The Good, the Bad and the UGLY

The good, actually the GREAT wonderful and fantastic...no more surgery!!   We met with Dr. Singhal after our CT this afternoon. He is encouraged by her inflammatory markers (from her blood work), her reduction in swelling, her lack of fever, her happy disposition, the healthy incision from the drain procedure, and the CT which showed no further signs of infection!!! :)  He is not certain where the infection came from to begin with, just a common strain of strep that landed in her forehead instead of her throat. Of course, I asked, is Jenna going to get strep head instead of strep throat all her life?  The answer, well, bacteria decides to settle where it wants. Whatever that means. I choose to believe it will want to settle in her throat in the future, if it chooses to settle at all.   Bottom line, the meds and the drain combined are working great. The risks of taking the empty pocket out (which would mean opening up her incision from ear to ear from before) are far greater than our current treatment plan and there are no clinical signs to indicate it even remotely necessary.

The Bad....this common strain of strep, Miss Jenna could've picked it up anywhere. Dr. Singhal's theory, one of them, is that my giant tonsils carry the strep bacteria. So, off to the doctor for me to get my tonsils swabbed to see if I am a carrier. He said if I am, he would recommend getting my tonsils out.  The other bad, if this does come back in her forehead, we will be looking at other ways of removing it, like the big bad surgery we have avoided this go around. 

The UGLY...Jenna started in again tonight with her vomiting. She is getting quite good at it actually. This time she got 2 couch cushons, the laundry basket (thankfully empty and not full of clean clothes), the carpet and herself. Very impressive, huh?   She only had 2 total episodes this evening before she was done (I so hope she is done!!!). 

The Sweet...Yes, this is my own category I just now added. I have to say how sweet and concerned Cale has been through all of this.  Just one example, while we were trying to get things cleaned up after the couch/carpet/laundry basket/self episode, Cale came running into the bathroom a phone saying, "MOM what's Jenna's doctor's number and I'll call him!!!"  He was so concerned and wanted to help.  He had a pretty good plan too!  Too bad all they would say is sorry 'bout your bad luck!  And I have to say Eric has been a huge help this week too. While I was stuck in bed yesterday afternoon, he cleaned and disinfected the kitchen and did the laundry.  He and Cale have also finished their Clean Sweep of Cale's room. The Neurotic Hoarder in me is afraid the newest Clean Sweep host will be on a roll and hit our whole house!  

I am ready for this all to be over, that I can assure you of. I recently told my friend Shonda that God doesn't give us more than we can handle.  I say to both of them, I am about at my limit!!!!! :)  I do see that today's appointment is an answer to prayer, so many people have been praying for my baby. So many regulars at church, praying for Jenna is an everyday thing for them. I thank them for their faithful prayers. God has big plans for this girl, he must, for she is strong and determined and so good natured.  Her daddy and I just have to get her raised!