HOME

Sorry for delay in blog posts-my home pc internet won't load my blog and I don't have wireless internet at home, so I have to wait till I am out and around wifi... Need to get this fixed asap.

Thanks Jamie for the thoughtful package of goodies!!!  And to everyone else that has sent such nice words for our home coming.

Things have been going really well in the McGinnis household.  Lauren has adjusted fantastically.  Her sisters adore her in every way! 

We have been quite busy traveling to doctor appts... and getting her casts to repair her feet.  ut still, wonderful.

Here are some pictures...

 

and some with her sisters... (please excuse the outfit choices-these were random moments, lol)

July 18th

On Tuesday (12th) Lauren went back to Nashville to get more casts done for her serial casting to repair her feet.  She did super.  I was afraid it would be bothersome, but she really hasn’t shown any signs that they hurt...

It was a nice week transitioning Lauren into home life.  Very quiet because her sisters were in Georgia visiting family (“Aunt” Camp).  They had a blast visiting with their cousin-going to a roller skating birthday party, aquarium, swimming, getting a pedi, jump houses....  So, when we were reunited on Saturday, the girls zoomed right past me straight to Lauren. 

Very nice to all be home. 

Moday July 11th

We were discharged Thursday afternoon.  Woohoo!  Getting home was wonderful, however turning back around the following day because of a shunt malfunction was not.   My middle child, in a classic tantrum style, stomped her foot down and yelled, “We never get to keep Lauren at home!  It’s not fair!”  I agree.  

Late that afternoon we were admitted into er.  After imaging and tapping the shunt they were able to determine that the shunt catheter tip was clotted.  After much persuasion they injected 1 dose of TPA.  Believe it or not it worked!!!!  The next morning her head felt great.  They kept us a day for observation and we were back home Sunday evening.  Ahhh, home!!!

Homeward Bound

We are getting ready shortly to be heading home!!!  Lauren gained weight last night and is eating great.  Doctors are having us to check in for weigh ins with local pediatrician. 

We are so stinking excited!

Lauren is 4 months old today!!!  Oh, happy day.

180*

HOPE

 

YOU HAD

A WONDERFUL

INDEPENDENCE DAY

FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS XOXO

We had a great visit together this weekend.  I missed my family so much!!!!  It was super sweet to see the girls with Lauren again.

Peyton getting in some snuggle time

Taylor hanging out watching Lauren

When  they got here Saturday my husband looked wiped.  So, I took the girls out and about to some stores for about three hours so he could rest in the bed here in the hospital room.  I got back and asked him if he had a nice nap.  To which he replied, "Not with that IV pump going off every twenty, thirty minutes, people coming in and out..."  I looked at him and gave him a pat on the shoulder and said, "Welcome to my world, except it's 24 hours." heehee.  I loved the look on his face.

On Sunday they took Lauren off the antibiotics and fluids since her blood work and cultures were showing up negative.  Sunday turned out to be a pretty rough day for Lauren.  I had left with Taylor and Peyton to go to hotel to get a nap.  Which of course never really happened cause that's nearly impossible to do in a small room with two very active girls.  So, we left daddy with Lauren.  When we got back he was a bit frazzled, I guess Lauren kept getting sick on him.  Sure enough, after about five minutes of me being there she got sick again.  Needless to say, they put her back on the fluids. 

However, at about 9 that night Lauren's behavior began to get better and she was able to keep her night time feeds down.  She woke up Monday morning super happy, and stayed this way most of the day that she was awake.  She only got sick after one feed and was able to increase her feeds a little too.  The girls decided to give me a pedicure and daddy a new hairstyle!

 Today has been even better.  Made a total 180!  Spinal Fluid came back for a final result of NEGATIVE!  This is excellent news.  She is the happiest she's been since we've been to the hospital and is eating tremendously better, all while keeping it down.  I am so proud of my little warrior!!!!  Doctors know that the ileus caused Lauren great discomfort and was behind the excessive vomiting.  They are attributing her fever and soreness to possible virus, since nothing was found in cultures.

She got another casting today, this time purple...

Lauren lost a bit since we've been here, especially this past week.  So, we are going to supe up some expressed milk twice each day to try and get her back on the weight gaining cycle.  She has always, when feeling well, been an excellent eater and a little chunky monkey, so I am sue that she will be back to herself sooner rather than later.

We are going to follow up with a nutritionist and have her weight monitored by our pediatrician at home closely for a while.  I am not sure when we will be able to go home, but my guess is if she continues to do well, very very soon.  

I can't help but believe that her recovery had a huge part to do with the hundreds of prayers being sent up into the heavens for her.  We are eternally grateful!

I wanted to say thank you to a few people who have really helped us out the past 3-4 weeks while here:

Linda, Gina, Lyndsey, Marsha, Adrianna, Kacey, Keisha, and Sabrina.  It truly is a comforting thought knowing that we have such great friends that we can trust and count on in such times of need.  PS Thanks to Erica and Sheri for making a quick trip down here last week. 

Family Time

Waiting on my adorable big girls and their daddy to get here for the weekend.  I missed them something terrible!!!!

Blood work came back with no blood infection, as did the urine sample.  CT scan looked great also.  Waiting on CSF, super preliminary looks OK, but it honestly takes 24-72 hours.  I know of three times they have told me same day it was drawn, "Oh, it looks good.  Nothing to worry about."  Then a day or two later, "Well, actually something is in the CSF and it's an infection."  So, I really want to hit that 72hour mark before I celebrate that it's not in spinal fluid?

It's good that those results came back good, but still frustrating cause we still don't know for sure on things.  They took another abdominal x-ray earlier-waiting on that.  

Right now, she is sleeping.  She is sleeping too much-and I KNOW that this is usually not a good thing.  Who would have ever thought we wouldn't want the baby to sleep too much.  Funny.

Anyway, when I find out anything significant I'll post.  I'm going to try to enjoy my time with my family.  Hey, I may even get my husband to spend the night with Lauren in room, while "I" go to hotel with girls and get a full night of sleep! heehee.

Also, I wanted to again thank you all for following and being so dedicated to following this journey.  Your thoughts and prayers make such a difference to my heart and gives me some peace.  It just reminds me that I am not the driver.  I need to trust in God.

After shunt revision.  Taken Tuesday-looks tons better here than was.

Hello!

Tuesday in my 20 minute happiness time.  Didn't last long and came out of nowhere, but was worth every second seeing her like this.

My cast fro clubbed foot.  Put on Tuesday morning.  Will get one on left once picc line is out.  Changed once each week for 6 weeks.