Lots to do in the month of October!

There's been alot going on in our household in the last couple of weeks. First, Isabel has had swine flu...a very mild case, but that included a fever of 103.6, lethargy, runny nose, stuffiness, and cough.  The cough and runny nose have lingered even though she has been fever-free for over 4 days now.

Second, her GI doc has scheduled her endoscopy for Thursday, November 5th at UNC Hospital.  Although I do not want to have to do this procedure on her (what parent does?), I feel very strongly that it must be done to see if we are missing some piece of the puzzle as to why she is not growing adequately.

And third...I've got lots of pictures to update.

Much to my surprise (and maybe having a little to do with starting preschool), Isabel has been interested in playing dress up...especially princess and ballerina dress up.

And for the first time since she could walk and talk.... we caught a lizard!

Of course Fall is about taking care of the yard....

And time to have "tea" parties indoors with soggy brownies and apple juice.

Already Isabel is looking forward to Christmas!  Asking if she can have this or that for Christmas... so far the list includes:  a Fur-Real Friends Baby Parrot, the new Tinkerbell movie, a ballerina movie, & Swim-With-Me Puppy ("Can I take it into the hot tub?" she asked when she saw the commercial). 

We are working on having her spell her name.  This was a really neat and super simple project/activity that the kids made at preschool...and I just love this because it is so many things in one!  Fine motor-skills work, letter recognition, letter order!...I was just tickled pink when she came home with this and it is an easy skill-builder for her to try!

I'll try to update again sooner than later :)

No weight gain in 6 months.

So I took Isabel to UNC Children's Hospital's Raleigh clinic to meet with our gastroenterologist's nurse practioner and I was shocked and just so crushed that she was only 25.4lbs and 92.6cm...where as in April she was 25lbs 7.2oz and 91cm.  So I think that means she's actually lost a tiny bit of weight....which was really disappointing.

The nurse practitioner consulted with her real doctor who recommended we definitely do an upper endoscopy.  It's been over a year that we've been working with UNC Hospital and they said that an endoscopy was kind of like a last resort...we've already run all the tests, genetic and otherwise and have come up with no clear answers as to her lack of growth.  I definitely got the feeling that the nurse practioner and doctor felt like we were there at the last resort option.

When they do the endoscopy, they will be biopsying to see if she has "Eosinophilic esophagitis" or "Eosinophilic gastritis", or just reflux.  You can read up on Eosinophilic Esophagitis here.  From what I understand, it is kind of like your esophagus has an allergic reaction to certain foods.  I don't know if it's worth writing up everything I've read about it since we don't even know if she has this, but that is what they are suspecting and will be ruling out with an upper endoscopy.

Another link

And One Last Eosinophilic Esophagitis Link

I'll definitely keep you posted once this procedure is scheduled so that you can PRAY for us.  It is  a procedure where she is put completely under (intubated), and lasts for under an hour.  She was a complete angel at the appointment though and used her manners impeccably!  All the nurses were very impressed with her.