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!

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)

Hannah not well

I've been worried about Hannah for the past few days. Although she still has plenty of energy and is eating normally, she is significantly more itchy than normal, is pale with dark circles under her eyes, and her poos are foul smelling with mucus in. I took her to the doctor yesterday, and he thinks she probably has a virus as her glands are swollen in her neck, but he sent her for bloods and we have taken a stool sample in today to check for anything yucky. Bloods should be back Thursday. This was the first time that Hannah was really negative about having her blood taken (I don't want to be brave....it made my heart ache) and that she has cried significantly. Probably because she is finally getting old enough to remember what happened last time, as we have been lucky enough for her bloods to be fairly infrequent.

On a more positive note, I meant to update back in December that Hannah excelled at her 2.5 yr development check. The health visitor could not believe that this was the same child whose file she read before the appointment. When Hannah showed she can talk in sentences and could name the colours of the blocks as well as stack them, she said we may as well move straight to the 3 year check! Hannah is 90th centile for height and 50th for weight, so physical development is going great too.

Also, Hannah is starting two mornings of pre-school at the end of February...I'm hoping she takes to it as she can be a bit clingy. I think she will enjoy it if she can get over the fact that mummy is going to leave her there.....

Will update later this week when we have some results back.

Clinic and bloods fine

The check up yesterday went very well. No massive spleen (it was never that likely)and bloods normal (Bilirubin 4, ALT 20, Alk Phos 274). We successfully negotiated the new hospital, including the bus. I was very impressed that we got a bleeper at the pharmacy for when the prescription was ready (he prescribed an antibiotic ointment for a sore she has developed on her chin), and that there was somewhere decent to get a snack and a coffee.

I have been holding my girl extra close today. One of our friends (and I do consider them friends) from Liver Families lost her baby boy last night. He has been very ill for several weeks and got too sick to be transplanted.

Having a child who is ill, and knowing people whose children are even more ill, or have died, makes you see your own children in a new light. You still get cross with them, but you also appreciate the little things in a way no one who hasn't been there could understand. I will be tucking Hannah up in bed at night, and I say a prayer of thanks that it is her own bed and not a hospital bed. Today I am just thankful that my children are here for me to hold.

Brave Girl

Hannah had her six-monthly blood test today. I was so proud of my brave girl, who despite flinching a few times did not make a sound or shed a single tear. Once it was over ("I can have my sweeties now?")the production of a lollipop and a Winnie the Pooh 'braveness' certificate was enough to make the whole thing worthwhile for her.

We shall get the results back when we go to Dr Coad's clinic in a week.