Knee Improvements

Whitney went over two months without walking starting in January.  We saw a doctor at an instacare who insisted her leg was broken and put her in a cast.  But after the cast came off Whit still couldn't walk.  Her knee was inflamed and swollen and she wouldn't put any weight on it.  Next it was the orthopedic surgeon's turn.  He looked at Whit's X-rays and said there was no sign of a break in the original films and no sign of any healing in the new X-rays he ordered.  He suggested we get an MRI and look at the soft tissues in her knee.  When those came back, the various ligaments and tendons also looked fine.  That was a relief but we still didn't have an explanation for the pain and swelling in Whit's knee.

Next we headed to see a rheumatologist.  After examining Whitney, he diagnosed her with knee effusion.  He ordered some blood tests to determine the cause.  He was leaning toward arthritis but wanted more information.  So after the blood tests came back, we've been able to rule out rheumatoid arthritis.  We're glad Whit's immune system isn't attacking her joints.  But she does seem to have a juvenile form of arthritis affecting her knee.  The rheumatologist has prescribed some heavy duty anti-inflammatory medicine and scheduled some follow-ups with us.

The good news is that Whit has responded pretty well to the medications along with some steaming hot baths with epsom salt.  The swelling has gone down a bunch.  She's been able to walk pretty confidently for the last week although she limps badly and she's pretty tired by the end of the day.  In spite of that Whitney's happy to be able to get around again and she's even gone to school without the wheelchair for several days.

If things continue to be difficult for her, we can consider steroid shots for her knee.  But we'll take things slowly.  We'll see what the anti-inflammatory medicines can do for her first.  We'll also probably try a knee brace to give her knee some extra support.

It's good to be on the road to recovery again.  Thanks to everyone who's been so concerned about Whitney during this whole episode.  We really appreciate it and we're thrilled that Whit is back on her feet.  Hopefully, there will be more progress to come.

Weak in the Knees

Some of you may have noticed the date for Whitney to get her cast off came and went without an update from me.  That's because things haven't been going all that well.  After four weeks x-rays were taken of Whitney's knee and the cast was removed.  We hoped that would be all Whit needed to get back on her feet.  But Whitney's knee became extremely swollen and continues to cause her all kinds of pain.  She refuses to put any weight on her leg and she can't straighten that knee.  She has some motion in it and her ankle recovered from post-cast stiffness quite quickly.

So what is going on with her knee?  It was off to the orthopedic surgeon to find out.  He took a look at Whit's x-rays from before and after the cast and said there was no sign of a break in her tibia in either one.  So someone blew it and wasted a month of time that could have been used to help Whit recover.  The surgeon's opinion is that there is something wrong in the soft tissue of her knee that is causing the pain, swelling and reduced motion.  He sent us off to get an MRI of the joint so he could understand better what is happening.

So one more sedation and an MRI of her knee later, the surgeon's assistant has told us Whitney has a joint fusion involving the tissues in her knee.  This is better than having a problem where bone is grinding on bone.  But we've still got to figure out how to get rid of Whit's pain and get her on her feet again.  Her orthopedic surgeon is out of the office this week, but hopefully, next week he'll return with a plan.  We've been told it will likely involve a sedated session of manipulating her knee to get things to move back into place and start working again.  But we won't know for sure until next week at the earliest.

Melanie and I have been carrying Whitney around the house for six weeks now and using a borrowed wheelchair when Whit needs to go anywhere else.  Our backs are both shot.  Not to mention Whit's continued pain and frustration.  So we're praying for a correct diagnosis and some effective treatment that will get her back on her feet soon.

A Cast Is A Lousy Birthday Present

 We celebrated Whitney's 10th birthday list past week.  Many family members came by to celebrate and spend time with her.  She got some really fun gifts.  (We decided against the iPad, by the way.  It seemed like a bit much for a 10 year old.)

But Whitney wasn't feeling too well during all this celebrating.  On Saturday, Whitney kept telling us that her knee hurt and refused to put any weight on her left leg.  Melanie took her to the weekend instacare near our house where they took x-rays in case something was broken, but everything looked okay.

We decided to let her rest her leg and see if it got any better.  But by a couple of days later it was obvious Whitney wasn't improving.  She wouldn't stand on it.  She kept telling us it hurt and so it was time to go back to the doctor's.  Thankfully, during the week we're much more able to get into our regular pediatrician's office.  They took some new x-rays and spotted a break.

Sometime, most likely Saturday morning, Whitney stress fractured the top of of her left tibia.  The instacare doctor over the weekend missed it but the pediatrician said this was the kind of break that doesn't happen as much in adults.  He sees a lot of children with this kind of break.  It usually happens in the summer, when kids are jumping on trampolines.

So it was time for Whitney to get a big pink cast.  It goes from her toes all the way up to her hip in order to completely immobilize her knee and allow it to heal.  Whit will have to wear it for four weeks and then they'll take new x-rays to see how things are healing.  Luckily, Whit will be off track from school for most of that time.  She's just been resting around the house and keeping weight off her leg.  Once the cast was on, her pain went away.  So now the major issue is just boredom.

This is actually Whitney's second pink cast.  Once when she was about 18 months old she fell from a standing position and caught herself with her arm which broke both of the bones in her lower arm.

I'm wondering if her bone density is an issue.  So we'll have to do a good job of protecting her from falls and bumps.  The only thing we can think of that may have caused her leg injury is jumping.  She does that sometimes when she's excited and she was excited to play with Melanie's iPad Saturday morning.

Thanks to everyone who's sent her well wishes.  Whitney is healing well, but next year we'll have to remember that a cast really is a lousy birthday present.  Maybe next time she'll finally get that iPad she really wanted.

The Trouble with Eardrums

Whitney was in for surgery again this past Monday.  It marked ear surgery number five for my little lady. Whit's ear, nose and throat specialist was concerned about the constant ear infections she continues to have.  In his office he wasn't able to really see the condition of her eardrums or her last set of tubes.  He recommended surgery to go in and assess the situation.  If the old tubes weren't doing the job, new ones could be put in.  Or if removing the tubes and stitching the eardrum closed would be a better option, the ENT would do that.

So it was off to the local children's hospital and after several hours of delay Whitney was in the operating room.  She was in for under twenty minutes.  During that time, the doctor found a blockage in Whit's right tube.  So that one got replaced.  But when he started work on her left ear, the doctor found that previous surgeries and infections haven't left much of an eardrum at all.  Her previous tube was gone and in its place was just an inflamed hole.  It's not likely that Whitney has much hearing left in that ear and the doctor is worried that the bones that mechanically conduct sound waves from the eardrum to the inner ear are also in jeopardy because of all the infections over the years.

We'll meet with the doctor in four weeks for a follow up.  We'll need to look into whether we allow some reconstructive surgeries or whether it will even be worth putting poor Whit through a bunch more pain for something that might not benefit her very much.

Thankfully, her recovery over the last few days has been pretty good.  Ibuprofen has managed her pain okay and she's eating and drinking like normal.  So we're relieved but disappointed and waiting to see what the next steps are.  Setbacks are never fun but I give thanks that she stills hears in her right ear and with hearing aids she can enjoy her favorite music, Tag books and TV shows.  This kind of thing is humbling, but since we've been through seizures and other serious health issues, we can put things in perspective and keep moving forward.

Nine Years!

Whitney had her ninth birthday this past week.  We celebrated with a small family gathering and Whit loved opening her presents.  As she tore open the wrapping paper, it made me smile to think about all of the progress she's made.  It wasn't that long ago that she lacked the dexterity and wasn't strong enough to open her own presents.

At her annual checkup the other day, Whitney's pediatrician was pleased to find her healthy in pretty much every way.  Even her ears were clear of infection.  That continues to be a pretty regular problem.  But we can give thanks that her heart, lungs and other organs are doing what they should.  Whit's well be low the growth chart for typical children.  But her doctor was pleased to report that she is indeed still growing.  Her weight, height and other measurements were all up.  Whitney was even pretty calm during the exam (except for the looking in the ears part, of course).

So as I reflect back on this little lady who joined our family on a wintery morning nine years ago, I give thanks for her health and well-being in spite of the challenges she's faced.  And I'm grateful for what she's taught me along the way.  I love her so much even though we don't always get along.  The next time she steals a bag of chips out of the kitchen pantry and eats them, leaving crumbs all over the family room floor, I need to remember what an accomplishment that is.  We've come so far.  Thanks for all the adventures.  Happy birthday little angel!

Sedated Heart Echo

I want to apologize for the lack of activity lately.  I've been travelling for work and such over the last month.  But Whitney is doing great and I have lots to share about her recent experiences and progress.

In the seven years I've been covering Whitney's adventures, I've never really covered cardiology.  Many 1p36 Deletion patients have heart defects or other concerns that require careful vigilance.  Several of our friends in the 1p36 community have children who underwent open heart surgery within the first few months of life.  Whitney was spared that struggle, but due to the concerns over 1p36 Deletions and heart health, we see a cardiologist every few years.

Last time Whitney was in for a heart checkup the doctor discovered that the structure of Whit's heart is normal.  But it doesn't beat with the same big beat-small beat rhythm that your heart and mine do.  The cardiologist said that it wasn't an immediate cause for concern but that we would watch things over the years and see if the situation changed.

So last Friday Whitney went in for a sedated heart echo.  To get a good look at her heart, we always have to sedate her.  Otherwise she's just too fidgety.  While she was asleep the technician took all kinds of measurements, still images and video of Whitney's heart in action.  These will be sent over to the cardiologist who will let us know how things look.  We don't have the results yet.  Specialists seem to take forever to get in to.  But I'll be sure to share when they come in.

While Whitney was asleep, we decided to take advantage of some sedated dentistry as well.  Her pediatric dentist came by and took her first good dental x-rays and also removed one of her baby teeth that was obstructing an adult tooth on its way in.  The dentist said Whit's x-rays looked good and that her teeth seem healthy.  That was welcome news.  The dentist also saved Whitney's tooth so the tooth fairy could come again.

Whitney has had some history of being upset and disoriented coming out of anesthesia, but she did great this time.  She was calm as she woke up and Melanie was right there with Whitney's music to keep her occupied until she was released.  All in all, it was a very smooth day at the hospital.  Whitney was a very good sport, especially since she had to go without food the morning of the tests, due to the anesthesia.

Now we're just waiting on the cardiologist to get back to us.  However, if there was anything serious, I'm sure he'd have called by now.

Feeling Good!

I post fairly frequently about the health troubles that Whitney has.  He immune system doesn't function nearly as well as a typical child and she's always got her hands in her mouth.  That's a combination that leads to a fair share of colds, stomach flu and other contagious bugs.

The good news is that lately Whitney has been much healthier.  Earlier this year we were averaging one day of sick stomach at least every other week.  Colds that lead to sinus infections and a doctor's visit were happening every month.  But the last month, Whitney has been feeling great.  Melanie has been trying some new vitamins as well as a new warm, sterile humidifier that runs during the night next to her bed and they seem to be helping. In fact Whitney hasn't even had an ear infection lately.  And that's one of the things she constantly struggles with.

We've been very grateful to have such a healthy, happy girl around the house over the last little bit and we hope things continue.  It feels so good to have her healthy and able to do the things she loves.  And during the tough times that may come, these good times give us something to look back on and be thankful for.

Above is a shot of Whitney the Super Girl before she headed around the neighborhood last week to collect an obscene amount of candy

Back to School Already?

The special ed classes Whitney attends are on Utah's "Year 'Round" schedule. That means Whitney's summer break is a tad on the short side. In fact, she started back to class last week.

But that didn't stop Whit from trying to lengthen out her summer by any means possible. Sunday evening Whit didn't feel like eating dinner, which happens fairly often lately. Melanie and I exchanged knowing glances. And sure enough, on Monday morning, when it came time to wake up for school, Whitney was sick to her stomach. So we got to meet Whit's new bus driver, but that was it.

Whit continued to be sick to her stomach and lethargic all through Monday, Tuesday and most of Wednesday. Melanie did what she could to push fluids into her to prevent dehydration. Whit mostly laid around the house feeling weak. Finally, by Thursday she felt well enough to go to class and begin the school year.

Thankfully, the reports we get back from her teacher have said that Whit seems to be doing well, but we're concerned with the continuing stomach sickness spells that she gets every couple of weeks. Being out sick so often causes her to miss too much! We've tried cultures to detect infections and a variety of other tests, but so far no answers. We'll just have to keep looking and sending Whitney to school in between the pukey days.

The video above is of a bit of time we spent out late one summer evening blowing bubbles.

The Illness Factor

During Whitney's month-long break from school in April I was determined to see if there was any link to her health. My thought was that maybe because she was home more she'd be exposed to less stuff and be healthier.

I really wish things were that simple. Whitney still went plenty of places even though she wasn't going to school during those few weeks. And she had at least one trip to the doctors during that time period as well. She continues to have ear infections but a bigger problem has been stomach flu.

Whitney has had an upset stomach one day each week for the last three weeks. The first episode happened while she was out of school and the next two times cost her a day of school each time. Melanie and I are not sure whether it's the same bug or something else she's been eating or what. Luckily each time she's gotten sick she's been at home. And each time she's had the sense to get out of bed and find us before she's gotten sick. That's a huge improvement over the days when she would be sick to her stomach and then just lay in bed with it until morning when we'd discover her there.

So the questions remain. What has been making Whit so sick so often? And how can we fix things? She's missing school almost a day a week at this point and she's so sad when she can't go.

Maybe we'll start spraying her down with Lysol before meals or give her baths in hand sanitizer. Anything to keep her healthy and happy for longer periods of time. Anyone have some more sane approaches to keeping my little girl healthy without cutting her off from the world?

Spring Time Off Track

Here in Utah where there are a whole bunch more children than there are seats in classrooms, school districts have taken up year round school. This involves a number of children attending different schedules, or tracks, that rotate using the classrooms. The result of this rotation is vacation time for the kids during unusual times of the school year.

Whitney is currently off track right now and will be for quite a few weeks once a week for spring break is factored in as well. This is tough for Whit because she misses getting out of the house and interacting with her friends at school. And I'd like to think that she misses learning new things as well. (Although she might never admit that.) But I've got a couple of things I'd like to work on during the break so it won't just be idle time.

First off, I really want Whitney to begin getting familiar with the Proloquo2Go software on the iPad. I'm hoping to have some time to practice with her while she's off school. And maybe Melanie and I can even get her enough practice time that she can use it in class when she goes back next month. We'll need to work together to get folders of buttons organized for the things Whit likes to say and then get her to actually use them, but I think we can pull it off. I'll make sure to report back on her progress.

Then next thing I'm hoping to prove is that Whitney's health is largely tied to the bugs she encounters at school. Whitney has continued to have a perpetual runny nose and cold. And while it could be allergies or sinus problems (we're checking those out too) my thought is that she's unhealthy because she spends so much time on the floor at school and then she constantly places her hands in her mouth. This is putting her in contact with all kinds of germs and I can't really control that at school. But now we can take the school exposure out of the equation for a few weeks and see what happens. If she's healthier then than she is now, we know we've found one of the major factors in her health. So here's hoping it works.

Of course, spring is also coming and being out of school will mean more than projects and experiments. I'm sure we'll also go explore the zoo and do some other fun things as a family. A little break from school will be productive and fun too.

Tonsillectomy Success

Whitney was finally healthy enough to have her tonsils taken out last Monday. She had to be to the hospital by 2:30 in the afternoon for the pre-op physical. Thankfully, she didn't have a fever and her lungs were clear. Those were the requirements we were worried about since she'd had a cold and/or flu for the last month.

We visited a bit with the ENT who did the work before Whitney went in. He reassured us that this would be a big help to her. Whitney had some Valium to calm her before going into the OR. This made her happy to see everyone. Even the nurses and her ENT got a smile and a wave. Usually her reaction isn't quite as welcoming. Poor kid's just been poked and prodded too much over the years.

The surgery itself took about 45 minutes. During that time the ENT removed her tonsils, ensured Whitney's adenoids hadn't regrown and placed a new tube in her right eardrum. Everything went smoothly and before we knew it, Whitney was in a recovery room sleeping soundly.

The nurse explained to me that after a tonsillectomy, the wounds are cauterized instead of stitched and it made me think just how much Whit's throat was going to hurt when she woke up. Whit was pretty agitated when she came to. Once efforts to give her some Lortab orally failed, the nurse gave her some in her IV and Whitney calmed down nicely.

Because Whitney's so small and frail the plan was to keep her hospitalized overnight to ensure there wasn't any continuing bleeding and that she was taking food and fluids orally. So Tuesday morning Whitney began taking liquids and some slushy via mouth. She took her Lortab dose orally as well. That satisfied the requirements for discharge and Whit was home just after lunchtime.

Whitney's improvement over the last week has been slow. She's been very reluctant to eat or drink because of the pain. Melanie has helped keep her hydrated using an oral syringe. Finally, in the last couple of days, Whit's felt comfortable enough that she's drinking from a glass again. And she's feeding herself some soft foods. She's getting sick of them though and keeps trying to sneak a chip or carrot at meal times when we're not looking. Hopefully, she'll be back to the foods she loves soon.

The doctors told us that it would be a two week recovery and I believe she's pretty well on target. Tylenol and ibuprofen seem to be managing her pain well enough now. The good news is that I can tell a huge difference in how well Whitney is breathing. Her airways are much more open and clear. This is leading to more restful sleep and hopefully a few less illnesses as well. All in all, we're grateful the experience is behind us and thankful Whitney's recovery has been smooth. I'm looking forward to better health for her on the way.

Thanks, everyone, for all the well wishes during the process of getting Whit ready for surgery and for all the help with Whitney and our other kids since then.

Too Sick for Surgery

Hi Folks! Just a quick update. Today was supposed to be Whitney's tonsillectomy surgery. Melanie and I were pretty excited about getting things done and finally getting Whitney healthy again.

Unfortunately, she's got a bad case of stomach flu all of the sudden. That's a big concern because of the risk of aspiration while she's sedated. Plus she's just feeling pretty lousy overall. So we'll be rescheduling and making another attempt soon. We'll keep you posted.

Tonsils? Yer Outta There!

Whitney had an important doctor visit yesterday. She has been on various antibiotics for ear infections and a sore throat that just never seem to clear up. Poor Whit's been sick for weeks on end with only a short reprieve here and there. So it was time to go see the Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist.

You'll remember it's not been too long since Whitney was last in for tubes to allow her ears to drain. On that occasion the ENT specialist also removed Whitney's adenoids. Having your adenoids out usually helps your ears and sinuses to drain. Unfortunately, it hasn't done much to help Whit. In fact, her ENT says that removing her adenoids has really only had one affect. It's made Whit's tonsil situation worse. They're enlarged and painful and need to come out.

So early next month we'll head back to our trusty friend, the local children's hospital and have Whitney's tonsils removed. The ENT will also place a pair of permanent tubes in Whitney's ears to give them a better chance of draining. The hope is that this will finally allow Whit to be healthier and hear better. Anything to improve my little lady's health.

No Hospital Visit for Us Today!

Last night when I posted it was getting close to decision time. Either Whit needed to start keeping fluids down or it would be time to run up to Primary Children's Medical Center for IV fluids.

Thankfully, during the night Whit started keeping water and crackers down. Melanie got up every hour to give her some more and this morning we're all tired, but on the rebound. Thanks, everyone for your thoughts and prayers. We're going to make it!

Bad Case of Stomach Flu

Whitney has been sick to her stomach consistently for nearly 36 hours now. She's very dehydrated and weak. Things started yesterday morning and she's still throwing up this evening. She was up sick in the night several times so we're all pretty tired. We're hoping she has a better night tonight or she may need IV fluids tomorrow. I'll post an update tomorrow.

Continuing Ear Struggles

One of the disappointments at Whitney’s six year old checkup came when the doctor looked in Whit’s ears. “The left tube has come out of her ear and is sitting in the canal,” he told us. Yes, that would be the same tube we’ve had placed over and over again to help with Whitney’s ear aches.

Now that Whit’s adenoids are out when both tubes are in, Whitney is pretty healthy and happy. But we know almost immediately when that pesky left one has dropped out. Whitney has ear infection after ear infection.

She was treated for one in mid January. The antibiotic used to treat it worked great. That ran out last week. Sure enough, yesterday and today Whitney is again complaining of pain in her left ear.

Melanie and I aren’t sure what to do now. After so many tubes in that ear, I’m not sure we can ever find one that will stay in. And maybe we’re taking the wrong approach. I don’t know, really. I wonder what makes her left ear so uncooperative. The tube in her right one stays in and does its job very well.

I’m grateful that Whit is healthy in nearly every respect. We don’t have to worry too much about heart troubles or stomach troubles like so many of our support group friends. I just hope we can find something that will help Whit to be able to live without almost constant pain in her left ear.

Odds and Ends

No major stories to tell this week, but here are a few quick odds and ends:

Whitney loved trick or treating on Halloween. She walked around the neighborhood collecting candy until suddenly she dropped her candy bag. Melanie told her to pick it up but Whitney refused. So Melanie picked it up and realized it was pretty heavy. All that heavy candy wore Whit's arm right out!

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Whit and Melanie are at the ENT's office this afternoon to see how her tubes are looking. Her ears seem to be draining better after she's been sick. So hopefully both tubes have stayed in and are doing their job this time around.

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Melanie has been calling hotels in downtown Salt Lake City this morning. She's quickly narrowing down possibilities for the venue of next year's 1p36 Deletion Support & Awareness Conference. She's especially looking for a place that will have a free airport shuttle, plenty of conference room space, rooms with fridges and microwaves and a heated pool and hot tub. As soon as she makes the arrangements, we'll spread the word.

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Whit is bored with most of her toys. She's not really got that many things that keep her attention. Melanie and I are really trying hard to think of some new things she can enjoy as Christmas gifts. I just wish Whitney wasn't so hard to shop for. Anyone got some good ideas?

Fall Weather and Health

Our family enjoys Fall when it arrives each year. Melanie and my mom enjoyed taking Whitney and Liam to the local pumpkin patch this past week to have some fun. But with Fall also comes cooler weather and illnesses that affect my medically fragile little girl.

The headlines are all about H1N1 flu and we're concerned about Whitney catching it so we're trying to track down vaccinations for her and little brother Liam. And Melanie and I were worried when Whitney started with a fever yesterday morning. Could it be this dreaded new strain of flu?

When Melanie called Whit's kindergarten teacher to let her know Whit would be staying home yesterday, the teacher mentioned that Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease has been going around Whitney's elementary school. This type of intestinal infection can also begin with a fever. And sure enough, this morning, Whitney has other Hand, Foot and Mouth symptoms.

So we're safe from the dreaded Swine Flu for the time being, but Whitney has some very painful sores in her mouth and elsewhere. I feel pretty bad for her because she's miserable and refuses to eat anything. It hurts just to have food in her mouth. So she's getting lots of cool drinks and Melanie is going to try and get some yogurt into her. Luckily the initial fever does seem to have subsided.

Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease is spread by direct contact with saliva. And as much as Whit puts her hands in people's faces and then in her mouth, I can easily see how she caught this. Now the trick is to get her well again. All in good time, I'm sure. Hopefully she'll be able to enjoy some more healthy Fall days soon.

Tubes and Adenoids: Success!

Yesterday was surgery day for Whitney. We arrived as requested at 6:45 am and waited with other little families and their children to be checked in. Whitney was pretty brave during the pre-op exam. For those keeping score at home, she now weighs about 28 pounds and has very typical blood pressure for a five year old.

After the exam, we changed Whitney into her ICU gown and waited in the surgical waiting room with the other families. One by one they were called back. Whitney’s new ENT came by and asked if we had any questions. The anesthesiologist also came and talked to us briefly. He was very confident and had no problems with the fact that Whitney has a genetic disorder. This was refreshing after our earlier experience.

Then it was time for a little Valium to calm Whit’s nerves and a ride in a wagon down the hall to the OR. Whitney was a good sport and cooperated with the hospital staff. Melanie and I went to yet another waiting room.

A half an hour later the ENT was back to see us. Everything was a success. Her tubes were quick and easy to place and her adenoids were out. They were what he called a 2.5, so it was good to remove them. I’m not sure of the measurement system they use for adenoids but they were larger than they should have been. Having them removed will allow her ears and sinuses to drain more easily and she’ll also have an easier time breathing.

Whitney came to about an hour following the procedure. She was sore and upset (anesthesia always disorients her) but Melanie calmed her with some music. Kermit the Frog singing “Rainbow Connection” works every time. Whitney got some Lortab for the pain and watched some cartoons. She kept everything down and was extremely cooperative. So by noon they checked us out. This sets a record for our fastest turn around time for an out patient procedure.

Whitney’s face is a little swollen and, by her breathing sounds, so are her sinuses. She hasn’t had any bleeding in her ears or nose though. We’re pleased about that. Her appetite is pretty good but we know it hurts to swallow. She winces almost every time. When she has her Lortab in her, she’s happy and plays about like normal. So we’ll manage the pain for a few days and start to scale back on the pain killers.

Full recovery should take a couple of weeks and in the end she’ll be breathing easier, hearing better and less prone to infections. We’ll all be excited for that.

Ear Nose and Throat Doc Number Three

Thanks for everyone's thoughts and prayers after our episode with the doctor's earlier this month. I've got good news to share this week regarding Whitney's medical care. We've left the other ENT, hospital and anesthesiologists behind and returned to the children's hospital where Whit has had her previous surgeries.

Yesterday, Melanie and Whitney had a visit with ENT number three and were very impressed. He agreed that Whit could use a new pair of tubes to help unplug her inner ears. He also asked if she sometimes sounds like her breathing is labored and kind of "snorty." Melanie explained that Whit's breathing has always been that way.

The doctor explained that she likely has sleep apnea as well caused by plugged up sinuses and if we take her Adenoids out it should help with her sleeping too. So one procedure will help our little girl get over ear infections, sinus infections and poor sleeping habits? Where do I sign up?

As it turns out Melanie, took care of that part too. In late June, Whit will go in to have everything taken care of in the children's hospital here in Salt Lake. She should be well enough to travel after a couple weeks which means we'll still be able to make the 1p36 Conference at the end of July. Best of all we'll have a happier, better rested little girl.