An honourary clown!

During Annika's last hospital stay she was made an honourary clown. While the clowns were visiting with Annika she discovered what made Merry Kay's farts. A whoopy cushion in her jacket pocket. So she was sworn to silence ( but mommy wasn't....lol) They gave her a honourary clown nose and made her pledge never to tell their secret. It was the cutest thing ever and then they sang her the cow song. What gem's these clowns are . They sure did break up the monotony of the day

Annika and her hospital adventure

As most of you who follow this blog already know, that we admitted Annika on February 7, 2010. She has had a sinus infection since October and none of the oral antibiotics that we have given her have worked. The infection was getting so bad that she had headaches, green discharge, and was coughing non stop from the drainage. It was starting to effect her physical activity. Our peds doctor admitted her and we started IV meds. By day two we had a picc line put in. Every child and parent have a way to distract their child from the pain of a needle ( or should I say the fear of a needle because Emla numbs the area) Annika's newest distraction is writing on my arm while the needle is being placed, or blood is being taken, this included finger picks for Tobi levels. This has worked well and is easily removed with hand sanitizer. A small chore, and a very small price to pay for my child's anxiety level to be low. While she was at the hospital we had great nurses and doctors. The pharmacy team was awesome, but the child life team was amazing. Thanks to Jen and Annika's new best friend Lisa. They made this stay so much easier. We did lots of crafts, and even decorated our face masks for a chuckle. We were sent home on the 10th and are doing home IV meds. until the end of February. Thank you for the emails, visits and phone calls. Dave and I appreciate all your love.

Flush it Away

Annika has been fighting a sinus infection/cold for a long time. She was on Cipro for 6 weeks, and once done the sinus problem came back within a week. We had her lungs checked out and she is clear as of right now, but her sinuses drain so bad that she is coughing a lot! So now we have been doing sinus flushes every other day to start. Annika was so proud of herself. She did the flush all by herself. Only a parent who has had to deal with sinus flushes would understand how huge that is. She had to take a special sinus squeeze bottle filled with saline solution and squeeze a rush of this solution up one side of her nose, and blow it out at the same time from the other nostril. After inhaling once, she figured it out pretty fast. When done she gave me a high five and laughed. "I can breathe mommy"I am so proud of her. She faces each challenge head on, as it comes. She is a true cf warrior!

Angels of Hope

This is a beautiful drawing composite that Annika did for a fellow young lady waiting for her second lung transplant. Eva Markvoort is presently in the hospital , not feeling very well. Annika watched her documentary 65 red_roses on The Passionate Eye and fell in love with this loving cf warrior. We are sending her a care package for her wall of hope. Eva decorates her home walls and her hospital walls with tons of drawings and letters sent by caring people with and without cystic fibrosis. So if you have a spare moment, drop this young women a letter or drawing of love. It brightens her day, especially when she is being poked and invaded by needles and tubes. Hospital walls are boring. Let's give her something to smile about. Add Eva to your prayers for another set of lungs. Her lung function is only at 15% , and pray for the family that makes the choice to donate organs.

Eva can receive her mail at : Eva Markvoort

217 Third Avenue

New Westminster BC

V3L 1L9

Her family and friends will get the packages or letters to her in the hospital.

Also check out her blog at:

http://65redroses.livejournal.com/

And her documentary can be found at:

http://www.65redroses.com/

Share the love ! God Bless

New Year , new outlook?

Ok so the gifts are all put away in their proper place, we have placed the decorations in their appropriate box up in the attic. I have visited the ER 3 times, but nothing CF related. What's new?

Dave is actively looking for a job in the personal support worker area, with no success yet. But we are praying.

Parker has been well, and is really into lego anything. Annika is now addicted too! She builds lego with him, if he promises to play house or dolls with her. It's a far trade off.

Annika has a wicked cough right now, and green oozing from every hole in her head, so I think a trip to the cf clinic is in call for. Wish us luck!