Friday, December 31, 2010
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Pictures leading up to Christmas
Lulu is peeking in on Santa in the second picture. She was so great with him. Forgot to take a pic with my camera, but purchased the one that they took.
Lulu's First Christmas and Baxter update
We had such a wonderful Christmas yesterday! Lulu got so excited Christmas Eve, she was actually squealing with excitement when she was playing and putting her stuff away. She wanted to make sure the house was picked up for Santa. We left cookies and milk out, kept the Christmas lights on, and she left glitter in a ziplock bag outside the door. I don't know what that's about, but she said her teacher told her to do it. Lulu received a lot of great gifts. My sister was extremely generous and bought us a Wii and Wii Fit. I can't wait for us to use it! Lulu and I have been playing all day. I know she is exhausted, but still revved up to even think about sitting down and relaxing.
Our dog Baxter's preliminary lab results show that he has stromal cancer, which is a less aggressive cancer than the more common hemangiosarcoma that is usually found in the spleen. Stromal cancer is usually found in the GI tract of dogs, and if I remember correctly, in the uterus/endothelium of females. We are still waiting on the results of the lymph nodes and liver that was biopsied. We are very excited so far since the first news sounded very grim. Baxter is healing very well. He is much more energetic, eating like crazy, and seems so much more comfortable. He looks like he got a tummy tuck, but also looks like he is quickly gaining back muscle mass and weight. I'm so happy with how well he is doing, and can't wait to find out the rest of the lab results.
Our dog Baxter's preliminary lab results show that he has stromal cancer, which is a less aggressive cancer than the more common hemangiosarcoma that is usually found in the spleen. Stromal cancer is usually found in the GI tract of dogs, and if I remember correctly, in the uterus/endothelium of females. We are still waiting on the results of the lymph nodes and liver that was biopsied. We are very excited so far since the first news sounded very grim. Baxter is healing very well. He is much more energetic, eating like crazy, and seems so much more comfortable. He looks like he got a tummy tuck, but also looks like he is quickly gaining back muscle mass and weight. I'm so happy with how well he is doing, and can't wait to find out the rest of the lab results.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Our beloved Baxter has cancer
Our dog Baxter underwent surgery two days ago. He had a huge, "grapefruit" sized tumor on his spleen. His spleen was removed and the tumor is malignant. The good news is that no tumors were seen on other organs. The bad news is that the type of cancer he has is most likely hemangiosarcoma. We should know soon for sure. If it is, Baxter only has a few months to live since the cancer will eventually show up in other organs. They also found out that he has a heart problem. His heart does not contract very well and he probably had that for a long time. It just amazes us how 2 weeks ago he was running around in the yard, going for long walks, eating just fine. Within a week that changed, and now he is recovering from surgery. He did well with surgery and although he is groggy from the medications and anesthesia, he already seems to be more comfortable. He looks like he had a tummy tuck. Baxter is the sweetest dog, and we are so sad that we only have a little time left with him.
Lulu is finally feeling better, and now Brad is sick with a bad cold. I'm still in a funk due to lack of sleep and being totally bummed out about Baxter. The last week and a half has delayed a lot of Christmas shopping and planning. I still have so much to do, and I hate being this behind with everything. I wanted this time of year to be really special for Lulu and all of us. I'm just glad that last week is behind us and hope I can get everything done this weekend. I've gotten everything for Lulu already since she is so easy to shop for. I have to keep stopping myself from buying more stuff for her.
Lulu is finally feeling better, and now Brad is sick with a bad cold. I'm still in a funk due to lack of sleep and being totally bummed out about Baxter. The last week and a half has delayed a lot of Christmas shopping and planning. I still have so much to do, and I hate being this behind with everything. I wanted this time of year to be really special for Lulu and all of us. I'm just glad that last week is behind us and hope I can get everything done this weekend. I've gotten everything for Lulu already since she is so easy to shop for. I have to keep stopping myself from buying more stuff for her.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Lulu has strep throat and Baxter is heading towards surgery
What an emotionally and physically draining few days. It started Tuesday night where I woke up and had 4 episodes of vomitting and nausea. I think it was from food poisoning, but I have swollen lymph nodes and still don't have much of an appetite, so I'm not sure what's going on. I have a doctor's appointment on Monday since I'm also having strange leg pain that's been bothering me for several weeks now.
On Wednesday night, Lulu had a fever of 101. I gave her Motrin and she came to our room in the middle of the night and wanted to sleep with us. I felt her body and she was burning up all over. She had a fever of 104. With alternating between Tylenol and Motrin, it kept going down a little, then back up. I took her to the doctor and she was diagnosed with strep throat and prescribed Amoxicillin. The doctor said she should start feeling a lot better, but it turned out her temperature escalated to 105.5 degrees last night. We rushed to the hospital and they gave her a Tylenol suppository. After an hour and a half her temp went down to 100 and they let us go. We still don't have her temp completely down and she is just miserable. Her nose has been running nonstop for the past 2 days. I may take her to an urgent care center in the morning. She has also been scratching several bug bites on her legs that are looking infected. I am so worried that she may have a staph infection as well. She has been getting Aveno baths and the scratching improved a lot, but the look of the sores has me worried.
Our dog Baxter was diagnosed today with having multiple tumors on his spleen, one the size of a baseball and others the size of golf balls. They did not see any tumors on his liver or other organs. His heart if functioning extremely low as well. He was put on 2 medications and we should know on Monday when he can have surgery. If the tumors are not in any other organs, they will remove the spleen. But if they have spread to other organs, they will not proceed, and not have him wake up. I am still in shock about the news, but knew it wasn't going to be good. He is so skinny. He has to remain calm and only be let out on a leash for toileting since the tumors can burst, which will be fatal. It's so hard to believe what is going on and I feel so helpless right now. I hate seeing my little girl so sick and am really worried about Brad if Baxter does not get through this.
On Wednesday night, Lulu had a fever of 101. I gave her Motrin and she came to our room in the middle of the night and wanted to sleep with us. I felt her body and she was burning up all over. She had a fever of 104. With alternating between Tylenol and Motrin, it kept going down a little, then back up. I took her to the doctor and she was diagnosed with strep throat and prescribed Amoxicillin. The doctor said she should start feeling a lot better, but it turned out her temperature escalated to 105.5 degrees last night. We rushed to the hospital and they gave her a Tylenol suppository. After an hour and a half her temp went down to 100 and they let us go. We still don't have her temp completely down and she is just miserable. Her nose has been running nonstop for the past 2 days. I may take her to an urgent care center in the morning. She has also been scratching several bug bites on her legs that are looking infected. I am so worried that she may have a staph infection as well. She has been getting Aveno baths and the scratching improved a lot, but the look of the sores has me worried.
Our dog Baxter was diagnosed today with having multiple tumors on his spleen, one the size of a baseball and others the size of golf balls. They did not see any tumors on his liver or other organs. His heart if functioning extremely low as well. He was put on 2 medications and we should know on Monday when he can have surgery. If the tumors are not in any other organs, they will remove the spleen. But if they have spread to other organs, they will not proceed, and not have him wake up. I am still in shock about the news, but knew it wasn't going to be good. He is so skinny. He has to remain calm and only be let out on a leash for toileting since the tumors can burst, which will be fatal. It's so hard to believe what is going on and I feel so helpless right now. I hate seeing my little girl so sick and am really worried about Brad if Baxter does not get through this.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
First Thanksgiving, Lulu and Maggie, and our dog Baxter
I can't believe how long it's been since I posted!!! And how little time I feel like I have anymore. My hours at work have been extended a little, and the nights just fly by. I know everyone is busy and I just don't know how families do it with several kids, as single parents, or having to work very long hours. Lulu is not tired until at least 9pm, and I'm usually right behind her. I used to be able to wake up really early and try to have some time for myself, but Lulu seems to hear me lately, and gets up when I do.
It has taken 6 months to get Lulu to sleep in her own room. We didn't push it in the beginning, and it has been a long, tiring transition. We still struggle with it every night since she fights us going to bed, and wakes us up several times a night banging her head on the bed. We praise her all the time for sleeping by herself. Something she has never done before. She also still needs to have us in a room with her unless she is really involved playing with a toy or coloring. We've had major ups and downs over the past 6 months. Lulu will have several fantastic days at school and at home, and then several days where she has hit kids at school and completely defiant at home. We had a really good stretch of weeks about a month ago. We just got in to see a counselor today who we need to go through to get to the child psychiatrist we want to see. She is highly recommended and experienced with international adoption issues. I've read several books and wish that the one I am reading now was the first one I've read since it is excellent so far.
We spent our first Thanksgiving together in Orlando at my sister's place. Lulu really enjoyed seeing her Aunts and my parents again. We will have Christmas here with my family. Lulu is starting to get a little excited about Christmas. I'm sure she will be more excited next year after she knows what to expect. She loves all the lights on people's houses. She was such a good helper picking out a tree and helping us with the decorations. I still need to get her a Christmas dress and pictures with Santa... if he doesn't freak her out!
Lulu got to see her friend Maggie from China who was adopted at the same time Lulu was. Her family lives several hours away, so we met halfway in Gainesville at the Museum of Natural History. The girls were so cute together, first chasing each other and then holding hands most of the day. Maggie's mom and I were curious if the girls were going to speak to each other in Mandarin. Lulu said a few words in Mandarin the night before as if she was practicing her native language. It turned out the girls spoke English the entire time! We're looking forward to getting together again. I am so glad that Lulu has Maggie here, in Florida, and that they will be able to visit with each other.
Our dog Baxter is very ill. He is our medium sized, 8 year old hound dog that loves kids, animals, everything. He is the sweetest and quirkiest dog. I know he was so excited when Lulu came home, but Lulu is indifferent with him, and is nicer to our smaller dog Lily. Over the past couple weeks I've noticed how skinny Baxter was becoming. He has lost a lot of muscle and has facial atrophy. He had lab work done that shows significant elevated white blood cells (infection) and his liver levels are extremely low. His kidney levels were at the low end as well. They are running more tests and he will be scheduled soon for a diagnostic ultrasound. I really fear cancer due to all the weight he has lost in such a short time. The vet thinks that it's a possibility due to his age, or that it's a chronic infection. His liver is enlarged but does not have any swelling. I've been trying to explain to Lulu that Baxter (BooBoo) is really sick, fearing the worst. Brad and I love this dog so much and will do anything to make him comfortable.
It has taken 6 months to get Lulu to sleep in her own room. We didn't push it in the beginning, and it has been a long, tiring transition. We still struggle with it every night since she fights us going to bed, and wakes us up several times a night banging her head on the bed. We praise her all the time for sleeping by herself. Something she has never done before. She also still needs to have us in a room with her unless she is really involved playing with a toy or coloring. We've had major ups and downs over the past 6 months. Lulu will have several fantastic days at school and at home, and then several days where she has hit kids at school and completely defiant at home. We had a really good stretch of weeks about a month ago. We just got in to see a counselor today who we need to go through to get to the child psychiatrist we want to see. She is highly recommended and experienced with international adoption issues. I've read several books and wish that the one I am reading now was the first one I've read since it is excellent so far.
We spent our first Thanksgiving together in Orlando at my sister's place. Lulu really enjoyed seeing her Aunts and my parents again. We will have Christmas here with my family. Lulu is starting to get a little excited about Christmas. I'm sure she will be more excited next year after she knows what to expect. She loves all the lights on people's houses. She was such a good helper picking out a tree and helping us with the decorations. I still need to get her a Christmas dress and pictures with Santa... if he doesn't freak her out!
Lulu got to see her friend Maggie from China who was adopted at the same time Lulu was. Her family lives several hours away, so we met halfway in Gainesville at the Museum of Natural History. The girls were so cute together, first chasing each other and then holding hands most of the day. Maggie's mom and I were curious if the girls were going to speak to each other in Mandarin. Lulu said a few words in Mandarin the night before as if she was practicing her native language. It turned out the girls spoke English the entire time! We're looking forward to getting together again. I am so glad that Lulu has Maggie here, in Florida, and that they will be able to visit with each other.
Our dog Baxter is very ill. He is our medium sized, 8 year old hound dog that loves kids, animals, everything. He is the sweetest and quirkiest dog. I know he was so excited when Lulu came home, but Lulu is indifferent with him, and is nicer to our smaller dog Lily. Over the past couple weeks I've noticed how skinny Baxter was becoming. He has lost a lot of muscle and has facial atrophy. He had lab work done that shows significant elevated white blood cells (infection) and his liver levels are extremely low. His kidney levels were at the low end as well. They are running more tests and he will be scheduled soon for a diagnostic ultrasound. I really fear cancer due to all the weight he has lost in such a short time. The vet thinks that it's a possibility due to his age, or that it's a chronic infection. His liver is enlarged but does not have any swelling. I've been trying to explain to Lulu that Baxter (BooBoo) is really sick, fearing the worst. Brad and I love this dog so much and will do anything to make him comfortable.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Six months since Forever Family Day!
Yesterday was our 6 month anniversary since Forever Family Day! The past 6 months have flown, but at the same time, it feels like years since we were in China. I don't have time to post much right now, but will try to update the blog in the next day or two.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
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