OK We had some fun, too, in Kelowna

Yes, we took some time to have fun in Kelowna, too. We went and played at a park by the water, we went mini golfing (where Meredith got 2 holes in one and her father only got one), we went on a Okanagan Lake cruise aboard the Fintry Queen and listened to Cuban music, we went to a reptile rescue center called Croc Talk. On the way home we stopped at Christina Lake to take pictures just like we did 2 years ago when we were scoping out the area. All in all it was a good trip.

We are home...with answers

It wasn't the answer we were hoping and praying for....but it's an answer and that was the reason for going to Kelowna. O.K. Where to begin. The results from the echocardiogram and ecg showed that there were no problems with her heart, but did show that she has had high blood pressure for quite sometime already. Her ultrasound of her kidneys showed that she has Polycystic Kidney Disease. I can't explain it well enough for all of you to understand, so please follow this link to a better explanation: https://www.pkdcure.org/AboutPKD/ARPKD/tabid/219/Default.aspx
She was also now started on a medication to help her blood pressure come down, she is on 5mg of Norvasc daily. She's been really good about taking her pill and is still a trooper about checking her pressure whenever mom says it's time. :)

So now what? Now we wait for Dr. Szombathy (the pediatrician from Kelowna) to call with an appointment for her to see a pediatric nephrologist and Alberta Children's Hospital in Calgary.

How are we all handling this? Well, it's a learning process for all of us. Yes, we are concerned and have questions and uneasiness about all of this...but...we are doing o.k. We are all still 'digesting' this diagnosis and what it may hold for Meredith and our family. Meredith is handling it all well, I think, she will tell you she has a kidney disease and that she's on pills for her high blood pressure, and that she has to go see another doctor. The siblings understand that Meredith is sick and that means that mom and dad may have to go places without them. So it will take us some time to let it all soak in.

Thank you to all who have been sending notes of encouragement and prayers. They are all greatly appreciated and are taken to heart.

Another day in Kelowna

As Meredith's blood pressure went up again last night (above her average) I called her doctor right away this morning. Well...they called back and we finally went in for her abdominal ultrasound. The tech couldn't tell us anything...but it was kinda wierd when after they took her pictures and then went out of the room and the radiologist looked at them...then they came back in and needed another look at her aorta...like I said...they couldn't say anything to me as to what they saw so I am hoping and praying it's nothing serious. So after her ultrasound I called her doctor again to let them know that I knew the radiologist saw her pictures and to look for the preliminary report 'in the system'.

Otherwise today we did some more sight-seeing...it is a beautiful city. Did some mini golf this morning....Vincent is the McEnroe of mini golf...just ain't gonna be his sport! LOL Also went on a 2 hour boat cruise of Lake Okanagan. Very beautiful. Can't wait to get home so that I can post some pictures and video. OH! Meredith scored 2 holes in one at mini golf...Shawn 0nly scored one.

So tomorrow I'm hoping that Dr. Szombathy will call with some answers as to what is causing this (if anything) and what are we gonna do about it.

Thanks to all for thoughts and prayers. They are all greatly appreciated.

Meredith's appointment

Meredith had her doctor's appointment this morning. He checked her over from head to toe and said that her outward physical appearance does not show that she should be having this high blood pressure. He also checked her BP many times while we were there...and yep...high. He is starting the think that she just has essential hypertension (which is what adults get...high blood pressure with no reasons) and may have to start medication to control it (just like adults). BUT he wants to check her out on the inside to make sure that nothing else is causing it. Today she had an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of her heart) and another ECG (heart tracing) and the doctor will send those off to a pediatric cardiologist just to make sure there is nothing there. Later this week she will be having an abdominal ultrasound to make sure it's not her kidneys causing this. Like always she has been a little trooper through all of this...and if you ask she'll show you her neat stickers that she got (they are the patches they used on her from her echo and her ecg).

So far all the other kids are doing well and I think are worried about her, too. So for plans for the rest of the week are to get the ultrasound done, see what else Dr. Szombathy wants to do, do some sightseeing.....

It is beautiful here and will post pictures when we get home.

Will post more when I know more!!!

I think Mozart is really fitting in

Catherine and Mozart were eating breakfast together. She loves the kitten but he has a tendency to see her and run! She gets a little rough with him at times, but he is very tolerant of her when she does get a hold of him. Mozart decided that Christina need to keep the top of her head warm at night. He likes sleeping with his 'people' and is very cuddly and purrs like a diesel semi-truck.

The First Grapes

One thing that we could never grow in North Dakota was grapes. Now we have a huge retaining wall that needed to be covered with something...so why not grapes! On of my pinot gris grape vines I had my first little bunch of grapes. It was so sad when I had to pinch them off so that the plant can put more energy into growing the vine versus growing the grapes, but in about 3 years I should have grapes coming out of my ears (and into my wine glass...I hope).

Creston Valley Hockey Camp

August 18-22nd Shayne and Meredith attended their first hockey camp. They had a blast! Shayne had activities from 10am-2pm and was in the 7&8 year old group. Meredith skated from 3:30-4:30 with the 5&6 year olds and then skated again from 4:30-5:30 with just girls (she was exhausted after skating for 2 hours...but she loved being on the ice that much). Now we're looking forward to the the season starting in September. I think we will be adding a new hockey player to our team this year...Vincent. We'll see how that will go!

Anne of Green Gables is 100 years old

August 14-16 Creston celebrated the 100th anniversary of the wonderful novel by L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables. Some of the activities that they had were: showing the kids all about a mustard plast, sewing quilt squares by hand, penny candy, lawn games and races, homemade ice cream, and school lessons in a one room school house. That Saturday afternoon the girls and I went to tea at the museum. Although it was hot (100F) they were all still dressed for that period and did wonderful little plays throughout the tea. We were served non alcoholic raspberry cordial and the goodies were made based on recipes from the authors cookbook. It was a wonderful few days being with 'Anne'.