Day 72

Claire and Benson had a fun time together today. It is actually really helpful to have Benson come because he entertains ALL of us so well! We drew quite a few labs on Claire today and finished Benson's 24-hour urine. Glad that's over! But I'm thinking it's A LOT easier to do a 24-hour urine test on a boy verses a girl....so I can at least be grateful for that. Still don't know any results on him yet.

We're excited for the wonderful Thanksgiving weekend ahead! Since Jared has the day off, he'll be taking Claire in for dialysis early tomorrow morning so we can enjoy the rest of the day together as a family. Some great friends have invited us over for dinner and we are all so excited to get out and have some fun with friends! I get to stay home with Benson tomorrow morning and make homemade rolls. Nothing beats Grandma's recipe! At least in my tummy.

Jared asked me today if I knew (through something called "mother's intuition/revelation/inspiration/mom's just know stuff") when Claire was going to get her transplant. I guess I'm not that advanced yet as a mom cuz I have NO CLUE! Wish I DID!

Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving tomorrow!

Two peas in a pod.

Glove balloons. Classic fun.

Benson is the king of big bubbles. I tried, really tried, to beat the size of his bubbles and miserably failed.

Day 71

Benson's day: We got Claire going on dialysis by 8:20 (yes!) and I took him down to the lab for his blood tests at 8:40. We must not have very good luck with the lab though. There was some confusion with what tests were ordered and when they were to be drawn. We finally got his blood drawn at 10:00 after numerous phone calls for clarification! I'm really getting some good practice on being patient. I was worried about being away from Claire for that long. That's the longest I've been away from her while she's on dialysis. But she did great. Of course she did.

I don't know the results yet of his blood tests. They did a lot of tests. They drew 23 cc of blood! That's A LOT! We also started a 24-hour urine collection. This helps them to know how well the kidneys are getting rid of the oxalate in his body in a 24-hour period. We came home for lunch and I put Claire down for a nap. One of the best things about Jared's job is that he works from home, over the internet. So I put Claire to bed and was able to leave her home sleeping with the monitor in Jared's office while I took Benson back to the hospital for the ultrasound of his kidneys. Benson did really good for the ultrasound. Again, I don't know the results of that yet either, but should get more info on Friday (or before if the Doctor stops by sooner).

Benson's happy to have his big day over.

Thanks to everyone who went to the Benefit in Ogden, Utah last night. I heard it was quite a party, a great success, and tons of fun for all involved! Thanks to those who worked hard to put it together and all who attended too!

Day 70

We got off to a slow start today and had to wait almost ONE HOUR for the lab people to come before we could start dialysis. It's just slightly frustrating to wake up early, get two kids ready and out the door by 7:40, and then not start Claire's dialysis till just before 9:00. But that's just the way the ball rolled today. Most days we get a quick start and she is on the clock by 8:20ish; but whenever there are blood draws to be done pre-dialysis, there's no telling how long the delay may be. Gratefully, that's not every day! Everything went well after we got her up and going, and Claire was of course very patient with everything.

Benson went to preschool and came home with a black thanksgiving top hat! So fun! Benson has a big day tomorrow. We will be doing some tests on his kidneys, oxalate levels, and other things to see how his body is keeping up with the overload of oxalate his body is producing. He hasn't been tested for a few months, so I'm anxious to get those results. He will also have an ultrasound done on his kidneys tomorrow to see if any stones are forming or if there are any changes from the last one. We will meet with the doctor on Friday afternoon specifically for Benson to discuss the results.

I get a late-night out with some friends to go see New Moon! I'm so excited!!

In honor of the warmth that we won't be seeing for quite some time!

Day 69

We love the Sabath.

We all got to go to Church, together, for the whole time today! It was great for all of us to be healthy and well enough to get back into our normal Sunday routine! Claire loves the nursery at Church. She really like being with other kids her age and this is just about one of the only chances she gets! Otherwise, she surrounded with adults! I stay in with her during nursery because I'm too nervous right now (especially with a cast on) to let her be on her own. I just don't want ONE more thing to happen to this sweetest one!!

Today we also put up our Christmas decorations. I think this is the first year we have EVER done it before Thanksgiving; but I just felt like I wanted to be able to put it up while we can. No knowing when the transplant call will come, I wanted to make sure it was something we could all do as a family. Glad I can check that off my list of "things I want to have done before transplant!" You know, just like the lists you make before you have a new baby. Life is never quite the same after a new baby is born nor will it be the same after Claire's transplant!

For all you Utah-ans out there, there is going to be a free benefit concert in my home town of Ogden tomorrow evening! Admission is FREE (which is a bonus). There will be a silent auction (starting at 6:00), pictures with the cutest Santa and Mrs. Clause you've ever seen, and an awesome concert at 7:30 featuring Greg Simpson. It's going to be fabulous! I wish so much we could be there. BUT if you're in Utah and are able to attend, DO! And tell me all about it if you can! Thanks to everyone who has worked so hard to put this concert together. Check out more info here.

Day 68

Not a whole lot to update on today. In our case, that is a good thing!! Jared took Claire to dialysis this morning and everything went smoothly. I got to take Benson to soccer and I can't decide if he had more fun playing or if I had more fun watching!! For a 4-year old, he is one happy, fast, soccer star! He scored two goals during their mini-game at the end: one for his team and one for the other! He didn't seem to care that he scored for the wrong team...he was just thrilled to kick it in the net! So fun to let him get some energy out and then hear him complain the rest of the day that he can't walk or stand because he is soooooooooo tired!!

Smiles all around today!

Day 67

Yeah for Fridays! I'm always happy to have one more week down--one more week closer to transplant. Claire had another great day today. One week from today she'll get her full-leg cast off and a below-the-knee cast will replace it for at least another three weeks. I am SO excited for her to get a smaller cast that will make it easier for her to move around. This one now is so heavy for such a little one! They put the full-leg cast on so she couldn't walk on it and wouldn't bear weight on it. But last time I was at the orthopedic, he said she could bear weight on it if she was able to. Well, she's able. There isn't much that slows this little one down...and that is definitely a good thing!

Benson and Jared are off to launch a model rocket in the sky!

This is how the princess gets around these days. We are just shocked at how stable she has become walking on her own. She reminds us of a little pirate, limping with a wooden peg leg!

Day 66

Wow! The online auction was such a great success! That put us over the half-way mark to the $100,000 we're trying to raise for the kids transplant expense fund. Thanks to everyone who has contributed to the fund and helped us get this far. We are humbled by the generosity of MANY who give of their means, talents, and most of all prayers in our behalf.

We had a much happier day today. The best news of the day is that the antibiotic dose she got yesterday was the last one! Having this infection taken care of and behind us will make life much MUCH easier for all of us! They will take blood cultures again on Monday to make sure they are still negative...and if they are, then we'll consider it a done deal and pray NOT to get another infection!

Clarie was one active little girl today on dialysis! She was all over the place: on the floor, in the crib, in the chair, playing ring around the rosies, and then doing it all over again! She and Benson also had a fun time painting, playing play dough, and having a puppet show. I was so tired by the end of it all! Gratefully she took a nice long afternoon nap. I even got to close my eyes for a few minutes too so we're in good shape here!

When the doctor came in today she said, "She looks like a million bucks!"