Abby at UVA again

"Snowbell" the bunny on the pediatric floor is a big hit!

She is getting too used to breakfast,lunch and dinner in bed! Not to mention the unending supply of popscicles!

We didn't get admitted until 3 am, so we made ourselves comfortable in the ER! Abby was happy to find out she had a roommate- "Baby Diamond." I wasn't happy that Baby Diamond's mother had the t.v. blaring all night for background noise!

Most of you know Abby had to go back down to UVA last week. On Friday afternoon she started walking strangely and kept insisting I pick her up. I thought her feet were uncomfortable from her new snow boots, or that she might be getting a blister. The "limping" continued through the night when we went to the pool and into the next morning. After waiting several hours at the pediatrician's office, the doctor said to take her to the ER at UVA in Charlottesville b/c her neurosurgeon was the doctor on call that weekend and could evaluate her.

After three days, the neurologist and neurosurgery teams decided that her issues with walking can be contributed to her Chiari, which we feared. She is also complaining of headaches a few times a week and gags a few times a day for no apparent reason. Otherwise being unsteady and having some other slight symptoms, she is in great spirits. When she's tired or sick the symptoms are more pronounced.

Once again, Abby enjoyed the stay at UVA, with it's play rooms, activity terrace and preschool classroom. Sadly, this was the last week for the terrace and playrooms b/c they are renovating and using the space for additional bedrooms. The "ammenities" kept her spirits up and the bad news was easier to bear because she was enjoying herself so much.

We've got a sleep study consultation tomorrow b/c she wakes up sometimes coughing and they want to make sure the pressure from Chiari isn't affecting her respiratory system when she is lying down.

We meet again with the neurosurgeon in four weeks to discuss the options. It seems that we may not be able to avoid surgery... it's a big one and we really don't want our poor baby to have to go through that...