Life after K's 2nd Transplant and Laces for Love

I cannot believe that I remembered the password for this blog!!!!  I have no words for my lack of blogging, so shall we just move forward???? Great!  First off, according to my last post....Kaidence is still in the hospital but obviously, she is not.  She came home on August 29th! See, this picture is proof!

Kaidence came home with a new heart and to a new (temporary) house while our house was waiting to be built.  She recovered very well and I was pleasantly surprised with how well it all went.  In December I noticed a decrease in energy, eating and an increase in GI issues. She became weak, stopped doing dance and school and really had no quality of life. Over time she started quickly loosing weight.  There was a 2 pound weight difference between her (days away from turning 6) and my skinny 2 year old. We started reverting back in our eating, taking medications and speech.  It wasn't until a few weeks ago and 3 hospitalizations after that we figured out that it was her Cellcept medication that was making her so sick. It causes severe GI issues as a side effect.  We had the same issue with the first transplant as well.  Her vomiting and reflex caused the voice issues to return. 

I don't want to post the sick pick of her because it's a little too disturbing to see my daughter all skin and bones. She weighed in at 33 pounds, that is down from 41.  But she looks better in the other pics so I will post those.

 She was hospitalized the week of her birthday and we celebrated her 6th birthday up at the hospital. 

Her brothers had influenza and were not able to see her on her special day but her good heart buddy Matthew came up for a tea party and to test out her new Easy Bake Oven.  They are too cute together.  

She said it was the best birthday ever.  She also got a new scooter and she took it for a few test drives through the hospital. She also had a few 'after hour' races with some nurses.  She loved it!

Here she is......on her 6th Birthday!  That is the girl that I have missed.  The one with the big smile, sparkle in her eyes that could talk your ear off.  She had been gone for so long that it feels exhilarating to have her back! 

Currently she is doing fantastic!  Her favorite thing to eat is Ham sandwiches or she loves just bread with Miracle Whip.....Nasty!  Whatever gets her eating again. We are still tube feeding her at night to get her weight back up.  We are getting there.  She currently is 36.8 pounds.  Slow but progress.  Regardless, she now is giving her body enough fuel to give her energy.  Today she is playing with her friend Miss M.  This is their first play date since her transplant.  Needless to say its been a long winter.  

This Saturday, Kaidence will perform in the ballet of Alice in Wonderland as a tea cup.  She is thrilled and her costume is gorgeous.  We have only been back to dance for about 2 weeks but she caught up quickly.  I knew she was feeling better when she was dancing down the hospital hall and singing.  Always a sign for me.  I will post pictures of her performance (I really will!)

Until then.....Will you please do me a favor????

 This is a friend of mine who has a beautiful family here on earth and a darling Sunshine Angel boy waiting for them in Heaven. They are looking to adopt 2 children to complete their family. Will you please support this great cause?  There are pick up locations all over the US. If you are in the area you can drop your shoes by my house or at one of the many drop off locations. 

www.lacesforlove.blogpsot.com

Join as as we collect 40,000 gently used but still wearable shoes THIS MONTH to raise the funds needed for the adoption of two children. We can take ANY type of shoe - boots (we LOVE boots, since they pay us by the pound), flip flops, high heels, tennis shoes, dressy shoes, sports shoes, cleats, anything. For men, women and children. As long as there aren't gaping holes . . . and they match . . . we'll take them! You declutter, we earn much needed adoption money AND the shoes go to third world countries. WIN, WIN and WIN!!!

To find the drop location nearest you (we are in 10 states) and to read our story, see our blog for details: www.lacesforlove.blogspot.com.

All shoes must be gathered by March 31st so we are in the final stretch! WE CAN DO IT!

Help us complete our family. Sole by sole.

Thank you