"Trending in the right direction"

The doctors are telling us that Anna's fevers, white blood cell counts, csf cultures, and clinical observations are all trending in the right direction.  Her fevers aren't as high (although still over 100) and her csf tests are coming back with less bacteria each time.  The ones from the weekend did end up growing bacteria, it just took a little time for it to happen.  Everyone (especially the medical staff) was hoping and possibly expecting things to clear up a bit faster than they have been.

However, Anna's tummy and guts are still an issue.  She's having a hard time tolerating her feeds and often complains of tummy pains, even if it's not strictly nausea.  She was retested for c.diff today and that test, at least, came back negative.

Even though tomorrow is Anna's last day of radiation, we're going to be here awhile yet.  On a side note, the doctors opted to withhold Anna's last three treatments of chemotherapy which were meant to enhance the effects of the radiation.  They thought that at this point the chemotherapy would do more harm than good :(

Matt spent the day with Anna today while I was with the other kids.  None of us really have any reserves left.  Ethan's tantrums are becoming challenging.  Whether that is strictly because of who he is, or more related to the last two months, no one will ever know.  Kate is struggling with separation from me again, too.

But ... today after preschool I took the younger kids to the hospital and we met up with Matt and Anna.  The five of us spent a few hours together as a family, which we have not been able to do in about a week and a half.  I think those moments recharged us a little; we really miss living as a team.

After spending some time with Matt this afternoon/evening and spending the day with the other kiddos, I'm trying hard to look for positives.  So here are a few.

The resident who was on P4 for the last two weeks just happens to be the resident here on the PICU for this week (maybe next week, too?).  Any kind of consistency like that is good, especially since we have worked with him a lot already about Anna's nutrition and sleep over on P4.

Anna's nurses from across the hall have come to visit almost every day.

Anna will be working with the same therapists that she has had since she was first admitted to the hospital.

Anna's nurse today and for the next two days is the same nurse she had during her two previous stays on the PICU; we like her :)

Since the weather was beautiful today, and Kate was at preschool while Ethan was sleeping, I planted our peas in the garden.  A week and a half ago we started our broccoli seeds indoors, too.

Some friends from church are coming to clean our house tomorrow.  It's not exactly "dirty", but it's certainly not very clean, either.

Life on the PICU side of the hospital is much sadder.  I don't think we realized just how much sadder, though, until we had a chance to live off of the PICU for a few weeks.  The staff here is busy all the time because the kids here are really sick, so there's not as much fun and games as we were having last week on P4.  By Tuesday afternoon, I needed a break from the sadness, so while Anna was napping, I went over to visit our "P4 family"; it was theraputic for me.  It is reassuring to know that whenever Anna needs a hospital stay in the future, provided that she does not need the kind of care necessary on the PICU, she will be over on P4.

Time for prayers

Thanksgiving
Please give thanks for the season of spring; it seems to be finally on it's way here in WI.
Please thank God that Anna is improving, albeit slowly.
Please give thanks for all of the staff here at the hospital who is watching out for Anna in a special way.
Please thank God for healthy children.
Please give thanks for all of the support that our family continues to receive.
Please thank God that we have sleep rooms available to us while Anna is on the PICU.

Requests
Please pray that we can quickly and easily find a feeding program that works for Anna's sick and tired body.
Please pray that Anna is able to rest more comfortably at night; she has had several really rough nights since we moved rooms.
Please pray that Anna's fevers and other infection symptoms go away.
Please ask God to heal whatever is causing Anna's tummy to hurt.
Please continue to pray for strength, wisdom, and compassion for Anna's care staff.
Please continue to pray that Anna's treatments are 100% effective.
Please continue to pray for strength, wisdom, and patience for Matt and me.

Thanks for everything.