Going Home

Looks like Mario is going to come home today. Now poor Israel is waiting while the nurses and doctors go through their paperwork to release him. Frustrating on the weekend when things are slower. We hope that they'll be on their way home soon.

Emergency Room Visit

Well we had a rough night last night...around 11pm Mario vomited blood. First signs of Varices, caused by portal hypertension. I rushed him to closest emergency (Overlake) as directed by the on-call GI doc. There, he was found to be stable (and even smiling) so we got to ride in an Ambulance to Children's. Mario and I spent the day there...Israel sleeping with him there tonight. We hope to bring him home tomorrow as the docs think it was a first time minor event. He needs his new liver, but he isn't in immediate danger. We'll update more when we get the report from the doctors tomorrow at morning rounds. Take care all, think positive for our little smiling Mario. Love, Phoebe

BE AN ORGAN DONOR

Well, you had to know it would happen at some point. Here's me, telling you to tell everyone you know how important it is to be an organ donor. It seems obvious, I know everyone here in WA state can easily be an organ donor just by having a driver's license. But for some reason, not everyone is active...and kids like Bethany and Savannah (read stories - links to the right) go on waiting... An adult liver can be split and save a kid like Bethany, Savannah, Mario... Please be an organ donor and feel free to share this blog with anyone in your circle who needs to be convinced to be one. LOVE YOU ALL! Phoebe

HAPPY HAPPY MERRY

All is well. Thank you all for your cards, gifts, calls, thoughts, etc. We're a bit behind on getting cards and the lot out this year... I have some pics of the kids and stuff that I am meaning to get in the mail. Thanks for your patience :) Have a wonderful holiday. Mario's next clinic visit was rescheduled for the 8th of Jan...we have labs on the 27th still so we'll update if we get any news on that front. Know that you are all in our hearts as we spend the next couple days at home in our jammies being a family :)

Our love, Araujo's

December 18th

All is well. Besides Mario's ear/eye infection, Eva ended up with an ear infection. We left the kids with Aaron and Sarah (bless their hearts!) for the weekend and went to Whistler. It was nice to get away. Mario did fine! Eva always does fine with Isabel to play with. Israel's swearing in is Thursday this week...I said it wrong in last post. Good though cuz they'll take his green card and he'll have to apply for a passport and wait...so would have been bad to be greencardless over the weekend going in/out of Canada! I came home with a sinus infection, so I'm plodding along through work today...yuck. Mario has clinic on the 27th so we won't have any major updates before then unless the pager goes off.

Everyone have a wonderful holiday! Thank you for all your cards, care packets, presents. I'm sorry to say I have done NOTHING this year. Not even put together a stack of holiday cards to mail...It has been so hectic. Please know we are thinking of you all during the holiday and wish you nothing but happiness in the new year.

Mario: Eye/Ear Infection, Israel Citizen on Thursday

Well, Mario has an eye and ear (both) infection. He's on a round of antibiotics. He also had labs drawn yesterday to check vitamin levels again. He still smiles, but it is sad to see him with goopy eyes.

On another note, Israel had is citizenship interview today and passed with flying colors. Seems they were most concerned with english language speaking and only asked a few of the "test" questions about US constitution and government...although he studied all 100! His "oath taking" ceremony is on Thursday.

I'm in Dallas, tired from flying early and still have late meetings tonight, home tmre night - marathon. Take care all

Listed

3PM 12/5 **Transplant coordinator notified me today that he was listed with a PELD of 10. It got worse because of his INR and other lab results.

10AM 12/5 Mario is officially on the liver transplant list. His INR did not improve week over week so we have to check that again next week...even though we've doubled the oral vitamin K. It wasn't bad enough to need a shot this week but needs to be checked frequently. Poor kid is having to give blood more frequently which is hard. We knew this was coming but it is still very hard on all of us. Thanks to all who have called, emailed, continued to check in and keep Mario in your thoughts and prayers. Thanks also for all the calls to check in about all the WATER in Washington this week. We were lucky this time and the river stayed within it's banks. Most of the flooding was south and west of us this time. Take care all

Mario will be listed tomorrow

They decided at the weekly transplant team meeting today. We have labs and an appt with one of the surgeons tomorrow afternoon to review details and we'll have Mario added to the liver transplant list.