Homestretch

Yesterday was more recovering. We got some results back. The cell balance between eosinophils and nutraphils (yeah, look how smart we are now) in her lungs which control different types of asthma, looked good. The docs say that's the new medicine she's on and that that's what they hoped to find. The other important test about whether there are lipid laden macrophages (see? we're learning big words) will be a couple of days. That will tell us to what extent she has been aspirating food and stomach contents. Also we are waiting to see if anything grows in the cultures from the tissues they took.

Yesterday she did some more breathing tests and a bit of running around. She really is doing remarkably better. She is starting to get a little cold and the doctors say that will be the test. She hasn't had a cold in 18 months that hasn't sent her to the hospital. But she is SO much better. And we have so much better tools to tell when she is beginning to go down hill. This has been life changing for us.

Today we do a swallow study. We know severe reflux is perhaps the biggest puzzle piece to her asthma but there is concern that she is aspirating from the top end too and that her swallow coordination is poor. This will tell us that and if that is the case there are things we can do.

And.....the docs say tomorrow can be Lila's last day!!!!! That means, if all goes well, we will be home SUNDAY!!! We are so ready. This has blessed us in so many ways but we all want home. I told Lila and Samantha today that we would be home Sunday and what the first things they would do would be. Here are there answers in the order they were received. Lila: "I'm going to get out of the car and run all around like crazy because I can now!" Samantha: "I am going to run around and hug our chickens and let our dogs be crazy with me." Lila: "I'm going to go in and kiss all my toys!" We are all ready.

Speaking of toys...yesterday a woman who we didn't know somehow tracked us down through the newspaper article that Lila was in and brought two bags full of toys for the girls. The kindness of stangers amazes me. And speaking of strangers, we miss our friends. I talked to several of our friends in the last few days, and got a wonderful email from another friend and I miss them. I am feeling really fortunate right now. Our life is going to be changed and our friends have stuck with us on this whole horrible journey. Thank you. And thank you to those who have never met us but who are sending prayers our way.

I will post what we find out today and then soon a whole kind of wrap up of all that we have found out. Thanks all.