Well, I finally have time to update you on some scary news about Gavin. 2 weeks ago, Gavin came down with a respiratory virus that made him pretty sick. We took him into the doctor 2 days in a row to make sure it wasn't pneumonia...and fortunately it wasn't, but we discovered something else pretty scary. The virus triggered an autoimmune reaction in Gavin's body, causing his own antibodies to start attacking his platelets. In the course of 24 hours, Gavin went from quite normal levels to critically low levels. We were only out of the hospital for 5 days after having Natalie, and here we were on the 20th, admitting Gavin for 2 days. His condition is called Idiopathic Thrombocytopenia Purpura (ITP). He received 2 infusions of Immunogammaglobulins (or IgIV) to help create more antibodies to allow his body to make more platelets without being attacked. The infusions took 6 hours each of him being hooked up to IV's and having his vitals checked regularly. It was not pleasant for a 16 month old who wants to run around and hates being held down. Overall, he became pretty bruised and full of petechiae (little red spots on the skin) indicating abnormal clotting. We were pretty fearful of him harming himself while in the hospital. At any rate, after 2 nights, we finally took him home, and prayed the infusions worked. After 48 hours, his body was at half the normal levels of platelets, and now, a week and a half out, he is soaring. We are so grateful, but it is not completely over yet. Gavin will have to be monitored for 6 months, weekly for the 1st month and biweekly after that, to make sure this is only acute, and not chronic. He is doing much better now, and we are finally getting to a 'normal' time with a newborn and a crazy, wonderful active almost toddler. Here are some pictures of our sick little guy in the hospital with his IV in (his 'paw'), and in his favorite place--the wagon. We must have walked around and around the wing 1000 times over 2 days to keep him happy!
