Long, rough night-please no rejection on Monday.

It's been a long few days.  It seems like little Abby is feeling worse, not better!  Last night was the low point, she woke up at about 2:00 am feeling sick to her stomach, then she said it felt like her heart was beating really hard and it was kind of hard to breathe.  I listened to her heart, took her blood pressure and temperature, and watched her.  She seemed okay, and all of her vitals looked good, but she was definitely not feeling great.  She also said she felt like it was stuffy in our house, so we went and hung out outside for a while.  At least it was a pretty night and not too cold!  After about 2 hours, she finally fell asleep.  Needless to say, we are both a little tired today.  Right now she's having her infusion of cytogam.  The nurse came to put her IV in on Thursday, because the only nurse that thought they could find a spot for it was going out of town Thursday night.  She didn't feel like anyone else could get an IV going for Abby.  It was put right in her wrist, which meant that for 3 days, she couldn't bend it.  It was very uncomfortable for Abby.  If her CMV levels don't go down this week, we might try something different.  I hope so, because we've been doing this for almost 4 weeks now with no improvement.  I'm scared to death that Abby is in rejection, she's nervous about that too.  They've lowered her immuno-suppresants in hope that her body will fight the CMV more.  For those of you that know what I'm talking about, her prograff level is only at 6, instead of the regular 8-10.  It's going to be a stressful clinic on Monday, I'm just hoping and praying everything looks okay, Abby's biggest fear is rejection, she does not want to go back on steroids!!!  I know that Abby is feeling a bit beat up right now, she really needs to start feeling better.  I think I'm starting to feel it too, this has been going on too long.  Abby said she feels like she'll be admitted again Monday, but I don't know, I hope not!  I do know that our Make-a-wish cruise is coming up in about a month, and I sure hope she's feeling well enough by then that we can go!  It really wouldn't be fair to miss another planned vacation, so she's got to perk up!!

On another note, I took Brock to see the orthopedist on Thursday for his messed up ankle.  Yes, sometimes lately I do feel like we should just move into the hospital.  The doctor said that Brock's injury does require surgery.  They don't know how intensive it will be, and won't know until they get inside the ankle and look around.  But, no matter what, he would be on crutches for at least 6-8 weeks, then it would take a while to work up to running again.  The doctor said it was a pretty bad injury and he was surprised Brock played basketball all season with it.  Because Brock loves football so much, and doesn't want to miss anything to do with football this season, he's decided to play through the pain until after football season, and then have the surgery.  As a parent, I had to respect this decision, only Brock knows how bad it hurts.  I worry that it will get worse, but we'll just have to hope that it doesn't.  This goes against the doctors recommendation, he thought Brock should have the surgery next week, but I think it will all work out.  That means that after going 15 years without my kids really getting hurt or injured too badly, all 3 of them will have had surgery in the last 2 years.  Wow, when it rains, it pours I guess. 

There are lots of positive things going on around here too though:

-The shave ice stand finally opened, and I LOVE shaved ice!!!!  I think I could eat 1/day until they close again!
-Britt got another scholarship to Dixie State!!  Keep 'em coming Britt!!
-My dad's getting the boat ready to go.  We weren't ever able to go boating last summer because we were in Salt Lake, so we are even more ready.  Believe it or not, I can wakeboard and even cross the wake!  Abby is awesome on the kneeboard-360's, jumping the wake, etc.  As soon as she's allowed to swim, she'll be in there tearing it up.  Brock is the best surfer, and Britt loves that tube, even thought she does get flipped off every time!  Boating with Mer, Rich and the kids is always a blast.  I can't wait.
-My yard looks good this year!  Thanks to my mom's help with the weeding, and Brock doing a good job on the lawn, I have to admit that our yard looks the best on the street :)  Our flowers are blooming and our garden is planted.  last year, we left just as the veggies were starting to grow and we missed all of them, but not this year!!  I love it when my yard looks nice.
-Britt and Brock are both trying to get a summer job, so if you know of anything, please let me know.  One thing I do know about my kids is that they know how to work and will do a good job.  Britt needs a job more that Brock, but Brock wouldn't mind doing something too-until football starts anyway.
-It's almost summer and I love summer.  I love the heat, and going to the pool and the lake, and when it's still warm at night, and when it's light in the morning and light at night, and when I can wake up a decent time and go to the gym, and when I have time to catch up on everything.  Yes, I love summer and it's almost here.
-Britt has finally decided that it's important for her that our house is very clean, and so she's taken it upon herself to keep it that way.  Our house is usually clean anyway, but Britt has become OCD about it....and that's okay with me :)  Thanks Britt!
-I finally paid off Britt's knee surgery's.  Now, I can start working on the transplant.
-Brock and his friends are starting to the love the minivan!  I don't know if it's just because of the awesome sound system Brock installed for his birthday, or just because it's the VAN, but I knew they'd all like it if they just gave it a chance.
-It's shorts and flip flop weather......enough said.
-Our cruise is only a little more than a month away.  We need a vacation more than you know!!
-We are only 3 months away from our 1-year post transplant celebration.  I've been told that once your 1-year out, everything gets easier, I sure hope that's the case!

Hard, rough things going on, but always good things too.  The dreaded day, May 18th, is coming up fast, it's looming right around the corner, and that makes me nervous.  We've decided that we are all just getting out of town that day, I think we'll head to Vegas for some shopping.  Abby will not be going to school, and especially will not be going to PE.  I will not be taking Britt for knee surgery, and I will not answer my phone if it's a call from my principal.  Once we get through that day, it will be smooth sailing from there on out!  Please pray for Abby to stay strong, she's starting to get discouraged, and please pray that she'll start feeling better soon, I can't stand to see her feeling like this much longer.  The goal is for her to feel good by May 24th, her birthday, so that we can go on our cruise on the 25th. 

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