Giving it a try - Growth Hormone shots

I mean seriously... could there be a cuter Jeffrey in Thomas clothes with chronic bed head that I simply cannot get to lay down? NO!

Jeffrey had MORE lab work this morning to have initial numbers on his growth hormone levels. (Poor guy - it took 4 pokes and 2 lab techs to draw his blood!! He didn't even flinch!!!) It is his IGF-1 that has been low on all previous blood work, and this is what the doctor believes is causing his low blood sugar. What has the doctor stumped is that Jeffrey is well within the normal range for height!

So we are giving growth hormone shots a try to see if this will help keep his blood sugar levels up. One shot for 3 nights, and then we will go have more blood work done Monday to see if it is helping. We will have an idea simply by my monitoring his blood sugar at home, but the blood work will give us an idea if his IGF-1 level is up.


So being the obsessive mom with a Masters in Health Administration that I am, I asked for a copy of his most recent blood work. It shows that his urea nitrogen (BUN) levels are high, which could be a sign of kidney issues. I called the nurse back and she said if the doctor didn't say anything about it to not worry about it. Well, why did it flag as out of range if there is nothing wrong? Next I put a call into our local pediatrician. Thankfully he has been amazing with our family for over 13 years. He so graciously looked at the test results, called me, and said that yes the BUN does appear high. Sometimes that can mean a lab error. However, just to be safe, let's retest. I hate to have to put Jeffrey through another poke, but we'll go do that tomorrow.

I've been doing a lot of reading tonight. I am a complete nerd and love doing research and reading medical journals. It is scary to read so many possibilities that are out there with Jeffrey's symptoms, so that is why I stopped and am now blogging (journaling). We'll go with the flow for now. It will take 2 weeks to get blood work back, and by then we'll be ready for the MRI appointment.

Our Aly-oop has kinda been on the backburner since she so graciously has been stable with her blood sugar (not that she can control it). If we ever figure out what is going on with Jeffrey, maybe it will give us more clues as to what is going on with Aly. She has never had many of the symptoms that Jeffrey has, so we've been successful just monitoring her blood sugar and feeding her. But she will be the center of our world this weekend as we celebrate her 4th birthday!! Watch for pictures of this amazing princess birthday cake!

Mid April update

Have I mentioned?? I LOVE SPRING!!

*whew* I cannot sleep, yet during the day my body screams for sleep. Yeah it has been a rough month for me. Hysterectomy went beautifully on March 25th! I cannot even begin to tell you how excited I am that is over - no more monthly female issues after 22 years of hell!!

So then I came down with clostridium difficile or c-diff as it is referred to. I'm not sure my bowels will ever be the same. I will spare the awful details, but basically a bowel infection that kept me in the bathroom for about 6 days, 2 of those days hospitalized for IV fluids and medication. That was back starting March 29th, and while I'm not in the bathroom ALL day anymore, my abdomen still is tender and bowel function is painful and certainly compromised.

With that, concern about what is going on with my heart (which they found 2 days before surgery, but hopefully just a murmur that is not a problem), fibromyalgia is out of control again with the weird fluxuations in weather and rain, my days are sometimes long. I am fully determined to get healthy again as soon as possible. This is embarrassing, tiring, and feels like my life is on hold until...

On much better notes: Chad's brother and sister-in-law announced that Harley (their dog) is going to be a big brother!! Yes, my kids will finally get a cousin around the end of October!! Woohoo! We are beyond excited!

David is currently one of the managers for the West track team. He seems to really be enjoying the fellowship. This guy also has started receiving mail from universities all over for summer camps due to his amazing ACT score back in February. As a 7th grader he already scored the same as Chad did in high school (but we won't rub it in - Chad is very smart). Needless to say, the recruiting begins! We will be attending an awards banquet in June to recognize him as one of the top students in Kansas.

Kay Lee will be attending Kindergarten round-up on April 30th. I cannot believe how time flies and it is already time for this! She is so smart, talented, friendly, and READY. Kay Lee came to us last weekend and said "Mom, Dad, look! I tied my shoes!" Ready, indeed.

Aly continues to be her sweet, spunky self. I do not know how else to describe it because one minute she will curl up with you sucking her thumb and love on you. The next minute she is running like a silly girl and all I can do is PRAY that she does not run out in front of a car. I cannot keep up with her!

Sweet boy Jeffrey could not get any cuter. He has started pointing and babbling so it sounds like he really has something important to say!! It is adorable. He is literally running with his little push toy, but is still not confident enough to walk on his own.
The picture is the 3 youngest having a bonding moment right before bedtime. Jeffrey started clapping and hollering "DADADADA", so noting that mom and dad started laughing, the girls joined in on the silliness.

Spring Break

Oh my goodness! Could God have provided better weather for those of us not traveling for spring break? I think NOT! We are enjoying being outside almost all day going to the park, play dates, the St. Patrick's Day Parade and taking the dogs for walks.
Kay Lee is really missing school, but got to see her friends yesterday. We will probably see them again this week at the park. Aly is anxious to see Andy sometime this week as well. David met up with a large group of friends for an afternoon on Mass. Street - one of 3 guys in a group of 11. While a bit embarrassed, he did great following mom's guidelines of letting me meet his friends before he got to hang with them for the day.
CHEERS to this weather continuing with a touch of rain here and there for my flowers and grass!

Jeffrey's surgery

Jeffrey came through his surgery like a trooper! He such a solid, chubby little guy that it took nine (9)!! tries to get his IV in, and then they had to put it in his head :-( Eventually he got restless enough and pulled it out. Luckily it was about 2 minutes before the nurse was going to take it out anyway.

So far this afternoon he has just had tylenol, not codeine! Here at 7:30 p.m. he is playing basketball and blocks with his dad.

Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers!
~Richardsons

Jeffrey

Everyone has recovered except Jeffrey. He will have tubes put in his ears and have his adenoids taken out on Thursday, Feb. 26th. Please keep him and his doctor in your prayers that all goes well!!

Illness status

Chad - probably tired, but seemingly healthy

Steph - fever, tummy ache, exhausted

David - healthy

Kay Lee - healthy

Aly - Must be on another growth spurt - fussy

Jeffrey - fever, pulling on ears and chewing - so teeth or another ear infection

Is this not getting ridiculous this winter? I simply cannot get everyone healthy at once!

I am so ready to open up the house and let SPRING in!!