A Fellow Blogger & Update

I've been following this blog http://raisingolives.com/ and it has really blessed me with great information. She's advertising a giveaway for an air cleaner and since I'd like to have one with a house full of asthmatic kids and our little preemie...anything to improve our air quality. Plus, I really like her blog so I figured I could share with you all too.

On that note, soon I'll move Ariana's information to our family blog, http://ourblessedblendedfamily.blogspot.com/ - Papi isn't ready to let go of this blog yet, which I understand, but there's so much to talk about all the kids and our family as a whole.

As of right now, we've decided to put a hold to doctor visits for Ariana, so we're not seeing the feeding team.  We are going to see a nutritionist, not in the medical field, someone who works more from a natural perspective.  Ari is scheduled to see her ENT, who did her airway reconstruction, in 6 months.  Since the airway could have webbing as she grows, causing breathing problems.  And even that we are praying about how to continue, since if she did have issues, they would be evident.  We'll just keep taking it a day at a time and take in each day we're so blessed to have Ari and to have her so healthy. 

Nutrition? Just look @ those cheeks!

Ari has been doing well.  Her last visit to her ENT was great, they decided they would leave her tonsils alone for now.  Her GI doctor referred us to a Nutritionist and Feeding Team and "labeled" her as "failure to thrive" because of her slow weight gain.  We saw a Nutritionist who didn't seem too impressed about our choices on what we feed her: no milk and no soy. 

Over a year ago we stopped milk and found a significant difference, very few episodes of asthma and congestion. We don't do soy product because of all the hormones and long term effects. So it limited her in what she could offer to increase Ari's weight.  She mentioned that she was not in a danger zone, but if she lost weight or continued to not gain and reached this "danger zone" they may want to put a feeding tube in.  Although she stressed she wasn't there, just the thought of it has really made us think about whether or not we want to be in this "system."  We want what's best for our little girl, but we're not sure they are considering all things here.  And why do I have to tell a Nutritionist the negative effects soy has, shouldn't she know this? 

So we are praying and asking God to show us where our girl should be and we know He has not labeled her "failure to thrive" but "victorious!"  Ari also had full medical coverage due to her prematurity, which has run out, therefore her medical bills are rolling in.  There comes a point where we need to be wise, not only for what's best for her (and that doesn't always mean whatever the doctors say) but also wise in our finances.  Praise God for His sovereignty...He's Got This!

Strong-Willed Child

A few weeks ago, my brother-in-law took his boat out and Carlos, Aliyah, and Ari joined them.  Ari couldn't wait to get in the water. She has very little fear and it worries me at times. It's probably good I didn't go on this outting because I might have ruined it with my worry about them going in the water. 

Recently I've been thinking of God's awesome power, specifically in Ari's life. I've thought of all she's been through and she's been a little fighter. God has reminded me of all the tubes and wires she's been hooked up to, how tiny she was, and looking at her now ~ so strong-willed ~ I can only be thankful.  In tears the other day I thanked God for letting us keep her.

So how do we draw the boundary lines of structure and discipline...it's hard. She wants her way and will fight for her way.  Unfortunately, she wins too many times, especially with Daddy and siblings...not so much with Mommy of course ;o)  We're working on it.

I started a family blog, http://www.ourblessedblendedfamily.blogspot.com/ so soon I'll be ending this blog and will keep you updated on our family blog as to how she's doing. There's so much I want to remember and tell family and friends about our whole family, so I figured I'd start a blog for our family.  Plus, I've been so bad at updating this blog, and thought if I keep one with much more to say, maybe I'll be better at it...we'll see.

Ari's Bronch ~ Appts and More Appts

After Ari's last bronch her ENT sent her for a sleep study. We get these results next month. She was not put to sleep with any meds (as many have thought when they see the pic), she was really tired after about an hr of getting wired...the tech was great, playing games with her throughout the whole process. He'd have her pull the wires from around his neck and he'd sing this song, "Pull and pull and pull and pull and pull" and she was cracking up pulling. So by the end, she fell asleep and although her normal squirmy/restless self, she slept all night. I slept for about an hr...I was so worried she'd pull the wires while moving around.

After her last bronch they said her airway had grown from a 3.0 after surgery to a 4.0. Now if you're keeping track of this you might have read that her airway was 6.0 after surgery: basically they perform surgery to enlarge her airway and they also stretch it while they are in there. So after all the tissue returns to it's normal state, her airway was a 3.0. It amazing me to think her airway at a yr old was between a 2.0-2.5 which they said was a newborn airway. So we Praise God for our answered prayers - her airway is growing nicely.

They also saw that her airway was irritated and red, so they assume reflux and sent us back to the GI specialist. The GI specialist is not concerned about the acid reflux because she had a 24hr probe put into her stomach a yr ago which showed no reflux. But he was concerned about her weight - she's 22 lbs and was 21 lbs last yr after surgery - so he's labeled her "failure to thrive" and referred us over to nutritionist and a feeding team. She does struggle with chewing properly and we usually don't get her go sit and eat a whole meal. She will hold food in her mouth many times until we let her spit it out, and yes we've tried it not being an option to spit food out and she will hold it in her mouth for very long period of time.

He also advised we give her 4 cans of Pediasure a day. Now we stopped giving her milk over a yr ago because of her respiratory issues and feel like it made a huge difference and decreased her asthma episodes tremendously. (Which may just be the reason she hasn't put on all the weight they think she should have) We thought we'd try slowly, gave her about 2 cans for 2 days and she had a fever by day 3...which has been her first sign of showing respiratory issues (meaning the onset of asthma). Sure enough we've dealt with a cough now for about 2 wks and giving treatments now for 3 days.

They also said her tonsils were enlarged, so we see the ENT for follow up next month and I'm assuming he'll want to take them out. So I'm feeling like it's a whole lot of appointments. We have been praying and asking God for direction on when we just stop and trust Him. He has brought our little ex-preemie through a lot and and in the end ~ God has brought her through this journey!

So Much to Say...

Our little Ari is growing up fast. She loves to blab and say so much, some of which we understand and much of which we don't. But it's interesting how she knows what she's saying and as time goes on we learn her language and realize what she's been saying all along. She's so silly, loves attention, and making us all laugh.

She loves, loves, loves water!!! She enjoys climbing on anything that will allow her to reach faucets and loved the shore last week. She did not want to come out of the water. She also walked over to people sitting next to us and made herself comfortable and talked/blabbed to them. They thought it was the cutest thing, I on the other hand was a little concerned at her level of comfort with strangers. Mikayla joined her since they had a little girl, the grandparents thought it was so cute that they would just go over and talk to their granddaughter. Their granddaughter did not seem too impressed. Mikayla let them know she was homeschooled and they asked me how they socialize. Well I told them I let them out to play on Wednesday, LOL, I seriously told them about all the opportunities they have to socialize. Not sure if you all caught on, but my girls went over to them to talk...not to boast in anything I'm doing but Praise God that He has given them that comfort to reach out to people AND SOCIALIZE ;o)

Health Update: She's been doing great. She had a few episodes of croup but nothing that required us to go to the hospital. She goes in next Friday to have another bronchoscopy, they will put the camera in to look at her airway and make sure all is well. So hopefully I will not keep you all waiting for an update on the bronch and will try and post about the results.

~Hope you're all enjoying your summer!~

2 Years Old!

2 years old...when she was born 2 yrs ago, it seemed like the 3 months in the hospital would last forever. We look at her now and are so blessed and grateful to have her. God's mercy in her life is so evident and His grace has abounded!

Now she's developed/learned this "grouchy" look with her brother's help, of course. The lips come out and you just want to kiss them...except she's exhibiting 'not so good' behavior. She's a tough cookie, in more ways than one.

She's not gaining weight. But the doctor says they see this where they are on the move and burn up their calories. She's been at her same 20 lbs since September or so. She's a real busy body, she keeps us on the move, loves to put things in the tiolet and trash. I find all kinds of things in both areas, always fun digging things out. We have to constantly watch her. But at the end of the day, we can only be grateful that she is strong and healthy.

Finally~Another Tooth

Her 3rd tooth is finally coming in, it's the first one on the top. For those who don't know, I've had some concern about my near toothless child. She'll be 2 in March and is going on to only her 3rd tooth.

I took her to a pediatric dentist, who did an xray to see...she has teeth!!! And she also told me, "No child has ever been born w/o teeth." My mom jokingly asked if I was taking her to the dentist to have dentures made, haha, mom. I've just never had or heard of a child with 2 teeth and almost 2 yrs of age. But I guess this is a good lesson in patience.