Baxter Family Six!: What's going on in our world . . .

I've been purposefully quiet lately trying to sort everything out in our household.

Faith is still testing positive for Giardia! We waited 8 weeks to get into an Infectious Disease Specialist. We were super excited to have another opinion and hopeful for a solution. What a nightmare. The doctor was over 1.5 hours late coming into our appointment. [try keeping 2 toddlers in a 4 x 4 exam room for 1.5 hours at nap time -- and keeping them from licking and fingering everything in the room -- remember, we were at an infectious disease ward!!] The doctor then proceeded to tell us that he mistakenly researched the wrong parasite and didn't really have much to tell us other than to have the girls tested again and then we'd discuss some possible solutions. Argh! He didn't even schedule us for a follow up!!

Luckily, I brought some 'samples' with me so it wasn't a wasted trip. After 2 weeks of not hearing back from the doctor and several phone calls that were not returned, the doctor finally called to politely tell me that the lab had a 'problem' with our samples and were unable to process them... Seriously?? A week later we received the new 'sample jars' in the mail (because the hospital is 45 minutes away from our home) and read the instructions... I had to collect 2 samples for each girl... which had to be at least 12 hours apart.... and had to return them to the lab (which is 45 minutes away) within 72 hours... Yikes!

After about a week more, I was able to orchestrate the girls pooh schedules and get samples, although I was only able to get one sample for Ellie -- but decided to take it to the lab before Faith's 72 hour window expired. Whew! Long story short, the lab would not accept Ellie's since I didn't have 2 samples... and then they told me the instructions that were sent to me were wrong. (The 2 samples were to be from the same 'product' -- the 12 hours apart only applied if we were taking 4 or more samples!!) Honestly, it took all the grace in my heart to not leap over the counter and hurt someone! I know is not the lab's fault but this situation has been horrible and I am so tired of running from appointment to appointments without any resolution. At this point, we are waiting for results of Faith's test and will worry about getting Ellie's samples there later -- we've already had 2 negative results for Ellie -- so not really worried there. Praying by some miracle that Faith's results come back normal!!!... and if they do, I pity the lab we used previously.

Then, on another note, Ellie had routine blood work repeated from her initial first doctor's visit. It's routine to repeat a few of the tests a year later to make sure something wasn't hiding out. Unfortunately, one of her tests came back abnormal and had to be repeated on a much broader scope. So, on the same day as the 'lab' incident, I had to take Ellie to a different lab and hold her down while they poked and prodded to get 5 more tubes of blood. The doctor thinks that perhaps it was a false-positive. Praying that's the case too!

Next week our Social Worker comes for Ellie's one year post-adoption visit. I can't believe it's almost been a year! And, we also have a tour of a pre-school that the girls may be able to attend in the fall. Faith will miss the required age by 2 months (must be 2 years 9 months). Hoping they may make an exception and praying they have 2 openings... not just one. The girls are receiving wonderful care from their Nana and Meemaw, but are in some desperate need of socialization (outside of each other) and Ellie can use some practice at self-regulation without mommy assisting.

The boys are both in full swing with baseball. Colton made the Varsity team and left today for spring training in North Carolina for a few days. Fun stuff and wish I was going... It's cold here! Dylan started practice this week and games are just around the corner.

So, honestly it's been quite a trying month or so. Mamma said there'd be days like these . . . I just hope they are over soon! But, you know... I just have to laugh because you just can't make this stuff up!! I don't know what the plan or purpose in all of this is, but I just feel blessed that all of these crazy appointments and such are not because the girls are necessarily ill. They are both very healthy, and for that, I am grateful!

In the meantime, here are a few photos. I promise to post some bday pics soon!