Happy Mother’s Day to all the hardworking, tired, accomplished mothers reading this… it’s not an easy job but it’s rewards are incomparable!  I enjoyed lunch and ice cream (and a break from the hospital) with my crew… and a plate designed by Bradley… and a bouquet of flowers set in a Tupperware pitcher (Jim forgot to bring a vase)… it was perfect !!

Emerson remains in-patient & while I’d intended to update on the care conference last week, 2 things stopped me from doing so: 1) 24 hours after the conference nearly everything discussed was no longer applicable & a new conference was tentatively scheduled for this week, & 2) it was honestly too depressing & I needed a break from thinking about it all.  Sigh…

Oh goodness... has it really been over 2 months since my last post?  Time flies!!!

What a week!  Those who follow us on Facebook have likely seen updates… to those who don’t, here goes…

Emerson awoke last Sunday in a great mood – ready to get dressed and going, and eager to share tales of her dream from the night before (always an adventure with Princess Belle ).  Her home nurse went about the daily task of cleaning her up and mixing meds while I prepared to put the finishing touches on a week long painting project outside.  All was well…

Not great news… but not bad news.  Emerson is home & has been battling a respiratory infection for over a week now.  Normal kid stuff, yes but... nothing is ever “normal” for Emerson.  She, unfortunately, is in the population of children that risk serious complications from the flu and even the common cold.  We’ve been working closely with the pediatrician in town to avoid a hospital admission & so far, so good.  She doesn’t have much experience with Emerson but has done a terrific job evaluating the situation & communicating with the team in Denver.  Emerson’s O₂ sats are low & she’s requiring oxygen support at home.  Her x-ray from last week, though, is clear.  As long as it stays that way we should be able to stay home.  Fingers crossed!!

I keep waiting for more information to update, but it's just not coming... Emerson's fever curve is down & she's in good spirits, but... she's still having fevers and her labs are concerning for something.  We just don't know what.

Her blood cultures remain negative & for now they're calling it culture negative sepsis (which I guess actually happens quite often, although it's never happened to her).  Essentially it means she looked septic & she's responding to antibiotics, so for lack of any other significant finding we'll call it sepsis.  I'm not sure, but okay.

Emerson was admitted to the hospital Sunday afternoon.  She passed out in the bathtub Sunday morning with a blood sugar of 40 (very low).  Sunday evening she started spiking fevers and this afternoon they climbed to over 104 degrees.  She was taken to the OR yesterday for a central line after repeated attempts to secure a peripheral IV (even with guided ultrasound) were all unsuccessful.  She really has no peripheral access left & very little central access either - it is quickly approaching the point of significant concern.  

She certainly appears to be fighting an impressive infection.  She's receiving potassium tonight & will require a blood transfusion tomorrow.  Still, though, they've been unable to identify the source of it all.  Blood cultures, as of tonight, remain negative.  

School started this week (for me) & I’m up to my eyeballs in reading, and functions, and scientific notation, and periodic tables, and…  Yikes!!  I’m oddly enjoying it, though, & much to my surprise am really having fun with Chemistry.  I’ve even found myself awake into the wee hours of the morning lost in Chemistry equations… wow, very uncool - now how’s that for some honesty?!?

...they're words heard frequently in our house right now.  You see, Emerson is very into the season this year but... as hard as she tries, every attempt to say "Christmas" comes out "Ketchup".  So... Merry Ketchup it is !

I've been very hesitant to say it before now, very afraid to jinx it, but it's true.  It happened. Emerson, indeed, is home for Christmas!  Her first Christmas at home since the year she was born, 5 years ago.  I could not have dreamt a better gift.  I sincerely hope your day was equally blessed.

Check back for pics & a detailed update (lots of fun stuff) in the coming week.  Until then, from our house to yours... "Ho Ho He He Meeeerrrrrry Ketchup"!!

I hope this entry finds everyone enjoying the hustle & bustle of the Holiday Season and remembering what is most important through it all… time spent with loved ones, not the purchase of the latest and greatest, hard to find Holiday gift of 2011.  I’m listening to Christmas music as I write, all my babies tucked in tightly for the night.  Candles burning.  Christmas trees lit.  Still lots to do for Emerson, but at the moment peace & quiet... ahhhh, it's a beautiful thing!

Emerson was discharged.  We’re home .  I’m sick  – sore throat & swollen glands… uggh!  The boys are sick  – stomach flu & bronchitis… double uggh!  Emerson, believe it or not, is the healthiest of us at the moment.  Now that’s a scary thought!  I’m giving meds a little early tonight, brewing some Theraflu, & crawling into bed…  Sweet dreams to all!