Ruby Hope McKee Starling

Ruby's birthday was Wednesday.  Chris was helping parent at her school.  We made a coffee cake for her bring for snack.  We also let her pick out where we went for dinner.  She chose Pokey Joe's because of the train, this was not a surprise.  

Then today we had a birthday party for all her friends.  Ruby requested "painting, christmas tree, thomas cake, and tables".  So we did just that.   She also refused to wear clothes.  She was completely naked the entire party.

We have plenty more pictures.  I just need to go through them.  As you can imagine having all of Ruby's class over to paint was quite an ordeal.  A fun and totally worth it mess!

Ruby has her 4 year check-up next week.  She doesn't have CDH check-up at CHOP until November.  So we get to spend all spring in Texas for the first in 4 years.

 We saw Dr. Dan today.   Her bowel sounds were good.  Her lungs are clear.  He said the green bile could have been because her stomach was empty.  

She looks good and is showing no signs of any problems right now.  As always we'll keep a close eye on her. 

It's hard to not have any definite answers but she recovered and all looks good.   Now it's time for Mom and Dad to recover from this scare.

Here is a picture from Valentine's Day.  The kids love to play with photobook on our  new MacBook.

 It's been a while.  We've been busy as a family of four should be.  Gymnastics, swimming, preschool, walks, play dates, baking, and just having fun.  We've also been have some major work done on our house.  New windows, siding, paint, electrical, and a few more things.

The big scary news is that for the first time since we left the NICU Ruby had to go to the ER.  She's been having frequent vomiting episodes the past few months.  Three since Christmas.  She recovers with in 24 hours and goes back to normal.  Saturday though the vomit was green and brown.  ONe of the things that  her Doctors have told was an emergency.  Meaning don't even call just get her in the car and go to the ER.  So saturday morning that's exactly what we did.  Thankfully our neighbor was able to take Herbie.

The doctors and nurses and Dell Children's were wonderful. They gave Ruby's situation the respect and prompt care that she needed.  Basically as soon as I said she's diaphragmatic hernia child and is vomiting green and brown stuff.  We were in a room and being seen.  They did a chest and abdominal x-ray and blood work.  Ruby's veins are so scared that getting an IV in was not possible.  They were able to get blood work after 3 sticks.  Instead of calling the Picc line team we opted to see if she would keep some fluid down.   This was after her x-rays showed no sign of of bowel in her chest or a bowel blockage. We all felt she had been stuck enough.  Her labs came back a little off which could have been due to dehydration.  Bottom line is Ruby recovered and kept enough fluids down for the Doctor to feel comfortable enough to let us take her home.   Ruby informed the doctor "I need to go to my house.  I need to eat potato chips."   

We are very thankful for our friend Pat who as soon as she heard the news brought Chris and I smoothies to ER.  Which was all either of had to eat until we got home that day.  The Reck's kept a very active Herbie busy and happy all day.  Not to mention all the emails and texts I got.

Yesterday she was her normal self running around and eating.  Which is good, but we have no idea what is going on.  We are seeing her pediatrician this morning.

Here's a picture of Ruby snuggled up with her blanket and bear in her ER room.

We'll keep everyone posted.