered, everyone was at work, even dad wasn't answering his cell or his desk phone.  So at this time the others are starting to wake up.  So I start directing kids to the shower or downstairs for breakfast, trying to hurry everyone along so that we can get him into the doctor.  Finally everyones ready, we drop the two other kids off at their schools and then head to town.  At this time I'm contemplating on whether to mess with the ER since he's finally breathing better and take him to see his regular doctor who knows him better.    Dad finally calls back claiming his phone shut off and he didn't know it (I was a bit mean to him about this), I tell him I have it all under control (but really I'm still trying to figure out where I'm really going).  I call our dr's office and get him in right away, but first we have to run and drop off sister so that she can catch the bus to speech.  Then we rush off to make our 845 appointment, and dad meets us.  We get called back.   We gp over all the history with the doctor and learn that he needs to not only  take steroids but also needs to see and alergist, take allergy meds and that he has Asthma.  This is the same child Conor, who were already dealing with so many medical issues.   So we leave the office, head straight upstairs to make his allergy test appt and then rush over to the pharmacy.   While at the pharmacy I realize we only have a few minutes before were suppose to be heading to pick up Zoe from speech class.   So I'm a bit pushy and we get out of the pharmacy with just minutes to spare.   We pick up Zoe, head home, make lunch, put her down for a nap, clean a little, and then my friend arrives.   My friend and I spend about 1 1/2 hours preparing documents for the upcoming spelling bee.   I leave my house with just minutes to spare, reach the school to pick up Chase and then get told that he's already on the bus and it just left.   We'll that's not funny, I told his teacher I have an appt I have to have Conor to in about half and hour, she assures me I have plenty of time.   She also informs me that my son told the aide that he lost a tooth today, well the aide went and got an envelope and wrote his name on it and then found out as she was putting the tooth in that it really wasn't a tooth, that it was a small white pebble from the playground, I appologize and then rush off.  I  drive and wait at the stop that he's suppose to get off, he comes about 10 minutes later.  I rush home to get Conor, Zoe and Parker to go to Conor's eye appt.   I ask Parker how he did on his spelling test, he tells me he got an F, an F, what!!!!   Of course he couldn't find his paper, I call his teacher, find out that my child is drawing fish while he's suppose to be listening...... We discuss the whole way in town about drawing and listening to his teacher.  Then I talk to Chase about lying about his tooth and try not to laugh as he hands me the envelope with the little white rock in it.   We make it to Conor's appt. just in time I check him in, and then Zoe has to use the bathroom.  Well I'm by myself and can't leave the others in the waiting room  I walk them all over to the restroom and have Parker wait outside and take the two little ones in with me.  We get back to the waiting room and Zoe notices a water tank and she wants a cup of water.  I say no and try to redirect her, well she won't take no for an answer and keeps bugging so I have Conor poor just a little cup since I don't want to get the little ones started playing with water.  He takes it over to her and she hits it away because she wanted to pour her own cup, water goes all over the table.  I grab a handfull of kleenex to wipe it up and sit her down on a time out.  Well she decides to scream as loud as I've ever heard her scream I have to take her out of the waiting area.  Finally I calmed her down enough to go back and thats when my husband arrives.   We decided I would take the younger two home and he would stay there.   I have a quick errand on the way home, we stop by the court house to drop off our re-adoption paperwork, the kids were good and I awarded them with bubblegum for the ride home.   I get home start making dinner, the others arrive home, we eat.   Then I have about 20 minutes before I have to be at a meeting at the middle school for outdoor camp.   I go to the meeting, then come home, the kids and hubby load in the car, we head over to DQ (the kid's favorite place) and have some icecream.  Then when we get home it's time for pj's, brushing teeth and a book.  And now I'm up to present time.....  No wonder my husband thinks I'm crazy for talking adoption already!

Diabetes update.

Many you know my oldest boy has type 1 diabetes and that last fall he started on the insulin pump and I posted about it here.  Well today we went back up to Portland to OHSU for his checkup.  The last few months have been a whirlwind.  Our very first time we changed his pump site at home it failed on us and he had ketones (which is bad), we had a long night and spent most of it on the phone with a doctor in Portland.
After that initial scar things have gone pretty good.  Conor is really athletic and plays just about every sport so it's given him more freedom and stable blood sugar levels.   His appointment today went great his A1C ( which is a test the test the average blood sugar levels for the past three months) was very good, in fact the lowest he's ever had a 6.9!   So overall switching to the pump was a good move and has made our lives a little easier (other than the record keeping).  Here are a few pictures from today.  We also took a quick trip across the border to take some pictures for our friends in Florida ( who sent us their flat doll).  We stopped at Fort Vancouver which was very beautiful, I hope to bring the family back soon!

We ended the night with Parker's district Choir concert.  He made a very handsome choir boy even if he didn't smile at all or clap his hands when he was suppose to.

Riding the cable car up to the top of the hill

 In front his doctor's building

At Fort Vancouver

The tall out walls

This was after I told him to smile, didn't help!

Front row

4th & 5th Grade Choir

More sickness

Well two more joined the sick house today.  Parker woke up with a sore throat and fever and Steve had a sore throat.  Steve got Parker right in to the doctor to get his throat swabbed and then talked the doctor into swabbing his throat too.  So half of our family has had the horrible strep throat, I praying the other half that includes me, Zoe and Chase can be sparred from the illness.

Another ER visit.

I hope this isn't a new trend in our house.  I ended up taking Conor to the ER tonight since he was running a 103 temp and his whole body was covered in hives.  I went alone with him while Steve stayed home with the little ones.  It ended up that Conor needed an IV and blood work and let's just say he wasn't very happy about this.  It took four of us to hold him down to get the IV in and he screamed the whole time.  Yes this is the same kid I wrote about last year when I took him in for his Middle school shots and dad had to chase him in the parking lot.  Well three hours later and a diagnosis of Scarlet Fever and Strep throat we were on our way home with a ten day dose of anitbiotics.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that noone else in the family gets it.

Christmas Eve with family and a trip to the ER!

                    Our Christmas Eve started out scary.  Chase tripped and fell and hit his head really hard.  He wouldn't stop crying and then wanted to sleep.  On the way to the ER he threw up, and at that point things were looking pretty bad.  I struggled to keep him awake until they came to get him for his Head CT and then he puked again.  He was so brave for the CT scan and did good.   It was a miracle after we returned back to the room after the CT scan Chase started acting like himself again.  So he got a diagnosis of a concusion and right ear infection (which explains why he's been falling the last few days.)  So we returned home just in time for dinner and the rest of the evening went well. We had a great time visiting with our family.

Charlie & Geneva (aunt & uncle of Jenny)

                               My mom & dad

 My dad and his mother Evelyn and uncle charlie

Our friend Sandy and our dog summer

Anna & Sean (brother and sister-in-law)

 Parker & Conor

   My cousin Andrew and his family, Tami, William, Michael and Dallas

Zoe and her uncle Sean!  She didn't let him out of her sight all night!

Conor has the pump!

We had our appointment on friday and after three hours of education Conor got hooked up to the Diabetic pump.  Of course it was only Saline for this weekend, their testing us to see how well we do.  We go back tomorrow and he will recieve insulin through the pump from then on.   We have a rough month ahead of us.  We have a new routine to adjust to and we have multiple blood sugar checks throughout the night 12, 3, and 6 am every day for a month.  

Conor giving his insulin shot in his leg, he won't be doing this anymore!!

Dad wore the pump also all weekend to see what it's like

Conor showing off his new pump

complete with a camo cover!

Conor got his pump

Last week we finally got Conor's diabetic pump in the mail.  He goes to the Dr next friday to get hooked up and  to recieve the necessary education.

Diabetes Walk

Today our family did the Diabetic walk in Portland, for Juvenile Type 1 Diabetes

This was Zoe's first walk

As most of you know from this story here , our 11 year old son has type 1 Diabetes.  So this walk is dear to our hearts.  We didn't get to go last year since we were anticipating traveling at this time (which ended up being later).  So we endured the rain and had a great day.

And gave to a great cause that will hopefully one day change his life.

Zoe loved all the activities and her special balloon hat with a squirrel, which later popped

  And Chase got a sword, the only type that he's allowed to have!

And my mom was there, she never misses a special moment with her grand kids

Meeting silly characters

And getting tattoo's

      And our girly girl couldn't miss a photo opt with the Cheerleader group!

Ready to start the 3 mile walk

Or shall I say jog, that I now regret since my legs are killing me!

                       We enjoyed some rides

                                                     And had some fun!

                                                And giggles!

             We stopped and took a break and let the boys roller skate

Chase lasted 30 seconds

We got in some last minute rides

                                  And the cho cho train was a must

Since one little girl LOVES trains

And can never get enough!!!

Once again a great day for a great cause!!!   P.S. Parker & my dad were missing due to a very important fishing trip he had promised Parker!