I’m not sure how to start this journal entry. Emily went to the pediatrician this morning. I always try to stay positive and happy (OR I at least try to fake it for the rest of the world) and I try not to whine and complain too much.

So let’s start with the GOOD NEWS!

• Emily does NOT have Pneumonia
• Emily’s O2 sats are still 92%
• Emily weighs 35.4 lbs (not gaining but STILL, not losing either)
• Emily was as healthy as she’s ever been (healthier than we ever could have hoped for) from May until October.
• Emily went to school for over 2 months without missing ANY days for illness
• We were able to go on 3 FABULOUS trips and Emily was happy and healthy for all of them.

The BAD NEWS…………

• Emily is NOT shaking the cough, virus, flu, cold, asthma, plague or whatever it is she has
• An 8+ hour school day is a long time for a medically fragile child to physically be able to handle
• It’s Winter, Holiday Time, Flu Season
• A first grade classroom (not to mention Elementary School, bus, gym, cafeteria, etc) is a colossal Petri dish of germs
• IF Emily continues to get sick it would NOT be a good thing for her heart, lungs or overall health.

So after examining Emily and discussing all these facts, Dr. Tamayo feels that the best thing to do is for Emily to avoid situations were she might be compromising her health. Unfortunately this means that she is recommending Emily NOT attend school for at LEAST the next two months or until possibly spring (depending on how she is doing). I have already called the school and left a message for her teacher to find out about the “Home-Bound Program”. The last time we had to do this it did not work out so well (lots of paperwork, talking with different people, hoops to jump through – by the time we got it set up she already started back at school).

I am thankful that she is doing as well as she is. A friend is bringing me lunch so I think after a Big Mac and a Nap everything will seem better J