Happy Birthday Melissa

Good news. It seems that Ally's pancreatic enzymes are trending downward. I think (think!) this means that the worst is behind us...that she has hit her painful peak and now we have to play the waiting game for it to go away completely. Her enzymes went from 1800 to 1500. 200 is normal. We still have a ways to go, but moving in the right direction. Her glucose was better today too so no more talk of that NJ tube going down her nose. Yay! She had an ultrasound that showed this is regular old pancreatitis and not something with cysts, etc. Most importantly, Ally finally got a full nights sleep and she hadn't had that in a very long while. The body heals when it sleeps...she even took a couple small naps today. She is using the pain meds on a pretty minimal basis...only twice in the last 24 hours. We want that little organ to heal up for her.

The hardest part is denying her food and water. How awful to want a drink of water and not be allowed. That would drive me crazy and I can't imagine being 8 years old. She says she is hungry. She wants to drink. She just got so MAD when I told her she could have ice chips, but not water. She says they are the same thing. Yes, Ally, it really is...I told her, but that's what the Dr. said. Tears and tears over not being able to drink. It's sad.

I was thankful to our visitors today who helped divert her attention from wanting a drink (and allowing me to go in the hall and get one for myself!) Gil, Ms Vicki, Ms Kim (thanks for lunch), Lisa and Morgan, Grandma and Grandpa, and sweet Nurses Lara, Susan, and Sharon who work in other areas of the hospital but came to see this sweet patient. Thank you Ms Vicki for the St Patrick's Day party supplies, I will post pictures tomorrow.

Most importantly, I want to wish Happy 30th Birthday to my sweet sister Melissa! She deserved the best birthday ever, but was nice enough to watch my son for part of it while I was at the hospital. Last year we spent her actual birthday making all the funeral arrangements for our mother. This year we got to have a nice dinner together with our Dad!

God is good and thank you for bringing some healing to my daughter! We still have quite some time left in the hospital....so lets hope it goes quickly and smoothly.