Well, hello again.....

So, I just haven't had the energy to keep up with this blog. I really doubt too many of you are that disappointed. But, for those of you who are checking for updates on Emerson I thought I would post a quick note about what has transpired since my last post.

~The milk/dairy-free diet DID NOT work. And, she was a real trooper for the 4 weeks we tried it. When we got word from the doctor that it was okay to quit the diet we drove through McD's to Emerson a chocolate shake. She took one sip, looked at me and said, "oh my goodness mom, this is sooooooooo delicious!" It was too cute and I was so happy she was happy.

~Unfortunately because the diet didn't work, her hemoglobin and hematocrit levels have continued to decline. She is nearing transfusion (blood) levels so we are now taking very proactive steps in finding the source of the bleeding.......

~Which means that she will be having exploratory surgery. We meet with the pediatric surgeon on June 22nd. He is currently the Chief of Surgery at Children's in Plano so we feel confident in his abilities. And with today's technology, this is considered to be a fairly noninvasive surgery with the main risk being general anesthesia. And, we know she has done well the other times she has been put under. Other than some mild nausea (that is controlled quickly with some IV meds), she bounces right back.

~The surgeon will cut a small opening at her belly button and insert an instrument that guides through the entire digestive tract to look for the site of the bleeding. They still hold true to the theory that it is a Meckel's diverticulum or lesion from an ulcer which should be visible to the surgeon.

~Tomorrow, Emerson will have another Meckel's scan at Children's to check ONE more time to see if they can see any abnormal growths before the surgery

~We are hoping the surgery will provide the doctors with the answers we have been waiting for since all this started over a year ago.

~If not, we already have a plan B. Our pediatrician would then refer us to the MayoClinic for pediatrics (which is in Minnesota). Think Dr. House from the television show. Basically, you go for about a week where you are set up with a team of doctors that specialize in different parts of the body and do a battery of tests in hopes that they can solve "this medical mystery" that the doctors keep referring to. It is just so discouraging every time the doctor comes back without any answers and says, "Emerson is STILL just a mystery to us."

~However, we do feel confident that the problem (once it is officially diagnosed) can easily be fixed. She has been through so many tests and has been carefully monitored that we know the big answer isn't going to be a tumor or cancer or any other horrible word. I feel so much empathy for mothers and fathers out there that have to watch their children suffer through the rigors of cancer. I have a hard time watching Emerson get her blood taken, I can not imagine what those parents and children go through during treatment of such a terrible disease. All in all, I would say that Jamie and I are pretty darn lucky and blessed.

Okay, so that wasn't exactly a quick note. I will try to be better about posting on a more regular basis. The other 2 kiddos are doing fantastic! Pierce is going to be ONE exactly 2 weeks from today. I can't even imagine the emotions I will feel that day. He is my last baby and it has all gone by TOO fast. I'll try to put a post about him after his birthday to let you all know what he's been up to.

Please keep Emerson in your thoughts tomorrow. Even though she has become a pro with all the procedures she has done, she still doesn't WANT to go to Children's tomorrow. She knows the drill, but it doesn't make it any easier on either one of us.

I'll end on a light note: GO CELTICS! SQUASH KOBE!!! (Gosh, I can't stand that guy!)