The next challenge

We got the official medical 'stamp of approval' this morning that Joey has made a full recovery! He no longer has to get blood work each week. His labs from Monday were looking really good, except that his platelets were still a little bit high (not dangerously, but just a bit above the normal range). Our pediatrician told me yesterday that he would call the Infectious Disease department at Children's Hospital to get their thoughts on his case. He expected a call back sometime this week, but he heard back from them nice and early this morning and talked to one of the leading researchers of Kawasaki's in the nation who has been working with KD for over 30 years. She said the latest grouping of kids with KD have had slightly elevated platelets, but because the other critical markers are normal we don't have to test Joey's blood any more! We will continue to keep an eye on his heart as he grows, but they consider his case a full recovery!

We are indeed celebrating and giving all the glory to God for this gift!

I think Joey must have already known last night that this news would be coming. He knew that we would breath a big sigh of relief and finally be able to close this chapter, so he decided he had to do something that would keep us on our toes. He waited until Daddy left for his Bible study and Mommy was up to her elbows in dish water before he did this:



I was trying in vain to explain to a 17-month-old how it was dangerous, but Lucy was more than happy to encourage him, and it became a game for the two of them:



Even though I feel like I'm holding my breath each time I allow him to do it, who can resist those grins of triumph and the giggles of sibling joy? From now on, the dishes will just have to wait until after bedtime.