Is Emma better yet?

After our visit to the hospital in December we thought everything would be just fine for Emma and that we wouldn't have to deal with this Kawasaki Disease any longer. WRONG! Emma had a relapse a week after the hospital.

Long story short, Emma's joint inflammation never went down all the way and in January we found that the dilation in her heart arteries had gotten worse. What to do? The docs weren't sure why she still had inflammation and nobody was doing anything to help it go away. Bill and I did research and found a doctor (on the Kawasaki Foundation website) who was in San Diego , CA and specialized in Kawasaki Disease. We quickly got in to see Dr. Burns, who immediately retreated Emma in the hospital in CA.

Since that hospital visit (Jan. 31st) Emma has been a new girl! The joint inflammation and inflammatory arthritis had finally gone down to normal, the first time since November!! We continue to see a local cardiologist to monitor Emma's heart, which is still not normal. It could take several months for Emma's heart to get better. I say normal, but Emma's heart will never be "normal" again. We hope for close to normal. As for now, life is looking good for Emma. She is happy and full of energy once again.

WE LOVE EMMA!!!

WONDERFUL!

I thought I just have to share this hospital story about Emma from this weekend... With hospital stays comes lots of needles and blood work right? Well, we had many struggles getting that IV threaded and in her arm/ hand. Early in the evening at our first pokes they were not able to get the IV in Emma's left hand so they went up to the elbow and got it in. During the night the nurse came in to give Emma some medicine by mouth. I told the nurse it was NOT a good ideas to try and wake her up to give her the aspirin. I told the nurse she would probably spit it out and throw a fit! Well, I was right!! The meds did not go it, and during the fit, the IV got messed up in her elbow and fluid began to leak into her arm. So, back down to the "treatment room" for a new IV we went. More poking in her left hand began. The nurse (who was the head of the treatment team) could not figure out why she could not get this needle in her hand since the vein was so big. Finally the nurse said, "I just can't get it in! I will have to try the other hand." Emma in the mist of her tears replys sarcastically, "Wonderful!". We all looked at each other and started to laugh. The nurse asked , "How old is she?". I think it threw everyone off when I told them she's 3! Long story short, after a few more pokes now on the right hand, the IV was in and much better than before.

Thank You!!

Dear family and friends,

As you know Emma has been ill for the past month now and we haven’t known exactly why until this past weekend. This weekend at P.C. Hospital Emma was diagnosed with Kawasaki’s Disease. She had many of the symptoms: red eyes, dry finger tips, swollen fingers and hands, enlarged lymph node, constant fevers. She had been walking around (when she could walk) like an old lady with terrible arthritis. Some mornings she couldn’t even get out of bed on her own because the pains in her swollen knees were too great. Getting up and down was also a chore for her little body. It took it all out of her. Emma was pasty and constantly tired.

What is Kawasaki’s Disease you ask? Good question. It is a disease that typically occurs under the age of 5 in Asians or mainly boys, not as frequent in girls- but obviously it does happen. Kawasaki’s Disease is believed to be generated by an adverse reaction to a virus, but it is really not known how or why. Kawasaki’s involves all Emma’s symptoms plus it involves the heart, which is the main concern. Doctors say they need to diagnose Kawasaki’s within the first 10 days to be able to prevent serious heart damage, such as aneurysms, blood clotting and potentially a heart attack leading to death. Emma was diagnosed after 3 weeks of symptoms thus there was a major concern for her heart.

In the hospital Emma had an echo cardiogram, EKG, and lots of blood tests. We saw a rheumatologist, cardiologist, ophthalmologist, infectious disease specialist and a host of other good doctors. The EKG came back good and the Echo came back showing dilated arteries. The good news, which was a surprise to the doctors, was that she did not have any aneurisms! She was treated with an IV of gamma globulin and high doses of aspirin. By the time we left the hospital, Emma’s CRP count (that shows inflammation) had dropped in half. It was still higher than normal, but on its way down and no more fevering. The good thing is that it is highly unlikely for the disease to re-occur and she is on the road to recovery.

We will have continual follow ups with the cardiologist (2 weeks, 8 weeks, 6 mo. and then yearly) for the rest of her life along with small doses of aspirin. We are also following up with the cold laser therapy with Dr. Shiflet (the doctor who did the body scan and found a large amount of a bacteria called Kingella Kingae which caused some of Emma’s symptoms). Today she is in high spirits and running around. She’s as fun as ever, as Bill would say “Sassy’s back” and we are extremely happy for that.

We are very fortunate that Emma’s heart was in such good condition after 3+ weeks of symptoms. We know that it is by the hand of God and the many prayers, fasting, and blessings that Emma was finally diagnosed and is now getting better. We want to thank each of you who have kept Emma in your thoughts and prayers these past few weeks. We are truly grateful for all the support we’ve been given through our family and friends! We love you!!!

Love,

Angela and Bill

Uh-Oh!

So Crew's favorite word is "uh-oh". There is good reason for this to be one of the very few words in his limited vocabulary. He seems to always be in some kind of trouble... not really trouble... but for lack of a better word... TROUBLE! He will knock things over, pull cups and pots out of drawers, throw food and utensils- all on purpose of course - those things do make good noise and a good reason to say "uh-oh!" Did I mention the falling? The falling is not so much on purpose, unless there is a fit involved.

Last week during the thick of our doctors visits with Emma, we ended up at the doctor again for stitches in Crew's face. This fall was with a little help from big sis right into the handle of the dresser. A few hours after we got home from the whole stitches episode, Crew flipped right over the handle bars of this little trike and face planted that same stitched eye into the concrete! GREAT! Just add to that black eye a little more. He looked like he just finished a UFC match.

Well, the stitches are now out, thanks to Uncle Na, and the bruising is getting better, but yesterday after getting out of grandma's car and heading to the sidewalk, Crew tripped on his pants and "Superman-ed" right into the curb! He now looks like Goliath after David hit him smack between the eyes with the rock & sling. Yep, that's our Crew!

He is definitely our "Demo Crew" like Aunt Michelle put it ... with a big "UH-OH!" attached!!!

Black Friday... Saturday... Sunday...Monday...

So Black Friday... I was all ready for a great shopping adventure with my husband; I had a babysitter planned to come over and everything! At 3 am sweet Emma wakes up crying about her neck hurting... mind you she has a fever and the neck thing has been going on for a couple of days now, so after waking up my dad to come over and stay with the kids, we are off to the ER.

The ER tells us she has bad ear infections and some other weird thing with her neck, swollen glands, yada yada... but no meningitis. She now has swelling in her knees and fingers/ joints. Anyway, long story, but since Friday we were at the doctor on Monday again for a follow up and blood tests, Wed. Friday, Monday, and Tuesday. Emma is still not completely better and we still don't know exactly what is wrong, but we are seeing small improvements and ears are better.

Thank you for keeping her in your prayers!

Thankful

Yetter family at the Newport Temple June 07


Thompson family at Disneyland June 07


So Thanksgiving is now come and gone and I'm continually reminded of all the things I am truly thankful for. As mom would say I have "M & M" many many blessings. The list really is too long to start in on right now, but I am thankful for my family ... ALL of them! Bill and I both come from families with 6 children. He with 5 sisters and me with 5 brothers. We are quite a pair wouldn't you say? Anyway we also have close extended families with lots of great cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc, etc. I love 'em all! Each member of our family brings a smile to our faces in one way or another. We love to support each other in each of our interests (a lot of sporting events is in the interests category). We are really good at being each others biggest fans in all areas even the non sporty areas.

In addition to family, I am really grateful for FRIENDS! I have been blessed with so many of you good people. My neighbor/ward friends, my girlfriends, and of course my BUNKO friends! (My family is friends too) What a great support system friends are. You guys ROCK!!

Hope you all had a very yummy and thankful THANKSGIVING!

BOO!

So I'm finally posting some Halloween pics. Better late than never right? Crew was a vampire along with Bill... you could call them "Edward" for those of you Twilight fans. :) Blake was a buccaneer pirate, Emma a very cute witch, Ashlyn was the perfect "Alice in Wonderland" and I was the Queen of Hearts (OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!). Thanks to my great neighbor, Rebecca, who supplied most of our costumes! She has quite the costume set up at her house. However, I did make Crew's cute vampire costume! It took me all day on Halloween, but it was pretty good I must admit.

The great thing about trick-or-treating in our neighborhood is all the kids. We get together with some of the neighborhood families and all go treating together. The women all go together with the kids while the men stay at home to pass out the treats and watch whatever sporting event is on tv. Good times for everyone!!

Before we go out with our friends we make our yearly stop at Grandma Teresa's cul de sac (however you spell that) for a yummy pot luck with all of her neighbors and their families. It's always fun to see the kids I grew up and went trick or treating with and seeing their cute kids all dressed up the way we used to (or still do for some of us).

This year we got a special visit from Grandma and Grandpa Thompson. They live in the area, but with everything going on at Halloween we don't usually see them until the Sunday after Halloween where we get all dressed up again so they can see the kiddos in costume. Instead, this year they came trick or treating to all the grandkids at each of their houses! Our kids loved having them over to share their candy and show off their costumes.

It was a HAPPY HALLOWEEN!