Bella’s Week

Monday I made gingerbread cookies.  She took a nimble!  We had the hummus out for Brother’s feeding therapy and she just dove into the container.  Crazy kid! 

She’s getting better at these breathing treatments.  She’s not fighting like we are trying to kill her anymore! (Having something to watch helps!)

Friday was pajama day at school.  The librarian read them The Polar Express and then they decorated cookies.  She loved the sugar cookies and took one sip of hot chocolate according to her teachers.

Working on those hips – standing for a couple of seconds!!

Painting – love that she is “standing!”   Being measured for new AFOs – tall ones on both legs now.

Christmas play with the nativity and Brother.  The ornament she made in Speech.

Grandma and Grandpa stopped by to say good-bye before heading back to Iowa.  Be safe.  We’ll miss you!

Better

After lots of breathing treatments and lots of meds and lots of oxygen, my Bella is coming back!  So grateful!

 

Ugh!

Two nights ago I was telling Jason how grateful I was that Bella has been doing so well lately.  It's almost like having a normal life.  I love it!  I don't constantly worry about her.  Who would have thought we would ever be to this point, I said.

I guess I just needed a little reminder.

Ugh!

She's been junky for about a month, but so has everyone.  It's Fall in Houston.  Everyone has the sniffles.  But I would check her sats and she was never bad, a little lower than normal, but that is to be expected.

She got a new bug last week.  It kept us home from Church and Thanksgiving, but it was alright, nothing major.

And then last night, her body said enough of this.  Last night as I watched her sleeping, retracting, pulling, breathing fast, her sats falling, Jason and I holding her down to tape the nasal cannula to her face, turning up the oxygen again and again, I was reminded why I haven't cleared out her medical supplies yet.  

She is negative for RSV and both flus.  She just has the crude and it is wreaking havoc with her little body.  It has progressed to an infiltration in her lower right lobe.

Larger concentrator is on it's way. Oxygen at three liters, breathing treatments, steroids, strong antibiotics.  And she fights to breathe.

I was reminded why I love my pediatrician.  After examining her, she turned to me and asked, "Are you OK managing this at home?"  We talked about at what point she needs to be downtown.  I am grateful we have so much equipment.  Without it we wouldn't have a choice.  We would be in house for days.

I'm hoping she can turn this around quickly.  I HATE seeing her suffer.  I hate being the bad guy to hold her down for tests.  My heart breaks as she turns to me for comfort.  I will do all I can baby girl to help you get well.

        

Bella’s Two Weeks

Love the love in these two pictures

Sweet girl!                          PT wants her in that walker!

The rest of Bella’s rewards from being a Kickstarter backer came – she loved the picture of Miss Rachel best!!

School work – she touched paint!  One of her sisters took this picture – they found her lining up popsicle sticks.  So cute

Playing with the water table.  She is so serious.

Bella’s Week

Because she’s adorable

These two love to play ball, rolling and taking it from each other.  LOVE seeing them being friends!

My crazy Bell – she still fits in the sink at five years old.  She was having a great time on the swing set.  And she has finally, four months post op, starting to take some steps again!!

Our friend Zachary stopped by.  She wanted to check him out.

All dressed up for sisters’ piano recital.  Love how she is leaning against the door and it looks like she is standing.   Note to self:  Bella isn’t ready yet for piano recitals.  Sitting quietly for that long – no way!  Oh well, it was worth a try!  At least she looked cute.

Bella’s Week

Sammi did her hair.  Bella is the cutest kid ever.  Playing the Wii

Bella’s 5th Birthday – Wednesday was Bella’s 5th birthday.  Her birthdays always blow me away.  And to see how far she has come this year – amazing! 

I went up to her school for lunch.  She ate two grapes.  Crazy kid!  I brought cupcakes for her class.  She didn’t eat hers, but she liked the attention.

I stopped at Sonic for some tator tots for lunch.  She ate a couple!  Wahoo!

So much of how we celebrate revolves around food, and she doesn’t eat.  Oh well.  We tried to present a dinner something she has shown interest in the past – chicken nuggets, tator tots, and cheese puffs.  (Not nutritious, but it’s her birthday.)  She ate one puff.  Sweet girl.

They were so cute – one of the boys turned off the light and they use a battery operated light.

Her teachers and therapists were kind and gave her little gifts.

Her big surprise for her birthday was to talk to Miss Rachel from Signing Time and Treeschoolers.  We all loved that!!  Twenty minutes one on one with Miss Rachel!

Happiest birthday my Bella – we love you!  We are so grateful you are in our family!

Here is a short segment:

The Buddy Walk – we went downtown to the Reliant Stadium.  There were a few games and some fun food choices.   We lasted for two and a half hours.  Bella loved everyone that was cheering for her!

 

 

 

Later Jason, Bella, and I went shopping.  She is such a happy little girl right now.  I am so happy that she is doing well enough to show us her personality.  How I love this little munchkin!

Daddy and Bella snuggling and watching Rachel and the Treeschoolers.

Therapy –  PT went to a class and now wants to take a step back and focus on her core.  She is looking into getting her a DMO.  Oh this girl – it was eval time and no way was she going to show what she can do for Speech.