To say the least, the last month has been a very interesting one. Despite my best efforts to act like I've felt "normal" and to continue doing all of the things that need to be done (work, school, weekend activities, etc.), I've been certain that I must be fighting off some type of infection. Fever, chills, muscle aches, cough, and just feeling crummy overall... for over a month. Multiple trips to the doctor/ER and various tests (bloodwork, x-ray, CT scan, spinal tap) all had resulted in a diagnosis of "unspecified virus." After another week of near constant fever, I went back to the doctor again and she decided it was time to get an infectious disease specialist involved. I was admitted to the hospital last Thursday (2/10) and learned that I had bacteria in my bloodstream and that this bacteria likes to infect the valves of the heart. Two different echocardiograms confirmed that I have an infection of my mitral valve (endocarditis) and that the infection has created a small hole in the valve. I have been on two different antibiotics which seem to be doing the trick (fever and cough are gone and energy is coming back). They are supposed to be putting in a PICC line tomorrow (2/16) which will allow me to be able to administer my own IV antibiotics for the next 3 weeks and most importantly, will mean that I can GO HOME! Now that I'm on the medication, I'm actually feeling better than I have in a month. In about 3 or 4 weeks (after I finish my antibiotics), the cardiologist will take another look at my heart and determine if the valve will need to be repaired or whether I can just be monitored (without surgery) going forward. The doctors are hopeful that the infection has responded well and that I will not need surgery.
But enough about me...
The girls are doing great. Thanks to Granna, Grandad, and Aunt Lindsey, Claire has been able to keep up her busy social schedule! Lindsey was able to pinch hit for me this weekend and took Claire to see "Madagascar Live" at the Hobby Center (I had bought tickets to take her for Valentine's Day). Mom took her to a birthday party on Sunday and then make sure that the girls were prepared for their Valentine's parties at school yesterday, so they haven't missed a beat through all of this! I thought I'd share some of the pictures that they took for me over the last few days.
Claire at "Madagascar Live"
Aunt Lindsey & Claire
Ready for the birthday party
Kate at her first school Valentine's Day party
Claire loves cupcakes!
