Monday, August 22, 2011

Summer Vacations

Summer vacation? But isn't everyone 'Back to School' right now? Mostly everyone, yes! But we are still at home here in Stinkerville..our day to day activities will remain the same even though September is just around the corner. We have enjoyed a great summer but we are done with this awful heat! Most days it has been just too hot and humid to get Stinky and Ava out.

So while the girls have kept cool inside all summer, our friends and family have gone here and there and everywhere for some fun summer vacations! Each new trip results in new outfits and toys for the girls. We thought it would be fun to share some pics from each trip. This week: Hawaii. Next week...Costa Rica!

Below: Stinky and Ava in their dresses from Hawaii...gifts from their Grandma Mami.







Monday, August 15, 2011

Tummy Trouble Update

Stinky's tummy troubles continue: she is still vomiting at least once a day, sometimes two times a day, maybe four days in a row each week. She usually has a couple of days that are vomit free but then it starts all over again.
We are still feeding her at a much slower rate and she is now taking her reflux medicine twice a day. Our next step is to try a new formula and see how that goes. We will keep you posted on that once we begin the new formula!

Besides the current tummy trouble, Stinky is still hanging in there and we keep busy with our different therapy appointments and playtime. Take a look at the most recent pics below. The first two are Stinky playing with her new therapy ball: a new toy from her Occupational Therapist. The last pic is Stinky playing with her little sock monkey: a gift from her GAB.





Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Stinky and Ava

Stinky loves playing with Ava!




Monday, June 13, 2011

Stinky Swims!

And she loves it! She splished and splashed and had a great time. We've decided to add swimming to our weekly therapy activities!





Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Stop It, Stinky!

Stop throwing up, Stinky! We've had some gross vomit issues recently. Lately Annabel vomits pretty often and at different times of the day, sometimes in the morning, sometimes at night...sometimes once a day, sometimes twice a day, etc. We usually have three or four days in a row vomit free, but then she gets sick again on the fourth or fifth day. The episodes are so random and so it is hard to determine the exact cause. Is it reflux? Is it the rate the food is going in, do we need to slow it down? Is it her constant congestion? Is it because of her low muscle tone?

We went to the stomach doctor and we are trying two new things: she is taking reflux medicine and now she gets her formula fed to her over an hour. What does this mean? It means the dreaded pump is back...ayyyyy! Annabel used to eat with the pump when we first brought her home. Then after she got her G-Button we slowly started feeding her via syringe bolus feeds and she did great for a long time. With the bolus feeding, it takes maybe 15 to 20 minutes to feed her. And now with the pump feeding it takes an hour to feed her. We will check back in with the doctor in a month or so for a progress report.

It is time consuming but we don't care! As long as Stinky stops throwing up, that's all that matters! Oh, and it is quite an ordeal now that we have Ava, too. She is constantly on the move and she is always interested in her sister's feeding issues. So Mom has a hard time trying to figure the best place to put Annabel during her feeds now!


Stinky before her feed begins..


Stinky during her feeding. See the bag of formula and the pump? And the tubing connected to her and then draped over her chair? She likes to play with her piano while she eats.


And see where little Ava always ends up? She can't get to the pump or tubing and so she plays with her toys on the floor next to Annabel's chair. She had just fallen asleep next to her 'cell phone' when I took this pic.

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Happy Mother's Day!

"A mother's arms are made of tenderness and children sleep soundly in them."
-- Victor Hugo



Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Annabel's 2nd Birthday Party

Thank you all for sharing Annabel's special day with us. We had a fabulous time at the party. We can hardly believe it's true..our Annabel has turned two! We love you, Annabel Leigh!