Just us - there’s a little of the before, but mostly it’s the after...: July 2007

Happy Seven-Month Birthday Addie!

I thank God for each second that I have had with Addie these last seven months. My children are true blessings.

Addie is eagerly participating in one of her speech therapy exercises. Although this is just an ordinary electric toothbrush, this exercise helps improve oral motor function.

No end in sight...

Addie developed a high fever yesterday and her ear is still bleeding and draining. She was so miserable last night and didn't sleep well. I'm hoping by tomorrow I will see an improvement. If not, that means another trip to see Dr. Davis...

The kindness of friends

My friends, Jenn and Kelly had an "Addie Party" in celebration of the wonderful news that we received about Addie's diagnosis. I will never be able to fully express how much it means to me to have friends who care about us and who are so accepting of Addie.

Jenn and Isabelle made Addie a mashed potato cake!

Graham, Owen, Addie, Jackson and Isabelle (Baby Jackson moved in across the street from where we are building our new house. It's wonderful that Addie will already have a friend in the new neighborhood. I'm sure they will love playing together - at least until Jackson gets older and starts to think that girls are yucky!)

Addie understands "more" - one of the many signs we are working on!

Mean ear!

Dr. Davis called yesterday afternoon to check on Addie. I told him that she was doing much better and apparently the drops were working their magic! When Addie woke up this morning, her ear was bleeding again...so much for those magical drops! I called Dr. Davis this morning and immediately went in for another visit. The reading from the tympanogram was even worse this time in her left ear - the reading was a .7, quite a bit away from the 2.0 that indicates a "normal" result. Addie's ear is severely infected and we have to keep a close watch on her to ensure that the tube does not become blocked. We are due to go back in two weeks for a recheck unless she gets worse before then.

Addie's new trick...

When I picked Addie up from daycare I was informed that while trying to feed her this afternoon, she managed to bite and pull the nipple completely out of the bottle. Of course this resulted in her being completely drenched in milk. She still doesn't take a bottle very well, so I think it was her way of tricking Ms. Anna into giving her sweet potatoes...Mmmm!

Sweet baby girl...

Addie's ear is still bleeding today, but definitely not to the degree that it was on Friday. She's had the weekend off from baby boot camp to enjoy even more hugs, kisses and cuddle time than usual...

What a way to wake up...

Addie has another ear infection and this time it’s really bad! She woke me up at 1:30 this morning (as usual!) and I noticed a large spot on the bed - I thought she had gotten sick. When I picked her up to change the bedding, I realized it was blood. There was blood on the sheets, on her pajamas, all over her ear and on her hand and face. Luckily I’m not a mom that panics (or faints at the sight of blood) but I was concerned. I called Dr. Davis (who immediately took the call from his answering service) and he reassured me that it was JUST an ear infection. Her ear has been bleeding a little today, so I’m hoping the ear drops will make a dramatic difference within the next day or two. Good thing she has tubes in, otherwise it could have been a lot worse!

Thomas

Keeping boppy warm for Addie...

Squish - squash - squoosh!

Never "normal"...

We saw Dr. Dudgeon this morning to have Addie's left ear checked to see if the tube was indeed blocked. Although there appeared to be some dried blood in the tube, it wasn't enough to completely block it. A tympanogram was done to double check and the results were a bit confusing. The test came back abnormal, Addie needed at least a 2.0 to be considered in the "normal" range, but her results were showing a 1.7. She passed her hearing test just two days ago, so Dr. Dudgeon thinks the test is showing abnormal results due to the difference in Addie's head versus other babies. He's checking with Dr. Davis to see if he agrees or if we need to do anything further.

Chunkus is now up to 15 pounds and 15 ounces!

Got to love geneticists...

Saturday, I received a written report from Addie's geneticists summarizing the dismissal of her secondary diagnosis. Along with that, I was told a few things that I should expect for her:

"she will have relatively normal development the first year, but then will develop moderate handicaps;
she will walk between 18-21 months and
she will develop some language"

Well, I guess I can quit worrying about the future, it was just laid out for me... I cried when I read the letter and then by Sunday became angry. I can't believe that they would try to pinpoint Addie's development based on an MRI and immediately classify her. To top that off, one of the geneticists emailed me and asked if I would bring Addie back in two to three months so that we can "talk about it"...
I want to refer back to this post over time just to remind myself how we proved them all wrong. She WILL surpass all odds.

Hearing evaluation

Addie had her six-month hearing evaluation today and all went well except the tube in her left ear appears to be blocked...we see Dr. Dudgeon first thing Wednesday morning to check. This however, did not hinder her evaluation because she passed with flying colors! The audiologist said that Addie participated remarkably well for her age. We have to go back in six months for a re-check and will have to continue to go back every six months until at least age three.

Baby Owen's Baptism

We had the honor of attending Baby Owen's Baptism today. Addie couldn't understand why she had to wear a dress...no fair!

Tooth number two

Addie slept until almost 10:00 this morning...for a good reason; when she woke up she had tooth number two! This tooth didn't give her any problems, just popped right on in!

Six-Month check-up

We saw Dr. Dudgeon today for Addie's six-month check-up. Dr. Dudgeon was very happy with Addie's development and he hopes she continues to surprise everyone. Today was the most routine visit that we have had - all went as well as I could have hoped and Addie is now 26 ½ inches long and weighs 15 pounds 10 ½ ounces! She cried during all four of her vaccinations but was "all better" as soon as I picked her up. Dr. Dudgeon told us that if Addie starts showing any signs of delay to bring her back in six weeks; otherwise we're all clear until her nine-month check-up! I told him I didn't plan on seeing him again for three months...

Addie's first tooth!

When I picked Addie up from daycare today, Ms. Catherine said that Addie insisted on being held all day. My first thought was that the mean tooth that has been wreaking havoc for weeks was trying to come in. When we got in the car, I checked and thought I felt it. After we got home, while Addie was in the bath, I managed to distract her long enough to look and there it is...Addie's first tooth! :)

Independence Day - A day of "first"

There was no better day than today to have a few "first" moments...

We took Addie to the park for the first time. Julien was ecstatic to be the very first person to push Addie on the "big girl swing"!

Addie also tried out her baby swimming pool for the first time...she was as happy as she could be! Now Julien wants to know WHEN he can take her to the "big" pool!

Addie tasted vanilla ice cream for the first time...Mmmm Blue Bell!

Addie also got her first taste of homemade sweet potatoes...

All on Addie's first 4th of July!

Happy Six-Months Addie!

ADDIE HAS MET HER SIX-MONTH MILESTONES!

Addie turns toward sounds and voices, she imitates sounds, rolls over in both directions (with minimal assistance), eats from a spoon (she’s even interested in a sippy cup), sits without support, brings objects to her mouth (she managed to get a toe in her mouth yesterday) and she is diligently working on transferring objects from one hand to the other! This is a true miracle. She is doing all the things the doctors told me she never would!

I thank God each day for my children; I feel I am truly blessed. Thank you all for your prayers. Please continue to pray for Addie, I could not ask for anything more. Your prayers mean the world to me and I am so thankful for you all.