After a couple of scary trips to the ER Christina is almost to her usual self.

Thursday after a full day of school Christina went to speech as normal. After speech she had some spots that had formed around her neck and ears. Further inspection showed more spots in various places all over her body. The spots were scary similar to when Christina had serum sickness so there was little deliberation on whether the ER was the next step.

Having care facility choices we opted for Luther (Mayo Clinic Health System) this time. As of yet no one is sure what Christina has. The doctor who saw Christina came up with a plan and informed Angela and I of his choice and why. We were home before eleven that night. Christina even had a beautiful blood draw when lab came in. Thank you Sara. Our instructions were to see Christina's pediatrician on Friday and to start a round of steroids and pain medication to address the spots and discomfort.

Christina made it to late morning and the ER started to look like the activity for the day. After more observation and a nap for the princess, Christina was at the ER by noon.

By 13:00 (1:00 pm) they were still trying to start an IV line. Having 'blown' a vein so bad on Christina's right arm they had no choice but to try only the left. Christina's forearm is three quarters covered in a bruise from the blown line. Making a good effort they brought in the ultra sound machine. They got the line with a cobble job which also left a half dollar size bruise on her left arm. Then they had to draw blood for labs so another stick. Using the ultra sound to find their way another poke and 'fishing' to get the blood. By fishing I am referring to the in and out and side to side motion they do with the needle while trying to draw blood when they can't get the needle in right. So another half dollar size bruise on her left arm. Then the IV, by the time they were done Christina had tape from her wrist to her shoulder to hold the IV needle and line in place. After two hundred ml of fluids they slowed the drip to 15 ml/hr. That would be a rate used with no medical benefit. It is used to keep the line open just in case. They could have unhooked the line and left the IV in.

Angela expressed her concern to the ER doctor and nurse for Christina's tone and pain. From the time I got to the hospital at about 13:00 I first saw the doctor come in at 16:30 (4:30 pm). This was not by his choice. Christina's pain and tone had become so bad she was hard to hold and to handle. We called the nurse so she could call the doctor. After four and a half hours he told us he was waiting for another doctor and had already sent her a page. He dismissed our concern by not even answering and left the room. As Christina's pain and tone get worse without being kept in check we called the doctor again. He came in told us again he was waiting for another doctor and to summarize '...did not want to treat Christina'. He was told to do something now whether it be giving Christina medication to break up her tone and to offset the pain or to get the doctor. Not page her, get the doctor. The pediatrician was in at 17:00 (5:00 pm). After fifteen minutes of beating around the bush we still had no answers. After waiting for five hours and being patronized we wanted answers.

Thinking back I am trying to figure out how they could be so bad at their job. They had records from their facility, records from Sacred Heart, and records from Children's Minneapolis. All these records were at the ER on Thursday night.

After looking at Christina's chart and coming up with her own plan for medication the pediatrician shared with us her plan and went to write scripts. As she was describing her thoughts on medication Angela and I looked at each knowing something was not right. Just wanting to get Christina home and not able to put our finger on it we did not say anything. Discharge papers followed soon and we were on our way home.

Once out of the hospital we read the info from Thursday and compared it to the info from Friday. The information from Thursday followed suit with what the pediatrician told us on Friday; however, her information was the opposite on half of it. So we followed the directions from Thursday.

The weekend was mellow with lots of reading. I woke Christina up for school on Monday, but the princess did not want to go. I tried to push a little knowing she enjoys school and it may help seeing her classmates with a definite 'no'. We went to see Christina's regular pediatrician Monday afternoon. We are weening the steroids and the diazepam use is minimal. The hydrocodone use has slowed, but is still enough that a close eye must be kept.

Christina is fighting to be back to her typical self. She went to school on Tuesday and went to speech afterwards.

I had a day off to work around the house. I was productive. Yea me.

Today I'll finish getting plastic on the windows. That should make a nice difference keeping the wind out. The windows done so far have been very easy to get done. Makes me worry a little. Maybe I have done it so many times I'm that good now.

I received a bike trailer for Christina. It is in nice shape and only needs tire to road ready. Now to find a tire for it.

My off-site backup is almost done getting caught up. Maybe another week and we'll be running regularly.

Christina has been super happy and goofy in speech therapy the last couple sessions. The little princess has been giggling and laughing hysterically.

Christina has also been feeling much better with only a little runny nose now and then. Christina also has become an expert nose blower.

We are still waiting for the lateral prompts on her wheelchair.

It was suggested, I filled the form, I am now a proud member of the Board of Directors of United Cerebral Palsy of West Central Wisconsin.

I participated in my first meeting and in I am currently reading the orientation book. I read the first half and opted to refill my coffee and post a note before continuing.

Christina has been doing well in her therapies. We are still in limbo with the lateral prompts on her wheelchair.

My off-site 'cloud' backup is almost done with the first upload. I forget the exact figure, but a quick guess puts the amount over 200GB. This does not include movies or various reading material.

Christina has been feeling better and a follow up with the doc shows all better.

Christina has been really enjoying school. She also has a great time at her therapies.

Christina's week is full with one therapy or another four days a week after school.

With the cooler weather it will soon be baking time. That means cookies and Christina loves to taste our concoctions. Christina's cookies get lots of compliments at work.

Christina looked very nice today in jeans and purple top. She looked like a little teenager. I told her she will always be my little girl and Christina gave a smile as approval.

Where does the time go?

Christina has therapies 4 days a week after school. These first few weeks will take a toll on the princess. Christina has been feeling much better and is almost completely over being sick.

I am a slower healer this round. A solid night sleep should help. Maybe tonight I can get that in.

The off-site backup is running. Only a couple months to go. lol.

Picked up the items needed to make a small sledding hill this winter. I think I will find a spot for a snow fort to and prep that also.

I have slacked on finishing the new seat for Christina's wagon. I will try to finish that on Friday. I also have to get the lights hooked up as the days are getting shorter and lights will be handy.

Christina has been sick along with the rest of us. A respiratory infection has caught her. It does not stop the princess from wanting to go to school.

Christina LOVES school and riding the bus.

Christina has also been doing well with swim therapy and enjoys going. Speech will start next week two days a week. Horseback riding will also start soon.

The latest round of shots has been good so far; however, the injection sites on the back of her right arm became irritated and made Christina very uncomfortable. We called the doctor and she was prescribed Vicodin for the pain. All better after a few days.

Been sick. Feeling like crap.

Falling behind on back ups. Not good. Thinking I will give Crash Plan a try this month.

Lots of appointments coming up for the princess. Lets see...

Pre-op, Phenol blocks and Botox shots, Dr. Walker, AFO fitting, school.

Along with swim therapy once a week and Young Athletes twice a week.

Christina definitely likes to go go go.

Christina has also been doing well using the diazepam. There was a day her tone was outrageously high. And she had a small fever that afternoon and slept a lot. Probably caught a bug and her body needed to fight it off.

As per usual, Christina has been chatty and Tuesday was very giggly.

Tomatoes, tomatoes, tomatoes, I have a lot of cherry tomatoes. Picked more last night and I'm running out of room. I think I am going to see what my options are to freeze some.

I also have a few peppers that are finally ready. I cooked with some last night and they have a bit of a bite.

The strawberries did not do well. I think I neglected them too much. The plants look good; however, I did not get much fruit. Perhaps I will try to bring them inside for the winter.