Cleared for Six Months

Ian had a regular clinic visit this past week where we got some of the best news in a while...drumroll please.....he is doing so well that we are cleared for 6 months before we need to head back for our next clinic visit. This is huge. We were hoping to be cleared until December but now we won't have to go until March 2010. So exciting!

His therapy is coming along nicely and the OT thinks we may be discharged sooner than orginally anticipated which is wonderful. Ian has really come a long way. We work every day on something like cutting, drawing shapes, coloring, anything to build those hand mucles that atrophied b/c of his liver disease. He thinks it is great fun to do playdoh time and hasn't figured it out yet that it is actually OT time :)

Breathing Treatments

Ian is getting breathing treatments every four hours round the clock to help get more air flowing. He is a doing a great job (probably b/c I let him watch an extra cartoon while he sits still to do it). He can even squeeze the med into the nebulizer himself and get it all strapped on. Go fighter pilot Ian. We should only need to do this for another day or two and then only as needed.

ER

Last night was a long night as we were at the ER. Yesterday Ian had been unable to keep anything down and that is one of the "flagged" symptoms that hte transplant team has told us to call them about. We called the team and were advised to take Ian to the ER based on his symptoms.

Brett went with Ian while I stayed with Livy. They had a battery of tests including a chest x-ray, blood work, flu swab, etc. Everything for his liver numbers in the labs came back normal which was a huge relief. That at least meant that we were not likely battling a rejection episode. Chest xray negative for pneumonia and flu swab negative as well meaning that what he has has been ruled a respiratory infection. Treatment is to use the neubulizer round the clock to help open his air ways so he isn't struggling to breathe.

Today has been much better for Ian in terms of less coughing, less labored breathing, and energy. Hopefully after a good night of rest he will be even better tomorrow. The doctor has OKed him to go back to preschool when he feels up to it so we'll see when that is.

We are so relieved that it isn't his liver directly although he likely contracted this as his immune system is weakened from the transplant and it will take a while for him to be fully back to himself for the same reason. I think Brett and I ran through a million scenarios of what it could be, etc. I have already raised an eyebrow at the suspicious timing of starting preschool and coming down ill--could be very very random but still. It just means I need to step up my guard even more.

Thank you to all who prayed for us. It helped immensely specifically that Brett and I could funciton on so little sleep.