Finally some results!!

Dr. Michael called today with the results from Janey Beth's blood work. She does have all of the components to her white blood cells needed to actually make antibodies, but for some reason right now they are not doing their job. This is why her IgA and IgG levels are low. Her body did respond to the Pneumoccocal (sp?) vaccination she received as an infant, but it did NOT to the tetanus vaccination. The doctor said that was odd and could be a glitch in the blood work, so we are going for a tetanus shot tomorrow. When we go back on November 19, we will see if her body responded to this vaccination. Please pray it does because I asked what we would do if it doesn't, and Dr. Michael said we would cross that bridge if it presents itself. I don't really know what that means. She WAS encouraged by these results, but JB doesn't have a definite diagnosis besides the IgA Deficiency. Because of this the doctor cannot definitely say she will outgrow all of these deficiencies. We are going to take it one day at a time with JB, stay on the Biaxin and do regular checks on her levels. We are NOT going to do any special treatments unless she starts getting sick more frequently. The upcoming cold and flu season will be a test to her body, but I am confident that she will "pass" with flying colors!!! Thank you all so much for your prayers. We truly felt them these past 2 weeks during the waiting.

Way too much alone time...

This is what happens when you leave a 16 month old with a forgotten chocolate cupcake on the kitchen table!!!!

We Love A Parade!

Thursday Sara Glenn's Peewee Cheerleader Squad was invited to ride in the Winona High School Homecoming Parade. The theme was a Disney Homecoming, so our girls went with the whole "Making Wishes Come True" part of it. We had Chris's truck washed and made cute signs for the sides and back of it. Tiffany even made his antenna look like a magic wand since each girl had a wand they waved around while they cheered and threw candy from the back of his truck. It was so much fun!!! I have totally gotten way to into all of this, but it brings back such great, fun memories of when I was a peewee cheerleader. All of these girls are so excited, and we have our first game Monday night at 6. More pics of that to come! One more tidbit about SG.........SHE MADE THE HONORS CHOIR!!! The showchoir director decided to have an Honors Choir to travel with on special performaces, and SG was one of I think 5 fourth graders that made it. God has blessed her with such a sweet voice, and we are so proud of all of her accomplishments.

Nothing a Little Glue Won't Fix!

Sunday afternoon we were at the high school for Sara Glenn's peewee cheerleader practice. We had not been there five minutes, and Emmy Lou fell on the concrete hitting her forehead on a jagged rock. Sure enough it was worth a trip to the ER because even though it wasn't long it was very deep. She really didn't cry much until they took her temperature RECTALLY, and it was all over with after that. Really, who can blame her? This is our second accident in less than a week. Thursday about 30 minutes before the Winona High School Homecoming Parade JB tripped and ran into the corner of our kitchen table with her mouth. Her bottom teeth made a huge whole in her lip and actually went through her lip. Not much you can do for that, and it has already started to heal and look better. Needless to say, it's been an eventful week!

It's Sneaker Time!!

Today we went "sneaker" shopping as JB called it, and I bought her some leather Keds. She obviously had other sneakers in mind. You know, the kind that light up and honestly are the tackiest things Wal-Mart could ever sell. Everytime we go there she asks me over and over to buy her a pair that "glow" when she walks. I always tell her they are out, such a lie, but it works. Today she happened to find them herself and proceeded to put them on and walk out of the store in them. So now we own a lovely pair of these Disney Princess glowing sneakers. It's not enough that her teacher at preschool thinks she only has 1 dress since it's the one she wants to wear every school day and honestly these days it's not worth the fight. My new philosophy is going to be: As long as she is clean and her hair and teeth are brushed, it's OK!!!

Update on JB

In December of 2007 Janey Beth was diagnosed with IgA Deficiency, and we were referred to Dr. Christie Michael with LeBonheur's Pediatric Allergy, Immunology and Pulmonology Group in Memphis. We went a couple of weeks ago for a 6 month recheck on her immunity levels. The results were her IgA deficiency has gotten worse, and now her IgG level (immunity found in your blood) is very low. They had us come back last Monday, and they drew 6 more tubes of blood for extensive testing on her white blood cells maturity and the cells within them. They are also trying to see if her tetanus and pneumoccocal (sp?) immunizations as a child worked. We have been off and on the antibiotic Biaxin since January, and now HAVE to stay on it to prevent her from getting an infection of some sort since her body cannot defend itself right now. Depending on the results from these tests, we will either go back to Dr. Michael to get a "gameplan" together for JB, or she will refer us to St. Jude's Immunology Department for further help. There is a treatment for this, Praise the Lord, and it's called IVIG. Basically, once a month an IV would pump immunoglobulins into JB to help build up her immune system. The problem is once you start these treatments, they are lifelong. Janey Beth does NOT act sick since she has already gotten three spankings today and is jumping on my bed as I type!haha Her activity level and appetite are great, and she even weighs 35 lbs. which is very good for her age and having this immunodeficiency! We walked the dog 1 mile yesterday, and she was ready to go another. She doesn't seem sick, but there is definitely something wrong with her little defenses inside her body. We would very much covet your prayers during this next week and a half. Our prayer is that we can diagnose and quickly start treatment for JB depending on the test results. We do NOT want to start the IVIG unless we have to but are thankful that it is available. I will definitely update as soon as I know more.

McRae Update

Lately life has been SO busy that I haven't had time to update our blog. I am going to give a run down of what's going on with each of us.
CHRIS: Football is under way and the Jags are 1-1! We won BIG last week against Montgomery County 41-6 and play J.J. McClain this Friday night. Chris loves JZ George and the kids, but is having a hard time keeping up with teaching five 8th grade science classes each day. This area is also state tested, so he has been a little stressed about making sure he is REALLY teaching these kids what they need to know. SG is loving the fact that he brings home 3 1/2 hours worth of papers to grade each week! It makes her feel like a "real" teacher. Chris is also about to start a new Sunday School class at our church in October and is excited about that.
SG: Sometimes we wonder if she actually still lives with us!ha She is extremely busy with school, show choir, soccer, friends, etc. They had a soccer camp this past Saturday, and she loved it! She is playing up this year on a U12 team and is pumped about being on Lexie's team. We have Open House tonight at her school, and she has AMAZING teachers this year. SG is still taking piano from MayMay and is moving right along in that. Peewee cheerleader starts soon, so honestly she is rarely here.
JB: Preschool is going great! They are learning so much! She comes home with at least 3 papers everyday including writing and listening skills work. Her teacher, Ms. Barbara, does so much in the short 3 hours that she has them. She has learned the Lord's Prayer and the Pledge of Allegience already. Dancing as you can guess is what she looks forward to every week! She has mastered walking up Miss Claire's driveway in her taps without slipping down at least 4 times. She loves Sunday School with Jacob and Miss Marla at church and says at least once a day "I love living in Winona with MayMay and PaPa".
EL: Our little Lou Lou has become a serious climber! She can climb on top of the piano, kitchen table, computer table, all of our beds and pretty much anything else that would give you a heart attack. We can actually understand some words she is saying now: "uh-oh", "bye bye", "ooooh" for the cow, "dug" aka dog, "baby" and "puppy".
Me: We just started Sunday School classes at our church for children, and I am teaching Sara Glenn's age class. Right now it's just she and I, but we hope to have some more come next Sunday. We are using John Piper's Children Desiring God curriculum, and it's AMAZING!!! I joined Junior Auxiliary and am going to be SG's cheerleader sponsor. I honestly take a nap everyday with the little two just to gear up for the afternoon and all of the activities. ha
As you can tell, life is busy right now at the McRae house, but it would be so boring any other way!