Healthy, Healthy, Healthy!

Do you know how much I love that "healthy" title of this post.  Gracie has had a great week and has been very healthy.  Healthy equals happy! 

On Monday we went to the dentist for her 6 month cleaning and to get a little fluoride applied.  She did quite well, although we did have tears when the noise of the water sucker (does it have an official name) came on and scared her.  She's not the best about brushing her teeth...it's a constant struggle, so I was thrilled to hear there are no cavities.  Her dentist was thrilled to hear her thumb-sucking has reduced alot.  Daycare and school both report that they do not see her suck her thumb, until she sees me...than she wants her palm rubbed and her thumb goes into her mouth.  I guess it's a comfort thing.  She also starts out sucking her thumb to go to sleep, but it's very short-lived and doesn't go back in her mouth for the rest of the night. 

Gracie is very happy to have daddy home after his week long trip to Chicago for work.  Gracie is happiest when she has mommy and daddy at home...that's when life is good.

Gracie loves the sensory projects at daycare.  Yesterday they all painted their hands and then put them on the window of their classroom in the shape of a wreath.  It is so cute and Gracie loves to touch it now that it's dry.  She also noticed that her hands are much bigger than her classmates. 

Tomorrow (12/20) is a very exciting day for us....it's the anniversary of Gracie's Adoption day.  Although she has been with us since the day she was born, this is the day that made it official...five years ago.  As I tell her "We always knew we were a family, but this is the day the judge said 'I now pronounce you a family!'"  That always makes her giggle.  We were going to make cupcakes to celebrate, but I found some sugar cookies with Mickey Mouse's face on them, so we might bake those instead. 

Have a great week.

Love,
Lisa, Jeff, and Gracie

Sick, Sick, and More Sick

It's been a rough December for Gracie when it comes to health.  On Thursday evening (12/6/12) we rushed Gracie to the E.R. as she was shaking uncontrollably and was having labored breathing.  I took her temperature before we left and it was normal...by the time we got to the E.R. it was over 103 degrees.  Our suspicions of another bout of pneumonia were confirmed.  It took over 4 hours and both ibuprofen and Tylenol to get her fever under control.  They contemplated hospitalizing her, but since we live so close to the ER we assured them we would bring her back if we had any concerns.  They sent us to the pharmacy for some antibiotics and home we went. 

All weekend Gracie was well enough to be stir crazy, but not well enough to really do anything.  On Sunday we had a beautiful snowfall and I did let her go outside for a very short time.  That seemed to help lift her spirits immensely. 

On Monday (12/10) afternoon I got a call from a follow-up nurse at the E.R. to let me know that the urine culture they took on Thursday night showed that Gracie also had a urinary tract infection.  We were advised to stop her current antibiotic (we only had one dose left) and to begin a 10-day course of a sulpha antibiotic (Bactrim).  We started that on Monday night.  By Tuesday night Gracie had an incredibly red and blistery diaper area.  I took her into see the doctor on Wednesday morning...I suspected a yeast infection and I was correct.  We got a prescription cream to put on it and that seems to be helping nicely.  Although on Wednesday night, Gracies bottom, legs, and a few other spots were covered in hives.  I stopped the Bactrim and gave her Benadryl.  That seemed to resolve the hives and she got to go to school today.  Needless to say, I touched base with her pediatrician this morning and we are headed back to the Allergy Clinic for more testing. 

On Monday, we also had Gracie's routine (every 4 months) appointment with her neurologist.  Everything looks good there and we will do a seizure med increase just due to her size.  Gracie treated Dr. N. to renditions of "Humpty Dumpty", "Tootie Ta", and another song I can't remember.  She was quite enamored with Dr. N.'s male resident as well and had to give him a big hug. 

I'm hoping for a quiet weekend to just hang out.  I have to help Santa wrap some presents too!!!

Have a great week...and if you have any extra prayers for Gracie's health, we would be so appreciative.

Love,
Lisa, Jeff, and Gracie