Thursday, May 28, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Going off the Milk Cold Turkey
Ainsley had her re-check today regarding the heart murmur. It's still there, only it has gone from a Grade 1 to a Grade 2 or 3. This grading system is totally subjective, but because her doctor feels that it has progressed, he is sending her to a Pediatric Cardiologist for an echo cardiogram to rule out structural defects that could be causing the murmur. More than likely, it is the severe anemia that she has at this time.
Her blood work from last Wednesday came back to the doctor's office Thursday afternoon. They called me Thursday night to give me the results, telling me that she is SEVERELY anemic. It is NOT a permanent condition. It is not genetic. It is the anemia caused by lack of iron in her diet. It IS totally fixable.
The doctor wanted me to start her on a triple dose of iron drops every morning in orange juice. I could not get near her with the juice without her screaming. She wouldn't touch it. So I tried the drops in apple sauce. No go. Peanut butter. Nope. Cherry Juicy Juice. Nada. This continued on through the weekend with us not able to get a single dose of iron in her. She even stopped eating if it was something that could be easily mixed with the drops. She only wanted solid stuff, bananas, bagels, crackers, etc.
So now that she has had her follow-up appointment we have a few things we have to do.
1. She has to come off the milk completely.
2. She has to have the iron drops every day, whether we have to force them in her or not.
3. She has to drink as much Pediasure as we can get her to drink.
4. She has to start back on formula, though it is one that is made for older children ages 9-24 months and is fortified with iron.
5. She has to take a daily vitamin that is fortified with iron. I bought chewable Flintstones ones and liquid ones that can be given in food or drink.
6. She has to eat as much iron rich food as we can get into her. Red meats, green veggies, black beans.
Her doctor says that she won't let herself starve, so to hold off on the milk when she asks for it. Only give it to her at night, and then it should be watered down. It may be a few days before she actually will start drinking the Pediasure and formula and actually eating, but he said that is fine.
Posted by Kristen at 10:38 PM 0 comments
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Baby Kayleigh
Some of you may remember not too long ago that I posted the links to some blogs that I follow. One of which was the story of little Kayleigh Freeman, who was born at 1 pound 1 ounce. After a long and painful 11 months, she passed peacefully last night. It saddens me to hear that a family has lost their precious little one like this. No parent should ever have to endure something like this. I can not even begin to imagine.
Please keep the Freeman family in your thought and prayers.
http://kayleighannefreeman.blogspot.com/
Posted by Kristen at 9:40 AM 0 comments
Ah, Mother's Day......
Posted by Kristen at 12:25 AM 0 comments
Thursday, May 7, 2009
My Kiddo Eats Shells and Swims in the Toilet
Posted by Kristen at 12:34 AM 0 comments
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Mommies Funding Research
As many of you know, I belong to an online birth board for mommies of July 2007 babies. In the past 2ish years, we have lost 2 of little ones from the board, both to rare and devastating genetic disorders that have no cure.
We lost Sawyer in October of 2007 to a disease called SMA, or Spinal Muscular Atrophy. He was only 3 months old.
We lost Hannah on December 27, 2008 to a disease called MPS, or mucopolysaccharidosis. She was 17 months old.
Both of these beautiful babies touched many, many lives in their incredibly short little lives. As a result of that, the mommies on our July 2007 board have started a yearly fundraiser to raise money for medical research into these 2 horrible diseases. This year, there is an online auction that is going to begin at the end of June. You can bid on items and even choose which charity you want your money to go to. It is going to be really great.
You can read Hannah and Sawyer's stories and view the auction website at the following link.
http://mommiesfundingresearch.blogspot.com/
You should at least check it out and see what they have for bid. They are adding more items on a daily basis.
Posted by Kristen at 10:06 AM 0 comments
Monday, May 4, 2009
Another Day at the Beach With Mommy!
Yep, we went to the beach again today. Ainsley always has so much fun and it always wears her out so much that she sleeps great that night, so I am trying to take her every other day. We live at the beach, so why not?
Posted by Kristen at 11:58 PM 0 comments
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Digging in the Sand, Soaking up the Sun, Swimming in the Pool, and Playing With Zavi
Posted by Kristen at 9:09 PM 0 comments