Hanging out...

Today school was back in session, but we decided to keep Annabel home. Her UTI is back! We are never sure if it really goes away or just is at bay until after we are done with the antibiotic. This is the frustrating part of caring for Annabel.
I am sure with any of our other children we would expect to clear up their UTI infections. But with Annabel we seems to never cure them up. The doctors become frustrated and as of today he wouldn't even do a culture. Without the culture I am sure it is E-coli. There is a definite odor with this UTI that make it easy to identify. She has been having good nights, but last night she screamed out in pain several times. She would fall back asleep as soon as I came in to snuggle with her. That is one of the early signs of the infection.
She cried very little so when she does you know that something is up. Hopefully by tomorrow we will have 3 doses down her and maybe we could attend school for a few hours. Her tube feeds are going well but can't wait for the pump which will allow us to feed her during her sleep. Her babysitter La-la (Lauren) is coming to sit with her while I go to Derek's (Big brother) hockey game.
I am so grateful to all who have left post on the blog. Someone asked if I had written the poem, but actually one of her doctors said that he had read this poem long ago and that it reminded him of Annabel. If was given to me and I have cherished it since then. Again my purpose in sharing Annabel life is that it will give others hope.

Clowns of God

CLOWNS OF GOD
I know what are you thinking.
You need a sign.
What better one could I give
than to make this little one whole and new?
I could do it; but I will not.
I am the Lord and not a conjurer.
I gave this mite a gift I denied to all of you
ETERNAL INNOCENCE
To you she looks imperfect
but to me she is flawless,
like the bud that dies unopened,
or the fledglings
that fall from the nest to be devoured by ants.
She never offended me,
as all of you have done.
She never perverted the work of My Father hands.
She is necessary to you.
She will evoke the kindness that will prompt you to
gratitude for own good fortune....more.....
she will remind you every day that I am who I am,
that My ways are not yours,
and the smallest dust mite whirled in darkest
space does not fall out of my hand.
I have chosen you.
you have not chosen me.
this little one is my sign to you.
TREASURE HER.

A day of rest...

Annabel is having a very restful day. The twins had to alter serve this morning so Annabel stayed home to sleep with Mel. She was still sleeping when we returned home at 11:00. Except for the fact that she doesn't want to sit up straight, she is almost back to her normal self. Her routine such a eating, sleeping, playing, etc. are basically back. I am grateful to God that her recovery was so short. I am gaining confidence in her tube feedings. When we began to cath her I thought I couldn't do that either. But now it is just a normal part of our day. So far the rest of her day has consisted of laying on her bean bag and watching cartoon with her friend Katie. Katie came home from church with us and hung out with Annabel. As you can see from the picture Katie is help me to feed Annabel. I always appreciate an extra pair of eyes to help watch her. Some of the things I have noticed already since her surgery is that she is urinating more on her own, her BM's seem less painful and more frequent, she has not gagged one time since the surgery (big source of stress for me). These are a few things I have notice already. Now she is napping and so her lazy day continues...