Doctor's Update

Well Iowa City was a trip...that's for sure. The ride there..well if that wasn't a LONG ride, I don't know what is. Alannah watched the cars drive by, and I tried getting her to look at the cows up on the hill..She ignored me..like usual. Got to the hotel (Which I made my reservation on the FIRST floor, and got an employee voucher - because my dad works at Baymont- they told me I could use it on the hospital rate..WRONG. ended up using ALL out cash for a hotel room. Thanks to my mom we ended up having more money. Then I freaked out on the receptionist; the gave us a SECOND floor room, after I specifically said FIRST! --GRRR-- then Alannah freaked out and dropped her sats low. She ended up on bi-pap the rest of the night; watching Netflix on my laptop.) I didn't sleep worth crap because Alannah was up every hour. Zach on the other hand...slept like a baby.

We got to the hospital around 8am. If you haven't been to Iowa City Hospital..it's flipping HUGE! And valet is 10$ a day.. BOGUS! Alannah freaked once again (yet was satting 100 when we pulled in) because she's errie on doctors, dropped her sats to 93 the entire time we were there. Although we did a blood gas; which was all completly normal, her weight is 21 lbs 3 oz, and she is 31.5 inches long! Come to find out; Alannah's bi-pap machine isn't syncernizing with her breaths, nor is it detecting her breaths. so she needs a new bi-pap machine. We're getting the Trilogy. We have to go back to Iowa City May 26th. Dr. Starner wants to make sure the new bi-pap and all her pther equipment are working properly for her. She was satting around 93 when she slept; get her a new bi-pap mask, now shes 96 when she sleeps.

Today I brought her to the park with Abbey and Beth; and their kids. Lilly and Kingston. She got to swing; and lay on the slide and take some pictures! (She's such a diva) Sometimes I get sad knowing I can't chase my child around the park; or push her on the swings in the park. But then I always think to myself. My child will ALWAYS cuddle with me. (something EVERY mother charish's) She'll never be able to walk away from me when I'm talking to her; she'll never be able to slam her door in my face; hide from my; or get lost in a store. She will always be my little big girl, and ALWAYS be mommy's baby.  I truthfully Love her with all my heart; and wouldn't want her any other way. If there was a word to express my love, appreciation, and gratitude for my child..I'd say it....but the love for my child...is completly unwordable.

Check out our pictures from Iowa City and from the park today!

We're off to see the Wizard...the wonderful Wizard of Iowa City?..

Ha ha; Did you like that?? Yeah..I made that up.. Anyways. Well the update on Alannah is the last week she has been sating VERY low. Almost had me worried the hospital was in our future. Although she wasn't running a fever, having thick secretions, or even colored ones. she was sating in the lower 90's, but yet was smiling, laughing, and playing with her toys. I called Sarah on a daily basis. "What should I do now" "Does this sound right?" "HELP!!" Well after a full day on bi-pap, and some extra CPT's after her normal respiratory treatments, we are doing VERY well today; and I am SUPER grateful for it. (Especially since we're going to see a new pulmonary Doctor on Tuesday)

Alannah is going on her FIRST road trip tomorrow, and me and Zach are kinda nervous to see how she is going to react. She's never been in the car longer than 30 min. and with her being all weird this last week. This is just going to be a  HUGE deal for us. I'm NOT looking forward to packing all of her necessities, but the night out of town, in a hotel with just the 3 of us..It'll really be nice. A little get away for us. I'm hoping if we get to the hotel at a good time, we can do a little PT in the pool. Gotta show daddy all she's learned!

Today after the bath, she kept trying to roll over. she's understanding the point on how to do it, now it's all just strength..I think if she put her mind to it. She can do it...I mean..Motivation is the key right? lol as I always say.

 "SMA WILL NOT BE BOTHERSOME TO US!"

I'll make sure to post some pictures tomorrow of her and her road trip. I'm sure she's going to enjoy it!

Splish Splash..

Alannah had an issue yesterday-- NOTHING resp. related. She got her G-tube switched out last week; to a MIC KEY. well anyways; me and Karen (Her nurse) noticed it looked a little irritated and red. I noticed yesterday it looked a little swollen, hard, and SUPER irritated. I took her in; turns out Alannah has a case of Cellulitis- Cellulitis is a form of staph infection. But not to worry; I guess this formisn't very serious, and sound clear up within the next 48 hours of being on antibiotics. Poor baby kept holding it and touching it in her sleep.
 This morning we decided to get up around 7:45am. I let her watch some Dora for I could catch a little more sleep--Thats wayy too early for me! lol-- She had a bath this morning, and agreed to letting me brush her teeth. She really likes the taste of kids toothpaste lol. She also showed me how super smart and strong she is. She kept taking her right arm (Which is amazing. because she NEVER uses her right arm/hand for anything) and kept bringing it above her head and arching her back and streching; then laughing about it. She also smacked her left hand into the water, looked at it, then did it again. Turned her head to the right (which she also NEVER does) and did the same exact thing with the right hand. then went crazy with the splashing! Even got me a little wet!! She's soo amazing! Here is a video!

Home Sweet Home

Finally after 2weeks of being moved in; we are FINALLY completly unpacked. I can't believe how beautiful this new apartment is! Alannah adores her new bedroom- she NEVER wants to leave- I finally filled our fish tanks with some fish yesterday. We got 4 guppies 2 Spotted Corys and 1 Molly in the kitchen. 1 Halfmoon Beta in Alannah's bathroom, and 1 Redtail shark and 2 Danios in our master bathroom. The tanks look pretty amazing if you ask me. Alannah thinks the fish are pretty cool as well.

Alannah finally recieved her new AFO's; with some CUSTOMIZED shoes. She loved them at first; now she's beginning to hate them -she HATES her feet being messed with; especially since we constantly are trying to strech out her heal cord- We also recieve some new adapter switches for her yesterday, she's more interested in blowing 'ubbles' (Bubbles) We're trying to figure out ways to get some are splints to correct her wrists as well. Michelle (PT) had to write Medicaid AGAIN to try and get approved for a stander..I'm seriously starting to get very anxious about all her new equipment. She'll like it all in the end, but it's taking forever to recieve--which reminds me..I'm still waiting to recieve her new stroller as well..eh!
Health wise; Alannah is doing GREAT! We just had her G-tube switched out to a MIC Key, and she didn't cry one bit!! I like it to an extent; but I think it's too buldgy. We go to Iowa City on the 24th to see Dr. Starner, and then on May 16 for some communications doctor. -Let the Traveling begin! LOL-

We are also sad to say we lost our favorite nurse Seth; he was moving to Ames because he is getting married in May. So now we have Karen Monday, Tuesday, Friday. Mindy on Thursdays, and Anne on Wednesdays. (TOO MANY NURSES!!) I wish we could have a nurse avalible all the time. Zach picked up a side job doing Repo's; and I can never go because no one wants to sit with Alannah. Pretty bogus if you ask me; Not like she's a handful by any means. plus; she'd be sleeping. it's whatever.

Here are some pictures of the Apartment and our Fishys! Enjoy!!