We had the letter in the post this morning telling us that Hannah has been accepted for a morning place at nursery for next September - hurrah! Even better, so have her friends Caitlin (why does she have a friend with the same name as her sister?), Alfie and Aoife.
Hannah has been enjoying pre-school. Every time she goes she tells me she has "made lots of new friends" so she is obviously a social butterfly!
Today Hannah noticed her scar for the first time - she has been completely oblivious to it up until now. She was complaining of an itchy tummy and suddenly spotted it as we were rubbing her Vitamin E cream in. "What's that?" she asked. "Is it a band?"
"No, that's your scar." I said. "The doctors had to make a hole in your tummy when you were a baby to fix it."
"Why did the doctors have to fix my tummy?"
"Because it didn't work properly"
"Why didn't it work properly?"
I struggled with putting that one in her terms. Eventually I settled with
"Because you were yellow"
"But why did they have to fix it?"
"Because otherwise you would have got more and more poorly. That's why the doctors check your tummy and your arm [Hannah calls a blood test 'checking her arm'], to make sure you are not getting poorly again"
"I know THAT!"
End of conversation for now. I knew I would have to deal with questions about this one day, but hoped I could put it off as long as possible. It's only going to get harder as she gets older and more articulate. I've always tried to be very honest with my kids, particularly about things which are unpleasant. Not brutal, but honest. If they are getting a vaccination, I tell them. Not days in advance, so they can work themselves into a frenzy, but a couple of hours, so they have time to discuss the forthcoming unpleasant event and prepare themselves a little. Far preferable in my book to someone grabbing them and sticking a needle in them without warning. I don't tell them it won't hurt either. I tell them it will hurt a little bit, and they might cry, but it will be over quickly and then they can have a sweet. So when Hannah starts to ask more about her illness, I will have answer her honestly within the bounds of her age. And Caitlin too, and that breaks my heart just as much. The girls fight a great deal but also have a wonderful bond and love each other very openly and very dearly.
Hannah's grandad (my dad)is in hospital at the moment with an undiagnosed heart problem. Also my dear friend Amanda is undergoing life saving surgery today. And some of our other friends at Liver Families are also having very difficult times at the moment with children in serious or critical condition. They are all very much at the front of my mind today.
(Perhaps the last paragraph is an indication that I am ready to start back on my own blog..)
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Thursday, March 22, 2007
A scary moment
Hannah gave me a big scare (fortunately a brief one) on Monday evening. Just after 10pm, she started crying inconsolably in bed. Andy tried to settle her, but she just kept crying, and I went up to her. She was hot again (39.3C), saying her tummy hurt (ow, ow) and shaking. I really did not like the look of her, and with the fact that she had a pale poo that morning there was far too much going on that could be cholangitis. I had given her 5 ml of Calpol but did not want to hang around and see if it took effect.
Hannah and I headed off to the hospital. By the time we got there I was beginning to feel like the foolish paranoid parent as it was clear that Hannah was making a remarkable improvement. So we waited for an hour to see the triage nurse, then another hour to see the doctor. By this time she was singing, looking at books and colouring (we have a nice pink Darth Vader now). I wish I'd given up and gone home; when we eventually saw the doctor and he asked what the problem was with Hannah, my answer was not a whole lot and he was in complete agreement. So thankfully we went back home without bloods or further investigation, and Hannah has been perfectly fine ever since.
With two mini cholangitis alerts in the last couple of weeks I am hoping this is not a case of things coming in threes. I am very thankful that these episodes have turned out to be just normal childhood stuff, but they have reminded me that our 'normal life' will always be precarious.
Hannah and I headed off to the hospital. By the time we got there I was beginning to feel like the foolish paranoid parent as it was clear that Hannah was making a remarkable improvement. So we waited for an hour to see the triage nurse, then another hour to see the doctor. By this time she was singing, looking at books and colouring (we have a nice pink Darth Vader now). I wish I'd given up and gone home; when we eventually saw the doctor and he asked what the problem was with Hannah, my answer was not a whole lot and he was in complete agreement. So thankfully we went back home without bloods or further investigation, and Hannah has been perfectly fine ever since.
With two mini cholangitis alerts in the last couple of weeks I am hoping this is not a case of things coming in threes. I am very thankful that these episodes have turned out to be just normal childhood stuff, but they have reminded me that our 'normal life' will always be precarious.
Friday, March 16, 2007
Pre-school and a virus
Hannah started at pre-school on 28th February, and she has settled in really well! I was worried she might be clingy and not want me to go but she has been absolutely fine. She is going on Wednesday and Friday mornings from 8:40 - 11:40 (see me getting chance to update her blog on a Friday morning!)
Hannah gave me a scare on Monday of this week. After seeming fine first thing in the morning she came over all tired and lethargic, and her temperature was 40C! With no other symptoms I was on alert for ascending cholangitis (a bacterial infection of the bile ducts, which Hannah is at risk of due to her reconstructed biliary anatomy). Fortunately the fever did have some response to Calpol and I kept a close eye on her until Tuesday morning, when it started to come down; as usual at the point where I was just thinking of packing a bag for the hospital. It is highly unlikely a fever caused by cholangitis would begin to come down of its own accord, so I started to breathe a little easier. Then, on Tuesday evening, Hannah began to develop a rash of fine red spots. By Wednesday morning she was covered in them! Although the rash passed the meningitis pressure test (ie it faded under pressure) I thought it best to get her down to the GP for it to be checked out. Fortunately he confirmed that it was a harmless virus. Although she was much better yesterday there were still traces of the rash and her temperature was still very slightly up, so we stayed away from toddler group. Today she is completely recovered, so to our mutual delight she has gone off to pre-school this morning.
Hannah's next big event is hearing whether she gets in to nursery next September (she should do, as they give priority to children with siblings already attending the school), whether she has been given mornings (preferred) or afternoons, and what session her friends have been given too!
Hannah gave me a scare on Monday of this week. After seeming fine first thing in the morning she came over all tired and lethargic, and her temperature was 40C! With no other symptoms I was on alert for ascending cholangitis (a bacterial infection of the bile ducts, which Hannah is at risk of due to her reconstructed biliary anatomy). Fortunately the fever did have some response to Calpol and I kept a close eye on her until Tuesday morning, when it started to come down; as usual at the point where I was just thinking of packing a bag for the hospital. It is highly unlikely a fever caused by cholangitis would begin to come down of its own accord, so I started to breathe a little easier. Then, on Tuesday evening, Hannah began to develop a rash of fine red spots. By Wednesday morning she was covered in them! Although the rash passed the meningitis pressure test (ie it faded under pressure) I thought it best to get her down to the GP for it to be checked out. Fortunately he confirmed that it was a harmless virus. Although she was much better yesterday there were still traces of the rash and her temperature was still very slightly up, so we stayed away from toddler group. Today she is completely recovered, so to our mutual delight she has gone off to pre-school this morning.
Hannah's next big event is hearing whether she gets in to nursery next September (she should do, as they give priority to children with siblings already attending the school), whether she has been given mornings (preferred) or afternoons, and what session her friends have been given too!
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Less itchy, apricots, and pre-school soon
Since I last posted Hannah's itching has gradually improved back to the normal level and her poos are also less icky. That is, apart from the one she did last week that consisted of pure apricots! That gave me quite a shock. Hannah picked up on my excitement and kept asking for more apricots so she could do 'another apricot poo'. Good heavens.
It is only just over two weeks until my baby girl starts at pre-school! We have talked it through....mummy is going to stay for a little bit and then go home and come and pick her up later. She will go on Wednesday and Friday mornings from 8:40 to 11:40. I have also put her application in for nursery next September. It is very scary how quickly it comes round to Hannah's turn to doing things that Caitlin has only just finished.
Hannah is still very two and very terrible, but full of life and joy, and I have discovered that nothing improves her behaviour more than removing her dummy and teddy (oh cruel mother). She loves singing (or songing as she calls it) and dancing. When we have song time at toddler group she jumps up after each one has finished and shouts 'Again, again!'. I'm sure she is destined for a career in showbusiness as she loves nothing more than to perform to an audience!
It is only just over two weeks until my baby girl starts at pre-school! We have talked it through....mummy is going to stay for a little bit and then go home and come and pick her up later. She will go on Wednesday and Friday mornings from 8:40 to 11:40. I have also put her application in for nursery next September. It is very scary how quickly it comes round to Hannah's turn to doing things that Caitlin has only just finished.
Hannah is still very two and very terrible, but full of life and joy, and I have discovered that nothing improves her behaviour more than removing her dummy and teddy (oh cruel mother). She loves singing (or songing as she calls it) and dancing. When we have song time at toddler group she jumps up after each one has finished and shouts 'Again, again!'. I'm sure she is destined for a career in showbusiness as she loves nothing more than to perform to an audience!
Friday, January 12, 2007
Lab Results Back
Nothing showed up, and the bloods are fine (although trying not to think about slight increase in Alk Phos (403 from 274) and ALT (40 from 20)), so no conclusion apart from random minor virus. I'll be keeping an eye on Hannah though. A few people from Liver Families have mentioned that their child's itching is worse in the winter, so maybe it's a climate thing.
Normal ranges for our lab in brackets.
FBC
Haemoglobin 11.6 (11.5-13.5)
MCHC 32.0 (31.5-34.5)
RBC count 4.36 (4.00-5.20)
MCV 83.0 (75.0-87.0)
Total white cell count 9.16 (5.00-17.00)
Platelets 294 (140-400)
Eosinophil 0.23 (0.10-1.00)
Monocyte 0.61 (0.20-1.00)
Lymphocyte 4.30 (6.00-9.00)
Basophil 0.07 (0.01-0.10)
Neutrophil 3.95 (1.50-8.50)
Haematocrit 0.360 (0.340-0.400)
Urea and electrolytes
Sodium 140 (135-143)
Potassium 4.1 (3.7-5.0)
Urea 5.5 (2.6-6.6)
Creatinine 53 (50-105)
LFT
Total Protein 69 (64-79)
Albumin 39 (34-48)
Total Bili 6 (4-20)
Alk Phos 403 (not given)
ALT 40 (5-38)
Normal ranges for our lab in brackets.
FBC
Haemoglobin 11.6 (11.5-13.5)
MCHC 32.0 (31.5-34.5)
RBC count 4.36 (4.00-5.20)
MCV 83.0 (75.0-87.0)
Total white cell count 9.16 (5.00-17.00)
Platelets 294 (140-400)
Eosinophil 0.23 (0.10-1.00)
Monocyte 0.61 (0.20-1.00)
Lymphocyte 4.30 (6.00-9.00)
Basophil 0.07 (0.01-0.10)
Neutrophil 3.95 (1.50-8.50)
Haematocrit 0.360 (0.340-0.400)
Urea and electrolytes
Sodium 140 (135-143)
Potassium 4.1 (3.7-5.0)
Urea 5.5 (2.6-6.6)
Creatinine 53 (50-105)
LFT
Total Protein 69 (64-79)
Albumin 39 (34-48)
Total Bili 6 (4-20)
Alk Phos 403 (not given)
ALT 40 (5-38)
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