Kayleigh

As you know, sometime this past summer, Kayleigh developed this noisy, labored breathing.
I have seen several doctors about this, so here is the latest update.
I started out seeing her family doctor who referred her to a pulmonologist. That doctor thought maybe it was asthma and tried her on Advair and Albuterol for a few weeks to see if it might make a difference, but it made no difference at all. He also had ordered an ecg (ecocardiogram - but I don't know how to spell it). When we went back to get the results, he said that the ecg showed everything was fine with her heart and after examining her again decided that her lungs were clear and he thought the problem was with her throat. So he referred her back to the ENT that she had seen when her tonsils were removed in January. He checked her out and said he couldn't see anything wrong in her throat (any scar tissue, obstruction, etc.) but he ordered a CAT scan done of her throat and upper respiratory tract. Today we went back for the results of that and it did show some problem in the upper respiratory tract. The ENT had called the pulmonologist to give him the report (since now it gets referred back to him). According to the doctor she saw today, the other doctor didn't think that would cause the problem with the breathing, but this doctor thinks it does present a problem, so he sent him a complete copy of the CAT scan (the written results as well as the actual scan) and I have to call the pulmonologist on Thursday to see what course of action he wants to take. Now for the scary part: This scan also happened to pick up an image of other organs and found she has some abnormality with her stomach and some sort of growth on her spleen, so she is being referred back to her family doctor for that. Her appointment with him is on Friday and he will probably just refer her to some other specialist that deals with internal organs. I know she will have to have another thorough CAT scan of the stomach and spleen as this was mentioned in the report of the scan of her throat.
So now we have two health concerns, and I'm getting worried. It seems that so far the only thing being done is a constant transfer from one doctor to another ( although, the doctor she saw today wants me to call him on Monday and let me know what the pulmonologist said as he said he didn't want this to just get pushed aside and not have something done about it, so I have at least one doctor trying to do something for her.)
I will let everyone know what I find out on Thursday and Friday. I probably won't be able to report anything on the stomach/spleen until after she has had another CAT scan and has been seen by another doctor, but hopefully we will have a plan of action on whatever the problem is with her respiratory tract.
Please keep her in your prayers.

Grandparents Day

I just had the wonderful opportunity of visiting both Lynnsey's and Kendall's schools for Grandparents Day. I suppose this is something that they observe at all schools but this year and last year is the first opportunity I have had to participate in this. When I moved to Michigan last year, Amy said that the first thing Kendall said when he heard I was moving here was that now he would have a grandparent to bring for Grandparents Day. I guess this was really important to him and he had always felt sad before when he didn't have a grandparent to attend. Last year, Lynnsey and Kendall were in the same school but this year, I got to go to two different schools (fortunately, they scheduled the times just right so grandparents could attend both schools.)
I got to see how they conduct their school day in Lynnsey's school. I was able to listen to stories read by her teacher and observe her in her Art class (she drew a really nice "Very Hungry Caterpillar". She presented me with a "handkiss" which was a fingerpainting of her handprint with a heart inside. This represents the story they read in class today of a little raccoon who was sad to leave his mother to go to school, so she took his hand and kissed his palm and told him that whenever he needed her love to be close to him just to take his hand that she had kissed and place it against his cheek and he would feel her love anytime he needed it. The kiss would never go away and he would always know how much she loved him. The little raccoon did the same for his mother before he left and as he waved goodbye when he went to school, the mother laid her handkiss against her cheek to feel her son's love. Some of these stories are really touching (especially for sentimental me and it took me back to when my children were all going off to school and how much I would miss them. The name of the book is The Kissing Hand.
When I got to Kendall's school, he greeted me with a huge smile (that child's smile can melt my heart every time. He did a grandparent interview (asking me all kinds of questions which were fun to answer), and then we went to have our photo taken. I had a photo with Lynnsey also and will post them when they come in. Kendall presented me with a drawing of 4 different colored squares with the letters L O V E - one letter in each square. Then we went in the gymn where we were entertained by several songs sung by all the students. I love to hear children's voices in song. It really makes you feel good. Also, the Pledge of Allegiance was recited at both schools and it was wonderful to hear the children's voices ringing out with '...one nation, under God...'!! (none of this political nonsense about not saying "under God". And how is this for luck, I won a school T-shirt at each of the schools!!
I wish that I could go to Grandparents Day at all of my grandchildren's schools (those that are in school now and those that will attend in the future.) It is a very special time that we get to share with them and I'm glad the schools recogonize the importance of the extended family unit. Thanks Lynnsey and Kendall for inviting me and letting me spend a very special day with you.