An update on Claire's situation: her blood test results came back last week, and initially her pediatrician cleared her but said she had a low amount of one antibody that can skew the results. Well, when the results got faxed to Vanderbilt, the GI specialist couldn't believe the pediatrician had said that she was okay because she had insufficient IGa results. Apparently some small percentage of the population has this deficiency and although it normally isn't a big deal, it can't provide accurate Celiac results. So, yesterday we took her to the Children's Hospital and the GI doctor drew additional blood for a genetic test. This test will not definitively diagnose Claire, but it will allow us to completely rule it out if we can. The test looks for two specific genes that lead to Celiac- if Claire lacks both genes, there is NO way she can have/develop Celiac. However, if she has both, it will be assumed that based on the way her small intestine biopsy looked, she does have it. I think if there is one gene- they will have to do an additional test? I don't know! Celiac is hard to diagnose because there isn't one "yes/no" test- you have to take multiple factors into account- biopsies, blood work, and so on. We are still hopeful that she does not but wow, with all the information I have learned in her little lifespan, I feel like I could be a doctor myself ;) We should find out at the end of next week.
Her party stuff is coming along well. We are just having a few friends over on Saturday, along with some family, and doing pizza and cupcakes. It will be pretty low key. I wish we were in Indiana so we could celebrate our girl with everyone! I'll make sure to get a bunch of pictures up soon, but in the meantime, here are a couple of iPhone pictures:
the beginning of her birthday banner!
the birthday/Valentine's dress I sewed her
That dress and I fought back and forth for a while but eventually I won and finished it. I let her wear it Monday to celebrate Valentine's Day, since there are hearts all over it and it is pink. The kids went out to play in the backyard since it was finally nice out, and wouldn't you know, she found the one mud puddle that was out there and sat down right in the middle of it. The back of the dress has a slight stain but at this point, I don't care, she's wearing it anyway!
Speaking of Valentine's Day, last weekend Aaron and I got a night out thanks for our sweet friends Aracely and Blake. We went to get sushi but it was packed, so we headed to our favorite Mexican restaurant. After we went to see the new Adam Sandler/Jennifer Aniston movie. Have you seen it? I was nervous because on Rotten Tomatoes, only 12% of critics liked it... but 78% of viewers did?! Quite the discrepancy there.
We really enjoyed it and laughed our way through :) Our night was close to perfect but I was a bit grumpy. Darn PMS. Ha, was that TMI? Too bad.
Last but not least: I read this article today and it really struck home with me since Aaron is leaving in less than three months. She does a good job of describing what it feels like to be an Army wife. She mentions her six-year-old struggling with depression, but how do you explain to babies that are one and two why their daddy left and isn't coming back? Gabe and Claire have no understanding of time, but they are both very attached to Aaron. I'm very worried Gabe will think, in his mind, either daddy left and is bad or mommy made daddy leave.
I have to agree with the areas where she said she "I don’t know how to adjust to his presence in my house when our floor rarely feels the weight of his boots." This is one of my biggest struggles as an Army wife. When Aaron is gone, I am mommy and daddy. I make the decisions. What I say goes. How I run the house is up to me. When Aaron is here, he wants some say in that (which is totally understandable) but I have a hard time giving up control since I had a system down. Then, as soon as I start to figure it out again, he leaves and it's back to just me. Even if he isn't deploying- he leaves for weeks at a time for training. It isn't just hard on us, but it's also hard on the kids- who is in control and running things?
Anyway, I think she left out that ultimately, Army wives have an incredible sense of strength and community. Speaking for myself here, but don't think for a minute we don't have hope. We know where our hope and strength comes from. I'm praying this year will give my faith and opportunity to grow like never before.
Off my soap box now ;) Enjoy your weekend!
1 comments:
I too read the blog on the army wife. I didn't care for it as much bc she talked so much of the negative; death, him being gone, kids and depression....there are ways to avoid this in my opinion. Our faith as you mentioned keeps us afloat, we talk to our kids even when they don't understand so that there is no room for confusion in their tiny minds and hearts. We pray over them daily to make sure things like depression and anxiety don't make their way in but that they are confident and know how much their daddy loves them, what it is that he does.
The party looks so gosh darn cute! I can't believe how creative you are, how much sewing you are doing...well I can, bc you are you:) I'm so impressed by you and who you have become! Please know that we will continue praying for Claire, her testing and doc appts. Please keep us posted. You know I've been there and done that, I still am and I'm always here to listen, talk, pray with....love you!
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