Day 496

      It is Spring Break and we have had a fun and busy week!  Katie was still down and out on Monday, but by Tuesday morning she was back to herself - and we were glad!  We were able to spend time this week with my extended family - it was a much needed "vacation" for us.  We were able to go swimming at the hotel where one of my brothers was staying, and we went out to dinner together.  (Katie's immunity was up because she was on the steroids and had gotten the IGG infusion).
     Katie wasn't able to swim much last year, because of her port.  And I can't even begin to describe her level of excitement about being able to go swimming this week.  Let me just say, that the first day she went swimming, she laughed and giggled the entire time she was in the pool (2-3 hours!)  We all had a great time!
     It has been an up and down week with her.  She played hard when she could, and rested much when she needed too.  Unfortunately, we do have a new concern with her...and it is a pretty big one.  Katie might be diabetic.  We have mentioned to serveral doctors at PCH that Katie will awake in a cold sweat, clammy to the touch, pale, and shaky.  All the doctors we mentioned it to, dismissed it, as if it was normal - "just give her something to eat."  However, when I mentioned it to Dr. Dana this last time, she said, "You have never mentioned this to me before... That is not normal, that should not be happening, she should never get that low, that would not due to the chemo."  (Once again, this brings out our frustration of not being able to see one doctor consistently!)  We had just accepted that when this happens to Katie, that it was just part of process, due to the chemo.  Now we find out that is not the case.  Dr. Dana wanted to know how often it happens - we couldn't tell her for sure, because we have become so used to it happening - it was "normal" - we thought.  Dr. Dana said, "If it happens regularly, we will need to test her for diabetes."  I told her we would keep track of when it happens.  -- It happened twice this week...  When it happened this morning, I put Katie in the car, and drove her to Scott's fire station.  Scott tested her blood sugar level, and it was 31, anything lower than 60 is low!  So...We will be calling the clinic in the morning to see if we need to get her tested for diabetes.  (I can't believe it!  But either she has it or she doesn't, there is nothing we can do about it).  We will see what they say, and then go from there.
     Conner's blood tests came back earlier this week.  He is anemic, but the tests do not indicate it is anything more.  We are grateful!  We don't understand why he is anemic, he eats very healthy - and should be getting plenty of iron.  But we will give him the iron supplement for a month and then have him tested again, and go from there.  And just as a side note, the iron supplement is a liquid and it is horrible!  It smells and tastes like rusty metal.  I put it in some orange juice, because vitamin C helps with the absorption of iron, Conner drank it and said it tasted horrible.  So, I tasted it - and I gaged.  It was horrible!  So now what!?  I don't know... experiment with it I guess...different juice, no juice but a drink after, a pill?  I don't know...
     So, lots of ups and downs.  However, we are very glad for the ups!  Thank goodness for the ups!  Thanks to my family for spending time with us this week.  It was a much needed!!!  We are grateful. 
     I recently gave a quote from this talk by President Monson, but today I wanted to add to it.  "I would recommend...that you take an inventory of your life and look specifically for the blessings large and small, you have received. 
     "Reinforced constantly during my own review of the years has been my  knowledge that our prayers are heard and answered.  We are familiar with the truth found in 2 Nephi in the Book of Mormon:  "Men are, that they might have joy."  I testify that much of that joy comes as we recognize that we can communicate with our Heavenly Father through prayer and that those prayers will be heard and answered - perhaps not how and when we expected they would be answered, but they will be answered by a Heavenly Father who knows and loves us perfectly and who desires our happiness. 
   "...My brothers and sisters, the Lord is in all of our lives.  He loves us.  He wants to bless us.  He wants us to seek His help.  As He guides us and directs us and as He hears and answers our prayers, we will find the happiness here and now that He desires for us.  May we be aware of His blessings in our lives."  (Consider the Blessings, Ensign, November 2012).