Blood draw update

Claire had blood drawn last Friday. I got the results yesterday.

Things are looking really good. Her total bilirubin is .2, with the direct and indirect each at .1. Her liver enzymes have each gone down considerably from where they were. I think she doesn't have to go back for a draw until we head to Ann Arbor this summer (probably in July). Great news for Claire and us!!!

Our busy, fun weekend

This past weekend was crazy-busy but was a lot of fun.

The girls had their last swim class.

Josh went to a birthday party on Saturday and stayed the night there too. Meghan had two friends stay the night. We played and played. The girls had so much fun!

We went to the park (in the wind and cold).

BFFs

They played dress-up

And we made banana cookies (which were quickly devoured, though some were saved for the girls' mom and dad).

Claire had cereal for the first time

We celebrated Grandma's birthday

It was just a good weekend all around.

S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y NIGHT

Are you singing that song in your head now? :) I am.

So Saturday oughta be exciting around here. Josh is going to a birthday party and then staying the night at birthday boy's house. And Meghan... is having two friends stay the night. They're sisters (7 and 5 years old). There are make-up, dress-up, McDonald's Playplace, popcorn, Barbie movie and living room slumber party plans. Six females and poor, poor Brian...

Bit of an update on Claire

Claire had her 4-month well check this week. She's 12 lbs. 8 oz. (8th percentile) and 23 3/4 inches (10th percentile) now. She's on target with milestones and all that jazz. She got two shots. She's doing great. We got the okay to start baby cereal and then work our way into veggies and fruits. Next well check is at six months.

Her pediatrician got a report from the G.I.'s office earlier this week. They summarized most of what I already knew but also told him what they think is going on with her liver enzymes. They do think her bilirubin levels were caused by ABO Incompatibility and they think that ABO Incompatibility caused some damage to her liver. This is what would be causing the enzymes to be elevated. They say this will correct itself over time. How much time, they do not know. And then they said that if they're wrong, they'll have to consult other pediatric liver specialists.

Claire's overdue for another blood draw. She has to be healthy when she gets it though and had a cold for a while. She's healthy now so I am just waiting for a call back from the lab to see when Kathy's available to draw her (hoping for today or tomorrow).

And she's taking big-girl baths now. :)

Mini update on the job opportunity

I emailed the person doing the hiring after I applied online. He wrote me back yesterday and said that my name is being added to the "list of strong candidates". He's traveling next week and he expects that I'll hear something in a couple of weeks.

So I have to be patient. Which I don't do really well. Heaven help my friends who will have to deal with me being "patient". :)

There's this job...

...and it's meant for me at this point in my life with my experiences and with my education.

And I applied for it.

And I called in favors (that I may not even have been owed) and I secured phenomenal references and I tooted my own horn... loudly.

So say a prayer if you could please. I'm perfect for this, it's perfect for me. And it would mean really good things for our family.

Word has it that four interviews have been arranged and that they're doing interviews this week. Let's hope they make it five and cancel the others after they see I've applied. :)

Easter

We were able to spend time with both my family and Brian's on Sunday. We had Easter egg hunts and yummy food at both houses. The kids had fun all day (and were exhausted by the time we got home). Here are a couple of pictures from the day:

Field Trip

This...




is the inside of this...




It's the view you get when you lie on your back in the middle of the glass of the first floor of the Capitol Building in Lansing. And it's really, really pretty.


Josh's class took a field trip to Lansing on Monday. I went as a chaperone (and even got to ride the bus with them).



Josh and some of his best friends...

Josh loves history and it was fun for me to see him in his element. I hope to take our family back for a longer visit at the museum. I bet Josh could teach me some things!

Bonus points to the first person to tell us who these first people in Michigan were:

Josh knew it and gets extra credit points in class for that. :) Leave a comment on the blog with your answer if you want to try it!