Not What I Wanted To Hear

  I don't know about you but I am not happy about the results we got back from my labs. I have been feeling good except those few stomach aches ( I now remember why I don't like them). I have been enjoying my Christmas presents and am enjoying the time I get to spend with my family (even though I miss my mom, stepdad, and little brother). I can't wait for school to get back in so that I can see my friends. I hope everyone has a Happy New Year!

Dec 29th Lab Results

I got a call today from Dr. Zapata's office with the results from Ashlyne's blood work this week. There has been some changes, he is not too concerned yet but will be having her blood work drawn weekly again to see if things level out. Ashlyne's sed rates went up 8 points to 12, and one of the liver tox levels (apm I think, I was driving so could not write things down) was also up. The 6mp (immunosuppressant) can cause liver and kidney tox issues so we will have to monitor this. Ashlyne has had a few pain spells since Christmas but not a lot, so we will just have to wait and see. Continue to pray that these are not issues arising from the disease and just little blips in the road. Ashlyne has been coming down from 40mg of prednisone and last time we came off the prednisone her pain issues started up again as she went down. Let's hope that is not the case again and she is continuing to have healing. Also pray for the prednisone side affects of acne, Ash is not happy about this little issue added to her face.

Happy New Year!!

Wendy

A Look into Ashlyne's heart

Below is a note Ashlyne wrote to David Garrard with the Jacksonville Jaguars. I just had to share with you all her amazing little heart.


Merry Christmas David Garrard,

My name is Ashlyne Meseure and I live in Kearney, NE. I have Crohns disease also and was diagnosed this year. It has been really tough but I am getting much better and am almost in a stable state. I really appreciate the football that you and Maurice signed and sent me through Roy Stutz at UNK. It was very nice of you and made me feel really special. I think it is awesome what you do for the CCFA and I will definitely be rooting for you to win your last game. I will also be checking your blog. Here is my blog that you can check weekly to see how I am doing www.crohnskidsnebraska.com. I hope you had a Merry Christmas.

I really like the verse you have on your site. My mom and I hung up a whole bunch of bible verses on my last hospital stay and that was one of the verses we hung up. Crohns has really changed my life, it brought me closer to Jesus Christ and it has changed my diet and my life habits. I have gotten closer to my family and friends too. This disease has changed my life in many wonderful ways and I hope it changed your life too.

Your Friend,
Ashlyne Meseure

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas! In the left picture are Gluten free aebleskivers that my mom made. Aebleskivers are a Danish Dish, they are a hollow round pancake that you fill with jelly or syrup. We have them every year at Christmas time. In the right picture I am holding a football that was signed by David Garrard and Maurice Jones-Drew, they are football players on the Jacksonville Jaguars. David has Crohns and for every touchdown he throws Centrocor Inc. donates $10,000 to CCFA. I think that is awesome! I want to thank the Stutz Family for getting me the football. I hope everyone is having as good of a Holiday as me.

Sorry

Sorry everyone its been a while since I posted on my blog. IT has been pretty busy around here. My grandparents are visiting from Phoeniox and then trying to figure out my diet for the holidays. well I'm sure you all have heard that I am doing much better and that there is little to no inflamation. I am not very happy that they didn't change my diet at all but I guess it's better that I am feeling good. Keep checking on my blog to see how the holidays go on this new diet.

PRAISES!!!!

I just got off the phone with the doctors office. Ashlyne's labs yesterday were all very good. One of the areas of stricture has resolved and there appears to be no thickening of the intestinal wall, the second area, terminal illeum, has gone from an 8.2 something to 1.4 in thickness a major improvement!!!

Thank you, thank you, thank you for all your prayer I do believe that is all part of the success of her healing. Dr Z does not want to change any other parts of her treatment at this time in regards to medication and diet restrictions, other than starting to take her down off the prednisone.

Matthew 18:20:20 "For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”

Keep praying!!!

Wendy

Dec 16th Visit to Children's

This was taken today, Samuel was such a good boy during Ashlyne's Dr visit. He has a sinus infection and on antibiotic but we did not want to risk anything so we had him wear a mask.

From Ashlyne's clinical examination and her lab work from the last three weeks she appears to be improving very well. Dr Z said until he got the results from the ultrasound today he could not conclusively say there was improvement but he was very optimistic. We had the ultrasound after her visit with Dr Z, the radiologiest who did her MRI in November came in and assisted in the ultrasound, his initial feelings were that there was much improvement and he did not see the thickening of the intestine like what was present in November. He had to do the full comparative and was to call Dr Z with his findings before we know for sure.

Dr Z is starting to take Ashlyne down on her prednisone, 5 mg every 5 days until we reach 20 mg, then we will do some more lab work and see. We also had blood work today at Children's, we came home with a "hat" to do a stool sample also. Dr Z wants to speak with Dr Attard and Septer with all the results and look at if and how they will or can modify her elemental liquid diet. We may or may not have any changes at this time. Ashlyne did not like that idea at all. We will just have to wait and see.

We will update more tomorrow once we hear back from Dr Zapata. Again we thank everyone for their continued prayer and support.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Merry Christmas! It's time to do all the Christmas cooking. HOORAY! (not). Tonight we decorated Christmas cookies. It was hard but its a family tradition and I didn't want to miss out in the family fun. I don't get to eat any special cookies but I made so me pretty special ones for different people. It was fun and it got easier. Mom is able to make my favorite cookies gluten free so she is going to work on those this week. By the way please be praying for her because next week she is going to have a colonscopy and I just want God to be there with her and besides it's her turn to feel what its like to be in the hot spot. Thank you so much for all the prayers. I am feeling much better and can't wait to get to eat as much as I want. Make sure you check on my blog next week to find out how my doctors appointment goes.

This Week's Labs

Just got off the phone with Dr Zapata's nurse and Ashlyne's labs for this week which are her chemical level tests all came back within normal ranges. Next week Dr Z is ordering CBC, Sed Rates and 6mp again. Ashlyne has been feeling well, she has not had any pain spells or bloody stools. This is wonderful news. Other than her hating the swelling from the prednisone her spirits are great, she manages her diet so well.

I could not be more proud of her. She just amazes me each and every day. This week driving to school she expressed to me that she was glad she has Crohn's, I asked why, she said it has brought her closer to God and made her dependant on Him. She doesn't really want to be healed cause she does not want to loose this. WOW! What a profound statement, so spiritaully mature and wise. I said if she was healed she could give all the praises to God and she said she knows but thinks having Crohn's is ok. My heart could not be more filled hearing the words she is relying on God and how much she values this relationship she has built with God.

Wendy

Hi! This is Ashlyne and I think I look like the stay-puff marshmallow man. Please do not laugh at me but the stupid prednisone is not being my friend at all! :-(

New Glasses, New Hair Doo

The week we got back from Children's this past month Ashlyne got new glasses and a new hair cut. Here she is in front or the Christmas Tree tonight with her beautiful smile.

Happy Thanksgiving

On Wednesday we recieved Ashlyne's lab work back from Tuesday and her CBC, Sed Rates and Liver Tox levels were all still very good. This is very good news. Ashlyne will go in on Monday, Dec 1st for her weekly labs plus they are going to run her 6mp test. 6mp is her immumosuppressant drug and they will see how those levels. We are just about 2 1/2 weeks from her next visit when we see the dr and they do an ultrasound to compare to her MRI that Ashlyne had when she was in the hospital in November.

We are thankful for all of you who care for Ashlyne, pray for her and encourage her. We would not be able to do this without all of you.

Wendy

Praises - Lab Results & more

• We got the results of last weeks blood work, Ashlyne's sed rates are good, her CBC, blood count is good and her liver tox levels were within normal range.
• Ashlyne continues to not have any pain.
• Tonight is the last night for two weeks to have to get up and take meds at 1:30am, both Ashlyne and I are thrilled about this one.
• Our pharmacist is a compound pharmacist and he was able to make her new antiobiotic that we start tomorrow into a syrup so we do not have to give her injections of the medication. (Mom is really glad about this one)
• Ashlyne's grades continue to be A's, she has caught up with all her assignments and classes from missing 5 1/2 days of school.
• Ashlyne's spirits over all is very good.

Items to continue to pray about:

Calm Ashlyne's appetite, prednisone makes anyone hungry, she is on high levels and the last couple days has been wanting more food than she is allowed.

Protect Ashlyne from any teasing at school, her diet makes her different and her checks are really puffy, middle school kids can be mean. So far no one has given her trouble which is also a praise.

That this diet and medication regime will calm the inflammation and stricture areas before we return to Omaha on Dec 16th.

That Ashlyne can have some diet restrictions lifted and be able to have more foods by Christmas.

Pray for both of Ashlyne's families as we face the holidays and increased medical expenses. Pray that the insurance will authorize payment of Ashlyne's liquid supplement.

Thank you for continued support and prayers and encouragement.

Wendy

It's Ashlyne!

So far I have been doing good on my diet. I have not been doing bad emotionally until tonight I lost it. I couldn't hold it in. It wasn't as much as the food as not being able to eat a whole entire meal with my family. All I really get is a piece of chicken or meat and a Vital Jr. I don't even get to eat the same thing as them sometimes. Well, I am feeling much better but I haven't pooped since like Friday so I have to drink Milk of Magnisia. YUCK! Keep checking up on my blog to see how my new diet is working.

It's Ashlyne!

11/16/08 - 1 week down

Ashlyne has been home almost a week now and has been on the new diet just a week yesterday. I could not be more pleased with her response and cooperation with all the limitations. Calorie and gram counting and trying to give her some what of a variety continues to a challenge each day, but she has not complained. Ashlyne has felt well and has had little to no pain. Thank you for your continued prayers.

Wendy

11/11/08 Status

Yesterday morning started out not too good, Ashlyne started feeling poorly Sunday afternoon and she was still feeling "blecky" in the monring. Dr Septer was not wanting to release her until she started eating and drinking, which she was not doing Monday morning. Right around noon she started taking on fluids and did eat her hamburger patty. At 1:30 Dr Septer decided to release Ashlyne, he felt her "blecky" feeling could be related to a cold or flu she might be fighting and not complications with her Crohn's.

We left Omaha around 3:30 in rain and cold. We arrived home safely about 7:00pm Monday night. Ashlyne did finally pass her test camera pill as it finally dissolved enough to get past her strictures. The plan is as follows:

Remain on all her current meds with 6MP at 50mg a day, and her prednisone at 40mg. They have also decided to keep her on flagyl for 9 more days then start alternating flagyl and gentimiacin in 2 week intervals. The other meds she takes have not changed.

She will drink 5 cans of Vital Jr (40 oz) a day and an additional 20 ounces of water a day.
Ashlyne will have approx 800 calories a day of high protein and fat with a little carbs.
We will do this medication treatment along with the diet for 5 weeks, we return to Children's on Dec 16th for a doctor visit and an ultrasound. The new ultrasound and the MRI we took last Thursday will be compared. If she has improvement and depending on how much the Doctors will decide whether to keep her on the same treatment longer or start to alter it. If there is no improvement then remicade will most like be the next step of treatment.

Specifically pray that Ashlyne will have the will power and tolerance for this very restrictive diet. That her body will repsond to the treatment and medications and that the inflammation will go done. Pray that the high doses of 6MP will not create liver damage at this above normal levels. Pray that the prednisone will not have any further side affects than we currently deal with. Pray that she will remain healthy, she will not catch any colds or flu bugs, these can set her back. Pray that kids at school will not make a big deal about her new diet and she does not stand out. Pray that Ashlyne will remain encouraged and focused on the fact that this is just a short time in the big picture of things and the diet will not be forever.

I am so proud of how brave Ashlyne has been thru this all and tried very hard to deal with this diet. The nurses loved her at Children's and I am so pleased to hear that. Thank you all for your prayers and support this past week. We felt God's loving presence and I know that is what got me thru the past few days.

Wendy

Hooray!!!

Finally I get to go home tomorrow. I am very excited because I have been getting very bored lately. I hope this new diet works better and will help me get better. I don't totally like this diet but if it will get me to fealing better I am okay with it. All I need to do is look at it like its and only eight weeks out of my whole life. Keep checking my blog to see how the diet is going.

11/9/08- Update

Ashlyne had a good night and was able to get sleep despite the prednisone at 10:00pm. Dr Attard came in this morning. Ashlyne's pain has improved dramatically at examination, she is responding fine to liquid supplements. Dr Attard believes she will be released tomorrow after Dr Zapata examines her. We will do as follows:
60% liquid elemental supplemental
40% high fat, high protein, no fiber diet (solid food)
in about 4 weeks return for ultrasound comparision and sympton comparison
Keep 6mp at 50mg a day
Keep prednisone at 40mg a day
Stay on flagyl and then another antibiotic
Other meds remain the same
weekly liver tox, cbc and sed rates checks thru blood tests

The diet will be a challenge for Ashlyne in total with the liquid supplement she needs to intake 55-60 ounces of fluids and will only have about 830 calories in actual food.

Thank you for your prayers.

Wendy

A Cold Dreary Saturday

Good Afternoon! I just woke up from a nap. It was awsome, I have not been sleeping well so this nap really helped. Last night I had some friends form Kearney visit me because they were in tow n for a dance competition. I am really glad that they took the time to see me, it makes me feel really special(especially because they brought me a giant tiger stuffed animal). I am really feeling better but am upset that the tester camera pill got stuck. They also had to take out my old IV and give me a new one which I was not happy about at all. I miss all my friends and family but am happy that I get closer to going home by the minute. I just need to stay positive and I will make it throught this. Thanks for the prayer. So keep checking up for a daily progress chart thingy;-).

11/8/08 Update

As of 7:30 this morning Ashlyne had not passed the test pill so we went down for xrays to see where it is at. To our disappointment it is stuck in her colon at the first stricture site, the inflammation is so great that it can not pass. So this means no camera pill on Monday, Dr Attard is not sure what he wants to do now for sure. He wanted to talk to Dr Z and Dr Septer, he will see us Monday. He wants Ashlyne to go to 60% liquid diet and 40% fat and protien now too. So she will get 830 caloreis a day by food, protein and fats basically, no fruit, veggies, or fiber and very limited carbs about 200 calories at most (this would be about 8 tator tots or 1/2 a medium baked potato, the other 1240 calories will be by liquid supplements. The food department messed up and did not get us liquid supplements until 11:30 today, Ash was pretty hungry. The liquid supplement will be about 32-36 ounces a day. She has to take in 60 total ounces of fluids a day so besides her supplement she will need to drink that equal amount in water. Ashlyne's IV also collapsed this morning so we had to put in a new one, that did not go over very well with her. Her hands are very bruised and sore, the first day on the first attempt it went thru the vein and bubbled up a big blood pocket and that is still swollen, her right hand has had two IV's now and is just plain sore. Please pray for Ashlyne's spirits, the limited diet makes her upset, I keep redirecting her focus to the fact that this is just a season and once the inflammation can get into control she will not have to stay on this restrictive of a diet. The diet is a better answer right now than doing remicade, Dr Attard wants to try to keep her off that as long as possible due to her age and the side effects. The saga continues and we are just taking each day one at a time.

Wendy

From Ashlyne 11/7/08

Hey, its me again! Today we haven't done much. We have been watching movies we went and played Wii in the play room and I got to take a bath this morning. We talked to the nutritionist this morning and are going to start trying different milky things. I hope they don't taste to bad. I a kind of upset about the new diet but thats just one of the many new things I am going to have to live with. Thanks everyone who has been praying for me and keep checking my blog.

Ashlyne

Surrounded by God's Word

Ashlyne has been making pictures and putting them up around her room and on her door. We also selected a few scriptures that we have hanging up around the room and on her door. These are the verses we selected this time.
Daniel 3:17
John 14:6
James 1:2
Romans 12:12
Phillipians 4:6
Please pray these verses with us.

Wendy

11/7/08 11:00 am Update

Hello from Children's

Dr Attard was in this morning, below is the plan and what is happening so far. Ashlyne did not rest well last night, she did not get to take her prednisone until late yesterday so she was totally wound up. Ashlyne got to eat last night she was thrilled, the down side pain started again this morning.

• Waiting for test pill to pass
• Started intravenous prednisone (increasing her dose from 20mg to 40mg)
• Taking her 6MP back up to 50mg a day (will have to monitor liver tox weekly as this high dose of 6MP is creating toxic liver levels on Ash)
• She is taking Flagyl - they feel there maybe increased bacteria flora levels in her gut
• Change her diet to 60% high protein high fat, no fiber, low carb diet, the rest of her nutrients will come from liquid supplement drinks, limited carbs
• start her on miralax (laxative to keep things flowing)
• Take camera pill Monday
• MRI shows 2 areas of stricture but they do feel it is tissue inflammation stricture and not thickening hard stricture
• Over the weekend we will experiment with the different drink supplements and work with dietician on Ashlyne's intake
• We will do this treatment of increased meds and diet restriction for 4-8 weeks to get healing.
• In 4 weeks we will have an ultrasound to measure whether inflammation has changed. Depending on those findings and her symptoms the next step will be decided.
• Dr Attard is happy that no surgery is needed at this time. He is reluctant to put her on Remicade yet, he wants to try to achieve control without having to be so aggressive.
• If we can attain control thru diet and meds we will then try to go off prednisone and diet. If we do not gain control then we will have to revert to Remigade.
• We will be here thru at least Monday and possibly Tuesday the way it looks now.

Test Camera Pill

This is the test camera pill that Ash had to take tonight at 7pm, she did great getting it down other than spitting OJ all over herself.

It's Me Again

Hi, Its Ashlyne! Today has been kind of a lazy day. We spent practically all morning in my room. We went for a walk around and went to the play room. This after noon they put in my IV and I had to drink contrast for the MRI. We did the MRI which was easy. I have been feeling fine and feel spoiled I am really tired and my hands are sore. I was dehydrated by the time they did my blood test and IV so they hurt but I didn't cry. Luckly they had this lotion that numbs your hand and so we used that for my IV so it didn't hurt. Keep posted to hear more about my second stay at the Children's Hospital.

11/6/08 3:30

We are getting into the MRI early in about 5 minutes. The contrast has gone down well for Ash. Dr Attards "fellow" just came in and dropped off her test capsule. We will take that at 7pm tonight, if it does not pass by Saturday at 7am, they will take films to see if it is lodged. If it does pass then she can take the real camera pill. She will be hooked up to electrode type sensors on her chest and tummy and they will monitor her. The MRI will get read tomorrow.

11/6/08 11:00

Ashlyne's MRI is at 4:00 today.
IV in about 1:00
Ash will start drinking contrast for MRI around 1:30.
Prob won't do camera pill until tomorrow now cause MRI is so late in day.
She has had blood drawn three times today already

11/6/08 Update 9:00 am

Dr Attard was in this morning he is Dr Zapata's associate. I think he has more Crohn's patients the way it sounds. There are about 12 different options on the table right now. Her x-rays from last night do show two strictures but they are not totally closed, they are trying to determine whether they are soft tissue inflammation strictures or hard constricted scar tissue. Depending on what they are determined will depend on route of tx. They are ordering more blood work, looking for bacteria's, and some other big word levels. They are going to have her swallow a camera pill today also to see whats going on that way and they have ordered the MRI. The MRI could be our tough one to fit in. She is still not on an IV, but no food either.
Wendy

November 5- Trip to Children's

Over the last few days Ashlyne has had increased pain. On Monday Dr Z decided that she will need to start Remicade, she was scheduled for Nov 11th for her first infusion. Today Ashlyne came home from school around 11 because she was in so much pain. Dr Z made the decision to have Ashlyne admitted tonight. We drove to Omaha and got here around 7pm. The plan is to run labs tonight, we have had xrays already and tomorrow the radiologist and Dr Z are going to decide whether Ashlyne has another CT scan or an MRI. Ashlyne's pain levels have been at 8-10, where as this summer she was at zero and an occasional 4. Tonight Ashlyne gets to have clear liquids until 2am, then nothing by mouth for the duration. No IV at this point until tomorrow. Please keep Ash in your prayers and for the Doctors to discern the situation and make wise decisions regarding her care. For Chuck as he holds down the fort again in Kearney.
Wendy

Lab updates

Dr. Z thinks she is constipated from them putting her on the low fiber diet last week when we were in Omaha. She is now on Milk of Mag. too to loosen things up. Her cold seems to be doing pretty good, just stuffy and runny nose. The pain has gone from a +10 back to a 4, on a scale of 1-10.

Dr Z called today and her 6mp levels in her blood stream are off the charts, UGH. He has taken her off the drug for 5 days and lessened her dose, just 8 weeks ago we raised the dose cause it was not building up in her system. He is still thinking remigade, will wait a week or so to see if her blood levels settle down. Her other labs were all within normal range or acceptable range for her condition.

Keep praying for stability and healing.
Thank you,
Chuck and Wendy

Update on Support group Meeting

All,

We just wanted to let you all know that Ashlyne has gotten very ill and we will need to cancel the meeting tonight. We look forward to meeting you all soon. Sorry for any inconvenience we may have caused. We will reschedule at a later date. Please watch for new time and date.

Chuck Kreis

Trying Again- Central NE Crohs and UC Support Group

One of these days we are going to get this kicked off. I believe there is a need and great value in creating this group. Just the last few weeks alone have proven that to me again and again. I know Ashlyne needs others to talk to about this and I have been blessed by mom's calling me and writing me and encouraging me.

Mark you Calendar:

Sunday, October 26th at 6:30 pm
4204 Prairie Hills Rd
308-237-5557

From 2nd Avenue:
West on 39th (Sunmart)
Stay on 39th to Fair Acres (2nd street past signal at 11th)
Turn right on Fair Acres take to bottom of hill to 4 way stop
Turn right on Palamino go one block
Turn right on Prairie Hills Rd, top of the hill on the right.

Please let us know if you can make it. If you know others with Crohn's or UC or digestive issues with food restrictions please invite them and direct them to this blog.

We do look forward to meeting everyone!

Wendy and Ashlyne

Review

Sunday: Got a call from Dr. Z.

Monday: Went to Omaha's Children's Hospital and got hooked up to an IV.

Tuesday: Got woken up at 5:00 and got moved into isolation because my siblings had chicken pox and I had been around them. I also had to take had to drink liquid barium and had 2 blood tests.

Tuesday Night: I got released from the hospital and got to stay in my grandma's hotel room.

I want to thank everyone for praying for me. It really helped. I also want to thank the Kaylors for always thinking of me and praying for me!

Ashlyne Update

Dear All,

Praises and thanks to all the prayers, Dr Z came in tonight about 6:40 with her test results from the last two days and there is no stricture or blockage. Her labs are still not where they were or where he wants them to be. He shared Ashlynes records and test results with some of his collegues and they also recommend that we do little to nothing at this time. They are putting her back on Prednisone and prilosec and adding a probiotic to her current meds. The hopes are that another month plus of prednisone will give her immunosuppresant drug yet more time to get built up in her system. He acknowledges the roller coaster ride right now and does not want to be overly agressive with the biological drugs, he really wants the level 2 drug 6mp to work. She has a more restricted diet which is hard to imagine, she must remain gluten and dairy free and keep it very low fiber, (not sure what that means since she has no wheat in her diet anyways) no popcorn, nuts, or fruit or foods with seeds, no more experimenting with foods. She needs to remain well hydrated and rested.

Dr Z will monitor her closely the next few days and weeks. We were released tonight about 8:45pm. We are staying at my moms hotel to get rest tonight and will drive back to Kearney tomorrow after we wake, we did not get much sleep last night and are looking forward to a full nights sleep. We will run new labs next Tuesday unless she gets ill with severe pain, fever or vomitting. We return to Omaha in two weeks and will do labs then too. As relieved as we are for this great blessing of no blockage we are still requesting prayer for control of her Crohn's and more healing.

Thank you once again for all your support, prayers and love!

Fondly,

Chuck and Wendy Kreis

OW! ICK! NO!

This is Ashlyne! Today has been horrible. I got moved into isolation at 5:30 this morning. I can't go anywhere! I was so mad I loved my room, It had a great room and I was comfortable but then they pretty much kicked me out of my room. After that they did a blood test and then they made me drink barium, bleck! then they made me do another blood test. If it comes back good I get to go back to my old room hooray!

Heading to Omaha

This is Wendy:

I received a call this morning early from Ashlyne’s specialist in Omaha, her lab work is worsening and he wants her admitted into Children’s tomorrow. He is unsure of the route of treatment as yet, we will be doing a lot more tests and redoing tests, possible colonoscopy, CT, lower GI and then a possible MRI in addition to more blood work. She may have a stricture which is a blockage. He is putting her on IV steroids right away and then will plan route of treatment as we move thru the tests. Dr Z expects us to be in Omaha for at least 3-4 days at the minimum. I will be traveling with Ashlyne at this point. Chuck will remain home with the boys holding down the fort and trying to keep their lives as normal as possible.

Please pray that the doctors can find what is going on with her Crohn’s, that it won’t be a stricture. They will find a treatment that she will respond too. Give Ashlyne strength as she goes thru a gamut of tests she hates.
In Christ,

Wendy

Tough Week

Last week I had a CT scan. I was not fun at all. I had to drink liquid barium. When we finally got in they had to give me an IV. They couldn't get it in my vain in my right arm so they had to take it out and put it in my left arm. When they injected the stuff that's supposed to make you feel warm, i didn't feel warm I just got a really bad pain in another section of my arm. The day after that I had to go to my normal doctor because they thought I had appendicitis. they had to take blood which actually made my cry(I was bruised from the day before) and I haven't cried during a blood test for about 2-3 months. For some reason after those appointments I felt much better. I have had no stomach aches or bad poops:). Just tonight I tried some pasta and it didn't turn out good I barely ate half of it and I got a stomach ache. I hope to fell better by next Christmas(keep posted to here why) and I feel am slowly getting better.

New Scheduled Gathering Date

We would like to reschedule our gathering see the below information.

Sunday, October 12th
5:30pm
Location: TBD- see what the weather is doing by then.

We will do a potluck again with everyone bringing a main dish and a dessert or side dish to share. Please mark your calendar now and let us know if you can make it.

Wendy and Ashlyne
308-237-5557
ibdkids@charter.net

Picnic Cancellation

Dear All,

We regretfully have to cancell the picnic on this Friday the 26th, Ashlyne has not been feeling very well and on top of it we have the chicken pox at our house even though Ashlyne's little brother was vaccinated. Dr. Z is not sure about the affects to Ashlyne and we do not want to risk exposing anyone of you since all have compromised immune systems. We get this rescheduled soon. Thanks for understanding.

Wendy Kreis

The Doctor

Today I went to the doctor. I thought it was an OK trip. I have been having a little bit of pain since the appointment because it was a little flared up and he was pushing on it which did not feel good. I am to keep trying new foods but plan to stay away from cake for a while.(It made me sick.) I like my Dr. a lot but it is kinda strange(He likes poop.) He is very nice but has a really strong accent so my parents always have to repeat every thing. I hope to get better soon, so keep checking up on the blog because there will always be something for you to find out about.

Invite

I thought we could have an informal gathering of parents, kids, adults who want to be apart or support a local IBD kids group.

When: Friday, September 26th 6:30pm
Where: Harmon Park by the playground
What: Potluck, every family bring a main dish and a side or dessert. Each family brings their own table settings and drinks.
RSVP : By September 20th

Blog Spot

I want to thank Jen Ingersoll very much for jazzing up my blog, I LOVE IT! Jen has Celiac so she totally understands food and tummy issues. Her little girl also has celiac.

My Story Continued

You would not believe what I have been through in the last couple of monthes. I have been through a procedure I have been through so many blood tests I have lost track, I have had to change my diet almost miss the last day of school and almost my whole life style all because of Crohns disease. it all started last November when I started having bad stomach aches and really wet stoles. We went to the Dr. and they said it was just a virus and not to worry about it.In February we took me off of dairy and i improved a little but not much so we went to the dr. again but told them I had a skin condition called muluscum contagious that should have gone away but never did and still said nothing was wrong. So finally in April we switched Dr said something definitely was up and got me an appointment in Omaha at the Children's Hospital with a specialist. My dr told me to stay on the gluten free diet witch I had just started the week before. When we went in to see the specialist he said he wanted to get inside me and see what was up. So we got scheduled for an endescopy and biopsy the very next week which happened to be the very last week of school. So on tuesday we went up to Omaha and I had to drink Liquid chalk which made me puke. So we called the drs office and they told us about another drink and that one went dowm and stayed down. The next day I couldn't eat anything after eight o'clock. So I was starving! We went in at two o'clock and got my room and I got to pick a movie to watch. Not even Half way through the movie I want in and they put me to sleep and before I knew it I was being asked if I wanted any thing to drink. About 30 min. later I was back in my room and the dr was telling us I had Crohns Disease and he could tell because I had soarse all the way from my mouth all the way out the other end. I was very upset but now I have learned to live with it and I have gotten used to the diet but now the dr is stating to let we off slowly so I am very excited.

Living with IBD or Crohn's Disease

Welcome to my blog!! My name is Ashlyne and I have been recently diagnosed with Crohn's Disease. Please join me on my blog and feel free to leave your comments as I share with you my journey. We can support one another and encourage one another here in this safe place.