Sunday, December 7, 2008

ENT Appointment

Hello All! Sorry it’s been so long since the last update! Olivia is 10 months old today!!! Can you believe it? Where has the time gone?

Olivia saw the Ear, Nose and Throat Doctor on Thursday. The speech therapist and GI doctors decided after her swallow study went well that we should see an ENT to be sure there were no structural concerns that could be interfering with her eating. The appointment went well. They put a fiber optic camera up her nose and down her throat. It only took 2 minutes 17 seconds, but seemed like 10. She screamed through the whole thing! I probably would have too. They said that structurally everything looks good. The doctor and speech therapist we saw even seemed to have a good knowledge about achondroplasia! The doctor wants to see us again in a few months just to follow up since kids with achondroplasia are predisposed to ear problems.

While we were at the hospital, we also saw the GI nurse practitioner. She walked me through changing Olivia’s tube. Boy am I glad I didn’t try that one at home alone!!! I did it though and hopefully each time it will get a little easier. Thankfully, Marcy said that we can continue to bring Olivia there to change it until we are comfortable.

Olivia has a follow up appointment with the renal clinic this week. They will check up on her blood pressure and probably do some lab work. She also has an appointment to get her next RSV shot and see the pulmonologist. Her weight gain has been good this month so keep your fingers crossed that we can bring the oxygen down a little more!

We are continuing to work on the feeding issues. Some days look like we’re making huge improvements, and others, well, not so much. We will just keep plugging along and we’ll get there someday!

Meanwhile, we are getting ready for Christmas in the Kiefer house. We have our tree up and decorated. We get our tree from up north where Joe is from every year. Actually we buy it from Joe’s kindergarten teacher. Most of our gifts are bought, wrapped and under the tree. I am so excited for Christmas this year.

Enjoy a couple of random photos!




"What? I didn't do anything!"
(Notice her oxygen cannula hanging there) Olivia's new trick is pulling her cannula right out of the sticky circles that hold it in place.



Sleeping in her car seat. How cute is this new hat?!



Sitting in the chair like a big girl!



Looking cool in her hat and shades!

6 comments:

The Johnson Family 5 said...

She does look too cool!! Love it!! What a cutie-pie!!

Destini said...

Glad the doctors appts went well, good luck with the feeding, sometimes these things just take time. I love the pictures - Olivia is adorable! I can't imagine how hard it is getting to keep that oxygen on her, hopefully you can get rid of it soon!

Unknown said...

The pic with the shades is too adorable!! Glad to hear Olivia's ENT checkup went well. I'm sure you and she will both be thrilled when you can finally say goodbye to the O2!

Lisa said...

Hang in there with all of the "medical stuff." Urr. Know how frustrating it can be. Those shots are so darn cute and I just LOVE the shades!!

Greene Family said...

I love the picture of her looking cool in her hat and shades - too cute! I'm glad the doctors appts went well! Good luck with the feedings and oxygen - we'll keep our fingers crossed! When Simon was in the NICU and then on a monitor at home, he was always pulling his cords/wires off.

Kim said...

What adorbale new pictures. She is too much! SHe has come a long way and it seems she is doing very well! I love her new hat. Where did you find sunglasses? Preston's are always falling off his nose.