Luke was put to sleep and taken into surgery to do an endoscopy today. It was so hard to watch him be so brave, his eyes tearing up and his chin shaking as they wheeled him away to put him to sleep. He never openly cried, he resigned himself to following through, and he just seemed so strong and brave in such a tiny little body…it was very hard to walk away.

Instead of starting the IV and putting him out that way, they were very sweet and put a mask on and gave him some gas which made him nod off - then they started the IV. He never felt a thing - but they did say he was quietly crying as the mask went on…oh a momma’s heart lurches at that!!! I keep giving him a hug when I think of that, and he keeps looking at me like I’m nuts

The endoscopy went well and Luke took quite a while to wake up, but when he did it was ‘Boing!’ and he was awake and talking a mile a minute It was cute because he was so dizzy he couldn’t quite focus, but he was talking and talking and talking… Nearly fell off the chair as he was dressing to go home because he was still dizzy, but he kept talking and talking and talking…I love his chatter and the nurses are all smiles

The doctor took photos and gave copies to Luke - Luke was very impressed with his insides When we got home he was now the ultimate authority on what our insides look like and he explained all about it to his older brothers.

The doctor said Luke looked okay, there was some redness at the bottom of his stomach where it goes into the small intestine and he believes it is due to food allergies. (As if I haven’t been saying this all along…). He took some biopsies and scrapings and we should hear something next week.

The doctor mentioned altering Luke’s diet (again, I’ve questioned whether I could put him on a wheat free and dairy free diet - was told no as there was no reason to do so). If the biopsy comes back showing any bacteria, Luke will be on medication for 3 months.

The photos of Luke’s tummy and insides were amazing, truly amazing. He looks so healthy from the inside!!! On the outside, he is sooooo incredibly pale again. His freckles stand out big-time against that pale, translucent face… He’s not anemic though, so I can’t figure out why he is so so pale… Makes me want to pick him up and hug him every time I see his upturned face smiling at me.

So I am now on the hunt for information to wheat free and dairy free diets. I KNOW he has food allergies as he has huge red racoon eyes - obviously from allergies. This will be quite an adventure in cooking and baking I’m sure… I mean how do you make cookies or bread without wheat flour??? Without gluten?

On the business front I have caught up with all orders. The last ones went out today. There are about 6-8 that I am either waiting for kits to be assembled so I can send them out, or the credit cards have been declined, or I have had a question and have emailed the customer about. Otherwise, we’re caught up!!! Huge accomplishment and a big relief

There are several really wonderful items that need to be put on the consignment shop - and I am hoping to get those loaded up in between baking pies and prepping for Thanksgiving I have a huge pile of baby blankets beautifully sewn and baby quilts too!

I am also finishing up my latest lesson for The Homemaker’s Mentor - it is about the home medicine cabinet, what should be kept on hand, basic illnesses and how to prevent and treat them.

Need to run, but I did want to update everyone on Luke. Please keep praying for him - he is still a very sick little boy.