Happy New Year

We had a relaxing New Year's Eve before all the craziness with Eli.

We went to Target for their after Christmas sale and found some fun things. One of them was this pretty tree marked down from $249.00 to $60.00 that we just had to get! (When we got home Nate wanted to set it up to see how it looked, that's why it's in the middle of the family room.)


Then we went over to the Holt's (our neighbors) for a little party and the Hansen's came too.

Nicky and Coulsen were having fun playing the Wii...


and I was tempted to try the chocolate fountain.


As you can see, Kate enjoyed the chocolate fountain!


Eli had fun too.


Kate and Eli doing puzzles with Emily.


Amanda and Isaac playing with Amanda's guitars.


Nate had a little too much fun with the sparkling cider!


We played one of our favorite games: Compatibility, as well as Catch Phrase and Fact or Crap. (excuse me)


and Joseph was so tired by the time midnight came around that he fell asleep on the couch!

Eli's home!

Eli was able to come home today since his platelet count was 22,000 this morning.  We still have to keep a close eye on him, but it looks like he's going in the right direction.  We're grateful for all the love and support we've felt from family and friends.  We are truly blessed to know all of you!  Thanks!

The first night he was in the hospital, I only had my inferior camera phone to take pictures.  These photos that Rebecca took with our other camera give you a better idea of what Eli's poor body was going through.

 

Update on Eli

Eli's platelet count was up to 6000 today. He was at 3000 Sunday night, which is why they wanted to keep him at the hospital last night. Normal range is 150,000 to 450,000 per cubic millimeter. They had told us at the Urgent Care facility that he'd have to have a transfusion if he dropped below 20,000, but so far they haven't felt the need to give him one at the hospital. They've been giving him an oral steroid along with an antibiotic for his ear infection and an antacid to counteract the heartburn that the steroid can cause.

He's still in good spirits, though Rebecca said he's getting a little stir crazy from being cooped up in a hospital room all day. I'm sure Rebecca's feeling restless as well! She asked if they could walk around the hospital a bit and the nurse said that would be fine if Eli wore a mask. Well, Eli would have none of that, so they stayed in the room. I took the Nintendo DS and his favorite game, Nintendogs, to the hospital today and he seemed to enjoy that. He even managed to win a disc competition with minimal help from me. That's pretty impressive for a kid who turns two next month!

Hopefully we'll have some more good news tomorrow and Rebecca and Eli will be able to come home. It sounds like he'll be on the steroid treatment for a while after he comes home until his platelet levels normalize. At that point they'll see what effect a lesser dose has on his platelet count. For now, I'm just trying to keep up with our other three kids at home!

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura

So, Rebecca's spending the night in hospital with Eli.  We took him to the urgent care place yesterday and found that he had a really low platelet count (36,000).  They asked us to bring him back today and it was even lower (20,000).  They sent us off to Primary Children's Hospital for treatment and a possible transfusion.  When they took his platelet count there, it was down to 3000.  They suspect it is a virus that could be causing an auto-immune response that is taking down his platelets.

They started him on a steroid treatment tonight and they will probably give him a transfusion tomorrow after the hematologists can get a look at him.  He's as happy as a lark and doesn't even realize he's sick.  He hasn't even batted an eye at all the finger pokes and didn't seem concerned at all when they put in an IV at the hospital.  What a brave kid!  Obviously we're worried about him, but everything they've told us has been encouraging and hopefully he'll be fully back to normal in a few months.

 One of the nurses let him choose a stuffed animal to keep and he chose this cute little dog.  This is all a big adventure to him!  Please keep him in your prayers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idiopathic_thrombocytopenic_purpura

Christmas Morning

Here are the kids ready to see what Santa brought.


Joseph got a scooter!


Isaac too.


A picture of all of us among the mess! (sorry it's dark)


Kate got a scooter, baby in a stroller and littlest pet shop toys.


Isaac got a Bionicle from Joseph


Joseph got the DS Scribblenauts from Santa


Joseph also got Z strap shoes, a new coat, some pants and shirts etc.


Eli got a new basketball and new soccer ball.


and a baby with a stroller. His can connect to Kate's


all four playing computer games together.


Eli loved the beef jerky and corn nuts he got in his stocking.


But I guess all the excitement of Christmas wore him out!


Merry Christmas Everyone!

Chirstmas Eve

We had a nice Christmas Eve this year. We started the day making Gingerbread houses at Colleen's.

This is how we found Eli that morning.


The night before Nate rolled out and cut out all of these gingerbread pieces. He worked really hard.


Isaac, Joseph and Kate really got into it too. The kids decorated one house while Nate and I decorated the other.


Here is Eli helping...


Nate...


The kids' house in finished form.


The one Nate did.


That night we had dinner at the Bartletts' and acted out the Nativity Story.

Here is Nate and Eli looking cool.


Eli again...


Even Grandpa and Grandma got in costume!


Cameron as Joseph, Ben as a shepherd and Serenity as the angel.


Lydia was a very cute shepherd.


Say "Cheese" pretty angel!


Grandma with Ammon and Isaac (two of the three kings)


Kate played the part of Mary. She was very serious about her part.


and there is Joseph, the third wiseman, bearing gifts.


After that we went home and the kids got to open their Christmas Eve presents...

New pajamas!


The first three got a sleepover kit which included a toothbrush, slippers and flashlight. Kate's had a brush and a sleeping mask and she wears it! It's so funny!


After that the kids set out gingerbread cookies and eggnog for Santa and put up our wrapping paper wall so no one could get to the presents early and went to bed!