tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115422962024-03-13T11:37:47.901-05:00Anna's PlaceWelcome to Anna's Place! This page was created to keep family and friends updated on Anna, her health, and our family!Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06568095510365381346noreply@blogger.comBlogger153125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542296.post-32781541940019858652010-04-22T20:37:00.007-05:002010-04-22T21:11:14.203-05:00Celebrate LifeDid you know that April is organ donation awareness month?<br /><br />Every year in April Children's Memorial Hospital hosts a Celebrate life party for all transplant recipients from the hospital. We went this year (I think we've only missed two others in eight years) and we had a great time. It's such a wonderful thing to see, all these children that would not be here if it weren't for organ donation. <br /><br />This year it was at the <a href="http://www.czs.org/czs/Brookfield/Zoo-Home.aspx">Brookfield zoo</a>. They reserved the Private picnic area for our group. What a blast! It's nice to be able to meet other people who have children that have been through similar experience's as your child and it's especially nice for Anna to meet other kids like herself.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin7V-Ea9DqlTJ9s803bqOiMOJx4Zs9ToCMcxBILnnUd2D12qKXrjD3jKlmG07xNCyT2bi1pas5TD42xbMf5XKjjNG4n2QxvCQBXndtYn_f3Th2MJthpQIcn2lO8sp2Uae-70Co/s1600/006.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin7V-Ea9DqlTJ9s803bqOiMOJx4Zs9ToCMcxBILnnUd2D12qKXrjD3jKlmG07xNCyT2bi1pas5TD42xbMf5XKjjNG4n2QxvCQBXndtYn_f3Th2MJthpQIcn2lO8sp2Uae-70Co/s320/006.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463148036694388530" /></a>Oliver was one of Anna's wish granters. He is always at these party's to perform magic for the kids (spending a little extra time with mine because of his special connection with Anna). As always it is so nice to see Oliver and he has promised Anna that he will come and do magic at her next Birthday party! She was (is) so excited for that. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifrP0sKJ8zciPYh35tvo2goyjVzqtqUGASArIhQ9IszxARt69DHZuLUUiIWdjQKb5JOno7n-GN3BO29hPmbX0rFgP7Ui0-Mo_OcaCiykxr4XqARJITT0WJnFpppqIHFxGxUfmH/s1600/004.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifrP0sKJ8zciPYh35tvo2goyjVzqtqUGASArIhQ9IszxARt69DHZuLUUiIWdjQKb5JOno7n-GN3BO29hPmbX0rFgP7Ui0-Mo_OcaCiykxr4XqARJITT0WJnFpppqIHFxGxUfmH/s320/004.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463148387435015330" /></a>Secretary of State Jesse White came with his tumblers too. We didn't know but One of Anna's tumbling coaches is part of the team. Anna kept telling me that she saw her coach but I wasn't believing her. When I got a closer look I realized that it definitely was him! After their awesome performance Anna went up to him and he was more surprised to see her than we were to see him. I never had the need to let him know of Anna's condition so when he knew why we were there he was shocked! He was very excited to introduce Anna to Jesse White as one of his students! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ8YJjLh95tc5UItpnukvli3iFRihzbKCCAihQuCvD-biGjdNa7NJ8i-zUlXwwTMUZhb6jv3aIZaMlX5hX5_t9n8YA-Jx2S2xDRol8io0zsfmhAVXWcIK6_zJfd-j1toz4Dmo2/s1600/005.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ8YJjLh95tc5UItpnukvli3iFRihzbKCCAihQuCvD-biGjdNa7NJ8i-zUlXwwTMUZhb6jv3aIZaMlX5hX5_t9n8YA-Jx2S2xDRol8io0zsfmhAVXWcIK6_zJfd-j1toz4Dmo2/s320/005.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463148658492672882" /></a>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06568095510365381346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542296.post-9690448545501678302010-03-20T20:40:00.004-05:002010-04-03T09:47:27.000-05:00Happy Anniversary Anna!I can't believe it's been 8 years since Anna transplant. March 6th was Anna's Anniversary and we celebrated another healthy year. It has become tradition to go out to eat at TGI Friday's every year and come home and have caked and presents just like another birthday. The Anniversary is actually really close to Anna's 1/2 Birthday and if you take a close look again at the montage to the right of the screen there are a couple pictures of us celebrating her 6 month birthday in the hospital only 3 days before going home after her transplant. <br /><br />In honor of Anna's Anniversary I would like to share something that I wrote as a story for a fundraiser for Children's memorial hospital Which took place in late February. She has sure come a long way.<br /><br /><blockquote> <strong>Anna was born on September 14 2001 weighing in at 8 pounds five ounces. She was sent home with a clean bill of health. <br /><br />About a week after coming home her parents noticed that her skin tone was a little off. At her fist visit to the pediatrician her parents were told that Anna had newborn jaundice and putting her in front of a window in some sunlight should do the trick. When that didn’t work Anna’s parents brought her back the pediatrician and they ran some blood tests. Her bilirubin wasn’t high enough to be at a critical level so they said, once again, to put her in a window and she would be fine. <br /><br />This went on until Anna was about six weeks old. With each blood test her bilirubin level got higher. At six weeks old Anna’s jaundice could not be classified as being just normal newborn jaundice anymore and Anna’s pediatrician sent her to children’s memorial Hospital the very next day to see a liver specialist. <br /><br />There they saw the head of Hepatology, Dr Whittington. After going over Anna’s chart he suspected she had a liver disease called Biliary Atresia. Anna was admitted for further testing which included a liver biopsy to confirm Dr Whittington’s suspicion. <br /><br />Biliary Atresia is a disease which happens when the liver’s bile ducts are blocked and/or there are few present. <br /><br />Once this diagnoses was confirmed Anna had an operation ,called the Kasai, that would possibly prolong the life of her liver. During this operation they attach the small intestine to the liver to drain the bile and toxins. Anna’s parents were informed that most babies with her disease need a transplant before the age of 2. <br /><br />Anna did well after her operation and went home just seven days later. Anna went home and enjoyed the holidays with her family. Her color got better and things looked good for a couple months. <br /><br />In January Anna’s skin started looking yellow again and her parents soon discovered that she had an infection in her liver called cholingitis. This problem occurs in children that have had the Kasai operation and is treatable with antibiotics. Anna was once again admitted to Children’s. She was put on IV antibiotics and a permanent line was placed into her arm so that she didn’t have to stay in the hospital for treatment. Anna’s parents were trained on how to take care of her line and administer her antibiotics through a pump. Children’s also sent out a home health care nurse to check on Anna, change her dressings, and draw labs every other day. <br /><br />Two days before Anna’s 4 week treatment was scheduled to be done Anna started getting very irritable. Her color was getting bad again and her belly was so large from extra fluid from infection that her belly button started to stick out. She was also having a hard time breathing. Even though the home health care nurse was scheduled to come out the next morning Anna’s parents though it was best to rush her to the emergency department at Children’s to get her checked out. <br /><br />Anna was admitted once again with recurring cholingitis. Just a couple hours later Anna’s breathing got worse and the doctors decided that Anna needed help breathing. She was then transferred to the Pediatric ICU and put on a breathing machine. It was soon found that Anna’s infection had spread throughout her body. They would have to put her on heavy duty antibiotics . Dr. Alonso, another wonderful liver doctor at Children’s Memorial explained it as, “they have to put out a big fire.” <br /><br />Anna soon became very swollen and unrecognizable to her family. She laid there under sedation, not able to breath on her own, and so helpless. Anna was put on the inactive list for a liver. Because of her condition Anna would not survive a transplant at her current state so if a liver became available she could would not be offered it. It was at this time that Anna’s mom stepped forward to be a living donor for Anna. Instead of waiting for Anna to fight the infection and then wait to be active on the list Anna would have the perfect liver waiting for her when she was ready. <br /><br />After days of testing Anna’s mom was found to be a good match for Anna! The only problem was trying to get Anna better from this infection. She had so many lines, so many medication pumps going, they were having a hard time stabilizing her blood pressure, and her heart rate dropped so low at times that the nurses had to call a Code Blue on her. Everyone started to worry that Anna would not make it to have the chance at a life saving transplant, but four weeks after Anna got transfored to the ICU she started doing better and even made it out of the ICU! Transplant was scheduled for the following week. <br /><br />The same surgeon that did Anna’s first operation performed her transplant. His name is Dr. Superina, or as Anna’s parents like to call him DR SUPERMAN! Anna did so well that just nine days after her transplant she was discharged from the hospital. <br /><br />Besides a few minor bumps in the road Anna is just as healthy and spunky as her older and younger sisters. Without the Doctors and Staff at children’s memorial hospital Anna would not be here today. There is not a day that goes by that Anna’s family doesn’t think of how far Anna has come and how thankful they are for all This hospital did for her. They are truly miracle workers!</strong> <br /></blockquote><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br />As you can see I have not been able to post often. It's really hard to do with having a full time job and three very active little girls. There is also lots of homework and school stuff, orchestra, softball coming up, gymnastics and so on. There was also Jenny's (my best friend) wedding in which we were all in. I was her maid of honor, Mary a Junior bride's maid, Anna and Alex were both flower girls and Jason was an usher. <br /><br />As always I have to supply some pictures. I wish I had some from the wedding but they are all copywrited and we all were a little to busy to take them ourselves. All I have are a couple of us while we were getting ready. <br /><br /><center/>Anna got a new leotard for her Anniversary</center><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjySbBZzo-CXtC8wWb4znn1edC_BbUtqnpOlYOHWK58-W_QToP_UpB00kWiGvRoqrAfaFrN0sPaI6UuzMH1ugY23q1nYGH8ZNFZH7byO0Hf0INVcS6pXkJ0HafnXzZGpwanfVHC/s1600-h/060.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjySbBZzo-CXtC8wWb4znn1edC_BbUtqnpOlYOHWK58-W_QToP_UpB00kWiGvRoqrAfaFrN0sPaI6UuzMH1ugY23q1nYGH8ZNFZH7byO0Hf0INVcS6pXkJ0HafnXzZGpwanfVHC/s400/060.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450904579868167906" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVYbwCe5sCu89FmJKZyT0Uk2NI9ZhoSgNao2uksRdTks7_lbhmYsx3a6eveUlpFN3lLBAogQJqaXzfscnKVgrPdvrjTbUUE659BZfVCZ4WBL82bmaNKUuV3a6Bcwy9TT5gyN2-/s1600-h/066.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVYbwCe5sCu89FmJKZyT0Uk2NI9ZhoSgNao2uksRdTks7_lbhmYsx3a6eveUlpFN3lLBAogQJqaXzfscnKVgrPdvrjTbUUE659BZfVCZ4WBL82bmaNKUuV3a6Bcwy9TT5gyN2-/s400/066.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450904570593500450" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicsdIoOJlsk5JX8xdSrmPDzy9Hgg7rZa_7Bsl6N1esWgxcV4amAzDL8QGU1XqCHYVUsxgBp9jk6nMWid7FD273j_5_TED5Wv79f-7BNVb9SmuKVuMV8MwFm9dXCVM6GWyL7pP2/s1600-h/045.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicsdIoOJlsk5JX8xdSrmPDzy9Hgg7rZa_7Bsl6N1esWgxcV4amAzDL8QGU1XqCHYVUsxgBp9jk6nMWid7FD273j_5_TED5Wv79f-7BNVb9SmuKVuMV8MwFm9dXCVM6GWyL7pP2/s400/045.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450903552058411410" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjZVk2tmT7ENCNrAlnHu7rGHAlxxTfzHIYQV4QXBv2mMghp08YJYIGToNJAzjfVC3iKCgxvomgm7tfzPgIWAbjlLOiQHvzg3Qvq6kSbfQXg2Cs0eqAne9RmdFuUn1zDRlQ1YMF/s1600-h/043.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjZVk2tmT7ENCNrAlnHu7rGHAlxxTfzHIYQV4QXBv2mMghp08YJYIGToNJAzjfVC3iKCgxvomgm7tfzPgIWAbjlLOiQHvzg3Qvq6kSbfQXg2Cs0eqAne9RmdFuUn1zDRlQ1YMF/s400/043.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450903543062047874" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzPClXB49hVjf0_KuO4Hglw2i-qwM6-Pi-eCKBuTijSm3CBpAzJ1R8eYhfHViX0QHAi5D0Cfym2pXvH1UZPjHZfmq-aPqSeyTQu1HaQEnOyfmxcl9IzS7RiznZDM_QUj2U4yqZ/s1600-h/035.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzPClXB49hVjf0_KuO4Hglw2i-qwM6-Pi-eCKBuTijSm3CBpAzJ1R8eYhfHViX0QHAi5D0Cfym2pXvH1UZPjHZfmq-aPqSeyTQu1HaQEnOyfmxcl9IzS7RiznZDM_QUj2U4yqZ/s400/035.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450903535232301778" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim7UtuoW_rlALUx9fegJqLTs2tgYCOcrOmseTapQdg9o-BUeBxQK8MMscUnNIPkV-CrD9mgBXxTLPrQF1J_XYlv3HXKKbp1Nb86GJWlqTUaNdz1fHP1ycszsCqmzwi_X2k9p2V/s1600-h/022.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim7UtuoW_rlALUx9fegJqLTs2tgYCOcrOmseTapQdg9o-BUeBxQK8MMscUnNIPkV-CrD9mgBXxTLPrQF1J_XYlv3HXKKbp1Nb86GJWlqTUaNdz1fHP1ycszsCqmzwi_X2k9p2V/s400/022.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450903529845821474" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIBS-Pr0vaocGivkGuJo1lGrjQKwiNn8k5P1R5mTfpNAnSBHz9PUrpSzIyHwylEFeZayD3YdVUl5hIb-pzudFLkxFpqGp5bMFcZEeu5wSJdGiaMkhujGGmADatsRP-dnavVRJC/s1600-h/010.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 316px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIBS-Pr0vaocGivkGuJo1lGrjQKwiNn8k5P1R5mTfpNAnSBHz9PUrpSzIyHwylEFeZayD3YdVUl5hIb-pzudFLkxFpqGp5bMFcZEeu5wSJdGiaMkhujGGmADatsRP-dnavVRJC/s400/010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450903526307319378" /></a>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06568095510365381346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542296.post-24056042092657820082009-12-04T10:22:00.006-06:002009-12-04T10:59:55.073-06:00Still aroundSince the last time we updated:<br /><br />We got a puppy!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMVe6PJwDqglbv-R3Sgif8pfrrXs6dY8GBTgPu4IYaSNSMW8nnujKdk6PcoW8z05jVKg-aG59prwVgSs3R7wBu9FREqOnB6HSZ0YvnsA5JwXKpe9-zOWo6WRBfpibbNs1TQDbC/s1600-h/DSCF2817.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMVe6PJwDqglbv-R3Sgif8pfrrXs6dY8GBTgPu4IYaSNSMW8nnujKdk6PcoW8z05jVKg-aG59prwVgSs3R7wBu9FREqOnB6HSZ0YvnsA5JwXKpe9-zOWo6WRBfpibbNs1TQDbC/s400/DSCF2817.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411419017491860242" /></a><br /><br />Alex likes to believe he's her dog<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN-KpbY6y4xZ7jyQuvN31dw7ZaoV4817h1UHKJFGelpLk9ypgY0Qi7GGOb1XjrPe19pezK6pl-uOLmg5vFXuPY5uJxt6CW-211i8VYrEc3F3kA6WjQ_OseW3fMLDnk_vOikY9E/s1600-h/100_0935.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN-KpbY6y4xZ7jyQuvN31dw7ZaoV4817h1UHKJFGelpLk9ypgY0Qi7GGOb1XjrPe19pezK6pl-uOLmg5vFXuPY5uJxt6CW-211i8VYrEc3F3kA6WjQ_OseW3fMLDnk_vOikY9E/s400/100_0935.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411419012272133602" /></a><br /><br />Gizmo kind of likes him<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwOXeT9m_DAWNG9EP6_LjmDzCM8H-uUFag9_mgaxwhyd9TPlEx9_9XEFZPICBtcZAK_oFQpLhBmyVXy4IElY5vO__yk8nSuH_G7kNGw_lXUhKjzfqEH90zo5KS5GCBuo4vE-Xs/s1600-h/100_0846.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwOXeT9m_DAWNG9EP6_LjmDzCM8H-uUFag9_mgaxwhyd9TPlEx9_9XEFZPICBtcZAK_oFQpLhBmyVXy4IElY5vO__yk8nSuH_G7kNGw_lXUhKjzfqEH90zo5KS5GCBuo4vE-Xs/s400/100_0846.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411419006940495186" /></a><br /><br />Did I mention his name is Hester (as in Devin Hester of the Chicago Bears)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWJ0sdhFIsGaQ5G8x2BURkmecEYztsKM0PlMoSFOfqBxzYPNSKteJpn9Yw8qWzSUvKyJobUHWbhiIuhJfwYAbGttI2veA2Q7kevHKDeA_BW59N0eRNy-x_PMpy5AWJfgapGkF1/s1600-h/100_0813.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWJ0sdhFIsGaQ5G8x2BURkmecEYztsKM0PlMoSFOfqBxzYPNSKteJpn9Yw8qWzSUvKyJobUHWbhiIuhJfwYAbGttI2veA2Q7kevHKDeA_BW59N0eRNy-x_PMpy5AWJfgapGkF1/s400/100_0813.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411418998930009986" /></a><br /><br />We all love him!<br /><br /><br />And, Halloween came and went. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJJMXIcFgAvpCIFH4HWgxTI53zg_jUx1PGKE1HjvW812dIW2pnbTCDyddHJ7QgN3EON0DKezfSxUc8LgwikZqYqUBzKP61JeAZHYBt77dgIhIyOd33EK7Y3YsqeE7WZJ2wG787/s1600-h/100_0880.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJJMXIcFgAvpCIFH4HWgxTI53zg_jUx1PGKE1HjvW812dIW2pnbTCDyddHJ7QgN3EON0DKezfSxUc8LgwikZqYqUBzKP61JeAZHYBt77dgIhIyOd33EK7Y3YsqeE7WZJ2wG787/s400/100_0880.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411420976113477378" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ecprlnQ3c0v9-LJd7tMsYp0jxV0BAtw0CEC0xTHvxojf6_Bx-Ng4FTupAbE6Vr8jitDdXxBf-v1VJHAtnVfIJKtFNyDluMWty-xoWwhBPLmi6KKGzYgLYKcu0IW9UCVsDdfD/s1600-h/100_0875.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ecprlnQ3c0v9-LJd7tMsYp0jxV0BAtw0CEC0xTHvxojf6_Bx-Ng4FTupAbE6Vr8jitDdXxBf-v1VJHAtnVfIJKtFNyDluMWty-xoWwhBPLmi6KKGzYgLYKcu0IW9UCVsDdfD/s400/100_0875.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411420970047201794" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh80SK1y-bXASuma50lQFhO0-by011SQQqRHPIORU40-MVrAnzp76igVLagh7_5RPaiFCCffCv1jfcCx3QRVm5naIxUKSRZsjVS1Twcw0YsHllDj7YVsFBBNiH-RdJwErTrjVeS/s1600-h/100_0870.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh80SK1y-bXASuma50lQFhO0-by011SQQqRHPIORU40-MVrAnzp76igVLagh7_5RPaiFCCffCv1jfcCx3QRVm5naIxUKSRZsjVS1Twcw0YsHllDj7YVsFBBNiH-RdJwErTrjVeS/s400/100_0870.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411420961368725250" /></a><br /><br />Mary was Michael Jackson<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7G7uLepMPGZ6tU7ZkxilW8Ieyy29utBpIwV5jPzLwFnhLiHtbXmbW2lBNOzkBzuzse7oVvoEIH7IiUYvvedXsWsv4Op5HXZUyE_dplpDIf1xg4MQ4RtCVq1XUlNKvwgVBMXRn/s1600-h/100_0863.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7G7uLepMPGZ6tU7ZkxilW8Ieyy29utBpIwV5jPzLwFnhLiHtbXmbW2lBNOzkBzuzse7oVvoEIH7IiUYvvedXsWsv4Op5HXZUyE_dplpDIf1xg4MQ4RtCVq1XUlNKvwgVBMXRn/s400/100_0863.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411420954141811570" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRn3h2XTLZqM92Bi1VwLbl_knDkatpV8kX6nuPKUYV98Mehc7A6HHV1QEmacvnFc3TM6Yxk5VagUWB-zmjiF_My0ThUQkW9lwUbvqtNSzRg9QDQQMTsmdwAQaaO4lgxf6qgLfa/s1600-h/100_0862.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRn3h2XTLZqM92Bi1VwLbl_knDkatpV8kX6nuPKUYV98Mehc7A6HHV1QEmacvnFc3TM6Yxk5VagUWB-zmjiF_My0ThUQkW9lwUbvqtNSzRg9QDQQMTsmdwAQaaO4lgxf6qgLfa/s400/100_0862.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411420948462305186" /></a><br /><br />And just recently Thanksgiving came and went. I hosted this year and cooked the entire dinner on my own! I ended up roasting a Turkey in the oven and Jason deep fried one. Both Turkeys were excellent! <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8QN8GcJxwu_n5VZsU8zl0KOvlIyoCt6uCSFfuu0WYyRbC55Lt7xy9jppV_RIX_xqa2GT-FhmHanYTHYDwEDIW75J0W3tRWrwD3Gg5tIEzW8w9IjXY68Gb1J56eFDk6WZM3K49/s1600-h/100_1021.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8QN8GcJxwu_n5VZsU8zl0KOvlIyoCt6uCSFfuu0WYyRbC55Lt7xy9jppV_RIX_xqa2GT-FhmHanYTHYDwEDIW75J0W3tRWrwD3Gg5tIEzW8w9IjXY68Gb1J56eFDk6WZM3K49/s400/100_1021.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411426063831190450" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVt806UL_SfrXTr-Marg7iLQqKQFUWFYl8ZTQMZbQN-nS18rRV4stD6H2utA7HLnD6HV_b_iE2t0cDGkdnfQ9VqaDccGoH8JkT-Ebo_DV44OId6BMxljtk7x2YLxkAH7nyaD4y/s1600-h/100_0979.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVt806UL_SfrXTr-Marg7iLQqKQFUWFYl8ZTQMZbQN-nS18rRV4stD6H2utA7HLnD6HV_b_iE2t0cDGkdnfQ9VqaDccGoH8JkT-Ebo_DV44OId6BMxljtk7x2YLxkAH7nyaD4y/s400/100_0979.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411426058723305762" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1XutGLBrM7T-OtnEalUVu5lfKRqVR0y2RN3dNjOwegLKhzxX0hAkaKlZ2mjoO_RNFLy_8Fj-SW2B-gnRrQDgWzuFNGkagt5meMYWT7SI08tHhL33CSC3Qk1xpEhGlCeaFQe5C/s1600-h/100_0997.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1XutGLBrM7T-OtnEalUVu5lfKRqVR0y2RN3dNjOwegLKhzxX0hAkaKlZ2mjoO_RNFLy_8Fj-SW2B-gnRrQDgWzuFNGkagt5meMYWT7SI08tHhL33CSC3Qk1xpEhGlCeaFQe5C/s400/100_0997.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411426048738480850" /></a>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06568095510365381346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542296.post-55904466956600869322009-09-01T20:44:00.004-05:002009-09-01T20:57:55.918-05:00Back to school!Mary started Middle school this year and is loving it! She thinks it's awesome that she gets to travel from class to class, have a locker combination and all of that. She is making tones of friends and can't wait to get check out some of the clubs. Anna is now in 2nd grade and she loves that she can now walk to school (since we moved just down the block from it) and she got one of Mary's old teachers this year. Alexandria started pre-school today. She was so excited and loved every minute of it! She got one of Anna's old preschool teachers who we just adore. She is actually one of our favorite nurses from Children's PICU, mother in law. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbYjrgPEQSLWsG0_C3skTXg8pYAVFrWV7X1b608r0cWlC75nVxueV966TFH8Cdjqpz-Z5pbmw8gBdKRGhD6L6M7VchY8b4422KEJB-0sRP3czYZV_lQj5e-hrkz4qC_vqjTrF7/s1600-h/062.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 301px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbYjrgPEQSLWsG0_C3skTXg8pYAVFrWV7X1b608r0cWlC75nVxueV966TFH8Cdjqpz-Z5pbmw8gBdKRGhD6L6M7VchY8b4422KEJB-0sRP3czYZV_lQj5e-hrkz4qC_vqjTrF7/s400/062.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376682339893425730" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7na43y5yh8Lu4VnpFSbW6gFlfTxNQwxZXbFMNkm1p-CPxTDKt7a8q4xmR_oVw4dgrekwBFOOGkD3ycL0FxUdYzLcuzxKcqHqqcVW0C9aBT8Z7i6X6wjqwvuIZiRBh3wGJ-BO8/s1600-h/065.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7na43y5yh8Lu4VnpFSbW6gFlfTxNQwxZXbFMNkm1p-CPxTDKt7a8q4xmR_oVw4dgrekwBFOOGkD3ycL0FxUdYzLcuzxKcqHqqcVW0C9aBT8Z7i6X6wjqwvuIZiRBh3wGJ-BO8/s400/065.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376682912257873858" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA3Yg8ZUDrqckTIjQ7jndSbsRxDxFMRgNqUey1OK_sJPcqt7FgUQpybg2WDUIsJteSOZVUWvcH0Tlp-H7HLE6rKAs1IfW9Fk6epW44NHJIHRw56rDa0N_1oag8X6zHKvNBFKnU/s1600-h/069.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA3Yg8ZUDrqckTIjQ7jndSbsRxDxFMRgNqUey1OK_sJPcqt7FgUQpybg2WDUIsJteSOZVUWvcH0Tlp-H7HLE6rKAs1IfW9Fk6epW44NHJIHRw56rDa0N_1oag8X6zHKvNBFKnU/s400/069.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376682920724631650" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiyl0R2kIh7cYmvIBbex7rrgWkafmUIB6y_WVsDooGOgY8ZdAnmlfJlwhFRRutNv3llfU3fYwdkFnQwLlkbrfRVdS6UwKJPtav9M-8UH22FwIq40ynl1BQf8c5upYE5T8xSvFJ/s1600-h/075.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiyl0R2kIh7cYmvIBbex7rrgWkafmUIB6y_WVsDooGOgY8ZdAnmlfJlwhFRRutNv3llfU3fYwdkFnQwLlkbrfRVdS6UwKJPtav9M-8UH22FwIq40ynl1BQf8c5upYE5T8xSvFJ/s400/075.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376682931298937474" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJd8nAOfw28Ulc0K3JlDSQFAsYaPoFcyzpLQLiFlRdY6vFzDRfA8Vr-VdOiRSdQ5AwNylNjdq2mzomywvZILhzCUKlGZ5Qt7rp9T8upvf5RxNICFxSXlW39IxvW5F7fB-jRPon/s1600-h/048.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJd8nAOfw28Ulc0K3JlDSQFAsYaPoFcyzpLQLiFlRdY6vFzDRfA8Vr-VdOiRSdQ5AwNylNjdq2mzomywvZILhzCUKlGZ5Qt7rp9T8upvf5RxNICFxSXlW39IxvW5F7fB-jRPon/s400/048.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376682323910250098" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFVmlmTzY6kUajQTM01eH6P5YU8Qi2YlI8vMmVCnevic8scZp78AexFSHKUNPHEJn28cowaQyAhKQXtLmCl9FQjCMChTtDiRpjxYuavQ1ThJ6EKYCpHRsUIrjEAmZk9zRkDS2b/s1600-h/045.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 289px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFVmlmTzY6kUajQTM01eH6P5YU8Qi2YlI8vMmVCnevic8scZp78AexFSHKUNPHEJn28cowaQyAhKQXtLmCl9FQjCMChTtDiRpjxYuavQ1ThJ6EKYCpHRsUIrjEAmZk9zRkDS2b/s400/045.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376682294431074658" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix_1LfBbolum_rW8UwxLJ4s-584wQng3DiU2PoJZFC8mM2vg6wOc-RN8qvQ_VJWujJa2S2nh8YK1QV1hyphenhyphenmzrRt-i1oEFmjGw543BWwej3fKvUI7bocwYEGt0lyhzvLZjVzl1-4/s1600-h/042.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix_1LfBbolum_rW8UwxLJ4s-584wQng3DiU2PoJZFC8mM2vg6wOc-RN8qvQ_VJWujJa2S2nh8YK1QV1hyphenhyphenmzrRt-i1oEFmjGw543BWwej3fKvUI7bocwYEGt0lyhzvLZjVzl1-4/s400/042.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376682286346654802" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgsylMVqd_k8klg1SJE91QgUQ7T3gSh-RWYJikngdBP6ubUJJKMlEA7pFgpJX3pnpIQNLoMw74RyOLqTQbGkQ-3MXT-kF8SeH3YMn3vmZ_p2rVfmr614UDnWmWIrjVmOhmfBPI/s1600-h/040.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 290px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgsylMVqd_k8klg1SJE91QgUQ7T3gSh-RWYJikngdBP6ubUJJKMlEA7pFgpJX3pnpIQNLoMw74RyOLqTQbGkQ-3MXT-kF8SeH3YMn3vmZ_p2rVfmr614UDnWmWIrjVmOhmfBPI/s400/040.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376682278532240146" /></a>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06568095510365381346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542296.post-70117869346168602532009-07-19T21:08:00.004-05:002009-07-19T21:41:49.999-05:00Sorry I haven't updated since that last post when Anna had her biopsy. I know I said I would let you know the results, and I'm sure most of you do anyway, but for those of you who only know of us from this blog I'm sorry I left you hanging. I actually just found of a couple people who read this blog that I didn't know even knew about it. For those of you, sorry. I really didn't think many people looked here. Also I have been working a lot, have been really tired, and we just found out last week that we are moving at the end of this month so I just haven't had the time. <br /><br />We didn't get the results we wanted to get. Anna is still having mild rejection. It was another shocker that no one expected. Her doctors said the expected to see resalution. Let me tell you, even though we knew that she had rejection in January, it was unexpected that it would still be going on 4 months later, especially with Anna being put back on her meds. The good news is that it still looked better than her last episode (which they said was mild) so this is even more mild. They did not have to put Anna back on steroids, they just put her on a twice a day dose (up from a once a day dose) of her immune suppressant medication. This stinks because it's twice the amount of immune suppressants. A week later they turned up her dose a even little more than that. I just figured out the other day that she has not been on this high of a dose since she first started taking this med when she was 2 (a different immune suppressant was used before that). We once again have to worry about her picking up every little virus floating around. Since then she picked up a strep skin infection, a summer cold, her eczema is back full force, and she seems to have an ear infection now that I'm taking her to the pediatrician tomorow. <br /><br />Once again, all of her blood work looks perfect! Nobody understands why nothing shows up in her labs and only in her biopsy's. We talked to the doctor and expressed our concerns that this might be something else but she assured us that it was rejection, the biopsy did not show any liver damage, and we'll just continue to monitor. Another biopsy will be repeated in 6 months and labs still every 2 weeks until her medication level stays where they need it to be to control this rejection and to keep an eye on her liver numbers. I feel like we are where we were a year out of her transplant and that is a hard place to be right now.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06568095510365381346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542296.post-73992324948912016502009-06-16T10:20:00.002-05:002009-06-16T10:52:48.827-05:00Sitting here at Children's<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEginRUxbKjJNO3Le2l-lEoUZ8V5V79Do8Uh47buw7y4kYZ3HPWMnApwEW8quLrIMwETcIkH_G6ngmXL_cMubOt3Huz2ZEwhvXLdA9JS1b1G2mHrTMzFXMl-J9M1-ny80ctA6Kgt/s1600-h/0616091046.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEginRUxbKjJNO3Le2l-lEoUZ8V5V79Do8Uh47buw7y4kYZ3HPWMnApwEW8quLrIMwETcIkH_G6ngmXL_cMubOt3Huz2ZEwhvXLdA9JS1b1G2mHrTMzFXMl-J9M1-ny80ctA6Kgt/s320/0616091046.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347953799766594146" /></a><br />I'm just sitting here in the surgical observation area, watching Anna and Jason sleep. We woke up at 4:30 this morning so they are pooped. I on the other hand, I guess I'm just used to waking up early. On a normal work day I am already up for for an hour and a half by that time. <br /><br />Anna went in for her biopsy by eight this morning, done by 8:15am, and it is now 10:00am. She did so well, as usual. I was a little worried because she was a bit nervous this time around. Her nervousness really surprised me because she is usually so nonchalant about this stuff. I guess she is just getting older and more aware of what is happening and why. Before it was all fun stuff because she gets spoiled here. <br /><br />Dr. Ekong came out after the procedure, said everything went fine, and was on her way to do a biopsy on this tiny little baby that was waiting in the holding area. The mommy handed the baby off with tears in her eyes. Being here brings back memories of Anna when she was that little and how scared we were for her. I wanted to go over to that mom and give her a hug, and tell her it would all be OK. It feels like just yesterday when Jason and I were in those parents' position. I also remember that there is nothing you can say that would comfort those parents. The only thing would be for the doctor to come out and say that it was all a big mistake, your child does not have a liver disease, she is perfectly healthy! <br /><br />So Anyway, Dr. Ekong let us know that she was not going to put a rush on looking at the biopsy because she doesn't anticipate anything showing up especially with her labs from Sunday looking so good. When she left Jason and I discussed how very silly that sounded to us. Didn't she say that last time? Her labs did look perfect, but there were still signs of rejection in her biopsy. It's not that I want her to put a rush on it because Anna is not showing any symptoms of any sort, it just sounded silly the way she put it. A few days is nothing, and I'll bet everything is fine. <br /><br />So, here we sit until 2:00 this afternoon, and they had better let us go right away! I'll go nuts just sitting her. I don't know how I did this for weeks at a time.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06568095510365381346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542296.post-45705182595053571802009-05-16T21:13:00.005-05:002009-05-16T21:29:15.136-05:00Ballet rectialAlex did so well in her dance recital today! I actually had to get this video from her dress rehearsal from the night before because we weren't allowed to take video at her actual recital. She looked so cute and did very well for her first time!<br /><br />Alex is the one in the middle with the extremely long hair!<br /><br /><OBJECT class=BLOG_video_class id=BLOG_video-f617fb335f9480b8 height=266 width=320 contentId="f617fb335f9480b8"></OBJECT><br /><br /><br />And some more pictures!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwo4qYqMvTLDEd8Q8AbD4kcJ5d-DVLvodE9j45vJbAOZK6AmkcwG9Q4PSwmq9QrdWOpduLk1b8-Km8ONsxjwEinLywN1j8npVnD-HMx1tF6QsdnG_r57DmCnu8ij7xvKt0__r/s1600-h/042.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwo4qYqMvTLDEd8Q8AbD4kcJ5d-DVLvodE9j45vJbAOZK6AmkcwG9Q4PSwmq9QrdWOpduLk1b8-Km8ONsxjwEinLywN1j8npVnD-HMx1tF6QsdnG_r57DmCnu8ij7xvKt0__r/s320/042.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336612374965525826" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJBdEkMQDeK53z8fZdry7azNpQyJia65GrORl8ZUg49WZyJ-HNcZy-vcrJWLaNNP-UyY8GfzvYUiY7WNt2d2eJIqAggpWiHKcAMpUNyR1dFMqf3QeG2Gx3ytxg06BSIG6nrTH/s1600-h/036.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJBdEkMQDeK53z8fZdry7azNpQyJia65GrORl8ZUg49WZyJ-HNcZy-vcrJWLaNNP-UyY8GfzvYUiY7WNt2d2eJIqAggpWiHKcAMpUNyR1dFMqf3QeG2Gx3ytxg06BSIG6nrTH/s320/036.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336612371103787586" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoAJ5SK-Vllhnjs0omM5ruEDRWGBP7hPHP04zo646jJQgWIaRyaPAln-83-Ax26mO9_gyagzjv9gJTw8XzBrYZjT-oR_p0eqBlX9d9nXFKjOaU1ZEP0VI748RKo069ZB9PSjYm/s1600-h/034.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoAJ5SK-Vllhnjs0omM5ruEDRWGBP7hPHP04zo646jJQgWIaRyaPAln-83-Ax26mO9_gyagzjv9gJTw8XzBrYZjT-oR_p0eqBlX9d9nXFKjOaU1ZEP0VI748RKo069ZB9PSjYm/s320/034.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336612367180460146" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMByO_265hv07f-8povqysqQL-KequSmqfRY6g9pbErTqHYVBXG4ugc6xmdEW0QW9q7-MO0bpjVkpB5rNyVlfcQJQWe0G5eRTlbh88pJPsSe1oNoJQnBWnMbfDoYSwE1Gu3tBf/s1600-h/029.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMByO_265hv07f-8povqysqQL-KequSmqfRY6g9pbErTqHYVBXG4ugc6xmdEW0QW9q7-MO0bpjVkpB5rNyVlfcQJQWe0G5eRTlbh88pJPsSe1oNoJQnBWnMbfDoYSwE1Gu3tBf/s320/029.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336612361716146498" /></a>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06568095510365381346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542296.post-27103488570371869032009-05-05T15:59:00.002-05:002009-05-05T16:12:48.423-05:00Don't they look cute as.....Anna as a walrus.............<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPBt1kvukFR-I4U3cT0_JILzT1gXgmwGZxt19DZNdp_8ghRCuk9LAFftKQ5kbWSRlx_GAMZ8VWgagGeOKmfUCqN3arNhDCN4Qx4DaBa9LsNS2BCOGJIQwWRVdZpViA_BnFhKLH/s1600-h/1+055.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPBt1kvukFR-I4U3cT0_JILzT1gXgmwGZxt19DZNdp_8ghRCuk9LAFftKQ5kbWSRlx_GAMZ8VWgagGeOKmfUCqN3arNhDCN4Qx4DaBa9LsNS2BCOGJIQwWRVdZpViA_BnFhKLH/s320/1+055.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332448048672643618" /></a><br /><br /><br />Mary as a tiger..............<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwYY-CQW-EHzwomK6c-raWHRAGiD_wCZ5GsBDAr15qIeukaEI3QouQT7XWD84JOTmRo8A0a3mpIqpyHnEda8jivz5BfQDPmYyj63hb77UbQrnzS-zPYHtt_DFjN05U79fDySZ5/s1600-h/1+057.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwYY-CQW-EHzwomK6c-raWHRAGiD_wCZ5GsBDAr15qIeukaEI3QouQT7XWD84JOTmRo8A0a3mpIqpyHnEda8jivz5BfQDPmYyj63hb77UbQrnzS-zPYHtt_DFjN05U79fDySZ5/s320/1+057.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332448221115535282" /></a><br /><br /><br />Alex as a monkey..............<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqYE_jhzL2ltPYGcGrFuAdzleYwGvmWhV5suJ43AF5TyvHZ2_oUcuB98PshOepgkBrnG_yxo1Q1GVId3jNNI1mdVYS1YRhpDYfwT9PMMI_Wiu4XMwybtqB_qS3vlbKQjIlwleD/s1600-h/1+054.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqYE_jhzL2ltPYGcGrFuAdzleYwGvmWhV5suJ43AF5TyvHZ2_oUcuB98PshOepgkBrnG_yxo1Q1GVId3jNNI1mdVYS1YRhpDYfwT9PMMI_Wiu4XMwybtqB_qS3vlbKQjIlwleD/s320/1+054.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332448508618081890" /></a><br /><br /><br />Jason as a bat................<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnzY1wTXbNeTS3PRn81uVDkYWJsbq6M4-dA3ukO-9erMSOKsgjy4bvD3ubVKPzot-QtVaxbsTYg01y9y9-iUxbn40Gg3h9BDoaEsX1WDMTZxJ1_OBuibpZCFcWdCw5veVAP8Hx/s1600-h/1+056.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnzY1wTXbNeTS3PRn81uVDkYWJsbq6M4-dA3ukO-9erMSOKsgjy4bvD3ubVKPzot-QtVaxbsTYg01y9y9-iUxbn40Gg3h9BDoaEsX1WDMTZxJ1_OBuibpZCFcWdCw5veVAP8Hx/s320/1+056.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332448725480770610" /></a><br /><br /><br />If you haven't guessed it already, we went to the zoo last weekend for the last time before our membership expires. I don't think we will be getting another membership this year because we have had one every year for the past three years and it's getting a little old. We always love the zoo, but you get a little burnt out on it and to tell you the truth I don't think we'll really use it this year. I might be getting a full time position at the hospital that I work part time at right now, and it will be hard enough to get pool time let alone enough visits to the zoo to make a membership worthwhile. <br /><br />So, sorry all you <a href="http://www2.warnerbros.com/happyfeet/">Mumbles</a> that we visit at every trip to the zoo, but we will see you next year!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQkaa4mAu-q_vt3EHbxtH7IuOYDjpWU3NgHBu-1Yy_JUikKjf27e2lZDgSPAwQFWdsZNajVRVGjGeglFuO6zBeMyCxfDKuRLrlYLZH9M2Y-AwVxO_0NDZayda1Pm-gcRF381Cn/s1600-h/1+050.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQkaa4mAu-q_vt3EHbxtH7IuOYDjpWU3NgHBu-1Yy_JUikKjf27e2lZDgSPAwQFWdsZNajVRVGjGeglFuO6zBeMyCxfDKuRLrlYLZH9M2Y-AwVxO_0NDZayda1Pm-gcRF381Cn/s320/1+050.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332450478262021634" /></a>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06568095510365381346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542296.post-7466778012385811272009-04-28T15:32:00.003-05:002009-04-28T15:35:18.343-05:00Just a little inside joke guys!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYsqJ6iSWt4fVtGsdnE_4z6sW0x-K9f9nrXuSME2u40mJ3gMIeEI7e2g0NGEeXubafOLv3nnPdqjhbaPBbGbEbej5QYBhcVr62eNEW5G4k2WIGT43jaJqj7wtBje2WWLRxcgu-/s1600-h/010.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYsqJ6iSWt4fVtGsdnE_4z6sW0x-K9f9nrXuSME2u40mJ3gMIeEI7e2g0NGEeXubafOLv3nnPdqjhbaPBbGbEbej5QYBhcVr62eNEW5G4k2WIGT43jaJqj7wtBje2WWLRxcgu-/s320/010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329843553310896178" /></a><br />To my lovely brother-in-law. <br /><br />You know I love ya!Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06568095510365381346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542296.post-60928570575789004612009-04-10T17:15:00.012-05:002009-04-10T19:25:29.027-05:00Hey all!<br /><br />Sorry it's been so long. Ok, I know, I know, I seem to always update starting out that way. I doubt anybody even visits here anymore, so if you have patience with me, thank you so much!<br /><br />I am finding it hard to balance my time between kids, housework, school, and getting those naps in during the day (which is absolutely necessary when you get up at 3 in the morning for work, and can't get to bet until 10 or later depending on when the kids finally get to sleep). I rarely get to sit down to do anything more than check my e-mail, online banking and a quick check on some blogs that I like to visit. I don't have the time to comment, or write e-mails so I am sorry for that too.<br /><br />A few things have happened this month. First of all, Alexandria celebrated her 4th birthday! I can't believe she is four already! Gosh, time flies! In events ot come, Alexandria has her first dance recital in May! Can't wait to post pictures of that one! I love first dance recital pictures!<br /><br /><br /><CENTER>Then:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-7HGqvIzReOjBT0wgq7hHpuHgUia-qbKmlAOF2_ZiCeNdoEAwiu1_5ZWRVr9nUyE7GCwxaFbkY0SKpg6tsGPWG9G-t5VFV2fTlkyq8JIfE0tV1XDBRzTt2mXIJ9-iVMJ4zfj/s1600-h/IMG006.JPG"><img style="float:center; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-7HGqvIzReOjBT0wgq7hHpuHgUia-qbKmlAOF2_ZiCeNdoEAwiu1_5ZWRVr9nUyE7GCwxaFbkY0SKpg6tsGPWG9G-t5VFV2fTlkyq8JIfE0tV1XDBRzTt2mXIJ9-iVMJ4zfj/s320/IMG006.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323192349198742466" /></a></CENTER><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><CENTER>Now:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_4WbUe8nu3Lnr65ZGd7IDuPnZK9nfxb0H3xv6uDB8ALZKiHruJdMcd0_kA973GAGiu4haA_E9Cjbax_8qms3zcNRnZUhdlajw8xwNvp2eb89t3Hl1iSPqO9YBsLXl3korG7MI/s1600-h/088.JPG"><img style="float:center; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_4WbUe8nu3Lnr65ZGd7IDuPnZK9nfxb0H3xv6uDB8ALZKiHruJdMcd0_kA973GAGiu4haA_E9Cjbax_8qms3zcNRnZUhdlajw8xwNvp2eb89t3Hl1iSPqO9YBsLXl3korG7MI/s320/088.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323192736810775522" /></a></CENTER><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Next, Mary started her first year of softball. She has done baseball in the past, I want to say in first and second grade, but not since then. I think she was kind of in between wanting to keep going with baseball, but not sure how the boys would be as they get older (probably not that great of an idea, when they are little it's fine but they can start really not liking having a girl on their team after that) and wanting to try softball, but she wasn't sure how different it would be and I don't think she likes the competition with other girls! So anyway, she finally decided she wanted to go for softball this year and she really is very good. These other girls on her team are no better than her, which Mary was afraid of because most of them have been playing since T-ball without a break. I think her experience with baseball (and the fact that Jason always plays catch and takes her to batting cages) really helped her and she will be just as good (or better) than the other girls on her team. Plus, she seemed to really hit it off with these girls and I think she will have an awesome season with lots of fun!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><CENTER>Then:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiteDUeZ8wqjK8yMrYtVx8iTn9ObDgzsGmr9sg__KYM7d2CXaM4ucAI-jeHGlE_HIkqYAUX8fLatyx-W8MJOOAT01ZIfNmWOQSf0RAuWJqWlddawA4XraGzDI9Au_-Hz7YhlgdB/s1600-h/IMG023.JPG"><img style="float:center; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiteDUeZ8wqjK8yMrYtVx8iTn9ObDgzsGmr9sg__KYM7d2CXaM4ucAI-jeHGlE_HIkqYAUX8fLatyx-W8MJOOAT01ZIfNmWOQSf0RAuWJqWlddawA4XraGzDI9Au_-Hz7YhlgdB/s320/IMG023.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323195905360506818" /></a></CENTER><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><CENTER>Now:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVtzmEFhjME4rafaladYzWZGZRA8x8xnkVpTDBnlKKHdGlTLYIKYTAfG2SdOAtGdOSLPEAL7i1m9KDuCD0OPwXgxPG2pyZO1oAOEo5rYLq2oYiVCBUrl_qKKl8avOMYj6cyKsh/s1600-h/060.JPG"><img style="float:center; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVtzmEFhjME4rafaladYzWZGZRA8x8xnkVpTDBnlKKHdGlTLYIKYTAfG2SdOAtGdOSLPEAL7i1m9KDuCD0OPwXgxPG2pyZO1oAOEo5rYLq2oYiVCBUrl_qKKl8avOMYj6cyKsh/s320/060.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323196238379178002" /></a></CENTER><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />And last, but not least, Anna is thriving in the new gymnastics facility where she is taking classes. For a while we had her in classes at out park district building, but the room was so small that she could not advance any further. This is a bit more expensive, but so worth it! Anna looks forward to going every week and the class is long enough to where it seems like they have more of a chance to work on tricks they learn that day where as at the other place it seemed that they would have time to learn something, maybe try it a few times, then it was time to leave and by the next class all is forgotten. So anyway she was started in beginners 2 only because she needed to "clean up" her tricks. They are more strict here with how they want things done but not harsh on them, which I like. So, during spring break they had what they call Flip Flop clinic where they concentrate only on how to do a flip flop (translation: back flip using your hands). We signed Anna up with the intention of getting her familiar with how it done and to get a feel for it because in the Advanced beginners class (the next level up which she will be in next session)this is where they start to learn to do it. Well, in one hour, Anna learned to do it! She can do a flip flop! I never would have imagined she would learn that so fast, and neither did anyone else. I could tell how impressed the coaches and other mothers where. I am so mad I did not have my camera with me to take a video of it. I wasn't able to go to the last class either because I was in the ER with strep, and she can't do it yet at home without a large padded mat (I won't let her, she probably would if I let her). I promise to take a video when we go again, I promise! <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />And here is a photo of Anna, just because I posted pictures of the other girls!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5PCDKspzjxveUBR1Mby1jM3F8SpQStDIh_ZsgKkqYPtQjNyAa-5OXavcTrOlwt__BmPwLkF1xNtbP6yw_aFGY9_V0xi7sHZSsZAEvp8He2zHrMiq2G0vL7xxJT_VVqC7Dfhzr/s1600-h/055.JPG"><img style="float:center; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5PCDKspzjxveUBR1Mby1jM3F8SpQStDIh_ZsgKkqYPtQjNyAa-5OXavcTrOlwt__BmPwLkF1xNtbP6yw_aFGY9_V0xi7sHZSsZAEvp8He2zHrMiq2G0vL7xxJT_VVqC7Dfhzr/s320/055.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323209957679311106" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Look for updates on Easter, and our First Cubs game outing of the season.......Eventually!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><MARQUEE bgcolor="#CC0099" loop="-1" scrollamount="2" width="100%">HAPPY EASTER EVERYBODY!</MARQUEE>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06568095510365381346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542296.post-91159020263926421152009-03-13T09:36:00.004-05:002009-03-13T12:46:40.843-05:00Locks of loveOut of the kindness of her heart, Anna decided to cut a couple more inches off her hair than she was going to, so that there would be enough for her to be able to donate hair to locks of love! It was such a sweet thing to do, Mary did it too last year! Anna's reasoning for this..."I know what it's like to be sick and sad."<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Rl-0GA7aLMg9qyNiH0rigRAg5XANLDPEU6VKoBlr58857Hibc5bp7fTaGU3EBK09HiZpNe1QkpAAyZWQ93MMo6-hkvyiwnhEFk-iUOPNbyX9stAvygi1t3nQNGr1nFQemkFk/s1600-h/004.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Rl-0GA7aLMg9qyNiH0rigRAg5XANLDPEU6VKoBlr58857Hibc5bp7fTaGU3EBK09HiZpNe1QkpAAyZWQ93MMo6-hkvyiwnhEFk-iUOPNbyX9stAvygi1t3nQNGr1nFQemkFk/s400/004.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312729811465255490" /></a>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06568095510365381346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542296.post-54670186041296744192009-03-05T07:51:00.012-06:002009-03-06T13:15:35.885-06:00Happy 7 year transplant anniversary Anna!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFmBR_9-m8VK1w4p-WAd-c5WjO1cIf5pS2V1LzjzbSosSweaGRekRRGEcfGK5GPsROZOpL8RH4pq5iNJBjg0atsIxM_e-uwRC-7Oina_44KkopYE4G7fBBHPSqK6ZE29ie3zck/s1600-h/062.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFmBR_9-m8VK1w4p-WAd-c5WjO1cIf5pS2V1LzjzbSosSweaGRekRRGEcfGK5GPsROZOpL8RH4pq5iNJBjg0atsIxM_e-uwRC-7Oina_44KkopYE4G7fBBHPSqK6ZE29ie3zck/s200/062.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310150615997286978" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUMM2QbQ8aDXOdmy8173JRNn7y4Fg3wewx6SJWMkgg1Zk-JKMdO-6QC2hG7yHRmOKyp89stIcgEEHRkMg1v-93RNMeSSb-O1FrOksJOeso8UxNdI8i10NSikY8GGLaNIgftHLi/s1600-h/069.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 112px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUMM2QbQ8aDXOdmy8173JRNn7y4Fg3wewx6SJWMkgg1Zk-JKMdO-6QC2hG7yHRmOKyp89stIcgEEHRkMg1v-93RNMeSSb-O1FrOksJOeso8UxNdI8i10NSikY8GGLaNIgftHLi/s200/069.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310152287594325186" /></a><br />Seven years already! We celebrated Anna's anniversary last night by going to TGI Fridays as we do every year. We make a big deal out of her anniversary every year, we treat it kind of like a birthday party. Well, it's like a re-birthday party! Anna gets presents too, and this year since she's a big shot gymnast now, she asked for a new, good, leotard. I guess the ones she has is just not good enough now that she is in an academy and all the girls wear really good leotards. In my mind 35 dollars is a bit much for such a small piece of fabric but after I purchased it I could see how much nicer it is than the ones she has and it will probably last longer too. If you have time, take another look at the Anniversary video on the right side of this screen. I made it last year but it still a great reminder of how far Anna has come!<br /><br /><br /><br />Alex and I also made Anna a cake, Alex put the sprinkles on! Also Notice the spelling of Anniversary!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFQjVaLa2lxFaylK3uSRsPqJcJVYGZkY0CO2TF4iRiJv3tEsEe5x_A_Kg3ZY31jyLZ_yjMqOYIu_REWjrLCzdRxELGQLHAGBMMXyJvetVjBbqONkIttPanaIrUoHOl0-WpfotU/s1600-h/074.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 190px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFQjVaLa2lxFaylK3uSRsPqJcJVYGZkY0CO2TF4iRiJv3tEsEe5x_A_Kg3ZY31jyLZ_yjMqOYIu_REWjrLCzdRxELGQLHAGBMMXyJvetVjBbqONkIttPanaIrUoHOl0-WpfotU/s200/074.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310151599832082546" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFMBQRAOpb3N9IdDFT3ChVg64wbQ0iO1a03B7FLya3WVcKSYPkU97SudfG8uboo-Hn5x6N7fmgLJGw76rEH1xBdbkbm-GAfW-M1Wpy_2yPXXYS3btdsgD3_epLWnGC0zk6W70M/s1600-h/073.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 164px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFMBQRAOpb3N9IdDFT3ChVg64wbQ0iO1a03B7FLya3WVcKSYPkU97SudfG8uboo-Hn5x6N7fmgLJGw76rEH1xBdbkbm-GAfW-M1Wpy_2yPXXYS3btdsgD3_epLWnGC0zk6W70M/s200/073.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310150963204173890" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZuEu1BMVN_5L2Zw22E9zFmTd6QAMnLT8JB7Lz5wJt8x-4heNjQy4HN7aj3heEaGyCCcTO_wVCUBSPqUDhflUu59cWDVt9h5F3OlDpar7Hri1soElD_xOsqZLpQHENOGcTtYhU/s1600-h/077.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 198px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZuEu1BMVN_5L2Zw22E9zFmTd6QAMnLT8JB7Lz5wJt8x-4heNjQy4HN7aj3heEaGyCCcTO_wVCUBSPqUDhflUu59cWDVt9h5F3OlDpar7Hri1soElD_xOsqZLpQHENOGcTtYhU/s200/077.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310153095061994386" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU8x6PbEgu3TFplnoAcR6ooSceMrgQPniloRXSSnC6IRNQmwJucrCVVYfPIoD8FzUy2uaTMiiml_Df5eXOGdggpKlAO1Aj1v0ZwPMi5njswhh3VntVf2q-O4PVCTbpZxQ2qIYi/s1600-h/087.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU8x6PbEgu3TFplnoAcR6ooSceMrgQPniloRXSSnC6IRNQmwJucrCVVYfPIoD8FzUy2uaTMiiml_Df5eXOGdggpKlAO1Aj1v0ZwPMi5njswhh3VntVf2q-O4PVCTbpZxQ2qIYi/s200/087.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310153822616205362" /></a>Also, today I made some cupcakes for Anna's class at school. I am getting ready to bring them in. Supposedly Anna is going to tell the class about what the green ribbons mean. That would be great, but is she doesn't they still just look pretty!Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06568095510365381346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542296.post-277846813188679092009-02-15T19:38:00.006-06:002009-02-17T14:04:04.368-06:00Stuff to updateWell, since the last time I updated there have been some things going on around here. First of all..........I got a job offer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Wooohoooo!!!!!!!!!!! <br /><br />It might not be exactly what I had in mind, but I gotta take it because I am lucky to even get an offer the way the job market is right now. It's part time, 4am-8am. Ouch! It's an awesome hospital though, it's where I did my internship at so I know how things are done, for the most part. They offer benefits, the pay is good, and hopefully when a full time position comes along with the hours I like, I'll be considered. I'm just happy to be able to do this. Another good thing is that I'll be home for the girls all day and I won't need to spend lots of money on child care. <br /><br />In other news we purchased a second car! It was getting old having only one car and with me starting a job it was needed even more. It's a 2006 mini van, in great condition, very low millage, and we got a great deal on it. Good thing I had an extra Donate Life magnet to put on it or nobody would know it's mine! HAHAHAHAHA! <br /><br />Also, we had an appointment at Children's last Thursday and Anna's doing great! Her labs look perfect, still, and we were able to get a lot of questions answered from our favorite (not to mention, the best) liver doctor. She really put our minds at ease with this whole rejection thing. We feel so much better about everything now. She will be watched closely, still with biweekly labs, and she will have a repeat biopsy in late spring/early summer. We are assuming that everything is fine with her being back on her meds with liver numbers staying stable. They said that the biopsy definitely showed rejection, no doubt about it, but it was caught before it showed up in her lab work. If she wouldn't have had her biopsy when she did, and was still off of her meds, there is no question that her labs would have started to show increases in her liver numbers. She would have become noticeably jaundiced, along with other signs of liver problems. At that point there would have been some amount of liver damage. So, since it was caught right away, all is good, her liver is still perfect!<br /><br />Also, Mary and I went to a solo concert on Saturday where Mary was judged for her performance. She did very well, she did mess up once, so before she got her score she was freaking out. They are judged against themselves and it's scored according to grade level, how long they have played for, appearance, memorization, and how they hold themselves and their instruments. May got the highest score possible! She will receive a medal in class next week! Go Mary!<br /><br /><br /><div><embed src="http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_view_player?p=8151495f0dff6365659036" quality="high" scale="noscale" width="408" height="382" wmode="transparent" name="FLVPlayer" salign="LT" flashvars="&p=8151495f0dff6365659036&skin_id=701&host=http://www.onetruemedia.com" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed><div style="margin:0px;font:12px/13px verdana,arial,sans-serif;line-height:20px;padding-bottom:15px;width:408px;text-align:center;"><a href="http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_player_link?p=8151495f0dff6365659036&skin_id=701&source=emplay" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_player_link_image/8151495f0dff6365659036/701.gif" style="border:0px;" width="408" /></a><br/><a href="http://www.onetruemedia.com/landing?&utm_source=emplay&utm_medium=txt0" target="_blank" style="text-decoration:none;">Make photo slide shows at <span style="text-decoration:underline;">www.OneTrueMedia.com</span></a></div></div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06568095510365381346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542296.post-14046642845850355182009-02-03T10:45:00.003-06:002009-02-03T10:50:22.933-06:00DisturbiaI took this video of Alexandria dancing to her favorite song, Disturbia! Not the most appropriate song for a 3 year old, but oh well! She was watching the video a lot on TV and learned the dance on her own! It's so cute, the only problem is that the video is dark. I tried to do it this morning with the sun out and the shades open, but she won't do it on demand anymore. There are some parts that she just stands there, but mostly she is jamming! SO FUNNY!<br /><br /><br /><div><embed src="http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_view_player?p=7fd7ae8069134cafad8997" quality="high" scale="noscale" width="408" height="382" wmode="transparent" name="FLVPlayer" salign="LT" flashvars="&p=7fd7ae8069134cafad8997&skin_id=701&host=http://www.onetruemedia.com" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed><div style="margin:0px;font:12px/13px verdana,arial,sans-serif;line-height:20px;padding-bottom:15px;width:408px;text-align:center;"><a href="http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_player_link?p=7fd7ae8069134cafad8997&skin_id=701&source=emplay" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_player_link_image/7fd7ae8069134cafad8997/701.gif" style="border:0px;" width="408" /></a><br/><a href="http://www.onetruemedia.com/landing?&utm_source=emplay&utm_medium=txt3" target="_blank" style="text-decoration:none;">Make video montages at <span style="text-decoration:underline;">www.OneTrueMedia.com</span></a></div></div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06568095510365381346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542296.post-34476918575624790462009-02-03T08:47:00.005-06:002009-02-05T08:25:46.113-06:00Anna's doing fineAnna's labs looked good. This would make me feel better, but since her labs looked good the same day of her biopsy, it doesn't make me feel as good as it should. Now Anna has a cold! The joys of immune suppression. <br /><br />~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Update~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br />Sorry to leave everyone hanging. I know I left the last post in a very negative attitude, but I am feeling better about this now. It's just that I have never had to deal with the news of rejection before, and I have been so used to good news when I get called with results, it was such a shocker! The main thing is that Anna's doing fine. We are still waiting on her last labs though. I will let you know when we get results (probably later today).<br /><br />She has been a little cranky and getting headaches which are probably side effects from being on these medications again. Otherwise, she is the same beautiful, sweet little girl.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06568095510365381346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542296.post-44378740551610504132009-01-22T23:09:00.002-06:002009-01-22T23:13:27.311-06:00Biopsy results:(Dr. Ekong called me today to tell me that Anna's biopsy showed rejection. I can't even believe this, she has NEVER had rejection before. I talked to Dr. Ekong and then Joan our liver nurse and they are also in disbelief. Even the blood they took on Tuesday, the day of the biopsy didn't show anything suspicious<br /><br />I am feeling super guilty right now. I made the decision to go ahead with this study, and now I feel like I put my daughter in jeopardy.<br /><br />She is not being admitted right now. They put her high doses of Prednisone and back on Prograf. Now we need to monitor her level of Prograf and watch her numbers to make sure they stay were they should be. They don't plan on doing another biopsy after her treatment, they are just going to watch her labs and if they stay down they will just assume the medication took care of it. Well if they didn't see this in her blood work the same day the biopsy was done, how are they going to know if or when the treatment is working? I don't get it. <br /><br />Anyway, she is pulled from the study. They will not try this again which is fine with me. I just want her to stay healthy. <br /><br />Why did we try to fix what was not broken? Man I am a mess right now!Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06568095510365381346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542296.post-4354558259505954512009-01-20T20:33:00.003-06:002009-01-20T20:37:55.819-06:00BIOPSY DAYAnna had her biopsy today. Everything went well, we will know the results in a few days. I'll update then because it's been a long day, right now I'm sleepy, doing laundry, trying to get the kids to bed, need to work on an assignment for one of my classes, and I have to get up at 5am for another 8 hour day at the hospital for my clinicals.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06568095510365381346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542296.post-86442257206610491482008-12-30T11:51:00.004-06:002009-01-06T13:12:02.281-06:00~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~UPDATE~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br />Anna is feeling much better today than she has in the past few days. Anna's labs are great! I'm glad we waited until she was feeling better to get them done. I think I overreacted, but it's hard not to with her. Everyone is on the mend, thank goodness. Just in time for me and the girls to go back to school!<br /><br />~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~UPDATE~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br />Christmas came on went so fast this year. Possibly because I have been dealing with a lot of sickness floating around our house since Thanksgiving. Off and on, at least two people at a time in our household have been down with something. Anna is always the first to get it, which I thought was weird especially since she isn't immune suppressed anymore. Then it's me (is it because we share the same liver?), Alex is next. Jason had something for a few days only and Mary had nothing more than the sniffles. We had a day here in Chicago where it was 62 degrees! Couldn't believe it, but I thought great, open all the windows, do some major cleaning, wash all bedding and get these germs out of here! Guess not though, Anna spiked a high temperatures last night, and she is feeling very crummy. I automatically thought it was the flu because it has hit us for the last few years at the same time of the year, even with us all getting the flu shot. The flu is the worst, it sucks when we all get it and I'm the one, no matter how crappy I feel, to take care of everyone. So I start mentally preparing myself for every to be sick. After thinking about it for a while I wonder if maybe it might not be the flu. This is a fragile time for Anna with stopping the immune suppression, I started worrying that maybe it's rejection. I found myself praying for the flu at that point. I called Children's and they just want me to watch her and gets labs done in a few days. This is hard for me to accept, no one else is feeling bad (except Alex has an ear infection and a lingering cough). If we get labs done Anna's numbers will most likely be elevated as with any other normal "healthy" person who has a fever. It would make them want to jump to conclusions and may buy her a bed at hotel Children's Memorial Hospital and an early biopsy (she already has one scheduled for late January). So, we are watching. I find myself looking at the whites of her eyes for a tinge of yellow, I can't even tell you how long it has been since I have done this, it was a habit for the longest time, but she has never had rejection so I don't think of it often at all anymore until now, knowing she isn't on the medication that transplant patients take to avoid rejection, usually for their whole life. I knew this was the kind of thing that I was risking with this study. Please pray that this is just a virus for Anna.<br /><br />In other news, other than sickness, which by the way I'm sorry for boring you with, everything else is normal. I can't wait for school to start again. The kids are getting cabin fever even with all the new stuff they got for Christmas. I need to find ways of entertaining them without going broke! I need to keep busy or I'll drive myself crazy with them, and also the nervousness I have about starting my externship January 12th! I am excited, but so nervous. It's been so long since I've worked, and while this is for class, it's going to be more like job training. That means drawing blood of complete strangers and trying to gain their trust as a student phlebotomist. You have to wear a student badge, and I'm wondering how many times I'll be turned down. I can't take it personally though, I know I have turned down students in the past while Anna was inpatient. I just couldn't trust a student "practicing" on my baby. I know it will make me feel bad, and then I'll know how it felt to all the students I turned away in the past, but it will still really suck. I just can't wait to get past my clinicals and get a badge when I am hired on, that doesn't say student. Wish me luck! <br /><br /><br />By the way, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Stay safe!!!!!!!Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06568095510365381346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542296.post-83386853338169222662008-12-25T18:41:00.008-06:002008-12-25T19:12:05.780-06:00Merry Christmas (an update in pictures!)Making cookies with Noah! (Noah's bug brother Brandon too, but he doesn't like his picture taken!) <A href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRWiuXHzh3l2Obd4rg3todPYKD0BDO9rRtU4r54qmeEDhtl_ZNG9KN29jTylKHseFx240Yqzrkxt_tUL8CSwCLOH0H84WEIl0qey0W9YUpYnxerNb_VbLHG_zdVKc9nEgdLb2K/s1600-h/089.JPG"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283894482946691106 style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRWiuXHzh3l2Obd4rg3todPYKD0BDO9rRtU4r54qmeEDhtl_ZNG9KN29jTylKHseFx240Yqzrkxt_tUL8CSwCLOH0H84WEIl0qey0W9YUpYnxerNb_VbLHG_zdVKc9nEgdLb2K/s320/089.JPG" border=0></A> <A href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzH5DeoqAzBZfQZydGrvZgOe8BMUlP8aTd0m-rn9-n1rpP5eXfJUN9KGEoiSARnpl9Wi58rd3vkyQTou5SGtHP25eh2pMPWqfylR7wtRAgno7SbGf9RbnnczUA29XVOdfOfNGK/s1600-h/085.JPG"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283894477337809298 style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzH5DeoqAzBZfQZydGrvZgOe8BMUlP8aTd0m-rn9-n1rpP5eXfJUN9KGEoiSARnpl9Wi58rd3vkyQTou5SGtHP25eh2pMPWqfylR7wtRAgno7SbGf9RbnnczUA29XVOdfOfNGK/s320/085.JPG" border=0></A> <A href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrYjPteDTZ34HRkvkCUSxdLNoAulOCfrnl1tsawEdLMQgra6tjc81wJLlt5dtsBP26XGFa7zQSCKxDEZts6Dc8vJHMY5hTkITaPT2rlW2uGlr_-KsUCHB1BIFikykCCW7bXRoa/s1600-h/070.JPG"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283894472579724818 style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrYjPteDTZ34HRkvkCUSxdLNoAulOCfrnl1tsawEdLMQgra6tjc81wJLlt5dtsBP26XGFa7zQSCKxDEZts6Dc8vJHMY5hTkITaPT2rlW2uGlr_-KsUCHB1BIFikykCCW7bXRoa/s320/070.JPG" border=0></A> <A href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggjbmaONE_QE89Oc2o6J-ZMrIeUd1wn7J-GZgSHLHW2qclRu743txBeuvlimPyunkN4t3IoBLcfv6ff8IRgoVv9-ouEelP_3alLYpkEgfnyYrXXbllt4IDKDuqK0Z6euc3hjni/s1600-h/075.JPG"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283894469160053122 style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggjbmaONE_QE89Oc2o6J-ZMrIeUd1wn7J-GZgSHLHW2qclRu743txBeuvlimPyunkN4t3IoBLcfv6ff8IRgoVv9-ouEelP_3alLYpkEgfnyYrXXbllt4IDKDuqK0Z6euc3hjni/s320/075.JPG" border=0></A> <A href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCI2uk14gn1X1RnZ6ZdGlElZNYkIYHYMHAHZmGyb1_HTKbuxArtODZDcmB-FOZUybXxDUKdpAdyG_d6SNIurSXb20RsFJ0GfYZr4qkDm-Ltz29dGqdJzr8mmUtM2r2IZoMi4GB/s1600-h/073.JPG"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283894465818500098 style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCI2uk14gn1X1RnZ6ZdGlElZNYkIYHYMHAHZmGyb1_HTKbuxArtODZDcmB-FOZUybXxDUKdpAdyG_d6SNIurSXb20RsFJ0GfYZr4qkDm-Ltz29dGqdJzr8mmUtM2r2IZoMi4GB/s320/073.JPG" border=0></A> Getting ready for Santa's arrival! <A href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvM7G9jRXurKaZ_iE9c6f5vQ1lvX7ebpaV-Hh_VUhkmzniRhaRPokb0leNDRWfdQsy84hPDxBgU0rHyxtvamiU-2PkXy01-aIeosWrwUGwSFE9oxl_vFvPpn9xX1wLFJpTa6T9/s1600-h/116.JPG"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283895272867204402 style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvM7G9jRXurKaZ_iE9c6f5vQ1lvX7ebpaV-Hh_VUhkmzniRhaRPokb0leNDRWfdQsy84hPDxBgU0rHyxtvamiU-2PkXy01-aIeosWrwUGwSFE9oxl_vFvPpn9xX1wLFJpTa6T9/s320/116.JPG" border=0></A> <A href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr8OLZUjZeVZzt5IkO4auN6N8z5IQIdr8_d7JJSiqMaPNPTgVhJNyse73yHJaW-uXUww3AgnDo8B9TXlc_FzEWtO_ED-LfgbTaZCTmHt8Ocd2xvTh8l7oEOZwa9Oz5o9eaXOaY/s1600-h/113.JPG"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283895269001994210 style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr8OLZUjZeVZzt5IkO4auN6N8z5IQIdr8_d7JJSiqMaPNPTgVhJNyse73yHJaW-uXUww3AgnDo8B9TXlc_FzEWtO_ED-LfgbTaZCTmHt8Ocd2xvTh8l7oEOZwa9Oz5o9eaXOaY/s320/113.JPG" border=0></A> <br /><br />Christmas is here! Santa came! <A href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYYTkXS8d3wyj_5YD6AEfNZkVedHBvcu1UBkjgOYx7LIDq88_s7Ndjcl8cW8SeGwOhUxcw2crbFgVxVItRszRiTVBco91FkatV-tZ4F6w663QVIcaIG2WSzLTTUH9_p2NHO7AG/s1600-h/129.JPG"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283895804630205106 style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYYTkXS8d3wyj_5YD6AEfNZkVedHBvcu1UBkjgOYx7LIDq88_s7Ndjcl8cW8SeGwOhUxcw2crbFgVxVItRszRiTVBco91FkatV-tZ4F6w663QVIcaIG2WSzLTTUH9_p2NHO7AG/s320/129.JPG" border=0></A> <A href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf34kfPWCvJ40wwigpx8g4WGDx1WBrDB2oxYOKuujYb1n9GGDi17P1qnvWrS7S7hNVISUFl6dnwUoh0NsJOPtFQU9ee7gHC45Avowla8CERgMx20_7HUNV3yeJ1AEoxW4ezgME/s1600-h/120.JPG"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283895802563511554 style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf34kfPWCvJ40wwigpx8g4WGDx1WBrDB2oxYOKuujYb1n9GGDi17P1qnvWrS7S7hNVISUFl6dnwUoh0NsJOPtFQU9ee7gHC45Avowla8CERgMx20_7HUNV3yeJ1AEoxW4ezgME/s320/120.JPG" border=0></A> <A href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOZ-pHfoj7qE4t3EWuPpEzWrsGF-0opYhW8aWya_4z8ZdSvrQaiPvIecnbIKrXtc8AdX96xg-3PAnwR-snyn4Bn6vhSpPJk2-waKDRGUARxgZdb5OodXsToakAd8Ns11S1cCwc/s1600-h/117.JPG"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283895799377785986 style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOZ-pHfoj7qE4t3EWuPpEzWrsGF-0opYhW8aWya_4z8ZdSvrQaiPvIecnbIKrXtc8AdX96xg-3PAnwR-snyn4Bn6vhSpPJk2-waKDRGUARxgZdb5OodXsToakAd8Ns11S1cCwc/s320/117.JPG" border=0></A> <br /><OBJECT class=BLOG_video_class id=BLOG_video-FAILED height=266 width=320 contentId="FAILED"></OBJECT><br /><br /><br />Cats love Chirstmas too! <A href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8bzJblWLc0hqKAvc6l6kQK81ZlHba4jNtxvAWCWsYGOk_uQCPF-cdDtf-6140yHSE32mzggZo_bCz3NuohLlR3CwVP-ear5GCNZwonCbPv3fU3eiuCPmiPMVx_dJM4hyphenhyphencM3UU/s1600-h/128.JPG"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283896708199606034 style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8bzJblWLc0hqKAvc6l6kQK81ZlHba4jNtxvAWCWsYGOk_uQCPF-cdDtf-6140yHSE32mzggZo_bCz3NuohLlR3CwVP-ear5GCNZwonCbPv3fU3eiuCPmiPMVx_dJM4hyphenhyphencM3UU/s320/128.JPG" border=0></A> What a day, I'm tired. Crap, it's only 9 am! <A href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja4Zc-6yMkGzQhyscMykMFi2QuwMMJNvB74sXOJUr1mT3WNYVvSk5NpdF9cYyCQlVLqBGgKzqmJItAbd93A49DNdy8V9xdUE1sy87dTG4mOoa75kgPBbKsBWqF4-Ov3Lydwgbj/s1600-h/149.JPG"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283897437108517682 style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja4Zc-6yMkGzQhyscMykMFi2QuwMMJNvB74sXOJUr1mT3WNYVvSk5NpdF9cYyCQlVLqBGgKzqmJItAbd93A49DNdy8V9xdUE1sy87dTG4mOoa75kgPBbKsBWqF4-Ov3Lydwgbj/s320/149.JPG" border=0></A> <br /><br />Merry Christmas, hope every had a wonderful day!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJWi_Oh8UF0CQF_QEQ1JjiMSSx7ARQXziSCapLY0woCDaov3ysPCf-C3GU7hI-mQEJC0DJmqlx8AYowzoIHpbH4bV3YiggsRURdNVRwzesvsABA0zAlnGSvjaUPkqw07sp5EAx/s1600-h/147.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJWi_Oh8UF0CQF_QEQ1JjiMSSx7ARQXziSCapLY0woCDaov3ysPCf-C3GU7hI-mQEJC0DJmqlx8AYowzoIHpbH4bV3YiggsRURdNVRwzesvsABA0zAlnGSvjaUPkqw07sp5EAx/s320/147.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283898431563710690" /></a>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06568095510365381346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542296.post-55032997748434299242008-12-06T23:23:00.001-06:002008-12-06T23:25:29.572-06:00Go Elf Yourself!So, just in case I don't post till after Christmas, GO ELF YOURSELF!!!!!!!!!<br /><br />Seriously, it's a lot of fun!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style='background-color:#e9e9e9; width: 425px;'><object id='A51481' quality='high' data='http://aka.zero.jibjab.com/client/zero/ClientZero_EmbedViewer.swf?external_make_id=kYwf1kFbBKHoIR2J&service=sendables.jibjab.com&partnerID=ElfYourself' pluginspage='http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='transparent' height='319' width='425'><param name='wmode' value='transparent'></param><param name='movie' value='http://aka.zero.jibjab.com/client/zero/ClientZero_EmbedViewer.swf?external_make_id=kYwf1kFbBKHoIR2J&service=sendables.jibjab.com&partnerID=ElfYourself'></param><param name='scaleMode' value='showAll'></param><param name='quality' value='high'></param><param name='allowNetworking' value='all'></param><param name='allowFullScreen' value='true' /><param name='FlashVars' value='external_make_id=kYwf1kFbBKHoIR2J&service=sendables.jibjab.com&partnerID=ElfYourself'></param><param name='allowScriptAccess' value='always'></param></object><div style='text-align:center; width:435px; margin-top:6px;'>Send your own <a href='http://www.elfyourself.com'>ElfYourself</a> <a href='http://sendables.jibjab.com/sendables'>eCards</a></div></div><img style="visibility:hidden;width:0px;height:0px;" border=0 width=0 height=0 src="http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.0NXC/bT*xJmx*PTEyMjg2MjcyODcyNDEmcHQ9MTIyODYyNzM3OTkxMiZwPTQxODgxMyZkPTIwMjY4MCZnPTImdD*mbz*5YzA*YWQyMGQ2ODc*NjIyYTE3YjYxNTZiMjM4YWFiMg==.gif" />Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06568095510365381346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542296.post-53589135664990772302008-12-03T21:27:00.004-06:002008-12-03T21:37:04.090-06:00Anna is done with her medicine! The medication that helped her body accept her liver. The medicine we were told in the begining of all of this, that she would need to be on for the rest of her life. She doesn't have to take it anymore! The withdrawal study has gone smoothly, Anna is in perfect health, and her body has agreed to let her liver make itself at home! <br /><br /><strong>Anna took her last dose of <a href="http://www.prograf.com/">Prograf</a> today! </strong><br /><br />Of course I took pictures to document this special occasion! As you can see, Anna wasn't nearly as thrilled as I was, plus she is not a morning person!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifEsTHwu0_0btM1DQCaBsI5ETqYhG2jT5eORLwY6lS6lnQVzEthV5O4It1zlFP12lHbxDHEdpQd_1350AuH698QZjOH8XHDZbfOZY8XBcya3T0zlJcLdkIySOXQ76v5kOhfCAb/s1600-h/040.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifEsTHwu0_0btM1DQCaBsI5ETqYhG2jT5eORLwY6lS6lnQVzEthV5O4It1zlFP12lHbxDHEdpQd_1350AuH698QZjOH8XHDZbfOZY8XBcya3T0zlJcLdkIySOXQ76v5kOhfCAb/s320/040.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275773290254825826" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc6fG8fUo_f6jOo78fPXpYaRuE_t5ZRJhN5hAlwVNV3rofLr-AC0dkZs_UClmf4TDe7-qvY-aZaW1SnNs_JJlb3rLCXVv4oEaZ9V7H_89y3OXCGNlz-TSa4IqYJYScASfyod08/s1600-h/036.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc6fG8fUo_f6jOo78fPXpYaRuE_t5ZRJhN5hAlwVNV3rofLr-AC0dkZs_UClmf4TDe7-qvY-aZaW1SnNs_JJlb3rLCXVv4oEaZ9V7H_89y3OXCGNlz-TSa4IqYJYScASfyod08/s320/036.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275773292816735586" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq-hXyAHkKQMoqro-H78hX5pliz0YPrJHibXL4mZLdv1EIlih_-P_fglsv7u9eahUGN9nW9cESF3iSpnbWQG5ySYxsKZLrr20Pwtc7lUryiICfejhLPFuSq5tRLxhxKsLy1XIs/s1600-h/037.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 314px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq-hXyAHkKQMoqro-H78hX5pliz0YPrJHibXL4mZLdv1EIlih_-P_fglsv7u9eahUGN9nW9cESF3iSpnbWQG5ySYxsKZLrr20Pwtc7lUryiICfejhLPFuSq5tRLxhxKsLy1XIs/s320/037.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275773296925205410" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq4_ydmD5DO_1gTSHhaDzUKTp1-odbcbdbowO2CYVMx4noJHLG776lCRqduHA4Opss3AOg93_qPN7M96lem2UTNT9co26xVzDAXveOYYUahnpZdIS308_iOoZ2OcB56lxynVO2/s1600-h/038.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq4_ydmD5DO_1gTSHhaDzUKTp1-odbcbdbowO2CYVMx4noJHLG776lCRqduHA4Opss3AOg93_qPN7M96lem2UTNT9co26xVzDAXveOYYUahnpZdIS308_iOoZ2OcB56lxynVO2/s320/038.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275773304494373410" /></a>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06568095510365381346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542296.post-7727314261687362582008-11-11T22:07:00.003-06:002008-11-12T22:04:07.312-06:007 years ago today.Seven years ago today Jason and I handed our 7 week old baby girl off to total strangers. We put her life in the hands of a surgeon we never even got the chance to meet. Just days before we found out that Anna had a terrible liver disease and would one day need a liver transplant. Our whole world came tumbling down. <br /><br />During those 7 hours of waiting, with very few updates, Jason and I sat in the surgical waiting room very quietly. I don't think we knew what to do, what to say to each other. We were just so worried our baby. Not only about what was going on during the time she was in the operating room, but about the rest of her life. There was so much to learn about this disease, there where so many unknowns, we only just heard of <a href="http://www.childrensmemorial.org/depts/gastroenterology/liver/biliary.aspx">Biliary Atresia</a> a few days before, when her diagnoses was confirmed by a liver biopsy. From what we read, and the way the doctors talked about, it sounded so terrible. It was so terrible. <br /><br />It was so hard to see her afterwards, that long incision across her belly, all the lines she was hooked up to; machines, medications. At that point of time I felt bad for Anna. I never thought she would live a normal childhood. It seemed to me that this was going to be it, she would spend all of her childhood in and out of the hospital, her quality of life would not be good. <br /><br />I had not thought of this today until I was in class, drawing a classmates blood, and filling out my orders. I asked someone what the date was, and then I remembered. Memories came flooding back to me. I would have never thought, 7 years ago while sitting at Anna's bedside in the hospital, that we would be where we are today. Just earlier this morning I got a phone call from Children's letting me know that Anna's blood work that she had drawn yesterday was perfect. Again. Music to my ears every time I hear it. It never gets old. She is in perfect health, she is like any other healthy 7 year old, she is thriving in 1st grade, she is a little gymnast. She enjoys life, she lives it to the fullest, she doesn't let anything get in her way, she is a fighter. <br /><br />She is my inspiration. I have had a feel good day today. I love what I will be doing for a living. Working in health care is what I want to do. I am good at it, I enjoy it, I want to help people. I don't know if I would have been inspired to do this if it wasn't for the road I have traveled with my little miracle baby. I was Anna's nurse for those times in the hospital, I jumped in and did anything they would let me do. I know I still have so much to learn before I am a certified nurse, that wasn't my training, but it sure didn't hurt. <br /><br />Thank you Anna, for the lessons you have taught us, for being you. <br /><br />Wonderful little girl. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0K06X8IxSBkZQXinDBm6hsunlfpCTEp4rQQM5WVr_3C0WLR4YkxpdAQiCDeUlE6Q8KMUN08bo7k-5x3UwPqkU3kGmNqUpLGjzyHtED2T67siFn0osGw1CeceBVBbBheCbJrnI/s1600-h/011.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 227px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0K06X8IxSBkZQXinDBm6hsunlfpCTEp4rQQM5WVr_3C0WLR4YkxpdAQiCDeUlE6Q8KMUN08bo7k-5x3UwPqkU3kGmNqUpLGjzyHtED2T67siFn0osGw1CeceBVBbBheCbJrnI/s320/011.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267987910663522530" /></a>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06568095510365381346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542296.post-13504699605151081752008-11-03T06:43:00.009-06:002008-11-03T20:12:50.236-06:00Halloween PicturesWe had a fun filled Halloween! Not only did the kids get to dress up on the day of, but they dressed for a fun fair at the park district where Mary won most beautiful costume, and Alex cried her little eyes out because she thought she deserved a trophy too (and if you ask me she should have won cutest superhero!). We also went to a birthday/costume party the day after Halloween, so that was three times the fun this year! <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibYzH1gyN5TaubuUCwzL8V33H8AoriVkfRbbksVif3oHpvYI_WMv3nvhbBIQWUkaZ6-J2ABLCNsl8eDgHbPwQEnGUNl9ihul8tjMEhqvZdL6V2_7yENl8tBRfVseBzuaUZDrJ6/s1600-h/036.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibYzH1gyN5TaubuUCwzL8V33H8AoriVkfRbbksVif3oHpvYI_WMv3nvhbBIQWUkaZ6-J2ABLCNsl8eDgHbPwQEnGUNl9ihul8tjMEhqvZdL6V2_7yENl8tBRfVseBzuaUZDrJ6/s200/036.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264456992609717602" /></a>In other news Anna is now on a once a week, once a day dose of her immunosupression! I can't even believe it, not even a bump in her liver numbers! She'll take her last dose in early December and then that's it! After that she will still go every other week for blood draws and every three months for clinic for a while, and in February she will have a biopsy to make sure her liver is handling everything. Also, <a href="http://moreena.typepad.com/">Annika</a> is doing great, she got released from the hospital and is staying at <a href="http://www.childrensmemorial.org/depts/siragusa/kohls.aspx">Kohl's house</a> for a while as she needs to be monitored very closely. Let's hear it for healthy livers!!!!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />`<br />Oh yes, let me also post pictures. We actually also went to a little fun fair at the girl's school where they got their faces panted, so it wasn't a Halloween thing but I'll post those pictures too! <br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZaJ35S_VGA8wrpZuHD2dqKM2qUDZ0Yv4Ukb_ilT3sGgneNEbutGEMkqHCJ5_I8dwjxmGYXgk4c27y0T6qbDc3NZiy1AsBeKhfN5wHCdIULLKqZSk-z9SstDUVGH02kcEbB795/s1600-h/024.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZaJ35S_VGA8wrpZuHD2dqKM2qUDZ0Yv4Ukb_ilT3sGgneNEbutGEMkqHCJ5_I8dwjxmGYXgk4c27y0T6qbDc3NZiy1AsBeKhfN5wHCdIULLKqZSk-z9SstDUVGH02kcEbB795/s400/024.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264462777359377218" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEfKUsk1gWA_At5BHeRWsjCC92nwtVEP7HB9ihp2ZW7SRhGec8i46x1G4kF5s2XRA1xL-R-1VozL9SDDZIZDA9cT9mOVlxzmzaUq-6src90woolJtv6oyeJ3DRchHoMK-rJn2K/s1600-h/032.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEfKUsk1gWA_At5BHeRWsjCC92nwtVEP7HB9ihp2ZW7SRhGec8i46x1G4kF5s2XRA1xL-R-1VozL9SDDZIZDA9cT9mOVlxzmzaUq-6src90woolJtv6oyeJ3DRchHoMK-rJn2K/s400/032.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264462760974459458" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNw0MnQ5a-Xw4Y5beGySmShNomlbOVXtP42N8WtPsxHzsU9hmigIa5HECykzFeXG34b1n1FBzArZphu-39qByfUzfjoa49HVP-0ilj8kCynwL68uJxSk5vTO3PeTSvTPS9ifQg/s1600-h/029.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNw0MnQ5a-Xw4Y5beGySmShNomlbOVXtP42N8WtPsxHzsU9hmigIa5HECykzFeXG34b1n1FBzArZphu-39qByfUzfjoa49HVP-0ilj8kCynwL68uJxSk5vTO3PeTSvTPS9ifQg/s400/029.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264462748765385074" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilvZ0aBdd9zovKH95-6nBbGxu_H73oBqDmJ574hFXFyrLO3B6dWGdoX6zmsK99Qy8jz0ykyL7xhWpoa1XsjpccHqcsHzsmB1wJ65MxrZxb2qesZOCz0R3Re8xIGF9AUTAcsyi9/s1600-h/009.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilvZ0aBdd9zovKH95-6nBbGxu_H73oBqDmJ574hFXFyrLO3B6dWGdoX6zmsK99Qy8jz0ykyL7xhWpoa1XsjpccHqcsHzsmB1wJ65MxrZxb2qesZOCz0R3Re8xIGF9AUTAcsyi9/s400/009.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264462727050193490" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ6OsvJJsvZHrELOvH9Rs9vHSAKVd2P7u5rbxrN1xL-wOK7ZvsDKXnyqgs8HytCINNVaMltMmgHZEJKfXwHTq9PxnBxYC9RtbGyAA9YiSHQ_UO3VOg2CxRIoPFjlMfbeXDibM2/s1600-h/032.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ6OsvJJsvZHrELOvH9Rs9vHSAKVd2P7u5rbxrN1xL-wOK7ZvsDKXnyqgs8HytCINNVaMltMmgHZEJKfXwHTq9PxnBxYC9RtbGyAA9YiSHQ_UO3VOg2CxRIoPFjlMfbeXDibM2/s400/032.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264463817023269938" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAU6YkIaHGSGgaMgQ6_WnJyIHQoCQ0GpE6Rhb35XWnpOP-bXyicrGODrUVpyQk01D7-bmzBXxWOocMFj0aL7i8q-Fve6E3mBNb-TWVk98JHNpPIeR8Jot6Hjnbn6qx7o3Emy7e/s1600-h/010.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAU6YkIaHGSGgaMgQ6_WnJyIHQoCQ0GpE6Rhb35XWnpOP-bXyicrGODrUVpyQk01D7-bmzBXxWOocMFj0aL7i8q-Fve6E3mBNb-TWVk98JHNpPIeR8Jot6Hjnbn6qx7o3Emy7e/s400/010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264463807812473138" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8gPK3XfwnpigyT6_BvqRrbJ6yi_R8FTyZ2cfXscaS_EGgdxKK6Nt8mBq-bhTYACjN7vMzh56v9viYjks1-Cka5I1-pj1G7MMKbYmwyK1593u-MEuWa9hGPFSINI_GjS1KfFrY/s1600-h/051.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8gPK3XfwnpigyT6_BvqRrbJ6yi_R8FTyZ2cfXscaS_EGgdxKK6Nt8mBq-bhTYACjN7vMzh56v9viYjks1-Cka5I1-pj1G7MMKbYmwyK1593u-MEuWa9hGPFSINI_GjS1KfFrY/s400/051.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264619501896459122" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGhyphenhyphen8TRCAIYJzUnKH2F1RGklKoimw581n-aIgQkxfaJC9E2hw04efaLNNxGF5wRLq-r4O8syHgzhxEeD9P0sLt-E19LNhNlGhoHESX_IVwCDX9L3dnwHSQidtL8WJG64m-Qts4/s1600-h/050.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGhyphenhyphen8TRCAIYJzUnKH2F1RGklKoimw581n-aIgQkxfaJC9E2hw04efaLNNxGF5wRLq-r4O8syHgzhxEeD9P0sLt-E19LNhNlGhoHESX_IVwCDX9L3dnwHSQidtL8WJG64m-Qts4/s400/050.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264619499599154210" /></a>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06568095510365381346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542296.post-37915538483981737412008-10-26T20:14:00.002-05:002008-10-26T20:22:40.544-05:00Most Beautiful!No, I'm not just bragging, the vote was unanimous!<br /><br />Mary won most beautiful in a costume contest at our park district's Halloween fun fair! <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid0l3lEyvU6qI32-ddTv-bhP0rQIpRWKmGUFjyH_bBKbG26VgHeh584tJcWiF7GkLv4Fy1-gid64oYVEWZfQ68RSGB3oRutbIbk9LRJAqiIEYfegxi65OT1qwO68B-E3M4KxJI/s1600-h/039.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid0l3lEyvU6qI32-ddTv-bhP0rQIpRWKmGUFjyH_bBKbG26VgHeh584tJcWiF7GkLv4Fy1-gid64oYVEWZfQ68RSGB3oRutbIbk9LRJAqiIEYfegxi65OT1qwO68B-E3M4KxJI/s400/039.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261637825937521634" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6X1VF6eS78cJvdLbMUPG419eAbCn_GRJEV6_y1__3zEXDIJ1cpqFNq_zzbD47odYTRv8HapPV4Jv1yD7c1w1W-HL1vhlBOAnHz3nls2G_xxOqzb8Y1KY0bdOK88x0rQg8hiSl/s1600-h/025.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6X1VF6eS78cJvdLbMUPG419eAbCn_GRJEV6_y1__3zEXDIJ1cpqFNq_zzbD47odYTRv8HapPV4Jv1yD7c1w1W-HL1vhlBOAnHz3nls2G_xxOqzb8Y1KY0bdOK88x0rQg8hiSl/s400/025.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261637821577644770" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuhXprSfR9F4OIboGho8VgvSoDWcxV7z7msHKjwTIu6_aQ09QHfxcGKsH3YvvfCT_aJOgE7rkR3ZrmPjDpmFA6JPTaCjdilngSSHbiOM20m94mnIKC-oANXCCGhQKgs_qVZ999/s1600-h/013.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuhXprSfR9F4OIboGho8VgvSoDWcxV7z7msHKjwTIu6_aQ09QHfxcGKsH3YvvfCT_aJOgE7rkR3ZrmPjDpmFA6JPTaCjdilngSSHbiOM20m94mnIKC-oANXCCGhQKgs_qVZ999/s400/013.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261637807467647538" /></a>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06568095510365381346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542296.post-40556970626040449342008-10-15T17:50:00.006-05:002008-10-15T22:37:14.447-05:00Let me just first let you all know, for those that don't check <a href="http://moreena.typepad.com/">Annika's Mom's blog</a>, that Annika is doing fine. For updates please visit Moreena's blog <a href="http://moreena.typepad.com/">here</a>.<br /><br />I have had a busy week. First of all last Thursday Anna had her annual 3 month checkup at transplant clinic at Children's. She had something like 12 tubes of blood drawn, and we saw the doctor. Her part in the study is going very well. All of her labs (which are drawn every other week) have been looking normal, even now with her only taking her medication twice a week! Also, her liver feels good, they can't feel her spleen (that's also good), everything checks out! If you weren't looking at her charts or her scar on her belly, you would just never know she ever had anything as serious as a liver transplant. Lately I have really been reflecting on Anna's past and her health now, how we got to where we are, and how lucky we are to have this precious little girl in good health with us today. What a little miracle! <br /><br />We also got to see Moreena last Thursday after clinic. Anna had gotten Annika something special thinking that she was just going to be inpatient and we would be able to visit with her and her mom. Then I found out late the night before that Annika had been called for transplant! Obviously, since Annika was basically fresh out of the OR, we only just met her mom outside of the Pediatric ICU to give her the gift for Annika. We found out that Anna and Annika picked the same costume for Halloween this year, must be because they are liver buddies! <br /><br />Speaking of Halloween, we spent much of the day yesterday searching Halloween stores for cool costumes. Mary is going to be Miss America, Anna is going to be a zombie cheerleader, and Alex will be super girl! Mary's costume is easy because we already had the dress, all she needed was a Miss America sash, which I found on ebay, and a tiara. Anna's costume is also easy because Mary was a zombie cheerleader when she was in first grade so we already have the costume. I thought maybe Anna would change her mind while shopping because she wanted to be part of the shopping experience, but she was fine with not being able to buy anything. We did get some black and white makeup for her, so maybe that helped. Alex picked Super girl! She has really been into the new Superman movie, Superman Returns, so I could understand why she picked that. I just don't know how she started liking that movie so much because it's not really a movie that you would think a 3 year old would like, but Alex does. I'm most surprised that she didn't want to be a princess of some sort. We are also attending a costume party/birthday party this year, and the host says we all have to be dressed up in order to come, so Jason and I had to get a costumes also. It might sound lame, but I'm going as a <a href="http://www.buycostumes.com/Grease-Pink-Ladies-Adult-Costume/17654/ProductDetail.aspx">pink lady</a>, and Jason is going as a <a href="http://www.buycostumes.com/Grease-Dannys-T-Bird-Jacket-Deluxe-Costume/17658/ProductDetail.aspx">greaser</a> aka, T'Bird! I love Grease, so Jason graciously agreed to be a greaser to compliment my pink lady costume! Thanks babe! <br /><br />We also had Noah's 1st Birthday party over the weekend. I can't believe my baby boy (I mean Jenny's baby boy), is already one! He has been walking for almost a month now, if I hadn't mentioned that before. I think he enjoyed his party, he didn't really get deep into his cake, he was trying to pick up the number 1 written on his cake with blue frosting with he thumb and pointer finger, it was so very cute! He did make out with some very awesome clothes, really cool toys, and mu-la for other stuff he needs and wants! The best gift of all for him was having his favorite "Auntie" and "cousins" there! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!<br /><br />Other than that I have just been studying for my midterm for one class, and a final exam for another class. I took those today and I think I did well on both exams, but it wouldn't hurt to have some crossed fingers for good results so that I can keep up my 4.0 (please don't get that excited for my having a 4.0, it's counted for 1 class that I did over the summer, my first ever college course!) It would be awesome, however, to keep that 4.0 because it would help me to get into their nursing program, which is my ultimate goal. <br /><br />Ok, what else. I think that's about it. I'll just finish up with a couple of pictures from Noah's party!<br /><br /><strong>From this..............................</strong><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyzahurPEL-ktW3JIElX4Inoxv_KHDwawzFuEsHzZbU1BJWv65Rh0Qs5wTjyqSb0S3D1p1KLXW5wiPITQ_r-hxeqNG0ORx6xf4v2kiwT0lORmeg5vFTuO2DIivWdOACv0lse6c/s1600-h/020.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyzahurPEL-ktW3JIElX4Inoxv_KHDwawzFuEsHzZbU1BJWv65Rh0Qs5wTjyqSb0S3D1p1KLXW5wiPITQ_r-hxeqNG0ORx6xf4v2kiwT0lORmeg5vFTuO2DIivWdOACv0lse6c/s400/020.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257584294058376514" /></a><br /><br /><strong>To this...............................</strong><br /><strong>How does that happen in a year?!</strong><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkR3LlSm9wBdVWNYKt1kwbZK9gN85oiAI9mWdNYiAvKHJtVvqigWlhJF4Wht5NllbzGDdFOnz8dVpWbWD_V5BcYpOflZJr2Z7CD5icvxs3A7ATlAM8LTjzi5U5xNL5aGGkO-dA/s1600-h/208.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkR3LlSm9wBdVWNYKt1kwbZK9gN85oiAI9mWdNYiAvKHJtVvqigWlhJF4Wht5NllbzGDdFOnz8dVpWbWD_V5BcYpOflZJr2Z7CD5icvxs3A7ATlAM8LTjzi5U5xNL5aGGkO-dA/s400/208.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257585846972716386" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>More random pictures from the party.</strong><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ-AN0XWlPe1j-GZoUTc-w-Kffbf8VfXh4Qtk0FSRGsGsZ-rRTaKM40Go5UpHbnf1amI1PX7vwDGC0bZZ5Fi2RfXErrPqWQmMt011eO5vPzfXN3nhuHfl8hO8taJTtA8uiPoN-/s1600-h/173.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ-AN0XWlPe1j-GZoUTc-w-Kffbf8VfXh4Qtk0FSRGsGsZ-rRTaKM40Go5UpHbnf1amI1PX7vwDGC0bZZ5Fi2RfXErrPqWQmMt011eO5vPzfXN3nhuHfl8hO8taJTtA8uiPoN-/s400/173.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257589373510237634" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8M8cxBkBBZXA12mo63sUyHhG_ItfzZdjVLUhfXzZRaf-OZx6y51ir27pXT9DlsjAWP66DN1V59XxdOmB1kCFx0x1yk8L7kUpHDCUNmXGfvakFhgAbZvkrFWgr_9zrXPS_wB3T/s1600-h/194.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8M8cxBkBBZXA12mo63sUyHhG_ItfzZdjVLUhfXzZRaf-OZx6y51ir27pXT9DlsjAWP66DN1V59XxdOmB1kCFx0x1yk8L7kUpHDCUNmXGfvakFhgAbZvkrFWgr_9zrXPS_wB3T/s400/194.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257589375613791666" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjezdpVNz53hszkceuhHPQNS_2BZY8Pw-oIS_KfpXjSGYXQsnNd0C6x6guVOy2utmXOkctKFwv1C-fMbkUDNdfNN2L_Vvx87bLatygsDl5F59wc3EAu8KNuIWCT0X3fNgybmcEF/s1600-h/196.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjezdpVNz53hszkceuhHPQNS_2BZY8Pw-oIS_KfpXjSGYXQsnNd0C6x6guVOy2utmXOkctKFwv1C-fMbkUDNdfNN2L_Vvx87bLatygsDl5F59wc3EAu8KNuIWCT0X3fNgybmcEF/s400/196.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257589379003090338" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmrQQooSkbeErNtnpV1tTWljMETMaIklk4EdQGEXEPedEMg8dQe8S1_JAkPbjVE7zFb8QVxYrxX0BP7Knl9QTWj8NqLItCeCB1onl8e0mowQu2DYUQdZ9qmb5I9Yf8us0XwecO/s1600-h/274.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmrQQooSkbeErNtnpV1tTWljMETMaIklk4EdQGEXEPedEMg8dQe8S1_JAkPbjVE7zFb8QVxYrxX0BP7Knl9QTWj8NqLItCeCB1onl8e0mowQu2DYUQdZ9qmb5I9Yf8us0XwecO/s400/274.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257589383783981170" /></a>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06568095510365381346noreply@blogger.com