More to Ponder

This morning we had a follow-up appointment with Laura Kate's pediatrician, Dr. Beirwirth. He and the nurses were all so pleased to see Laura Kate. They all gathered around her both before and after her appointment. "I can't believe how good she looks" was the most common comment. It was so neat to see how her illness and subsequent recovery had affected them as well as us. They are all so precious.

Anyway, Dr. Bierwirth encouraged me to keep things in perspective. She looks good now, but there can always be another relapse. Hopefully not one requiring hospitalization, but we can't completely rule it out. He also explained that the aggressive course of steroids that she is on will suppress her immune system. We obviously need to avoid anyone who is sick. This being the case, he has suggested that we not take her to the church nursery, or anywhere else she can come in contact with ill kiddos. Of course, this is really hard on us. I miss my Sunday School class and the fellowship of our small group. Our mothers of preschoolers bible study begins in two weeks, as well as story time at the library. All of the things I has looked forward to seem to be off the table right now. But, more importantly, it's hard on her. She's tired of being sequestered. She's ready to get back on the go and see her friends.

She'll be on the high dose until mid-October, then we'll start to taper them off. This means it could be as late as mid-November until we can have her completely off of them. One thing that I hadn't thought of until this morning was flu shots. I've gotten the girls' flu shots every year since they were old enough to get them. This year, I won't be able to get Laura Kate's as early as we have in years past. The immunization won't do her any good if she's on steroids. With her immune system being suppressed, it will make her more susceptible to the flu virus, not to mention her body's lowered ability to fight it off if she does get it.

I know it's early to be worried about this, but it does give me something else to ponder and pray about! It looks like, though she seems to be on the mend from the Henoch-Schonlein Purpura, there will still be some fall-out from it for months to come. We won't be out of the woods for a while.

What a pessimistic blog! I guess I'm really just asking for your continued prayers. I know your faithful to offer them, and God's faithful to listen, even if He doesn't always act.

Seeing the Light at the End of the Tunnel

Phew. I'm a little whipped. We just got home for our last (and hopefully final) hospitalization. We're pretty optimistic this time. Laura Kate looks great, she's eating well, and only complains of a little tummyache...nothing that requires intervention. No new rash, no swelling, no severe abdominal pain, no nausea. She's been like this since last week, really. Things started to improve Thursday, and just kept getting better. While she was in the hospital, they had her on an ng tube to boost her nutrition. She was fed through the tube day and night for a couple of days, then nights only for the remainder of our stay. Again, she looks great. The cheeks we know and love are back :)

This whole experience has been humbling. The Lord made us very aware of our deficiencies, and provided us with the strength to get through it all. We've received praise for our bravery and strength, but I can tell you that we have not gotten through this due to anything good in us, excepting Christ. He has used all of our friends and family to comfort and encourage us, as well as people we don't even know. We've had stories of people from all over, who don't know us except through mutual friends, who have prayed for and inquired after us. It's amazing. It's a prime example of God's people coming together.

We also came to realize just how many sick children there are. Laura Kate's plight was nothing in contrast to so many others. It made my stomach hurt and heart ache to see them or hear them crying out. Though she was in pain, it was short lived and not life threatening. So many children are not that fortunate. I feel like the Lord has used this to strike a chord in my heart. What will come of it, I don't know. I feel like we will all benefit from this experience. I know God has a plan for my girls, and I know this experience is a vital piece of that...to whatever end.

And Laura Kate has made some new friends. Felipe, one of her nurses, quickly became one of her favorites. From the very beginning, she asked "Where is my man?" She would inform me that "my man gave me medicine to help my tummy feel better." Or "my man is my friend." If she saw him in the hall or at the nurse's station, she would exclaim "There's my man!" She had so many other great nurses, like Lindsey, who Justin said came in and sat down for a visit one day. She also poked her head in even if she wasn't Laura Kate's nurse that day. We were so blessed by the doctors, nurses, and CNAs at Scott & White. They took excellent care of our little one. They made a big impression on her, as well. Who knows, perhaps she will become a doctor or nurse because of this experience. She already knows some of the lingo, and can point out the location of the heart, lungs, stomach, and intestines on a model of the human body. Pretty impressive, no?

Well, I can't think of anything else worth saying, except THANK YOU to everyone who is reading this right now :) And, as always, God is good.

Be Careful What You Wish For

As a follower of Christ among other followers, I've noticed folks want a good testimony...something inspiring and amazing to share about what Christ has done for them. I've been no different. I've thought that if only something dramatic had happened in my life, the Lord could use me so much more effectively. Well, I think I have enough to work with now. I'm good. We can stop for a while.

Laura Kate went back into the hospital today. She had just been released from the hospital this past Thursday. We'd had a day at home. She's pretty miserable, nauseated and dehydrated, and in some pain. We're about ready for all of this to be over. The good thing is that it will be over, "soon" is just a relative term. As in, not forever, but sooner rather than later.

So back to the original premise, the Lord has worked in our hearts and the hearts of others through this ordeal. Things we've experienced and seen have been so heart-warming and humbling. But, I've decided not to desire a good testimony any longer. This one will be good for now, thank you ;)

Where did July go?

Hi everyone. As you probably know, we've had a pretty interesting month. July started out quite normal: a night out for fireworks, a trip to the museum, lots of fun and sun.

Anna pretending to pump water Laura Kate "churning butter"

But, on the 13th, that all changed. Laura Kate began to get ill. At first, she had a stomach virus. By the 16th, she had to be hospitalized for dehydration. We got her home the next day and she still didn't feel well. She was pretty lethargic and complained of a severe tummy ache. By Saturday the 19th, we were back in the hospital...this time Scott and White in Temple. She had developed Henoch-Schonlein Purpura, a type of vasculitis. This caused her immune system to attack the small blood vessels in her body, causing rash-like bruising on most of her body. Also she experience joint and facial pain and swelling, abdominal pain, and nausea.





















Left side of her face swollen due to HSP Three weeks later, and feeling a little better!

After two hospital visits and an emergency room visit, she has been doing pretty well. We had a little scare yesterday with nausea and vomitting, but she came out of that pretty quickly. Her stomach is still bothering her, but that is to be expected. We'll have ups and downs, but eventually she WILL get better, so that's quite a comfort. Another huge thank you to all of you who have and continue to pray and offer help and encouragement!


Meli, Anna, and Laura Kate. You can still see some of the "rash" on Laura's legs and feet.

Now we have a different kind of excitement around the Mitchell house. We've adopted a cat, Meli. Anna named and fell in love with her pretty quickly. She is a very sweet and mellow cat. She is excellent with the girls. All she requires is food and love, which is in good supply here. Having her is helping us to teach the girls responsibility. They are in charge of feeding and watering. We'll see how well they do and for how long ;) For now, they are taking this on like big girls!