Here are some pictures of Anna's special day:
Yesterday Anna had transplant clinic for her four year visit. She also had her routine yearly ultrasound and blood work. As always, Anna was as good as gold. They were busy in the lab, and it took us a while there. We ran into our liver friend Natalie there, so it helped for passing some time. It's so hard to not want to look at Natalie's pretty little face, she is such a sweet girl and her parents are awesome! It's always nice to see friends in the hospital!
So we got in the room, and Anna stuck out her arm to let them know where the needle goes. Sat and watched them put in the needle and talked to the lab tech while she was filling up the vial's. Good old Anna. They all love her down there, probably because she doesn't put up a fight, ever, and because she is so freaking adorable. She doesn't even flinch, cry or say ouch. I am always so proud of her with that!
After getting her blood drawn, we went to ultrasound. Anna wasn't able to eat or drink that morning because of having the ultrasound. Poor thing was starving, and we didn't get done there until quarter to eleven. I hate starving my child. She laid still for her ultrasound, even held her breath when they asked her to so that they could get good pictures. The only thing she complained about was that she was thirsty and very hungry. After the first tech was done and while she was waiting for them to ok her pictures, they let Anna eat a snack. Luckily I was thinking when we left that morning, and I had a bag with juice boxes and snacks for her.
After that we headed up to transplant clinic. There wasn't a long wait there, thank goodness, because Anna and I were so ready to go so that we could eat (I usually don't eat either when Anna can't simply because it wouldn't be fair for her, and I would feel guilty). Everyone was very pleased with how Anna is doing. There wasn't much for them to say! Anna is in the 75th percentile for height and weight! Her liver numbers came back from the lab, and they were perfect! Her liver feels nice and soft, she doesn't have any swollen lymph nodes and all her vitals are perfect. We heard the word perfect many times yesterday! Dr. Alonso looks at Anna in amazement at how well she is doing, and has done since her transplant! Her weaning is doing good, she has not showed any signs of rejection since we started that. They won't lower her dose right now for fear of rocking the boat, but I am fine with that. She has gotten a lot less sick this year than last year before we started to wean. That's because of being on such a low dose of Immune suppressant. It will be little by little, and that is fine, I am happy with how well things are going too!
