Successes, Both Big and Small

So my promise of updating the blog more during the Lenten season hasn't really been a success of mine. What can I say - I'm a work in progress. So today starts a new page and my commitment to keeping our friends and family posted is no less real.

Not to make excuses but the last few week have been a ridiculous roller coaster of events. After my post about runny diapers, blocked bowels and trips to the hospital - things just continued to spiral out of control. We received a phone call from the hospital a few days later asking us to come back for some additional tests. So off we go to the hospital for ultrasounds and xrays. Many, many hours later after 3 ultrasounds and an xray we were discharged from the hospital. We were told we had nothing to worry about, all our tests were clear, and our pediatrician would probably call the next afternoon just to check in on us and give us final radiology reports. Instead, just 2 hours after being discharged the hospital called back and asked us to return at 10am the next morning to Hem/Onc clinic because they determined the calcium build ups were in his adrenal gland.

Now don't get me wrong - the Hem/Onc clinic at SLCH is fabulous and we love Dr. Bednarski. But we were more than happy to be released from his care last June. Back to Hem/Onc! John and I spent the next day at the clinic taking a urine test and talking with Dr. Bednarski. While we both agree that this is most likely a big nothing with a bunch of radiologists who are all a twitter over a bad stomach bug, we are still proceeding with caution because watery stools, distended tummy, and calcium in the adrenal gland are signs of neuroblastoma.

We got the results of the urine test a week later. They were good....only one of two hormones were elevated (normally both would be elevated if there was neuroblastoma). We are now in a wait and see pattern with tests to be re-run in early June. In the mean time, Matt and I are on the lookout for other signs/symptoms, but are hopeful that come June we can put all this behind us.

So on to our successes....
1. We've survived the past few weeks! Assuming you read the prelude to these successes, you should agree that this is one of the bigger successes.
2. We spent a week in Omaha at a water park and John learned how to go down a slide all by himself! Oh, what a big boy is he!
3. John got ear tubes yesterday and did great! The whole surgery took less than 8 minutes from the time John was taken out of my arms to the time the doctor returned to our room with post-op update. Now our ears are draining properly and hopefully his hearing is improved.
Bonus 4. We took a bunch more pictures of John! Yay! Be on the lookout for some picture posts!