Updates....P's 18 month check up

So hopefully soon I will have my computor back so I can catch my blog back up.... But for now Sammy is sick. I brought him to the doctor today, and essentially he has lots of swollen lymph nodes, a red throat, lots of fluid in his ears, nasal congestion and sinus congestion. Due to his C diff history we aren't starting antbiotics until he gets worse. So for now he is fairly irritable and crabby. And due to the platelet issue I can't give him most decongestants or antihistamines, and all I can give him for the sore throat is tylenol and he is saying that that doesn't help much. So prayers greatly appreciated. Preston is officially 18months old! I still can't believe how far we have come in the last six months with him. It has certainly been a roller coaster ride, but I am so blessed to be on this ride with him. We are surrounded by wonderful family and friends who have supported us and helped in countless ways throughout the hospitalizations and doctors appointments. We have amazing doctors on our team. And so many more wonderful people loving on this special guy of mine. He is really starting to take off with his babbling. He now says: Mom, momma, mommy, dad, up, hi, want, more, ear, eye and a few other random things he says once and then not again. He knows many of his body parts and points when asked: head, hair, eyes, ears, mouth, teeth, nose, tongue, neck, belly, arm, fingers, leg, toes, knee. He is starting to recognize the color yellow. He absolutely loves playing with any child, but especially with Sam and sophia. He is a climber for sure, and has taken to jumping now too. He is always falling and bumping his head on something, the poor guy. Eating continues to be a challenge, some days he eats ok, and some days are a complete flop. I am not sure if it is due to feeling poorly or if this is just a phase. The fecal transplant is still a possibility but it isn't guaranteed yet. We just have to wait and see how he does once we stop the several months of antibiotics. His weight today was 23lb 12oz and his height was 33inches. Tomorrow both boys are following up with GI. It will be an interesting appointment, as Sam has been having some stomach pain again, as well as two episodes of blood in his stool recently. Prayers for safe travels please as the weather isn't supposed to be that great :-(

I don't even know where to begin....

Gosh it has been so long. We have been on a roller coaster ride for last several weeks. Preston still seems to be struggling, but the struggle fluctuates on a day to day basis. He is still having lots of diarrhea, and intermittant severe belly pain. He was started on a second medication last week that is supposed to help get the intestinal infection under control. We are seeing a specialist next week, to discuss the possibility of a fecal transplant. Yes you read that right. They will actually put someone elses stool (Matt's) into Preston's colon to try to grow some good bacteria there to help fight this battle. The concern is that due to the immune deficiency that the bacteria from Matt could make him sicker too. So we aren't really sure what we are doing yet. Our immunologist has been doing some research as well, he actually has mentioned giving IVIG orally into his stomach and trying to see if that would make a difference. Please be praying for wisdom and strength and peace and hope for all involved. WE also have been to a geneticist. This appointment proved to be very emotional and overwhelming for me as I went alone. THey are thinking that there are a couple of possibilities of genetic syndromes for the boys. In doing research I don't believe either of them are correct, but I am no expert. So we will be waiting several weeks for the results of the DNA tests. We got a huge blizzard last week and Matt built a "quincy" for the kids. It is essentially like a snow cave. It is huge. They are hoping to sleep in it this weekend. I am so thankful that the kids have such an outdoorsy dad that allows them to have these cool memories. Preston is not a huge fan of the snow, but he might like it when he isn't feeling so crummy. The rest of us are doing ok. I am operating in what seems a continual state of exhaustion but each day I pray that God gives me the energy to get through the day and every day he meets that need :-)

A trip to the doctor for Preston

So I brought Preston into see Dr V today since the diarrhea has now been going on for 9 days and the fever for a week. She said he looked unwell, and he has lost some weight :-( since last week when I took him. She isn't sure what is going on. His stool still has blood in it, she sent it off for all kinds of tests and studies, and was also going to be calling the specialists in Boston to see what their recommendations would be. Please be praying for my boy :-) Thanks so much! I know God is totally in control but I am anxious right now. Praying for him to feel better and be happy and growing again. His weight was 22.9 today, and was 23.4 last week. On a happier note, the kids had a snow day today and had a blast playing out in the snow. I wish I could post pictures, hoping to get my computor fixed this coming weekend. I also had the priviledge of getting to know a new friend better! It was so fun learning about her family, and the journey that God has brought her on. I am always so blessed to hear of God's faithfulness in someone's life. THANK YOU for sharing!!!!

Uggghhhh!!!!!

So it would appear that the person who hit us is responsible for replacing our carseats, which is totally awesome. But they have to BE THE EXACT some ones, fabric and all.... Well they don't make the same prints of fabric! They only make the pattern typically for one or two years, before a new print replaces it. So I am in the process of figuring that out. I guess you could say I am a carseat snob. We spend SO MUCH time in the car, driving into and out of Boston Childrens, Mass General etc that I want my kids to have super comfy seats, that also have very high safety ratings. And I just don't have four hundred dollars right this second to go buy new ones. So please be praying that this guys insurance comes through quickly. For now I can use the extras that were in Matt's car, but totally not nearly as comfortable. Preston had his 15month well child check up today. He is 22lb 11oz and is 31.5 inches long!!! He is growing amazingly well. Unfortunately the doctor thinks that he probably has a sinus infection (I do too) but becuase of his C diff history we both are very hesitant to treat with antibiotics at this point. So we are going to try some antihistamines and allergy medicine to hopefully get him better. He also has been puking again the last few days, and I think the reflux is worsening, not sure if it has anythign to do with post nasal drip or not but in any case it is waging a war on my son again :-( GI is having us restart the reglan, but everything else is going to remain the same for now. We shall see.... This is a picture I took of him the other day at my moms...

Sophia had her little Christmas presentation at school today. I am not going to lie it was cute but I was definitely a little sad watching it. With Sam and last year with Sophia we were at a christian preschool, the Christmas program was all about what is really important: Jesus.... But in a secular school it is all about Santa :-( Sophia did a wonderful job but it wasn't what the real Christmas is all about. She was so cute and animated during her program. So fun to watch her little personality. Preston had a blast at her school too.

And then tonight she wouldn't eat her dinner and said she had a fever, and SHE DOES!!! I am so sad about this! I was really praying that this year we would all be healthy and that Christmas would be healthy. Praying that that is the case. Poor girl. Tomorrow I am headed into MGH with Sam for an appointment with a new doctor, this is an ENT, the coordinated care docs are thinking that his adenoids possibly grew back :-(

GI for the boys

We went and saw Dr Z at MGH on thursday. He was thrilled with how well both of the boys are growing! I am just so blessed by this news. It has been such a challenge with Sam for so long for him to gain weight but I am so grateful this growth. He is now 46lb and 46.5 inches tall. We are going to try to start decreasing his reflux meds and see how he tolerates it. IT would be awesome to get him down to only once a day for the reflux meds. He was thrilled with Preston's growth as well. He has gained a pound a month since the intestinal infection! He made up for all the weight he lost. He now weighs 22lb 10oz and is 31.5 inches long. GI is thinking that Preston is having severe reflux issues from what I described to him. Our Primary is thinking that it may be some type of obstructive issues like Sam had and is thinking that we need to do a sleep study. I am not sure either way.... I definitely think the reflux is out of control, and he has now started on nexium instead of the prevacid, so I am praying that this helps him tremendously. He is now sleeping with his neck hyperextended, but I am not sure if this is an opening/protecting his own airway type movement, or if this has something to do with post nasal drip since I do believe he has some type of URI type thing going on... NOT SURE :-( So the plan for now is to try the nexium, into next week and see how he does. We see our PCP on tuesday so am praying that there will be marked improvement by then.

Immunology update and Oreos

So last friday I took Preston back into Children's to follow up with the immunologist. I am so thankful to have this specific doctor on our team. I certainly wish that we weren't seeing him for ANOTHER one of my children, but I am praising God that we have the ability to see someone so knowledgeable about immunodeficiency in kids. Oh my gosh he is growing so well! He weighed 21lb 11oz and was 30.5 inches long!!! This past year has certainly been a faith building journey for me as I have seen my baby struggle so much. In so many instances throughout this last year, God has answered so many prayers, that I never even asked Him to. I can go on and on about how He has blessed us this year, but for today I am just praising God that Preston is here, he is happy and he is growing well. I obviously pray for his health and wish that he didn't get so ill so fast. But that is not God's plan, and I just have to keep saying His plan not mine! They drew lots of lab work, they are drawing labs to determine if his body made any response to all the vaccines that he has gotten as an infant, as he hadn't made any last month. They drew labs to see if his immunoglobulin levels had risen to normal levels, and then they also checked to see if his T cells and B cells had gotten to a normal level. We have lots we are praying about and waiting for answers about. We went over the IVIG and Preston and I went and toured the infusion center. It was nice and the nurses/staff were wonderful. I am still hoping we don't have to go that route but it was good to lay my eyes on it. So as a reward for my little guy I let him have an oreo! And boy did he love it....

Trying to stay focused on the positive

So it has been an incredibly busy and stressful week since we have been home. I have anxiously been checking on line for the results of Preston's blood work in relation to his immune system. It finally came in last night. I don't know all of the particulars about where we go from here, as we haven't actually spoken with our immunologist yet. We followed up with GI yesterday and his biopsies looked good, we are going to start weaning him off medications and prayerfully he will do well. He has also gained a WHOLE POUND in the week we have been home!!! 20lb 9oz I don't remember doing a Cell flow cytometry report with Sam, so unfortunately I don't know if Sam's was the same or not. But essentialy Preston has low specific T cells, and B cells, and NK cells. When I called our PCP last night she explained that the specific cells that he has that are low, are the ones that have to do with viral infections, which really makes sense, since most of his illnesses, although he has been pretty sick with them have been viral. When he gets sick he seems to be sick for quite a while each time, and that would make sense being that he has low numbers of cells to fight of viral infections. He is different from Sam in this aspect because Sam as an infant had lots of illnesses that were bacterial. And then I also found out that his body did not create antibodies to all the vaccines that he has been given. He had little to no response to them. I know Sam had this testing done, and his numbers were low, but I believe they were higher than Preston's. So I am just trying to wrap my brain around this latest information. Again I haven't spoken with our immunologist yet, but I am suspecting that we may be looking at IVIG or something along that line, which then leads to another issue, IV access! That is something that we just struggled with at MGH and to think that we will have to do it over and over again is rough.... But for now I am focusing on the fact that God HAS ALWAYS brought us through all that is before us. I am standing in Him today, knowing that His strength is perfect, and that He is in control:-) Preston already knows that.....

Sam has also had a follow up with his GI doctor. He was very happy with how Sam is doing. We are actually going to start a dairy trial. Sam is so happy about it. It is going to be a long attempt, but in about 4-6wks we may allow him to have a small amount of milk to drink, but first we will be doing products that have milk and then are baked for two weeks, and then we will move onto yogurt and cheese for two weeks, and then on to milk! Sam weighed 45.8 lbs and was 46 inches tall! He is growing so big. And man oh man is it hard to get a good picture of him these days. This was the best I could get with like 20 attempts. He is doing fabulously in first grade and I am so proud of him!

And my sweet Sophia is doing very well. She has adjusted well to her new school and is making lots of new friends. She had a little bit of fear when she first started her gymnastics class but she is now doing very well and enjoying it so much. She is fantastically healthy which I am so happy about!!!

2 Samuel 7:18 "Who am I, Soveign Lord, and what is my family, that You have brought me this far?

Unhapply still in the hospital

Gosh I was really hoping and praying that I would be home today with Matt and Sam and Sophia with Mr P. I was praying and believing that that would be the case. Even throughout the day yesterday with him vomiting I still was believing that we would be home today. Unfortunatley this morning he has lost weight, he weighs 19lb 2.5oz this morning. But it looks like we are not. Preston has continued to vomit today and now is possibly having a reaction to the antibiotic. Our PCP is calling into Boston again (she has talked to them daily since admission) because she thinks she wants to transfer us there. Please be praying that we don't have to transfer...

Thankful for the little things....

It is SSSOOO HHHARD being in the hospital, and away from the rest of my family. I am so very thankful for the friends and family that are lifting us up in prayer, and for the trip I got to make home today to shower while my mom stayed with Mr P. I am thankful for the nurse Jan today bringing me in some Reese's. I am thankful that all of our nurses have been my friends. I am thankful that our babysitter has been so flexible and available to get Sammy on the bus this week. I am so thankful for Shannon keeping Sophia and loving on her. I am thankful that the other day when our dryer started sparking that I heard it and we dind't have a fire, but then when we called the repair guy he said it would be several hundred dollars to fix. But praise God all that is wrong is that a screw fell out of Matt's pocket and nothing is actually broken. Mr P threw up several times throughout the day today but I am so thankful that he was able to take a tubby, and that that made him so happy. He weighed 19lb 6oz today

I am thankful that Matt and Sammy have had some special times together since I have been here. I am thankful that I have a bed to sleep in and we have our own room here. I am thankful that the x-ray they did of Preston's belly today was ok, and believing that the repeat tomorrow will be ok too. I am so very thankful for all the many blessings God has shown me this week.

Hanging in and praising God

Preston had a fairly good night last night. He slept much more comfortably than he has in over a week. Unfortunately his IV blew and they had to restart it this morning, so he got stuck 5 times today:-( Poor little bug. He was also allowed to eat some bananas but he vomited them. So unfortunately due to the vomiting and difficulty with starting the IV, we aren't going to be going home today. :-( Please continue to pray for my little munchkin. He has lost four ounces today too.... As we sit here I can't help but think about how richly God has blessed us. Sometimes life is so busy that we get caught up in the hustle and bustle and don't have the quiet moments to think about how God has carried and blessed us. So in the quietness I have been thinking and I am so so incredibly blessed. Just since this illness... -my friend Stephanie has been making food that is safe and yummy for Sammy. She has taken the extra time to find recipes and ingredients that are good for him -Shannon has taken Sophia and loved on her like I like to do, multiple days, and brought her to and from school -our Aunt Terri, has come over and helped clean, fold laundry, babysit the others, cook, and pack lunches/bags etc. -I got pick me up flowers from my mom, and she came first thing this morning to bring breakfast and let me take a shower -Paula came last night to give me someone to talk to and brought food to eat and Mr P got some snuggles from Auntie Paula so mommy got a break....

-and countless other friends have texted, prayed called etc offering all kinds of assistance. God is so good to me!!! I know I have spoken of Laura Story's song "blessings" before, but I feel the need to share it again. It is so inspiring to listen to this song, especially trying to focus on the blessings surrounding this situation, instead of the hardness of letting people poke at him...

Admitted:-(

So after all day of waiting Preston was admitted to the hospital earlier this evening. The plan is to be here for at least twenty four hours for IV antibiotics and then hopefully transition over to oral antibiotics and be able to go home. I am praising God that they were able to get the IV in on the first try. He has had his first dose of antibiotics and tolerated them well. He is sleeping comfortably for now. He weighed 19lb 9.5oz today We are praying for a restful night sleep, healing for his little body and answers/knowledge/direction for the doctors. Thank you for your prayers:-)

GI Update

Frustrated doesn't even begin to explain how I feel about todays GI appointment. In which the doctor said "I don't really care if he has a bloody nose all the time as long as his belly doesn't hurt..." in regards to the fact that the hematologist recommended taking him off a specific medication that has a known affect on platelets. We stopped that medication (Periactin) a month ago, and since we have stopped the medication he has not had ONE bloody nose, whereas before he was having several a week. So essentially we MAY help his belly but we may also affect his platelets and cause bleeding....I feel stuck between a rock and a hard place. That being said I know that this is just small stuff, but to me today it is a big deal. I don't really want to be responsible for giving him medication taht I know affects his platelets, and I don't want to not give him medication that could prevent him from being curled up on the floor in the fetal position with pain. I know that God has all of this in his hands and that Sam will be ok. That God's plans for my little guy are perfect. But I just wish I knew what that plan was. In other news he is 43lb 2oz again! So praise God he is gaining again! And he is almost 48inches tall!!!:-) Preston also had a GI follow up today. We essentially are discharged from GI for Preston! Rejoicing!!!! GI said to slowly introduce dairy and soy on a specific schedule and as long as that all goes well then we don't need to go back. Preston was 18lb 8oz and was 28 1/4inches long!!! Tomorrow is IVIG for Sam so please pray that the IV goes in easily and that there are no reactions I am just so thankful for these two:-)

10 months old

Oh my world, my little munchkin is 10 months old! I can't even believe it! It feels like this year with him has just flown by. He weighs eighteen pounds now (I brought him to the doctor last weeek) as he had had cold symptoms and goopy eye for over a week and a half. The doctor prescribed some erythromycin to cover if it was conjunctivitis and after a few days when that didn't work she has prescribed Zyrtec. It is debatable whether or not it is helping. At ten months, Preston is shaking his head no, clapping, blowing raspberries, playing peak a boo, and doing his own special version of crawling. It is the cutest thing ever. He can get from sitting down into the crawling position, and sometimes prefers to just lay on his back and look at the world going by. He continues to love his exersaucer and has tremendously strong legs because it seems like all he does all day is kick his legs or jump. Sleeping is still a hit or a miss type thing:-( He nurses around 630pm or so and then goes to sleep. He then wakes up typically between 10 and 11 and nurses again. After that we try to wait until at least five to feed him again, but that doesn't always happen. He has started rolling over to his left side when he sleeps, it is so cute.

Feeding him is so fun. Since I have been making my own I have been coming up with some weird suggestions, but he seems to really like everything tath I have made to give him. His favorite breakfast food is banana, strawberry, oatmeal. lunch and dinner has lately been a pureed chicken breat mixed with some veggie or fruit (apple, sweet potato, gr beans...) He has also really started liking feeding himself with finger foods. The gerber puffs have been a huge hit with all my kids. He also likes something called "Tiny Duck organics" and they make dried fruit pieces that he really likes. I also have tried giving him "mighty minis" popsicles which he absolutely loves...

And lets not forget our Army bear photos, I will post them tomorrow:-)

9 months old

Preston Vaughn is nine months old! I can't even believe how fast this year has flown by. He has grown so much. To put it in perspective he has tripled his birth weight, and grown 9 inches! He is now very interested in everything around him. He thoroughly enjoys watching Sam and Soph running around him all the time, and I am sure is wishing he could join them. He is rolling all over the place, sitting, and his newest thing that he enjoys doing is eating his toes. At his nine month well child check up he weighed in at 17lb 13oz and was 28.5 inches long. He still has no teeth but continues to drool like crazy so I am sure they are coming. He is still nursing probably 6ish times a day and also eating baby food three times a day. I have been making most of his food, and his favorites seem to be the green veggies. I just started giving him broccoli in the last couple of weeks and he loves it. I have mixed it with carrot and sweet potato. He also really likes peas, and green beans as well. His favorite fruit concoction that I have made was mango and apple. He is also really enjoying cold water in his sippy cup, and the little tiny gerber puffs, some fruit pieces, and cheerios. On his official nine month birthday was the first time this little monkey slept through the night!!! He has been such a stinker about sleeping but he finally did it last night. He slept from 9 to 5:30. I am praying that this is a new trend. He says Mama, which totally melts my heart. As well as Dada, and "Mmmmm" when he wants to nurse. He is so friendly and will go to just about everyone for a second but typically wants to come right back to his momma. His laugh is so contagious, and we have really had lots and lots of giggles in the last couple of weeks. He is so ticklish under his neck and his arm pits. This is one of Mr P's favorite new past times. When I lay him down to change his diaper he does it then too, and it makes it so difficult to change his diaper. This is P's army bear. My brother Dennis and Johanna got it for him when he was born. I take these photos with him with the bear every month. It is a great visualization of how he is growing, but it is also a reminder to always be praying for our troops as they defend our freedom. Hanging out in Dr V's office. He wasn't completely sure of what was going on but he was really good. Thankfully no vaccinations this month. We are so blessed to have such a wonderful doctor. All of our kids love her. She actually checked immunoglobulin levels on him to see if he is like Sam. We haven't gotten the results yet.

Relieved!

So after working all night thursday I drove into MGH with Preston yesterday. I must say how pleased I am that they were able to get us in so quickly. Dr V didn't even decide to send us until wednesday afternoon and we got seen yesterday! God totally opened that door for us. Preston did fairly well on the way in. Shortly before we got there he got hungry and was complaining but other than that he did great. So we got to see Sam's GI doctor Dr Zella. I really really like him a lot. He does such a good job and is so kind. He really listens to what I have to say and takes my thoughts/feelings/opinions into consideration. AFter listening to everything that is going on with Preston, he really just believes that this is allergy related!!! I am so thankful, and have been praising God for his kindness. Dr Z believes Preston is probably allergic to milk and soy. So he wants me to come off of food containing those items. It is certainly going to be a challenge but I am confident that I want him to received breast milk as long as possible. So starting todya I have eliminated soy and dairy from my diet. Which essentially means MOST of what I used to eat is eliminated. But that is ok. This adventure will produce healthier eating habits for me, and prayerfully a much happier content baby who doesn't seem so uncomfortable all the time:-) PReston did get weighed today and he weighed 13lb6oz, and was 25 inches. Exactly what he was at his PCP at his well child check up. So I got nervous because that means he hasn't gained anything in a few weeks. SO hopefully this week he will

I have been looking on the internet and have found some good resources for recipes. And today I tried almond milk for the first time, and I actually like it! Now I just have to find some bread and some type of butter alternative and I should be good with all of the other things I have found that I can eat.

Sweetness

So the other night when I went up to go to bed I found these two sweeties sleeping in my bed holding hands. How sweet are they?

And Preston had his four month well child check up today. He weighed in at 13lbs! And is 25 1/4 inches long!! He is definitely my big boy! When Sophia was four months she was 10lb12oz and 22 3/4inches long! HUGE difference. His head was 17inches. We also discussed the sinus' that he has, and the whole risk of kidney issues. Now that he is so big she is going to go ahead and order the kidney ultrasound to make sure the kidneys are ok. So we will be having that appointment sometime soon. It is my weekend to work:-( So I am dreading the weekend, but praying that it is still a good one. Then monday Sophia has her special ed/PT evaluation in the school district (instead of doing private PT) and then Sam has an appointment with his GI doctor. So things are going to be busy.

3 months old

Can you believe my baby is 3 months already??? Me either? Where does the time go? This week he is so smily and his cooing is become louder and there are starting to be different sounds instead of always the same. So my monthly posts will essentially be chronically his growth (physically) as well as (cognitively) within the last month. And of course hopefully I will continue to get pictures of him with his Army bear. Weight: 2months: 8lb 3oz 3months: 10lb 6oz (he has gained 2lb and 3oz!!!) Height: 2months: 23inches 3months: 24inches (an inch in a month? Not sure if this is accurate but wow if it is!!!) Cognitive: 2months: smiling occasionally, not always intentional. Tracking with his eyes if you were close enough. Batting at toys by accident 3months: smiles in response to us, gets really excited when you smile and talk fast to him, cooing intentionally in response to us talking to him:-) Physical: 2months: very jerky movements with arms and legs. Clumsily would get hand to mouth but not intentionally. Rolls out of anger when placed on his belly 3months: hits his toys intentionally on his gymini and swing. Reaching out to touch my face. Rolls when he is tired of being on his belly.

And Preston with the bear at 2 months:

13 Weeks!

Goodness Mr Preston you are growing up so fast! I am saddened to think how fast time is flying by with you. I love watching you grow but I am sad that it is happening so fast. At 13 weeks you are smiling and cooing often, especially in the morning, or when you are getting your diaper changed. You are really seeming to enjoy watching Sam and Sophia running around you and watching them play. You have taken an interest in music, and really seem to calm down as soon as you hear it. You are now 10lb 6oz!!! You are getting so big. You are most definitely out of newborn clothes, most 0-3month clothes still fit, and I am now also putting the straight 3month size on you. You are continuing to wear size one diapers. You are starting to outgrow your newborn size swaddleme blanket, but you are definitely not wanting to be unswaddled yet. Feeding has been a huge challenge in the past week. Nursing has gone fabulously well, and my supply has really increased, so I think you are going through a growth spurt. But the bottles of my milk have gone very poorly. Daddy even had to call me at work one night because you were complaining so much about having to drink a bottle. WE have been trying different brands of bottles this week, for me you had been doing really well with Playtex VentAire bottles, but for Daddy you choked. So we also have been trying the Avent ones....waiting to see what you tolerate better. Your reflux has also been getting increasing worse, and thankfully the doctor increased your dose of Zantac this week.

IVIG, Legos, and More...

Today Sam had IVIG. As always he was so brave for the IV access. THey got it in on one try, praise God. The lab had to draw labs today, and unfortunately that was two draws but again he was so brave, and they then rewarded him with a coloring book and crayons. He was very happy about that. Oh my goodness he is getting so big! He weighed 42.5 pounds today!!! He has gained more than a pound in the last month!!! I think they said he was 44inches too!For some reason today he was starving and INHALED a lot of food while there. So he ate, we did some puzzle type things in his coloring book, and then we did a real puzzle. His blood pressure was elevated today, so not sure what is going on there. And because of that it took almost five hours arrival to discharge today....Hoping he isn't too tired for school tomorrow. I heard back from Children's today, Soph's MRI is scheduled for December 21st. IT feels like that is forever away. It stinks because it is right before Christmas. And as much as I remind myself that God is in control and that He knows those results already, the unknown is really starting to get to me. The "what if" questions are starting to play more and more frequently in my head....Praying praying praying that this is nothing, and that although when you look it up on the internet mostly all you see is cancer, that that has NOTHING to do with this. The kids have really been playing well together lately. Between coloring together, driving the matchbox cars, puzzles, and legos it has been so enjoyable to watch them developing a deeper friendship. They try to help each other out when the other has a problem. I am just so blessed... I brought Preston with me today so he could nurse. And while we were there I put him on the scale: 10lb 6oz!!! Woohoo!!!