Mary Kate..... "ain't she GREAT!"

We used to sing that song to MKT when she was a baby... the verse ends... "she's as sweet as chocolate CAKE!"

Mary did a great job at the CAT scan. It was a HUGE challenge. But Thankfully, our AWESOME aunt Robbie went with us to keep us all sane. She and Rob buddied up while I delt with where we were to go, who we needed to see, insurance, etc. Then when it came to time to go into the test I was not suprized when she said she wanted Robbie to go with her (I told her it was her choice... I knew I was all keyed up and might make her more nervous). Of course, it wasn't easy... she has such tiny viens, they couldn't find one large enouch to advance the needle through.. so they had to try THREE TIMES.... it was a challenge... See she wasn't supposed to have any needles or sedation, but they had to override the docs order and do contrast. I was fine with it, because I expected it and knew it would give the best picture.

Well. She was shaken.... see we told her if she did a great job, she could go get her ears pierced. You see to you and me, that means MORE NEEDLES, BUT to MKT, that is SOCIAL FREEDOM.. all the (and if you are MKT, you say this with your hand on your hip and you raise your squeeky voice) "POP----U-LARRRRR" (popular) girls... those are the "cool" girls in Kindergarten!!!!! All the cool girls have ear rings...... and they change them with each season.. If it is snowing... snowflakes. Spring..... flowers... I'm not kidding... they check their ears in the am at school. And she had just gone to a party on Sunday where "MARRRRISSSSSSA got her pierced ears!!!!" Well... when she came out of the test, she said she didn't want it...but quickly she changed her mind.

She picked August's birthstone peridot.... I told her it was mine too, and she was all excited. Aunt Robbie also got her a pair of soccer balls, basket balls, PINK guitars, and penquins... CAN YOU SAY SPOILED??????

We'll go back in a few weeks and get an earring holder, too... we have to find something for her to "earn" that for... maybe doing her kitty litter chores for a week!!!!! COOL.

She called Aunt Aimee and said, "I got my pierced ears and I 'handled' it!!!!"

Anyway the doctor called later in the day... have I told you I LOVE this pediatrician and want to switch them over to her.... and said that the film looked good... (you gotta love this) "NO tumor... (great... but also makes your heart skip a beat when you KNOW they were looking for it.. I mean, I figured, but nobody SAID IT!!!!) No mass, no blockage, no stone in the gland." All that is really good. But leaves us to say, that it is "probably" recurrent salivary or parotid infection and she should continue her course of antibiotic for the 10 days. Then we should watch closely to see if it comes back.

She did say that the achy legs and fatigue does concern her..... because that doesn't associate with the infection. And that there is a chance that it is something called Sjogren's syndrome.

I looked that one up for you....

Sjogren's syndrome is an autoimmune disease, that is, a disease in which the immune system turns against the body's own cells. In Sjogren's syndrome, the immune system targets moisture-producing glands and causes dryness in the mouth and eyes. Other parts of the body can be affected as well, resulting in a wide range of possible symptoms.

It does make a lot of sense...she wants Tim and I to discuss it and get back to her and see if we want her worked up for it... from my research it looks like that will just be a blood test... can't hurt to check. Because there seem to be some pretty simple meds for it. Maybe it would help. It would explain why she rubs her eyes so much and has the dryness in her throat.

It does concern me as MS is an autoimmune disease, as is Lupus, which a cousin has and some other conditions in the family. I think I'll have her check to be certain. If Sjorgen's is the primary issue, then your good. If it is a secondary there can be other issue occuring at the same time.... We'll see.

ORRRR maybe it is simply a recurrent infection....... either way...... it sucks to see your baby's face swollen that much... but I know it could have been so much worse. So that is all good.

Thanks for keeping her in your prayers. I feel MUCH better about it. Because I knew what they were looking for WORSE case and just couldn't handle that... but luckily we have an extra angel in heaven looking out for her, so its ALLL GOOOD.