How things are going ...

Well, it's been a fairly good week (and not sure when I could last write that!) so am leaning towards thinking that perhaps the TSE is helping ... but not yet ready to say it definitely is. Don't get me wrong, she's still been cranky and telling me her tummy hurts, but not screaming in pain and definitely not crying so much that I've been frustratedly trying to get hold of the anaesthetist. So all in all, that's pretty positive! It can take up to two weeks to see the full benefit so I'll reserve full judgement until we've gotten to that point, but am pretty optimistic about her gut pain and the TSE.

The itching however, has not changed in the slightest and I am having to remind Alyssa constantly not to scratch. At times she actually seems unable to stop when I tell her to, which is not usual but at least when she is at her daycare placement, they are able to distract her easily.

She's had the first week where she was there for two mornings (the third was spent at the hospital getting the TSE machine) and she had a great time. She's eating better since starting there - the other kids eating at the same time definitely helps - and she's apparently a "good influence" on the other children. Lol! She's always tidying up the toys (not that I'm a neat freak or anything!) and they copy her, and she really loves jigsaws, books and puzzles ... which is rubbing off on the others too - creating a much more peaceful playtime! Which is nice to hear, and also that - although she asks for me every so often - she is easily distracted and isn't getting too upset now that I'm not there with her. When I left her the first time last week, her little face just looked heartbroken. She saw me and mum leaving ... and kept pointing to herself to go too, as if she didn't understand why she wasn't leaving as well! Poor girl, but she had fun after that, and was much better on Friday. Didn't want to come home once I returned to collect her! Well, not until she realised I was leaving again!

Saw her paediatrician again this week for a general review, and it went pretty well. We discussed her various medications and the TSE, and what I think is/isn't making a difference. Alyssa was pretty pale again (I'd noticed that again a few days previously, she was the same when she first started this drug trial although it cleared up after she adjusted) and after checking the insides of Alyssa's eyes, her paediatrician decided that they were pale too so it was best to just check her bloods. Things had run late that day, so we all decided it was easier to reschedule for the bloods to be taken, and should get notice of that shortly. She has previously had periods of being really pale, yet not anaemic so we're not that worried ... and she's still doing everything she was doing when she wasn't pale - no change or any other symptoms, so it's probably nothing. But best to check anyway.

Think that's all for now - told you, it has been a pretty good week!

Oh! I took her to "the shows" one evening this week, and she absolutely loved it - had a total blast! Charmed everyone (as per usual), to the point where she was getting free rides, lol! Then she gave the poor ride owner a heart attack as she watched him bolt the little car door from the outside .... and immediately opened it once the ride had started!!! I'm busy shouting at her to leave it alone, and the poor guy was rushing over to close it again! Hee, it's meant to be a safety bolt to stop kids just opening the door! And after him giving her a ride for free too! Poor bloke! He just looked at me in complete amazement and said "She's really bright, isn't she!?" and asked how old she was. I said "2 1/2 ... going on 90!" :-)

But it was SO nice to actually see her getting to do things like a "normal" child, and giggling her little head off. I just don't get to see that enough ... and can't wait to take her back again. She heard the ice cream van playing it's tune the following day and kept saying "shows, shows" ... Bless!