The VanVleet Family: It's a New Year, It's a New You.....

Isn't that what you always here this time of year? Is it because we eat so much crappy food during the holidays and we have no choice but to diet? I'm feeling that a little bit. Honestly though I think it's just people making all kinds of promises that they rarely follow through with. They are promises to others, promises to themselves...... I'm guilty of it. I make a resolution, don't follow through, and then feel like I failed. Why don't we try to live the best life we can live all year long? I recently heard someone say, "If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans." So true right? Just because your year is not going how you want or how you planned, it doesn't mean you throw it to the wolves and wait until next year. Change now, take it day by day. I have goals, I've had them for months. They might be for just a week, they might be a little more long term, and they might change 3 months down the road. That's okay, it doesn't mean that I have failed. I do not make resolutions anymore! I have "planned" too many things in my life, and then God gave me a little chuckle. Lord knows I have many things to improve on! So make it a good one, each and every day!

We had a wonderful Christmas! Four Christmases to be exact, and they were all fabulous! It was such an amazing time with family. I would go back and relive every moment.....maybe not the exhaustion part, lol. We spent the last week redecorating the girls bedrooms, and the loft area. Both girls have all new decor in their rooms, and the loft is now the home to their new desk area. They love it! We have a few more things to do in both areas, but we're not in a hurry.

As many of you saw on Facebook, Macy had an MRI before Christmas. My mom flew in from Florida to help. I will never be able to thank her enough for all her selflessness. She gives so much help to our family! She stayed with McKenna so that Jeremy and I could take Macy to Chicago for her medical testing. They were behind on the MRI schedule by over 3 hours. We spent a lot of time entertaining ourselves in a room. It was getting late by the time they came to get us. They told us the MRI would take about 45 minutes, so Jeremy headed to the hotel to check us in while Macy and I headed back to the room. When we got back to the MRI room, something gave me the idea that this might take longer than the 45 minutes previously told, so I asked the MRI tech. Sure enough, she told me that it would take 2 hours. Good grief! Poor Macy!

Take a minute and google images on "MRI for child". Did you take a look? Do you see those kids in their normal clothes, gently laying on a bed, going easily into a large round machine. Looks too pleasant and fun. Ummmmm, yeah, not at all how it really is. Macy had to wear a gown, had monitors placed on her chest, the contrast machine connected to her IV, got strapped down the bed, had an emergency button placed in her hand, had a large, heavy mat placed on her chest, her head placed into a small head stablizing area, headphones put on her ears, and a cage placed over her face. Nothing like those nice photos! I couldn't even prepare her for this properly. She's had many CTs, but only 1 other MRI, and she was under general anesthesia during that MRI. Thank God this sweet girl accepts everything that comes her way! She was a trooper as always...for the entire 2 hours!

Afterward, we rewarded her with a trip to the Cheesecake Factory. It was absolutely beautiful in downtown Chicago! They had a large tree outside the window, from our table at the restaurant, covered with lights. It really gave me that cozy Christmas feeling.

The next day we met with our surgery team for a check-up. Dr. Superina told us that he didn't have an official read from the MRI, so he couldn't say much because he liked to wait for the official interpretation. Lab work was getting better. As a matter of fact her ammonia level was much, much better. The strange thing about it all was that we had her ammonia checked in June (in Chicago), and it was normal (35 or under). We rechecked in October (in Indy), and it was over 80. We rechecked again here in Indy in November and it was almost 70. High ammonia levels are a concern! 70s and 80s are no joke, however they have been over 140. So the recheck of the ammonia levels recently in Chicago showed them normal again. What?!?!?! It's concerning, and makes you wonder what is taking place in the blood lab differently. It is crucial that the blood sample be put on ice immediately and kept on ice until properly tested. So Dr. Superina's nurse, Joan, said we will base our ammonia levels off of our Chicago results only. Good plan!

So we left with some promising news with labs, and I have read the official MRI report myself. There is blood flow to the liver, however her spleen is still enlarged, and actually a little larger than last time. So I am anxious to see what the entire team has to say. They are meeting to discuss Macy's case either this week or next week. The plan as of now it to return in June.

We also saw GI and Endo this month. Good reports from both! Macy has grown over 1 1/2 inches just since summer. We are so excited! She is up to 4'3". I am only 4'10 3/4", so she is catching me. She hasn't gained much weight, but I think her body is focusing on catching up in height right now.

McKenna is doing great also! She is rocking it out at basketball! I love watching that little squirt play. We just had her 8 year old well-check at the doctor's office. She is in the 30% for weight, but only the 7% for height. Another short girl, lol! So eventhough she is one of the older girls in the 1st/2nd grade basketball league, she is still one of the smallest. She's a funny little ball player, and it's so entertaining.

Not much else going on with us lately, other than the fact that we will have a 12 year old on our hands by the end of the month! Yes, 12 years old! Holy crap, I feel old! She's full of teenage sass and drama already, and I have a very hard time with it. I don't tolerate sass too
well, but that doesn't stop her from trying.