Sunday, September 4, 2011

Birmingham Children's Hospital

July 11th- My dad flew in after boys camp to be with us.  We drove to Birmingham at 7am the next morning to begin the week of hospital fun.
orthopedics 1pm:
They reassured me that Adi’s spine was not worsening as quickly as the doc in Pensacola told us it had.  He taught me about the process in developing an upright posture and mentioned most kids Adi’s age would have already been walking and building those back muscles for 3 years where Adi has only been walking for one. He said if anyone could figure out what Adi has it is a Neuromuscular doctor and then he spouted out a name.  When I took out my list of docs apts he was the doc we were to see in Dec.  Coincidence? 
sleep study 7pm:
I got to talk to the doctor the next morning before they rounded because we had a 9am apt to genetics.  He said her study was 100xs better than the one in Utah and she would be able to get by without needing the c-pap machine (great news since we can’t get her to wear it).  She still needs oxygen at night though.  Her little brain is still spiking quite a bit but we are going to take her sleep issues one step at a time and not put her on meds for now.  
she is so patient with all the studies we've had her do


genetics (12th)
Pretty much he told me about the same Neuromuscular doctor being known in this area for figuring out patients conditions like Adi’s.  He said we needed a muscle biopsy done so if we decided to take out the g-tube or have any other procedures done it would be a good time to combine the procedures.  He told me when the time came that I thought it was time for the g-tube to come out to remember the tube also serves the purpose of keeping her out of the hospital because it gives me the power to keep her hydrated and give her yucky medicine w/o poking her.  About her immune system and her ability to always be sick he said he thought it was more from the fact her lungs don’t have the strength to cough out the stuff that sits in her chest causing a normal cold to become bronchiolitis or pneumonia.
Ayzie’s Bithday fun  (14th)
We got to play all day w/o any apts.  We decided to go up to Huntsville to see where my Dad went to Junior High.  Then we went to a Hands on Science Museum with the girls. We drove by the NASA Space Museum and drove to a Fun House that gave train rides to kids.  My girls loved it and Adi cried leaving.  Thanks Grandpa and Grandma Nelson for such a fun day.  We decided to wait on cake and ice cream until we got to be with Dad.


































gi (15th)
well the doctor was amazing she listened to me and wanted to have a gi study done the following Friday.  The Dietician came in and wanted me to start with night drips again.  Eventually she wants me to supplement with two cans of Vital Jr (a predigested formula) or 16 oz in 8 hours.







Random moments

This kid loves wearing heels 









Adi saved Daddy the last dance



Az loves Ali even though she's taller and 3x her size 



the girls wanted to blow bubbles and I told them they could as long as they put on
clothes. Adi put on Az's dirty clothes and I still don't know how Az got this pj top 





Saturday, September 3, 2011

July 4th - 10

My mom flew out to be with us for the 3 weeks to help us with hospital appts.  We were invited by the Swanson’s for a bbq and really enjoyed spending time with them.  Our girls love the attention they get from Nadia and Peter.  We had an amazing time and are grateful to have such wonderful friends here.  We picked Angie up from the airport that night.  We had a fun week full of playing at the beach, playing with macaws and getting eaten by mosquitos, NAS museum, Fort Barancas, and a Blue Angels air show.   





the girls missed dad while at the air show but as you can see
they spent quality time together shortly after we got home


pulmonary apt June 27th


new doctors look at me and i bet they want to run.  i walk in with my red backpack filled with two 3 inch binders and several envelopes of different pages of studies, lab work, etc.  i pulled out my lap top and was ready to give her the history and any other information she needed.  it was funny watching her finally saying, “well i think i know enough.”  Fortunately they were able to schedule her sleep study for the week we were going to already be up here, which is amazing since when we originally talked to the scheduler they didn’t have any opening for several months.

grateful for 6 years (July 7)


this last year has been full of growth.  it has made me more grateful for my husband, who is truly my best friend.  Scott and I have quick cleans and rush dinners down.  We talk about what needs to get done and without planning out specifics can finish our task really fast.  We make a pretty good team.  He can finish my sentences and even read my mind....well at least sometimes.  Then a few weeks before our anniversary he made my year by laying on our bed with a pillow under his head and said.... “lets talk and tell each other stories from the mission.”  What a perfect night.  No kids, no multitasking, no background noise, no tv.... just us talking. 

balloon festival in foley AL (June 19)

we decided to go to the balloon festival with friends (brett, kim, heather, and skyler).  it was a 97 degree evening and yet they bounced around the bouncy house getting knocked over by the other kids and loved every minute of it.  then there was the bubble machine and music which called for lots of giggles and dancing.... topped off with some pizza, cold drinks, and ice cream.  

we also took the girls to play inside the big blue balloon.  as you can see from the pictures it was lots of fun....  



Dad made sure we were hydrated