DADDY'S HERE!
2.28.2010
2.26.2010
Annie visits the beach.
This picture was taken immediately after our 20 hour drive down to the gulf. Pre nap, pre bath, and obviously pre change of clothes. We just wanted to get out on that beach. Here Annie is sporting a natural look. She has since been bundled up a lot more as it has been rather chilly down here! Better than the snow and clouds we left, so we won't complain.We're anxiously awaiting Dad's arrival tomorrow night. We've been missing him all week and are excited for him to see Annabelle's new crawling attempts. She's regularly seen on her hands and knees, and we tease her of her new yoga poses. She does a nice downward dog.
2.20.2010
Grant's Wish
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This event is near and dear to our hearts. On March 20th, 2010 a fundraiser is being held to support galactosemia research. A year ago today, we'd never heard of galactosemia - and now, it weighs on our minds every day. Since learning that Annie was galactosemic, we have become much more aware of the rare genetic disorders that occur. At times, we naturally envy those with "healthy" children, and yet we know all to well "it could always be worse". If you and your loved ones are healthy - please enjoy it and never take it for granted. And if you could, please join us for the Grant's Wish Fundraiser on March 20th. Unavailable that day? Donations can be made online, you can participate in the silent auction online as well.
Please visit pgcmidwest.com to register, donate or bid. (Link top right of this blog)
Please visit pgcmidwest.com to register, donate or bid. (Link top right of this blog)
2.14.2010
February 14, 2010 - 7 Months Old
Annie's grown so much in these 7 short months!
Birth weight: 7lbs -- 7 month weight: 18.5lbs
Birth height: 19.5 inches -- 7 month height: 26 inches
She's still hanging onto her blue eyes too! We're kinda surprised (being that neither of us have blue eyes)...but then again, Annabelle has managed to surprise us every step of the way!) We're still keeping up with her monthly photo on the Chief blanket...although it's getting harder to take a picture of her ON the blanket, much less, holding still!
2.10.2010
Happy Valentine's - 2010!
Our little Valentine :)
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Avery (5 months) & Annie (6 months) have a play date.2.03.2010
Annie visits the conservatory....
We've been searching for some sunshine, fresh air and greenery...without packing some bags that's hard to find these days! Annabelle took her first trip to the Garfield Park Conservatory this week, also had her first stroll in the stroller without the car seat. I'm pretty sure she loved the new view!
1.25.2010
Annie gets glasses....
Well...those of you following along at home - the long awaited glasses are in. Annie went to Wheaton Eye Clinic this afternoon (AFTER her shots, AND after missing a meal...all with a smile on her face, is this kid amazing or what?). She seems to be taking to the glasses just fine, aside from when she feels like rubbing her eyes, or wallowing around on the floor...but that was to be expected. Here are a few photos of our four eyed princess on day one of glasses wearin' 
***WOW! I can't believe how many emails I have been getting asking "HOW on earth we knew Annie needed glasses?" Here's the full story:
Back in October Annie had what appeared to be a little bruise under her right eye. We watched it for a while, but when it didn't seem to go away - just to be safe, I took her in to see Dr. Melissa. At that time, we thought it might be an internal stye, and she had a few days of ointment to help clear it up. But after about a week of treatment, and no results, we decided to see an eye doctor. The first eye doctor we visited took one look and started making some phone calls (this was late on a Friday afternoon of course) - she immediately sent us across town to see a pediatric opthamologist in Naperville, Dr. Oesterle. We slithered in as the last appointment and it was there that we found out Annie had a "capillary hemangioma" -- it was a guess at the time, but judging by the fact that Annie also had two other tiny hemangiomas on her body, it was very likely that it was indeed a capillary hemangioma. Capillary hemangioma is essentially a harmless tumor, they're sometimes called strawberry hemangiomas, or infantile hemangiomas...they occur in about 2% of babies, they typically grow until the baby is about a year old, and then slowly begin to recede, and will likely be just a faint mark by the age of 2. Generally these hemangiomas/birthmarks, are on the neck (sometimes called a 'storkbite') - which Annie has one of those...and a tiny one over her butt cheeks ;) BUT of course, when one of these hemangiomas is in the EYE - it posses a much bigger problem.
Sooo...since October we have been seeing the pediatric opthamologist on a regular basis to make sure the hemangioma isn't getting too big, and to make sure it is not affecting Annie's vision. The opthamologist tests Annie's vision much like an adult is tested. Her eyes are dilated, and then checked with the fancy lights and lenses (I've never had glasses, this is a whole new experience for me.) At first it was found that she had a slight astigmatism in her eye, but good thing was, she also had it in her "good eye" so her vision was even. But by the next visit, Annie's vision had started to become uneven, her "bad eye" was becoming more nearsighted than her "good eye" - and we had to start patching her good eye for two hours a day. This was to encourage her to use her bad eye, otherwise at this young stage of development, her brain would essentially shut down vision from the bad eye in favor of the clearer vision from the good eye -- resulting in a lazy eye. So we made it through the holidays, keeping up with her patching schedule quite well, and were hoping for good news at the next checkup.
However, at Annie's most recent checkup, it was found that the vision in the bad eye was continuing to deteriorate to a level that warranted glasses - So we've been instructed to keep up with the eye patching one hour a day, and she is to wear her glasses "all day, every day"....which I'm doing my best to adhere to, but we're talking about a 6 month old here ;)
So, why not just remove this darn hemangioma? Definitely my first thought...however, we've been told it's best to let these take their own course. Unless the hemangioma grows so large that it starts to cover her eye or cause bigger problems, it is best to avoid surgery on the eye, especially at her age. So we wait, we watch....and we tell her how cute she is in her glasses.
Aren't you glad you asked ;)
ps. the hemangioma is NOT galactosemia related...Annie is just THAT lucky ;)
***WOW! I can't believe how many emails I have been getting asking "HOW on earth we knew Annie needed glasses?" Here's the full story:Back in October Annie had what appeared to be a little bruise under her right eye. We watched it for a while, but when it didn't seem to go away - just to be safe, I took her in to see Dr. Melissa. At that time, we thought it might be an internal stye, and she had a few days of ointment to help clear it up. But after about a week of treatment, and no results, we decided to see an eye doctor. The first eye doctor we visited took one look and started making some phone calls (this was late on a Friday afternoon of course) - she immediately sent us across town to see a pediatric opthamologist in Naperville, Dr. Oesterle. We slithered in as the last appointment and it was there that we found out Annie had a "capillary hemangioma" -- it was a guess at the time, but judging by the fact that Annie also had two other tiny hemangiomas on her body, it was very likely that it was indeed a capillary hemangioma. Capillary hemangioma is essentially a harmless tumor, they're sometimes called strawberry hemangiomas, or infantile hemangiomas...they occur in about 2% of babies, they typically grow until the baby is about a year old, and then slowly begin to recede, and will likely be just a faint mark by the age of 2. Generally these hemangiomas/birthmarks, are on the neck (sometimes called a 'storkbite') - which Annie has one of those...and a tiny one over her butt cheeks ;) BUT of course, when one of these hemangiomas is in the EYE - it posses a much bigger problem.
Sooo...since October we have been seeing the pediatric opthamologist on a regular basis to make sure the hemangioma isn't getting too big, and to make sure it is not affecting Annie's vision. The opthamologist tests Annie's vision much like an adult is tested. Her eyes are dilated, and then checked with the fancy lights and lenses (I've never had glasses, this is a whole new experience for me.) At first it was found that she had a slight astigmatism in her eye, but good thing was, she also had it in her "good eye" so her vision was even. But by the next visit, Annie's vision had started to become uneven, her "bad eye" was becoming more nearsighted than her "good eye" - and we had to start patching her good eye for two hours a day. This was to encourage her to use her bad eye, otherwise at this young stage of development, her brain would essentially shut down vision from the bad eye in favor of the clearer vision from the good eye -- resulting in a lazy eye. So we made it through the holidays, keeping up with her patching schedule quite well, and were hoping for good news at the next checkup.
However, at Annie's most recent checkup, it was found that the vision in the bad eye was continuing to deteriorate to a level that warranted glasses - So we've been instructed to keep up with the eye patching one hour a day, and she is to wear her glasses "all day, every day"....which I'm doing my best to adhere to, but we're talking about a 6 month old here ;)
So, why not just remove this darn hemangioma? Definitely my first thought...however, we've been told it's best to let these take their own course. Unless the hemangioma grows so large that it starts to cover her eye or cause bigger problems, it is best to avoid surgery on the eye, especially at her age. So we wait, we watch....and we tell her how cute she is in her glasses.
Aren't you glad you asked ;)
ps. the hemangioma is NOT galactosemia related...Annie is just THAT lucky ;)
1.20.2010
Thank You Grandma! Thank You Grandma!
Annie had her first overnight this past weekend. Grandma Meek & Grandma Fitzpatrick were ever so kind to come spend the night with Annie while Mom & Dad got away for Aunt Colleen's birthday! She had a fabulous time - we are oh so grateful for all your help!
Annie - fresh from the tub - 6 months
1.11.2010
Annabelle - 6 months!
Happy 2010 everyone - hard to believe isn't it?!
Feed Me!The holiday's are over, and we're settling back into "normal" life. Annie is busy growing and learning every day. Her latest Gal-1-P came back at 5.8 (still dropping, but we were hoping for under 3). She's also doing a fantastic job of sitting up these days, it won't be long before she's crawling with the amount of wiggling around she does on her tummy...
We're also working our way through a menu of solid foods. People often ask us, what CAN your galactosemic baby eat? Well, plenty! Annie is currently munching on rice cereal, oatmeal, avocado, pear, asparagus, carrots and mango. And believe it or not, she seems to be liking the avocado and asparagus the best!
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