Hi Everyone...Just a quick update.  JT and I arrived home last night around 8:30pm from Cincinnati.  Later that evening as Brian was putting JT to bed he noticed a little black round spot on his arm near his elbow that was also pretty red around it.  I hadn't seen it at the hospital and neither had the nurse practitioner who thoroughly checks JT over each visit.  Brian asked JT if it hurt and he said, "only when you touch it."  Brian and I both felt concerned but figured we'd wait until tomorrow and e-mail our docs some pictures.

The next morning (which is today) JT had another little black spot on his other arm that was hurting him.  I took pictures of both sites and e-mailed them to our docs in Cincy and our dermatologist in Pittsburgh.  Not long after our nurse practitioner e-mailed back that she would call in a prescription, but also show Dr. Filipovich the pictures.  A few hours later Gretchen called my cell and told me that JT needed to come to Cincinnati immediately per Dr. Filipovich.  They were thinking this could be a gram negative infection which can spread and cause some big problems.  I could sense the seriousness in Gretchen's voice and quickly asked the question that I dread but always puts things in perspective for me..."Can this type of thing be fatal?"  Gretchen's response was that left untreated, yes.  With that news I inquired about a life flight.  Dr. Filipovich said that would not be necessary, but to get to Cincinnati as soon as possible. 

After I called  Brian to let him know I began packing.  JT came into his room and asked me what I was doing.  I sat him down and told him that he was going to have to go back to the hospital in Cincinnati because of the black spots. He looked at me earnestly and asked, "because of these spots (pointing to his arms) or these spots (pointing to his legs)?"  Side note...first thing in the morning some guys came to seal our driveway and JT and Justy quickly became their buddies, asking questions and checking out all their equipment.  I told the boys to stay out of the guy's way and things.  Sure enough, five minutes after the guys began pouring the tar JT came in the house with black tar spots and smears all over his legs and saying, "I know you're not going to be happy mommy."  So he wasn't sure if he was going to the hospital over those spots or the spots of his arms.

I must add here that I couldn't be more proud of my boy.  I told him I was sorry that he had to get back in the car and head back to the hospital.  I told him I wish I could go instead of him.  He said, "It's ok mommy, but will I be in the hospital for my birthday and miss the party?"  JT and Brian's birthdays are August 18 but we had a party planned for this Sunday.  I told JT that if he was still in the hospital Justy and I would come to Cincy and bring his presents and then we'd pick another day to have the party.  He was so OK with that.  He cheerfully packed his toys and got excited that he and daddy would have some "partner time."  What a life this little guy has.  As he and Brian were pulling out of the yard in the car, JT had his window down and was enthusiastically blowing me kisses with this great big smile on his face.  It was all I could do to hold back the tears of joy I felt.

Brian and JT should arrive in Cincinnati around 6:30pm and they'll have to be admitted through the ER.  There were no rooms available on the BMT floor until after 9:00pm.  Dr. Filipovich just happens to be the attending physician on service this week for the inpatient kids so she'll see JT first thing tomorrow morning.  Her orders for tonight though are to draw a blood culture, maybe biopsy the sites and start JT on two big gun IV antibiotics.  Brian and I can tell the docs are nervous about this and so are we.  God give us strength and faith.  I'll keep you posted.