Biopsy at UCSF

As many of you know, Hannah has not been feeling good for quite some time.  Her tummy hurts just about every day and mostly all day long. 

 We have done blood tests. 

 They have all been negative.  

We have taken her off dairy and off of wheat.  It seems to be a bit better, but her tummy still hurts. 

 So we went to see a specialist at UCSF.  He is one of the best on the west coast. 

 We put her back on wheat so that we could get a biopsy done for Celiac disease.  A biopsy is one of the only definitive tests since it looks directly at the lining of the intestine.  One with Celiac disease has damage to the intestine from the wheat.  It actually destroys the cilia which absorbs nutrients.  They were also going to look for signs of a dairy allergy.

So Hannah and I were up and ready to go early on Tuesday for her biopsy at UCSF.  She was all dressed up in her cute outfit that Nana Laurie had gotten her the day before.

We had to be there by 10am.  Her procedure time was noon.  So we left by 7:30am just to make sure we were there in good time.  We arrived in San Francisco at 8:30 and so went to Golden Gate Park for a little while.  It was fun to walk around the lake and climb all over the trees.   Anything to take Hannah's mind off her hungry tummy and what was coming.

Hannah found a squirrel that she was watching.

Every one at UCSF was so awesome.  They were patient with Hannah when she was scared.  She loved the fun craft that they had prepared.   She colored while I read to her.  Then she watched Beauty and the Beast.  The procedure was later than we had expected and she wasn't taken up to preop until a little before 1.

My little one is very nervous in unfamiliar situations.  She didn't want to take off her cute outfit or put on the hat, gown and socks.  It took some convincing, but then she did it.  After seeing how upset Hannah was at the thought of not having me hold her, they let me go with her to the OR.  I was so glad that they put her to sleep before starting the IV or anything else.  It took only 3 good cries with the mask on her face to help her go to sleep.  They took over and I got to go eat.

I love this picture.  She is so cute!!

I was so thankful that they allowed me to be by her side as soon as she was in recovery.  We allowed her to wake up on her own.  This is my little one sound asleep after all was over.  I held her as she coughed and cried and kicked.  (she didn't wake up easily from the sedation)  I held her for an hour and she ate purple popsicles.  They had put on Sponge Bob for her.  We don't allow that show in our house.  Even though her throat hurt and she was really out of it she said, "I'm not allowed to watch that."  We turned it off and put on Beauty and the Beast.  Once she was awake and calm, it was time to take out the IV and get dressed.  She didn't want the IV out since we would have to take the tape off.  After another little struggle, it was out and she was dressed and ready to go.  At the elevator she looked at me and said, "I don't want to come back here ever again!!!"  I don't blame her.

We had to wait until the following Monday to hear from the doctor.

So I waited all day Monday for a call.  Then waited most of Tuesday.  The doctor called around 7.  He never got the latest lab results drawn here in Santa Rosa.  I'm going to call them tomorrow to get them to send the results to him ASAP.  All the biopsy's they did on Hannah are normal.  She does not have Celiac disease or any problems with dairy.  That is good.  Two things ruled out.  

  He is recommending another test to look at her entire intestine, not just the top and bottom.  She would need to be sedated, since she will not lay still for the test. The youngest kids they can coach to lay still are very cooperative 5 year olds.  She is not one of those kids.   I think it is a kind of MRI.  I didn't recognize the name of the test.  Anyway we'll schedule that once he sees the lab tests.  So that is where we stand for now.

Thank-you for all the prayers for my little girl.  I take such comfort in knowing that God is in control and He has her in His hands.  I don't need to worry about her.  Just be there for her and get what answers I can to help her.

GF Cinnamon Rolls

I love spending time with my little girl.  After dropping Bekah off at school, we decided to have a snack and make some cinnamon rolls.  She was so cute as she tried to spread the cream cheese all by herself. 

Hot cocoa is always a part of our snack too.  

Now off to start the cinnamon rolls.  Hannah loves to help.  She is always the first to jump in and help with anything.  Hannah is so good at stirring ingredients together, turning on the mixer, measuring and pouring ingredients and licking anything she can get in her mouth.

I made these Cinnamon Rolls for my family.  I added a step that my mom always did when making her cinnamon rolls. She would put the pans on the stove and heat them on low with 2 Tablespoons butter and a 1/4 cup of brown sugar. Once the butter melts, turn off the burner and prep the cinnamon rolls. Then place the rolls in the pan. The bottom caramelizes and is amazing.

Hannah helped stir the butter while it was melting.  This is definitely the best part of the whole sweet roll.

The dough took a long time to rise.  However, once it was risen, it rolled out very nicely.  I was surprised since GF dough is normally really fragile.  It held together well and made great cinnamon rolls.  Hannah had a blast learning how to roll out the dough.  She did a pretty good job too!

The butter was really hard since it had just come out of the freeze a few hours before.  I did a trick that I saw on Pinterest for getting butter soft.  They said to grate the butter into a bowl and then use it.  It totally worked.  Here Hannah is spreading the grated butter on the dough.  I found out later that she thought it was grated cheese we were putting in the cinnamon rolls.  She sure makes me laugh.

Hannah put the sugar on all by herself.  She also tried to sprinkle on the cinnamon.  She kind of dumped a bunch in one spot, so I helped spread it out evenly.  I love having helpers.

I split this recipe in half and made two pans of eight.  It was perfect.

Love this girl.

  All ready to let the rolls rise.

We had these for dinner!  They were delicious and were all gone within a short period of time.

God Is Good

Our God is good.  Every day, through all situations, He is good.

I love that I can trust God 100% even when I can't see what is going to happen.

My little Hannah is not feeling good.  She cries every day, throughout the day, saying that her tummy is hurting.  We don't know what is wrong.  But God does.

 We have taken her off of all dairy and wheat.  This helped for a few days, then the abdominal pain returned with a vengeance.  I called our pediatrician to get a referral to one of the top Pediatric GI specialists on the west coast.

We got an appointment with the specialist in March.  After a weekend of crying more and more, I called back her pediatrician and the specialist.  We now have an appointment with the specialist on February 20th.

Our pedi ordered some urine and stool samples and will see her tomorrow.  Hannah was so funny when I told her that we had to give her poop to the doctor.  She looked at me and said, "No way!!  I'm not doing that!!"  After a bit of convincing, she did it.  Then kept asking for the little bucket to catch her poop.  Silly girl!

So far the tests are normal.  All of them.

 We are praying for healing of our little girl and answers to what is causing her pain.  God is good and He holds her carefully in His hand.  My little girl has been loaned to me for a little.  She is and has always been, God's child.  I know that He will give her the strength to get through this and that He will heal her in His time.  Thank-you all for your prayers for her.

Bekah is Reading!!!!

 I have read to my girls since they were babies.  I love reading and have wanted to give that love to my children.  We often go to the library and get piles of books.  We read together all the time.   It has been exciting to see Bekah learning so much in her Kindergarten class.  She has mastered all her letters and sounds.  She is slowly learning to read.

Years ago I bought a set of books for beginning readers in Kindergarten.  It is identical to the books that I had read when I was in kindergarten.  I still remember my parents showing me the books.  I pulled the first one out and read it.  It was awesome!!  Then I read the second, the third and the fourth.  That night was such a special night.

Tonight was just as special.

 Bekah read her first book. 

 Actually two books. 

I found the box of books tucked away for when Bekah was ready to start reading.  I pulled them out and showed her the books.  She took the first one, sat down and read it.  Just like that.  I had no idea that she was doing so well.  Then she got the next one and read that too.  I was so excited to see her reading and loving it.  What a wonderful night.

Hannah wasn't as impressed as daddy and mommy.  She kept whispering in daddy's ear and making him laugh.  Then jumping on top of him.  Bekah was a good sport (mostly) and finished the second book.  She wanted to read more, but it was time for bed.