There and Back Again

Here are some pictures of Megan so that you can see how she is doing.  With the exception of the sore lips, she is doing very well.  She still gets mad at Travis when he makes her laugh, because it still hurts her lips.

White Christmas in Houston

I heard this song on the radio the other day and I had to laugh.



Not to brag or anything, but it's currently 76 degrees outside. I'm so excited to see everyone in UT in a few weeks, but I'm not really looking forward to a white Christmas. I'll miss my flipflops!

Update on Megan - 3

We met with a pediatric dermatologist and a pediatric ophthalmologist at Texas Children's Hospital yesterday and they were both so impressed with how Megan is recovering. With Stevens Johnson Syndrome, any part of the body that produces mucus (eyes, nose, mouth, lips, skin) is affected. That's what causes the rash and the mouth sores. That's why her eyes were so red and swollen and miserable. That's why her lips have been so painful.

Anyways, sometimes people get scaring under the eyelids and under the skin that covers the lower part of the eye. The scars can damage your eye. But Megan doesn't have any of that. The ophthalmologist said that apart from some broken blood vessels (which are basically like bruises in her eyes and will clear up on their own in a week or so), her eyes look perfect. No worries there.

The dermatologist said that her skin is healing remarkably well. They don't expect her to have any scaring at all. She has a lot of brown splotches all over, especially on her legs, but those will fade over time. Her lips and mouth are still really sore, but they are improving every day. Big chunks of dead skin and scabs keep falling off her lips with every sip she takes and every bite she eats (which is really disgusting, ugh!) but underneath is pale pink, healthy lips.

As soon as her mouth and lips heal, and she gets a little energy back, she can return to school. We are really hopeful that she will start again early next week.

I'll get pictures tomorrow. 

Update on Megan - 2

I think Megan is turned a corner. She's still got a long way to go, but the fever isn't as high and the rash is starting to fade in places. Her mouth and lips are still really painful, which makes it hard to talk and eat and drink, but her appetite is returning, which is always a good sign. We are pretty much out of danger of being admitted to TCH unless one of the blisters gets infected. Thankfully, she hasn't gotten too many blisters, so we are hopeful.  Thank you so much for all of your prayers and phone calls and emails. Thank you for watching Jared during all the doctor visits, for bringing Megan cards and gifts, for playing Uno and Go Fish, and doing never ending puzzles with her. Thank you Abby and Maddy for coming and doing my dishes and playing with Jared.

You can't really tell, but she was trying to smile in this picture. Her lips just won't stretch that far.

She wanted everyone to see how much the rash has disappeared on her tummy.

Update on Megan

How do you go from this

to this

in two days?

It's called Stevens Johnson Syndrome.

A couple of weeks ago, Megan developed a staph infection in her hand. She was given antibiotics to clear it up. On Monday, she started running a fever and getting a rash. By Tuesday, we were in the ER at Texas Children's Hospital where they diagnosed her with Stevens Johnson Syndrome, which was triggered by an allergic reaction to the antibiotic she had been taking. There isn't anything we can do for her except manage the symptoms and try to keep her from becoming dehydrated. She has a rash from her eyes down to her toes (they are all red and swollen), even in her nose and ears. Her eyelids and lips are swollen. Inside her mouth and throat are covered in sores. It could last one week or it could last several months. No one knows. SJS isn't really uncommon in older people, but it's more rare in children.

If she becomes dehydrated or if the rash turns into blisters, which then become infected, she will be admitted to TCH, but otherwise she'll be at home. She is not contagious, and would love distractions (visitors) in small amounts.

Her mom would love prayers and good thoughts and sleep.

It's been hard to deal with all of this while being so far away from family, but our wonderful church and friends here have wrapped us up with love and caring. We are so very grateful for all of the help.

It's so chic...

My father-in-law says there's a song for everything. I tried and tried to figure out how to post the actual song here, but apparently, I'm not that smart. If you haven't heard it, call me and I'll sing it for you. :D

It's so chic to be pregnant at Christmas
I feel like the "round yon virgin" of yore
'Cause though I have a warm bed to sleep in
There's no room for me when I go to the store

'Cause the aisles are so narrow and crowded
Christmas shopping has never been such a pain
(gasp) Here comes another Braxton-Hicks contraction
And I'm knockin' over knick-knacks again

Oh, the salesclerks are so friendly this Christmas
One said, "Oh please, lady, don't have it here"
Their discretion and manners go right out the door
When I and my stomach appear

People like to put their hands on my fundus
And they want to know exactly when I'm due
I say, "Why do you care? Are you planning to be there?
I could use an extra labor coach or two!"

It's so Biblical to be pregnant at Christmas
No matter what stories you believe
And I may suffer from gravid senilis...and heartburn and nausea and charlie horses and overwhelming fatigue...and frequent micturition and varicose veins and...swollen ankles and shortness...of breath...and that...tired, achy feeling in the grooooooin...

But I won't be alone on New Year's Eve
Fa-La-La-La-La La-La La La

I guess the song sums up our news. I'm due in June. Let the congratulatory comments and phone calls pour in. :D

Halloween 2010

We had a great Halloween. The kids loved the church carnival/trunk-or-treat. They had a great time running around with their friends, getting candy, and playing games. I was a bad mother and forgot to bring a camera, but fortunately I have great friends who took pity on me and emailed me photos from the festivities. :D