January 2010

We work at it everyday... she loves being outside and mixing with people. She will be a very social child. I guess all the days in the hospital isolated made her want to be around people. Still feeding with bottle no more feeding tube.

January 8 – Dr. Swensson – Amber doing well no more lasix, watch her weight.

January 20 – Dr. Uribe – Amber has lost 4 contact lense but both Dr. Uribe and Dr. Song want to wait and see if she can keep it. Don’t want to do surgery on left eye yet.

January 28 – Dr. Comulada – First year check up, still behind with vaccines.

Physical Therapy – Still going to insurance therapist Monday and Wednesday working on movement, massage and rolling over.

Occupational Therapy – Regional center waiting for new therapist current therapist no longer with RC.

Oral Therapy – insurance therapist Tuesdays and Thursdays working on bottle feeds doing four bottle feeds and two tube feeds a day, also doing stage 2 baby foods and finger puffs. Trying to use zippy cup without success.

Early Intervention Program in Laguna Beach – Every Wednesday, working on motor skills, sensory skills, feeding, and auditory processing.

December 2009

Amber is still enjoying home life :-). We are now in full effect with the contact lenses on the left eye...she hates it. We have an appoinment with Dr. Uribe about once a month to see how it's all going. We do not keep the contact lenses on that long because they keep popping out. She also might have an ear infection with would be her first one since being home.

We are looking into a special program for Amber called Early Intervention Program (EIP) in Laguna Beach. This would be a group class that targets all skills; feeding, fine motor, gross motor and social interaction.

It was very exciting to have her home for her first Christmas. The girls truly enjoy having baby sister home.

She continues to see a OT for physical therapy at home and Amanda at Mission CHOC for her feeding needs. She is starting to eat more of the Stage 1 foods but continues to drink the same amount of milk (formula).

Friends and Family

All About Amber

November 2009

This month we are so thankful to still be home... no hospitals and thriving.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING !!!!

Medically:

Neurology wants to continue to keep an eye on her everything looks ok now will follow up in 6 months. Cardiology wants to keep her on the low dose of Lasix and gave her a 2 month pass our next appointment will be in January. Ophthalmology wants to wait on left eye surgery, we will put a contact lense in the meantime until she is older or Dr feels it's time for surgery. GI says she's doing well. I pulled her MicKey button on her carseat but the site looks good (Thanks Jenell for checking it at home). Oral therapy is also going well we are on stage 1 foods, drinking 2 to 3 oz on and off and will be trying puffs soon. Physical therapy also going well she is rolling over more and more.

Socially:

Amber loves being outside and around people. She is always happy and smiling at people and kids. At home, she can't get enough of Taylor tumbling around, Kyana dancing and Daddy bouncing her up and down. We love taking her out and feel good to be more mobile with her. We are truly a family of five now.

Halloween

The Last Three Weeks

I know it's been a while but I've been really busy.... taking the girls to school, helping with homework, physical and oral therapy, doctors appointment, trying to lose weight and spending time with my wonderful husband something has to give. I am glad I've been able to keep in touch with a few of you through Facebook, I can send messages from my phone and I keep a few updates that way. Well I can tell you that Amber is doing great. Her right eye has healed beautifully and has made such a huge difference with everything. She is able to see better which helps with her physical therapy and oral therapy.

Physical therapy - Amber is still working on rolling over, she doesn't really like being on her tummy so it makes it hard. She is reaching for things, putting things in her mouth, reaching for her toes, seating without help for a little less than a minute, rolls from side to side but not to her tummy yet.

Oral therapy - We've made big steps here, she is drinking 30 to 50 cc at every meal and then the rest goes in through her feeding tube (a total of 130 cc). She had another swallow study this week and she no longer aspirates. We are moving forward she has been eating a little bit of cereal in the morning but next week we will start foods... yeah bananas are first.

She is teething too, the front tooth is coming out. She babbles a lot and just loves to be outside and around people. Taylor really entertains her with all her jumping and dancing. While Kyana is the gentle, careful one who makes sure she doesn't cry too much. Because she's high risk, all of us got the flu shot and she already got the first swine flu shot. She will get a booster of that in a month and more vaccines too. The two flu shots put her behind on vaccines even more.

So so grateful everyday, so blessed and just thankful. Please keep praying for her success... thank you so much.