Keira and I had our monthly visit to LPCH to visit Dr. Effinger. Thankfully, since she has recovered from her cold, there have been no new issues. Keira's walking/running continues to improve. We still do see her left foot turn inward and she has the occasional fall but it is not frequent enough for us to really worry at this point.
I do have to say that our routine has set in and Keira is more than comfortable at the hospital. While I was taking care of the paperwork/payment, she was walking around making friends with the other waiting patients and nurses. She even went with the nurse to get her vitals started without me! Imagine the look of surprise on my face when I found her sitting in the chair with the blood pressure cuff on all by herself.... and... she had already done her height and weight without me! It is hard to believe that only a few months ago we had to hold her down for this simple procedure and most of the time the readings were far from accurate since she wouldn't sit still.
When we finally got in to see Dr. Effinger she felt that Keira looked great. Keira was a little chatter box and filled the doctor in on all the important happenings at our house, including the fact that her daddy is home but now sick and has to blow his nose. :) Some of the other highlights of our visit this month include Keira and Dr. Effinger racing down the hallway, Keira being allowed to use Dr. Effinger's stethoscope to hear her own heartbeat, and Keira teaching the whole reception area some of her new ASL signs.
Dr. Effinger was pleased to see that going back to the daily steroids have helped suppress the OMS symptoms we saw flare up with her cold, and she told us that we would not try to wean for at least another month. Our treatment day is scheduled for next Monday where Keira will again receive her monthly dose of Cytoxin and IVIg.
One interesting thing to mention is that because Keira is on chemo we have to be very careful with live vaccines that her friends might be getting at their Well Baby Visits. MMR, Chicken Pox and the Nasal Flu Vaccine are all cause for concern and we were told that Keira should stay away for 7 days.
Just another thing for us to all keep in mind so that we can keep Little K as healthy and symptom free as possible!