Back to the Doctor We Go...

February 23rd, March 2nd, March 16th and today, March 22nd Anna has been to the doctor. Yes, I've already requested our own room and went ahead and set up weekly appointments through the end of the year. Not really. But, I am feeling so frustrated and just don't know what to think or do anymore.

If you read this you know since about 2 weeks after she was born she started getting really goopy eyes. The doctor's said it would go away on it's own, that it was a small tear duct, but about 3 weeks old he finally prescribed some antibiotic drops to clear it up. It worked a little but after the antibiotics were over then it came right back. When Anna was 2.5 to 3 months old her little nose got stuffy and we bought stock and stocked up on Little Noses saline drops. Used those and suctioned her nose out (they should hire me in delivery rooms because I've got it down!!) daily at least 3 or 4 times a day. There were better days and worse days but that was a constant.

We went to the doctor more often than normal anyway to check on her growth and weight gain but each visit always brought up her nose and eyes. Finally around December, 4 months old, he told us to give her Benadryl at least every evening. Blake and I were really worried about this and didn't want to resort to medicine but at the same time trusted our doctor and if it was going to provide her some releif we'd try it. It seemed to help a little bit but nothing drastic.

Then January came and she got a "cold" which was actually RSV and was hospitilzied for two days and we've been on breathing treatments since. One of these visits he said he wants her to stay on the Pulmucort until she's 9 months. We were doing Albuterol and Pulmocort 3 times a day but dropped the Albuterol at the beginning of March and now only do the Pulmocort 2 times a day. February she got a little better but at the end got way worse again and that's when he said she had a sinus infection. He prescribed her amoxicillin antibiotic and literally overnight she seemed to clear up. We also dropped the Benadryl and moved to Zyrtec allergy meds. Over the next week and a half it got better and better.

I can't explain the elation and happiness I felt waking up and not having to see her precious eyes glued shut from the goop that oozed from them over night. I didn't have to suction her nose and it was so nice to see her happy and her eyes weren't red from the goop. Then, last week she started getting stuffy again. Oh, this was after also adding Singulair allergy meds to her routine, on top of the Zyrtec. Geez. I was like, "Oh heck no! This is not happening." Well, yesterday was pretty bad adn when I picked her up from daycare her eyes were back to being red and raw and you could tell her nose had been runny and stuffy all day.

We put her to bed and this morning she woke up with a terrible cough and it sounded like a seal barking. I thought, "great...it's back in her lungs now." But, I took her to the doctor and he said it's another sinus infection. He said her lungs sound great and it's all in her sinuses/eyes/nose/throat. She just finished up the amoxicillin last week so he sent us home with another antibiotic. I'm frustrated because like I said, I trust my doctor and we want Anna well, I just feel guilty putting her meds.

I am sad because i just want her to be well. I would drive her to Timbuktu if I had to get an answer. I would do anythign to take it all from her. And, to think it's all my fault. LOL. Every doctor we've seen asks, "is there a history of allergy or asthma in the family." Yes, that would be me. So, tomorrow we have an allergy/asthma appointment and I'm praying that we get some answers and some releif for her. I just keep thinking, "What in the world is there left to do?!" She's on TWO freaking allergy meds already! Is it daycare? She's around too many kids and picking up their germs? But, they are good about telling us if somone is sick or has been sick and no one else is out or sick. I just keep racking my brain and really trying hard to give it all to God because that's all we can do. I ask for your prayers for answers and healing for Anna. I just want her to be well...maybe we will move to AZ. Isn't that where the sned all the south texas allergy sufferers anyway?! Anyone want a quaint home on a hill in the Texas Hill Country?! ;)

7 Months Old - TODAY!

This is amazing. It's Anna's 7 month old Birthday TODAY and I'm updating on her 7th (well, past month) of life. I'm on top of things.

Anna went to the doctor this past Wednesday and wieghed in at 14 lbs. 13 ounces. She added 5 ounces in three weeks. She's now in the 19th percentile for her age group. The doctor was happy with her growth since she's been sick and stuffy nosed which equals less food going in. But, she's doing fine. :) She is NOW SITTING unassisted. She can sit for a couple minutes before she either loses interest or gets off balance and topples over. But, one day she just started sitting and I was so excited. Then, really sad. I know these milestones are all so great and they get me excited but what the heck. Slow down. Kids really do grow and do things in an instant, right before your eyes. I do loves this age. It's so fun. She's talking so much, reaching and grabbing for everything, so interested in what's going on around her AND she's still interested in being held and snuggled and loved on. That's going to break my heart; when's she in the "Me do it!!" stage and doesn't "need" me anymore. But, I know I'll be thrilled all at the same time.

She has still been sick on and off and at the last doctor's appointment we started her on Zyrtec. He had also put her on antibiotics because she had a sinus infection. Her little eyes and nose seem to clear up over night and I was freaking ecstatic! But, about a week into the meds she started getting stuffy again and her eyes started watering again. This time it was all clear, no yellow snotty nose and no goopy eyes, just watery. So, when we went this past Wednesday he decided to move her to Singular allergy medication. For a week we are going to give her the Zyrtec in the AM and the Singular in the PM. However, she's starting to get stuffy again. So, I'm still thinking, "What the heck is wrong here?!" She's on TWO allergy meds. I love our doctor. He expalined allergies and said the Zyrtec helps with the hystamine blockers and the Singular blocks lucotriens. (Yeah, I'm not going to spell check that...) So, he said call next Wednesday and give him an update. I'm curious what he'll suggest since both together aren't working. She's also still needing her breathing treatmetns and he wants to continue until her 9 month well visit. Can it be considered "well visit" when she's never been well?! Ha. No, she is perfectly fine, just the allergies and still trying to recover and get her lungs back to 100% from the RSV, but it's still a tad frustrating that she has to deal with all this.

She's had a busy week. My sister and her family were in town and we did something with them every day pretty much. Took her first trip to SeaWorld and her first trip to Mi Tierra and the market downtown. They kept her one day and took her to the park and she loved the swing. I have been wanting to get her the Little Tykes swing so I went ahead and did since my sister sent me the most precious picture of her grinning so big in the swing. We went to Market Days and she fed the ducks. It was an enjoyable week. My family is THE BEST.

Anna enjoyed her first St. Patrick's Day and was sure to wear her GREEN!

Anna and her cousins Maddie, Kendall, Brinley and Emma at SeaWorld

My sister and her hubby and girls went to the park and Anna LOVED the swing! I was working and Laura sent me this picture. Made me light up to see her having so much fun with her family!

Anna!

Anna and her Pop. She tried eating his shirt and he didn't mind a bit. :)

Tour de Texas II

Remember, this post? It was my "wish list" of things to do on our free weekends. This was one beautiful weekend weather wise and we enjoyed TWO outings.

Saturday we went with my mom and dad to the chuck wagon cook-off at the ag museum here in Boerne. There's about 25 chuck wagon cooking teams who compete. They all get the same food to cook and serve and everything is cooked over an open fire or in a dutch oven. When you buy your ticket you are given a number from which your lunch will come from. We got Wagon 15. It was actually pretty good!

Chuck Wagon 15 food. It was pretty good!

Anna was in good spirits and she had peas and peaches for lunch and enjoyed it throughly. They had pony rides and although she didn't really ride we did set her up there and take some cute shots of her "riding" She had her cowboy hat and was all gussied up. I am looking forward to next year!

Mimi and Nanners all gussied up in her duds.

Giddy up Cowgirl!

Nanners on a horse. If you look closely you can see her mouth open. She wants the saddle horn. She's at the age where she wants everythign in her mouth. NOT a dirty saddle horn!! Says Mama. Only gross tough girls eat saddle horns. Ladies, can be tough, but they aren't gross. :)

On Sunday we went out, again with my parents, to Camp Verde Texas. It's near Comfort/Center Point and there's a general store. They serve yummy sandwiches and soups. I had the de ja vu and tomato soup. It was delish. Click here and scroll to the bottom to download and view the pdf menu. My dad enjoyed telling us the history of camp verde and how it was an old military outpost and they brought in camels instead of horses because camels can last longer without water and all that. But, the soldiers ended up hating them because they are mean and spit. I'm not sure the "rest of the story" but you can check it out here. There are camel statues and things everywhere and it's referred to as "The camel experiment" The general store is really pretty and there's lots of things to shop and buy!! It has a nice outdoor patio and a river down front and people were pin-nicking (sp???) I can't "steal" any photos from the internet but check them out here. There's some of the camel experiment, the shop, the historic building, etc...

Anna, after her lunch of peas and apples, smiling at her Mimi

Then we went to Medina, about 15 minutes away, and introduced mom and dad to apple ice cream from the Apple Store/Love Creek Orchards. We've eaten here since we've been camping out at koyote ranch (yes Koyote w/ a K) and it's super delicious. You've got to go if you ever want to get away. it's about 10 or 15 minutes from the Bandera side. The drive from Camp Verde to Medina was gorgeous. I wanna build a home out there someday when I win that lotto I dream of. Oh, they sell apple trees at the apple store (and, why wouldn't they?!) and there is an apple tree named Anna. The last time we went I was about 4 months pregnant and we didn't know if we were havinga  boy or a girl but we had decided on Anna. i wanted the tree so bad but that particular tree doesn't produce fruit north of I-35 and 90 but I don't care because it flowers SO beautifully. It's rightfully named Anna. ;) You also have to buy two different types of apple trees in order for them to pollinate and continuing producing fruit. With the Anna you have to get the Dorsett. one day, we'll have an anna and dorsett tree out in front of Anna's bedroom window. :)

There's the apple trees behind the Apple Store sign. I want the Anna tree! And, I have to get the Dorsett so it'll bloom. :)

This is looking in from the front door. You can't see the ice cream machine but it's there. Filled with yummy goodness that is apple ice cream. it's like cold, cream apple pie. It's better than I'm making it sound.