harness, ultrasounds and Dr. Caltoum

Well, we went for the second time down to Riley to check on Mary's hips. Our first visit things didn't seem very promising... from what we understood both hips were bad but specifically Mary's left hip was completely dislocated and out of the socket. Dr. Caltoum (see above picture) put her in yet another harness and wanted to see her in a week to check if the hip was in the socket. If not, she talked about a cast or possibly even surgery... it was a long drive home.

Yesterday she had an ultrasound with the harness on and thankfully both hips were looking better. So, it's six weeks with the harness on and we go back for another ultrasound. Hopefully the harness can come off after that... Thank you to everyone who has been praying. And another big thank you to my mom who came down and started modifying some of Mary's clothes so she can wear them with the harness on (a passion I didn't know she had, smile). thank you too to our friend Katie who watched Corrie yesterday while we went to Indy.

Every time we round the corner and and see our home I am amazed at the changes we have been through in our short time as a family but always I feel blessed to have the things we have... or rather "hold the things we hold". Mom Powell, you were right. Corrie did seem to grow up over night and Mary is already such an important part of us. Lately, we have been finding old friends from the summer project where Brian and I met. I'm so glad we both went ...and found each other.

Brian update

All clear! The CT and labs are still clear, after 3 years, and to quote Dr. Jones: "cured" :)
He said now we just have to watch my overall radiation exposure (from x-rays, CT scans, etc.)
Ironic that the things they use to diagnose cancer will actually cause it :(

I'll go back for a checkup in 6 months. Now, off to the dentist for the first time in ... over a year!? Yikes.

Stay tuned to the blog over Christmas for lots of fun updates ; )

Christmas time

Corrie wanted to wrap herself the other night. We had some USP student council people over and she played in the box that our t-shirts came in..
Last night was the USP staff holiday party. The air/wind chill must've been under 20! She discovered peanut M&Ms :) and got to unwrap whit-elephant presents.

Today we played outside in the snow - snow shovel rides, snow angels, and of course eating it. Video to come later. Tonight we need to finish the tree. It's up, but just has lights - no ornaments yet. Carrie's fam was supposed to be here today, but they had to turn around because of the roads :( Happy birthday, Tod!
Carrie's nesting, I think, with her bag packed and asking me to haul the bassinet upstairs :) She had an appointment Fri. morning and she's dilated 1cm, everything normal. She even got a tour of the place.

We're listening to a nice Christmas playlist at http://www.live365.com/cgi-bin/mini.cgi?membername=planetmike&tm=4860

Dr. Jones

Just an update from Brian: I was supposed to have a checkup around September... but you know we've been a little busy. Finally got around to setting up an appointment with a provider here, and went in today. /\ This is Dr. Jones /\
He was wearing a bow tie today too, so I guess that's his thing. Nice guy - his son may be a student in our program next year...so it would be interesting if I was his advisor! Today was just filling out all the registration forms, vitals, trying to remember my recent medical history and relay it to Dr. Jones, and scheduling a few more things (CT scan next week, follow up with Dr. in December). He noticed one of my lymph nodes was a little swollen but said it's probably nothing - and could only feel it because I was thin. Nevertheless he wants to keep an eye on it because of my history, of course. I did tell him that my nodes (in my neck) have been through a lot this year. Remember my finger? I had the same thing in my ear a few weeks ago, at the end of the conference I attended in Chicago. Urgent Care swabbed it and tests came back MRSA. Scary for a while there, but it went away with strong antibiotics. Oh, I didn't post about that? Sorry - no pics on that one! I looked like a boxer with a huge cauliflower ear or somthing and couldn't sleep on that side for about a week. Was more concerned for Carrie and Corrie, but docs said not to worry if we were careful.

Funny story about the clinic here: they made me take off my shoes and measure for height. Turns out I'm only 5'10" or 5'11". Of course their wall scale thingy is a bit off! :) They said they already have an ongoing debate about it - but I told them it was definately at least 2" off. I'm about 6'1.5" They drew blood for tumor markers and I was on my way with my Spongebob bandaid.