Braska Bear

First I have to show you what happened to me on Tuesday. My glasses got kind of messed up on my nose. Pop thought it was pretty funny. I couldn't see very well like this though. Mommy and I got back last night. We had a nice visit with Grandma C again. Miss Karen from Kansas was there on Wednesday, so it was good that we got to go down again to see her. She read a book to me. I think we look just the same, both with our glasses and reading the same page. Isn't that funny? Miss Karen teaches kids how to read, so I bet she'll be able to help me alot when I get bigger. Thanks for reading to me, Miss Karen!! I even did some reading myself. Then yesterday we went to see Nurse Vicki and Dr. R. They had already seen the pictures that Mommy sent them, but they were happy to see that the thing by my button was better. Mommy will tell you about that some in a minute. I played with the fun things in the room while we were waiting. The second picture here is when Mommy told me I weigh...

I followed up both by phone and email when we got here and I hadn't yet heard from the GI office. I did finally get a call back and we're set to go in there tomorrow early afternoon. I've changed treatment, and I'm not doing the silver nitrate anymore. It was hurting her, even though they told me that the growth shouldn't have feeling. She was screaming the last two times I applied it, and for those of you that know her, she doesn't cry. She has a hugely high pain tolerance, and can go days without crying at all. So for her to scream like that was sign enough for me that we weren't continuing that treatment. I was turned on to an alternative treatment, and while I was checking it out, I found another one that had rave reviews by parents on several G-tube sites. So I'm now using a nystatin/triamcinolone cream, which we happened to have in the house from a previous prescription for us. It has helped some (more than the silver nitrate ever did), it ...

We're heading out again in a few minutes, Braska and I. The GI office hasn't responded, as they are "waiting on the doctor." M and I decided that I'd just go and be ready to have her seen as soon as they call. And if they don't want to see her, tough cookies... I'm in town, I'm bringing her in. So here we go. Just a reminder for those who aren't as familiar with our geographic location...every time we go to St. Louis (as we have 3 times in the last 10 days) it's 3 hours one way. And I don't have any audio books to listen to this time! I have new SCC CDs so I'll be ok. (Thanks, in-laws!) God, give us safe travel. Amen.

I got the sweetest Happy New Year from my friend Mia, so I wanted you to get to hear it too . She lives in Belgium now, so I haven't seen her since I was a tiny baby. Mommy says since it is 2008 we'll get to see her soon when they come back to live in Kansas. Thanks, Mia! Love you too!! Go Illini! Listen to Mia's message

We had a quick visit with Dr. B this morning, just long enough for him to confirm that Braska's issue is pyogenic granuloma. He said we'll have to see about having it removed. He would have done it, except we can't be sure she'd be still enough for the procedure. Actually, we're SURE she wouldn't be still. (Graphic warning, again.) If you dare, here's today's pic . We called the GI office to see what's next. They wanted to see it themselves, but chose to go the digital picture route, so we sent them both of the pics from today and yesterday. Of course, they didn't call back before the end of the day, and now we wait til Wednesday. We treated with the silver nitrate again tonight, as the nurse from the GI office said to continue to do that once a day. Braska didn't care for that at all. It obviously hurt her. And they've told us that it wouldn't have any feeling, so I don't know what's up. For now we wait...

This morning Mommy and Pop and I went to the doctor's office. Pop was already gonna go, and Mommy said Dr. B would take a look at this weird thing on my button to see what to do. He said I need to see somebody who can take it off. Sounds like we'll get to go back to St. Louis soon. Mommy will probably tell you about that. Then Mommy and I went with some of our friends to a playground to play. I got on a funny blue thing that went back and forth. I think when I get bigger it'll be really fun to ride it. Tonight we played after Pop got home. Mommy said tomorrow is a new year, so make it a good one!!

Straight up, this is just gross. That's what I'm thinking as I'm trying to figure out what is up with her g-button stoma. (Warning: Icky picture on link.) There's a picture of her button here if you are curious enough, or brave enough, to see it. I didn't put it on this page in case you prefer not to see it. It's gotten much worse, much larger, so darn quickly, and I'm at a loss. I'm taking her in again tomorrow, hopefully to someone here in town (her pediatrician or a trusted doctor client of mine), but I wouldn't be surprised at all if we're back on the road again tomorrow to St.L either to the GI doctor or to the ER at Children's. I hope that's not needed, but I'm not unpacking my suitcase yet. I will refrain from being more descriptive of what it's going or how we're dealing with it, because it's pretty icky and disturbing. I hope we get some good answers or help tomorrow. I'ts looking like I'm gonna have a lo...