Hi Everyone!

Sorry for the delay in updates... Some things I guess will never change!

So, mom is alive an well! Yippee!!! I have to laugh at the state of the insurance industry though. It amazes me that someone can be admitted to the hospital with blood pressures like she was having, be discharged the next day with instructions to see the cardiologist for further testing and STILL be required to get a referral from a primary doctor! It was over a week later before she was able to get in to see him! He changed some of her meds around and so far, things seem to have settled out.

Miss Alex had her IVIG treatment 4 weeks ago and as expected, it didn't work. It was hard news to take even though I had prepared myself that it wouldn't work. She remained at 66 the following week, went up to 75 last week and this week she is back down to 66. Good news is that we haven't had anymore severe drops. She will go in again next Thursday and if they stay in the same range, then we will likely start doing them every other week unless she has a bleed. All her other counts are still hanging in there which is a huge blessing.

I took her in to the pediatrician this morning because she had a little growth on her finger. This was what we thought was a cut that started the panic last month. Turns out it was a cluster of blood vessels that grow together and grow very rapidly. I can't remember the name of it... sorry! Brandi, it's the same thing that Brecken had! Last night after her shower it started gushing blood and it took me 45 minutes to get it to stop. Then this morning, it had soaked through the bandage and was still bleeding. So, off to the doctor we went! They agreed that this was something that couldn't wait to be removed. Bleeding things and low platelets don't mix! We were sent straight to the dermatologist who lopped it off and then cauterized it. Alex was a champ through the whole thing as usual! She never ceases to amaze me!

Now for fabulous news... My parents moved up here on Sunday! Well, moved is a term that at the moment should be used loosely! They are here, their dog is here and two of their three cars are here! They are still working on getting a place to live while they build and are staying with Wendy until then. The entire contents of their house and then some are in a warehouse somewhere in Pico Rivera! Oh well, the only thing that matters is that they're here, they're here for good and Wendy, the kids and I couldn't be happier about it!

I want to thank Alex's teacher, Mrs. Connelly and her class for the wonderful "stay well" poster that they made for Alex. It's hanging just outside the classroom and I absolutely lost it when Susie showed it to me. Nothing like turning into a sobbing blubbering idiot on the spot! I also want to thank everyone at Harbor Heights for letting us interrupt your classes before we went to the hospital for the IVIG. It was amazing for both of us to see everyone and it was exactly the emotional boost we needed!

So, on to more waiting and keeping our chins up! She's still here, and for that we are beyond thankful! We are also eternally grateful for all of you! You have stood by us, unwavering in your support for almost 10 years now and there is no way we could have gone through this without that support. Thank you! I will update next Thursday with her counts.

Take Care,
Andrea