Praying for Poop (yes, you read that right)

First, some business from Ann Thornton:


Hello Everyone!
I wanted to send a personal letter to everyone. However, I am under some pretty serious time constraints so I thought I would use technology to get the message out. As many of you know, my BFF, Amanda is helping her youngest son, Gideon battle Leukemia. He was diagnosed with ALL approximately 2 weeks ago. Gideon is the sweetest, most fun-loving kid you will ever meet. He reminds me of my BFF and it breaks my heart that he has aged beyond his years in these 2 weeks due to the treatments that will save his life.

I wanted to do something to help. That is why I have decided to complete a 1/2 marathon with the Team in Training. TNT raises money to fight leukemia and lymphoma. The money we raise goes to the Leukemia and Lymphoma society, which funds research to eradicate these terrible diseases.

I am not really a fan of running. I primarily run to be able to play hockey and soccer, the sports I LOVE. I have done my fair share of 5K's and 10K's and never dreamed I would be motivated to complete a 1/2 marathon. When I found out about Gideon's diagnosis, I wanted to join in his fight. I figured pushing my body to complete a 1/2 marathon would figuratively help me join in his fight. While his body is being tested and challenged by the chemo and the leukemia, I will be testing and challenging my body during the training for the race. Not only will I be challenging myself, but I will also be raising money to fight this terrible disease.

This is where you can help me. I need to raise $500 by July 13th and $1250 by September 14th. If you are willing to support me (and ultimately Gideon and all the others who are fighting this disease), please send a check made out to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to my address: 1679 Drayton Ct. Portage, MI 49002.

Thank you for helping me and for helping Gideon. You can follow Gideon's fight by viewing his mom's blog: www.gideonschripsema.blogspot.com

Sincerely,
Ann Thornton

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Disclaimer: If you are easily offended or have a crazy weak stomach, please do not continue.

Do disclaimers really work? I know they only make ME want to watch more closely. I guess subconsciously I feel like disclaimers are a dare. BUT, if you are still reading and you really do have a weak stomach, maybe you should stop.

See what I did there? That was a double disclaimer...

Okay, so here is the Gideon update: He is eating like he has never eaten before! The past two nights he has woken me up at 2:45-3 in the morning to make him food. I knew the steroids would do this, and this is MUCH better than him puking and puking and puking some more. Two nights ago it was tomato soup (which he calls "tornado soup" -- and you're right, I don't correct him. It's too cute) and grilled cheese, and last night it was sausage and eggs. At least he's not requesting bags and bags of potato chips, right? Anyway, I have been gladly shoving food his way, but the kid is NOT pooping. He is shoveling it in at a constant rate, and then cries about his belly hurting. He ends up requesting his bed. He then sleeps most of the day (only to wake to shovel more food in).

As my family can attest, I am kind of poop obsessed when it comes to my kids. When they were babies, I studied each BM to see how they were feeling and if they were getting enough. I charted their poop and noted the color as newborns. I know, I know... A little OCD for a type B girl, but that was my only way of knowing if I was feeding them enough since I didn't use formula and bottles. Plus, they are my babies. All moms have Type A tendencies with their dependent itty-bitty ones. Poop is one of the first signs of being sick, I am sure. This probably explains why both of my boys are so very proud of their healthy and humongous poop piles, and why they call me over to see them before flushing... that's another story.

So, now you know about my poop obsession. I am about ready to crawl out of my skin since Gideon has not pooped in two days. And his poop two days ago was minimal, at best. It was tiny and hardly there. I know many of these meds constipate, but come ON! He looks like a little malnourished child now. His belly is hard and sticks out. I have been giving him his daily dosage of Miralox, but to no avail. It only seems to hurt his tummy more. And since his feast at 3 a.m., Gideon has said that his tummy is very hungry, but that it hurts too much to eat. He actually sleeps more than he is awake, and I feel like that is his way of dealing with the pain. Sick admission: I would pull out that poop if I could. I am going crazy over here because I can't ease his discomfort in this one. Even my cheering him on while he sits on the toilet isn't working. The whole "Let's get the poop out so that they can slide down the poop slide to Poop City!" isn't encouraging him at all like it once did.

So, the headaches are gone and the bellyaches have moved in. It feels like we trade one pain for another. Once the Oncology nurse calls back, I will do whatever she says to help him! For now, I will pray for poop. Have you ever done that before? Well, there's a first for everything and your prayers are working. :)