Vida Bida

Vida is sick.

That's her on July 5, the day we found out she has Nephrotic Syndrome, caused by Minimal Change Disorder. In a short order: her kidney's be broken. She went on a heavy course of steroids for six weeks, with another six week weaning process after that. She just finished earlier this week. They don't know what causes it, or what could trigger a relapse. Basically, she has a 70% of it never happening again. But, if it does happen again, she then has a 90% chance or relapsing over and over, until she will most likely grow out of it as a teenager. We're hoping that it will never happen again, and we're using garlic as a homeopathic method to fight of further relapses. The swelling should never happen again; but,all the proteins in her body get flushed out, leaving her body nothing to build all the important things, like an immune system. Prayers and good vibes accepted now.

She put on six pounds of water weight, and couldn't fit in any of the clothes we took to the lake(where we found out about the MCD).

The prednisone made her a crazy town for a while, like, absolutely incoherent. It was really sad; it also made her lethargic. This is her under her blanket, I watched as the shorts she was wearing slowly inched there way off her body, and out from under the blanket. NO CLOTHES!

Sad Belly

By her birthday in Aug, she was doing pretty well, just chubby steroid cheeks.

We go Nov 13, to the specialist, for a check-up. Let's do this!

all that we can do

Last Sunday I decided to take Royce to the walk in clinic in Okotoks. I had had a nasty cold for the last two weeks, Vida had had a cold and cough for a week, and Royce had started coughing on Friday. I thought they would just send us home and tell us there was nothing to do for babies, just to sit tight; but I thought, "better safe than sorry". They told us he had bronchiolitis (the swelling and mucus buildup in the smaller airways in the lungs). They sent us to the Children's hospital where we were admitted. It was rough to see our sweet little baby having trouble breathing, coughing, having his nose suctioned out, and put on oxygen. He was a real trooper though, even early in the morning while the nurses were poking and prodding him, he'd just smile away at them. They said he was the happiest bronchiolitis baby they'd ever seen. He was such a sweet little angle.

The full tests came back and it turned out that Royce had two viruses causing his bronchiolitis: RSV and the common cold. So Royce and I hungout in the hospital until Friday. We spent every minute together, and even though he was sick, I was really able to cherish that special alone time with my little boy. I'm so grateful for him, and that he is on the mend. He just needs a week or two to get finish getting over his cough, and build back up his immune system. I know that the healing blessing Brandon gave him has helped him to recover quickly, to stay in high spirits, and to really help us to grow more attached to this precious little spirit we've been entrusted with.
I feel optimistic now that the worst is hopefully over, but I'll tell you I rang in the New Year crying in my bed holding a sick little baby. There's nothing more heartbreaking thinking something could happen to one of your babies. Later in the week I found this poem by our dear late prophet, and that of how fitting it was, and should remain, in my life.

put your trust in God. 

by president gordon b hinckley

it isn't as bad as you sometimes think it is.

it all works out. don't worry.

i say that to myself every morning. 

it will all work out. 

put your trust in God, 

and move forward with faith and 

confidence in the future. 

the Lord will not forsake us. 

He will not forsake us. 

if we put our trust in Him, 

if we pray to Him, 

if we live worthy of His blessings, 

He will hear our prayers.

from the funeral program for 

marjory pay hinckley, 

april 10, 2004

Hard things happen in life, terrible things happen; but I know that there is a plan for me. I'm so grateful for all that I've been given, and my heart goes out to those who struggle, who suffer, who are desperately in need. I hope that we can all take and extra minute today to count our blessings, kiss our loved ones, and reach out and help someone else.