Anna's Weight Gain

      When Anna was 3 months old, she was diagnosed with Failure to thrive. We were told by her doctor that she was to be weighed twice a week, and that they would have a nurse come to our house to do it. Through out the next couple of months Anna would gain some and loose some and we didn't know why. We were given a referral to Gastro as Hasbro Children's hospital in Rhode Island. When we went they sent us to their nutritionist who told us to put her on 22 calorie formula and see how it goes. After 2 months Anna was still loosing weight so they sent us back, again they told us to talk with the nutritionist and they recommended peanut  butter and whole milk in the bottle. This formula mixture which was 3 scoops of formula 1 tbs peanut butter 1 scoop of cereal and 6 ounces of whole milk filled her up so fast she wouldn't eat anything else causing her to again loose and gain. Finally after pushing and pushing we got a new gastro referral and a referral to endocrinology which were both at Yale. Gastro recommended that we do a food diary and saw she needed more calories than a typical 1 year old and even put her on Periaction which is an appetite stimulator. She will eat like a little piggy some days and in the last month has gained over 2 lbs! All of her blood  work came back normal from both specialists and she is now drinking pediasure 1.5 which is more calories than the normal pediasure so hopefully she keeps gaining ounces a week!

It's been a while....

            Wow it has been so long since I have posted on here... First off Anna is making huge improvements with her arms thanks to the splints!!!! She mover her arms now a lot more than she did before and is a lot happier. She is also more proactive about laying on her back for long periods of time! Anna has also been CRAWLING for about a month now!
            Abigail went on the potty for the first time Saturday! She is a big help with Anna, I was in the kitchen and Abby comes flying in Mommy Mommy help Anna help baby. I run into the living room to find Anna had the T.V remote LOL...
             I have also quit Auntie Anne's for a job at Sears. I am so much happier there. I work in the Land's End Department. Auntie Anne's was a horrible experience, I never got paid on time.
            Also Adam has decided not to re enlist so we will be back in Ohio sometime in 2013!

MRI Day

Anna had her MRI on Thursday. We had to be at the hospital at 9am. around 9:30 they called us back, they took Anna's vitals and explained what was going to happen. Anna started getting cranky since she wasn't allowed to eat past midnight. The nurse was nice enough to bring in some sweet eaze which is basically sugar water to dip her pacifier in. This was enough to keep her happy. After everything was explained, they came in to start her IV. They had a really hard time getting one started and had to stick her 4 different times.The first medicine they gave her was to ease her into the sedation, and the second one was to actually sedate her. After she was sedated, they started the MRI. The actual MRI took about an hour and after she was moved to recovery. Anna slept for about a half hour and then woke up to eat, she was a hungry baby and ate 8 ounces! After she ate, she was able to go home. Her results will be ready on Monday, however thats a holiday so we will have to wait to make an appointment to get them.

Anna's Splints

    As I have facebooked before, tricare has denied Anna's splints for a second time. Adams grandparents were kind enough to pay for the first months rental of these. The price comes to about 218/ month for the pair. Anna's wear time is unknown. The company we are using has made us a deal saying if we pay the purchase price of around 2500.00 by next month they will give it to us for the tricare price if not we have to rent it. They also have agreed to switch out the pair for a bigger size for free in one year. The problem is, we can't afford the 2500.00 so we are planning to go to the relief society to see if they can help, until then does anyone know of any resources out there to help this type of situation? Also I was considering a donation fund any thoughts?

Family Reunion

       We went to my dad's family reunion, which was so exciting especially since my Aunt Pam was there. If you don't know she is battling stage 4 lung cancer. She has been such an amazing role model and I love her so much, I wish i would have had the chance to grow up around her because she is such an amazing and strong woman. I'm really glad that every one got to meet Anna and Abigail too!  I also got to meet my step brother David, his Fiance and their 2 adorable children! I am so blessed to have such a great family!
     I would have to say this was one of the best trips I have had, no fighting with my mom or anything!
I am still in pain from this uterine infection and instead of the pain getting better, its getting much worse to where it is starting to hurt to stand up straight. I have an appointment with my dr to discuss getting a referral to my OB to talk about a hysterectomy. Its such a devastating decision for me, i want more kids but at the same time i can't keep being in pain. I know God will give me the strength to  get through everything, and i have a wonderful supportive family, i guess i am just feeling so overwhelmed with everything. I'll blog more when I know whats going to happen.

The joys of being a Woman

   So since Thursday I have been having a horrid pain in my stomach and I thought it was just muscle soreness from working out, but over the weekend it got worse not better. Last night just switching from one side tot he other was excruciating so I made a drs appt. After 2 and a half hours at the naval clinic I have discovered that i have yeat ANOTHER uterine infection a possible kidney stone and possibly a cyst on my right ovary.... great

Arthrogryposis

Anna Was diagnosed with Arthrogyrposis which is used to describe joint contractures at birth. This is very rare, it occurs once in every 3000 births. We are not sure which type she has, but our insurance will not cover the clinical testing to find this out BUT there is research studies being done on it so we will be looking into that. Children with arthrogyrposis can lead a normal life but can have heart defects (she just has a murmur) or central nervous system problems but otherwise progress nicely. The other good news is that arthrogyrposis is a non progressive disease. The genetic dr said that if anything is going on in her brain that it is probably very small due to how developmentally well off she is!