Tests, tests, tests!

Well last week was tough, but this week is full of TESTS! So far my daughter has been a real trooper. She's been poked, proded, pushed and scanned.... but she's hangin' in there. The best part is the results are coming in good so far. I so want this chapter of our lives to be over.

The doctors have given her a temporary diagnosis of acute gastritis. Which in layman's terms is an inflammation of the stomach lining. If their diagnosis is accurate it will take at least ten days before she might see some relief from the Zantac regime they have her on. So we have four days under our belt and six to go. Hopefully it's just smooth sailing from here on out. So we can get back on with our lives.

The doctors and nurses at The Cleveland Clinic are the best! They are soooo very patient and encouraging. I have always had a lot of faith in the Clinic as both my daughter and I were born here! So hey... they gotta be good! Right?

Going through a chapter like this in your life is very hard. Especially when it involves your child. One thing I can highly recommend to help is to talk with someone, post to a journal or even post in a blog like I have. It can be very helpful to get things out and off your mind. If you keep them bottled up you might soon be going for tests too! So talk or write... whatever suits you. Hey and thanks for listening. You've helped me immensely.

Family Outing ...

With temperatures ~zero this morning, brrrrrr, it was a great morning to pull the covers up and just sleep in. Especially after all we had been thru this last week with our daughter. But my husband wanted to still do an early morning shop to Costco. So, we all got up, UGH brrrrr, had breakfast, got dressed and were on our way. We got there early, as my husband wanted to beat the crowds. But, I guess because of the week my daughter and I had just been through we were giddy and just had fun shopping and goofing with each other. My husband kept telling us to stay focused.... but we acted like little kids and soon converted him too! We were there for HOURS! And the crowds kept building. So much for beating the rush!

As we shopped we would find things we liked or needed and say things like, "Wow that's a good deal" and toss it in the cart. During our shop we even ran into good friends. But they were on a mission and couldn't play like us. ;-( After covering all isles of the store our cart was full to the brim. We finally decided it was time to check out. After they rang everything up, my husband said, "Honey, did you see the total?" I looked at the register and nearly died! ..... $353.00 GEESH! I couldn't believe my eyes! We kept tossing all these "GOOD DEALS" in our cart and look what it added up too!

Sooooo, all in all, are they really "GOOD DEALS" after all? Or do we just think so? hmmm ;-)

Tough Week!

My daughter, of 10, has been ill with stomach pains for the last month and a half. The last two week's have been tough as they have gotten more severe. We have spent more time at the doctor's office then I care to even to talk about. I would do anything to just take all the pain and endure it myself.

She's an honor roll student and can't wait to get back to school. We've been going to the Cleveland Clinic for her care. So we're going to one of the best!

Earlier in the week she underwent quite a few blood tests. She hates needles, but was quite a trooper. They took around seven vials. I was wondering if they would leave any for her! All the blood tests have turned out negative so far. I thank God for that. As it rules out some of the scary illnesses, like Lupus, Lymphoma, etc.

Just yesterday we went to a Gastroenterologist at the Clinic's Main Campus. They were extremely patient and thorough. My daughter and I were both scared and nervous. But it was so comforting and reasuring to have doctors who cared and spend so much time answering ALL our questions. After several doctors looked over all her tests and symptoms they came up with a temporary diagnosis for now. They feel she might be suffering from acute gastritis. And started her on a regime of Zantac for a minimum of six weeks. It was such a relief to hear that she had nothing that was severely enlarged, serious or life threatening!

We still have some other tests to undergo this coming week. But I think the pain lessened for her just hearing that it was nothing too serious at this time. It felt like a huge cloud was lifted!

Fortunately she is feeling a little better already. And we continue to pray she has a speedy recovery. She truly is the light of our lives... and when she feels bad, we ALL do.

Wow.... I finally started a blog!

Well I've been following a lot of other blogs. So I decided it was about time I gave it a go. Right now I'm in the middle of trying to turn over a new leaf ... so to speak! The last three years have been a medical hell for me. So I'm hoping 2009 is going to be my year, to raise holy heck for all the rehab and such from my various surgeries! I thank God for my beautiful family. And yes ... we have survived another holiday season!