Great Catch at Camp

This past weekend Ian had the opportunity to go to Camp Second Chance which is set up just for transplant kids and their families. It is through CHOA and located in Rutledge, GA at Twin Lakes. The theme this year was Under the Big Top with all sorts of circus/carnival type events. Just Ian and Brett went this year as our first experience but based on the rave reviews they gave it, I think our whole family will go next year.

Ian had great time doing arts and crafts, learning some drumming skills and participating in the carnival where the jump castle was a big hit. But the biggest highlight and thing that Ian wanted to do while at camp was FISH!!! He chose to fish over paddle boats, swimming, rock wall, etc. It was worth it as he caught a 2lb catchfish on his first cast.

We are so grateful to the many people who make experiences like Camp Second Chance possible and hope that we can pay it forward one day.

School Days

Ian is doing well in school thus far. He is enjoying the computer center, science center and rice table. He is suprisingly only one of two kids (by his account) that have lunchboxes and don't purchase lunch. When I asked him if he wanted to purchase, he emphatically said no. He enjoys riding the bus, sweat box that it is and all. Here he is at his desk in school--he is put on the end to have less kids around him and touching his "spot". I LOVE that his teacher thought of that!

He has already missed one day for a cold and there has already been a case of strep in his classroom so we are being vigilant.

He'll have labs again this Monday which means he goes in late. His next clinic visit is in October and we are hopeful that we won't have to go back for six months. His liver numbers are holding solid even with the weaning off of the prednisone so that is good.

I'm a Kindergartener

Ian started Kindergarten today and had a great day. His teacher, Mrs. Slusser, is aware of Ian's medical needs and seems like she will be proactive about things. She has dealt with some servere allergy kids previously and so has some background about wiping things down, precautions, etc.

Ian will be dropped off in the morning because of his prograf medication. His bus would come to get him at 6:42AM which is crazy! His prograf time is 8am so to keep it as close to that time as possible (without having it given at school which is not our first choice) we're driving him in and squirting the med in his mouth has he gets out of the car.

Ian just had labs yesterday but will be missing school for labs, clinic, illness (his own or classmates) etc. He can only miss 10 days of school even with an excuse so we are working with school administrators to make sure that Ian isn't penalized for his liver transplant.

He liked the different centers in the class room giving high kudos for the computer center, rice table and reading area (although he hasn't found a Thomas the Train book yet). I look forward to good things this school year and know that Ian will be a great Kindergarten Boy!

Clinic Visit

Ian had a great clinic visit last week. He has been having a few of his liver enzyme numbers creep up a bit so some other tests have been ordered. We are currently waiting for those results and they should be back any day.

I met with the school principal about Ian's medical needs. It was a very good meeting and I feel better about sending him off. I really appreciate the time that the principal took to meet with me. We'll meet his school teacher in about two weeks. I am excited about his first day of school. Right now we are role playing different things that he may encounter for school and his favorite so far has been the lunch sack. He is thrilled with opening it and finding what is inside. It has been a great teaching moment about nutrition for us.

We ordered a new ID band a something special to start the school year. He has a red and blue truck band, space themed band and he choose this time a......

football band. I guess all those Virginia Tech football games that Brett and I watch are making an impact.

I'm 5 today

Ian turned 5 today and was all smiles! He got a set of golf clubs (kid size) and he is practicing putting in our family room. Our little man is growing up so fast--where has the time gone?

Tubes

Ian had tubes put in his ears about 2 weeks ago. He is doing great with them and has even gone swimming a couple of times. He couldn't eat breakfast that morning so we woke him up around 11pm to give him some food and he chose the very healthy option of a hotdog. The only part of the procedure that was a bit hairy was when he was waking up from the anasthetic. They told him to come in PJs and comfy shoes so we complied. Here he is waiting to go back.

The new lab place that CHOA recommended continues to be great. I just have to remember to bring lab orders each time as standing orders aren't possible right now. I have a huge stack of them on my desk. Last time I left without htem and got down to the end of hte street before having to turn around and come back for them. We go for labs again this next week and I'll avoid Friday as that seemed to be much busier than Monday.

New Labs and Last Day of School

Ian has been busy this week. We went to our new lab location on Monday and it was wonderfully speedy. We were expecting lots of extra paperwork this time being new but nope, it was fairly simple. Ian was disappointed that he only got a cottonball and tape over his needle site instead of the usual bandaid. We celebrated by getting a donut afterwards.

He also had his year end preschool party on Tuesday which was inside due to the rain. This was Ian's first jump castle experience and he loved it. The blurry boy in front is him.


Today, Ian finished preschool and had his program. He did fabulously and I could hear him singing all the songs very nicely. He had several parts of the program. The paper he is holding is his certificate.

Next week is going to be busy too with tubes surgery.