Spica Table PIctures

I have ordered a special customized table for Savannah from Ivy Rose Furniture. See my link on the side of my blog for her website. She will be able to use this table/chair while in her spica cast and her brace. She will also be able to use it when she's completely out of both the spica and the brace.

If you click on the Ivy Rose Furniture link and scroll down a little, you will see a flying pig table. We are going with that design but instead of the pigs, we are using my little ponies. My sister-in-law, who is really creative and awesome with microsoft paint, drew me a sketch last night of the my little pony design I had in mind. She helped me come up with the design and everything. I think it's going to be really cute.

I am posting pictures of her sketches, and I am also going to update this post as the table is being made. I have already received a sketch from the designer, and I asked permission to post the progress of the table being made as she sent me pictures along the way. If she gives me the ok, I will post her sketch too.

Here is the sketch my sister-in-law did for me:


Here is the sketch the designer has drawn so far:

Christmas Pictures

Here is a quick picture of Savannah in her Christmas dress. I will update this post later with more pictures. Proof there is hope for dressing your spica baby cute!

1st Christmas

I would have never thought that my little girl would be confined to that huge cast on her very first Christmas. I didn't know how she was going to open her gifts when she couldn't sit up without the help of a beanbag, wagon, and/or plenty of pillows. What did I know? I knew I was going to do everything in my power to make sure she had the best first Christmas I could possibly give her. I wanted to make things as normal as possible for her. I was so obsessed with everything having to be perfect for her.

I decided against all odds to try on the Christmas dress that I had gotten her before her surgery. It was a size 12 months (had a onesie to wear underneath), and spica babies need their clothes at least twice the size they were wearing before the cast. I can say from experience that Savannah's cast was much bigger than I had anticipated, and she needed bigger clothes. You can imagine how suprised I was that her dress actually fit her. She looked precious and the cast barely showed. I put a white bow in her hair, and it was the first time I felt like I had a normal baby since her surgery. She looked perfect, just beautiful.

We plopped her on her beanbag and used the boppy pillow to prop her up even more. I sat beside her and we opened up gifts. She was really content with the situation, and she squealed at some of her presents. She got a lot of books and baby einstein videos, a play gym that can be adjusted for play laying down, sitting up, etc, and she got a leapfrog activity table. She loved the activity table although she is unable to use it the way it was designed. We had to adapt it to her situation by taking the legs off it. That thing was/is a huge hit. She also got a radio flyer rocking horse from my mom and dad. We gave that to her early so she could enjoy it before her surgery.

We went to my mother's house for Christmas dinner. It was so nice to be able to get out and do something normal for Christmas. Savannah enjoyed being able to get out about as much as we did. Mom cooked the best holiday meal she's ever cooked, and we had a great time.

We ended Savannah's first Christmas with a trip around the neighborhood to look at all the lights. Her special carseat lifts her up high enough she could actually see the lights ( a bonus to having a big bulky carseat). She squealed with excitement until she finally wore herself out.

I wish that we could have gotten her more for Christmas, but she got a lot of her gifts early because of her surgery. I know that she will not remember this Christmas, but I hope that when she sees all the pictures and hears all the stories, she will know that I did everything I could to make her first Christmas special.

Savannah's Surgery

December 19-20, 2007

This was by far the worst day of my life. Rocking Savannah to sleep in a hotel room the night before, it didn't occur to me that it was the last time I'd hold her that close for awhile. I wish now I would have thought about that and held her a little longer, but I can't roll back time. The day of her surgery arrived quicker than I felt ready for, but I knew this was for the best. The idea of having to hand her over and walking away was the hardest thing I could imagine thinking about. It was definately the hardest thing I've ever done in my entire life.

We had to dress her in her little yellow hospital outfit, and they we just sat in a room and waited. The doctor finally came in and gave her some goofy juice to help her relax, so she wouldn't freak out when I had to hand her over. It took 10 minutes for that stuff to take effect, but when it did, IT DID! She started acting stupid. She was all groggy and she'd look at me and laugh uncontrollably. I laughed at her although it really wasn't a funny situation. It was funny, yet not funny. I was relieved she wouldn't be screaming when I left her, but it didn't make it easier like I had thought it would. That time finally came. I carried her to the two double doors, and I had to hand her over. I hugged her tightly, kissed her, and then sat her on the little gourney, and she just looked at me and started laughing. I guess that's better than screaming. She was so out of it, she was clueless to what was going on, so she just laughed as dh and I walked away. I thought I'd be ok until I hit the waiting room. I saw my mother sitting there, and I just lost it. I completely lost it. I wanted to go back and get her, but I knew I couldn't. We were told they would update us in about an hour. I tried to read my new Bible that I bought the day before, but I couldn't concentrate. I finally just sat there and talked to my sister in law in an attempt to get my mind off it. The pastor of my church and his wife showed up unexpectedly, and that was a really nice suprise. He said a prayer with us while she was in surgery, and then waited with us until her surgery was complete. I thought that was just so nice, and I was so blessed to have their support. I could not stop looking at the clock no matter how hard I tried. The last ten minutes were the hardest. Right before 9:00, I saw our doctor enter the waiting area. I was really suprised because he was supposed to be updating. I kinda panicked for a minute wondering why he was out there. He gathered us all together and told us he had good news. We were told that he was able to fix it with a closed reduction and she'd be in the cast for 6 weeks instead of 12. Again, I completely lost it. I was so relieved that I just sobbed uncontrollably. When I finally pulled myself together, I could not wait to see her.

It wasn't long after that, the doctor came out and told us we could come back. Seeing her laying on that gourney, still asleep from the anesthesia, in that HUGE cast was a shock to me. I knew what the cast was going to look like ahead of time, but pictures just do NOT do it justice. I was overwhelmed. My baby girl was inside that big pink brick, and I hated it. I hated seeing her like that, and I was really worried about her reaction to it all once she woke up. I refused to leave her room until she woke up, and I stuck to that. My mother brought my lunch to her room, but dh went to the cafeteria to eat. She woke up while he was gone. At first, she started to fuss a little, then she saw me. I just started talking softly to her, letting her know mama was there, and stroking her hair. She smiled at me. That was the best reaction I could have gotten, and I was relieved. She tried moving her legs, and began to fuss a little about the fact she couldn't move like she could before, but it wasn't long she was over it. Since then, she's accepted it really well, much better than dh and I.

We were trained later that morning on how to change her diaper, tape all of her cast openings, and all the other cast care that we needed to know in order to keep her cast clean and dry. It was quite overwhelming, and I was scared of what I would do with her once I got her home. The rest of the day and night was pretty much spent either holding, feeding, or riding her around in the wagon. I was so glad when her IV was finally removed because we were able to hold her much easier, or as easy as you can in a big bulky pink brick (as I call the cast). By that night, we were ready to go home. Dh and I both agreed we were overwhelmed but could handle it better at home. The doctor came in later and said we'd be released pretty early the next morning. We were happy about that.

We were released around 9:30 that next day, after being loaned a special car seat and receiving training on how to use it. The trip home was different. Watching her in that huge cast in that huge car seat was hard. It's hard to look at her sometimes. Since we've been home, all three of us have had the stomach bug. As if she hadn't already been through enough, she's had diahrea and vomiting on top of it. I promise the stomach bug does not make diaper changing in a spica cast easy. We've already went through ALL of our newborn size diapers given to us by the hospital. She misses me being able to cuddle her like we used too, and I do too. I will explain more in my next post. Right now, I've got to get some sleep. I am still recovering from my stomach bug. I still have so many more feelings I want to get out, but it will have to wait until my next post.

Preparing

My subject line says it all. I have spent this week making preparations for Savannah's surgery. I have researched my heart out, and I have even found a support forum in which I am now a member. I have talked to the orthopedic specialist, my pediatrician, and other people on the support forum who have and/are going through the same thing. There are so many things we will be needing in order to properly take care of her after the surgery. My list keeps growing everyday, and it sometimes overwhelms me to look at everything we need, exspecially since there will be more than what is on my list so far. Here is my list as of now:

Diaper Changing

1. Diapers - two different sizes, possibly Huggies overnights (waiting till we are trained at the
hospital).
2. Poise Pads - (I have to put one these inside the smaller diaper for extra protection).
3. Cotton Roll - like they use on perms ( this is to seal up her leg openings to help prevent
leakage in the cast).
4. Waterproof Tape - to go over the edges of the cast in ALL openings to protect her skin.

Clothes

1. Onesies -two sizes bigger than what she can wear now so they can fit over her cast.
2. Shirts - big enough to fit comfortably with cast
3. Dresses - also big enough to fit comfortably with cast.

Bathing

1. Washcloths - she has to be sponged bathed while in the cast ( 12 weeks at least). This is going to suck because she absolutely loves the bath. * I am still researching this to find out if there is anything else I can get to make bath-time easier for her. *

Toys, etc

1. Wagon - Something to help transport her room to room in that cast.. mom's on the support
forum suggested this.
2. Beanbag Chair - another thing suggested by the support forum (a neighbor of mine is
loaning us one.
3. Videos, etc - I'm getting her some for Christmas (hopefully this will entertain her some). * I am also still researching what other special toys I could get her for Christmas. She will not be able to play in her walker or jumperoo both of which she loves... gotta get her some things she can actually use to entertain her*

I am sure there is going to be a lot more things added to the list. There is so much that has to be done to prepare for this. I just want her to be as comfortable as possible.

You know, sometimes good can come out of horrible circumstances. I am finally getting to stay at home with my baby (my dream), yet this was not how I envisioned it. I am still grateful though that I am going to finally be at home with her. I am really excited to be able to have extra time to really bond with her, although the circumstances do suck. I just have 6 more days of work before I am home with Savannah.

Another good thing that has come from this: We have been trying to decide which doctor at the pediatric clinic we wanted to choose permanently. My job made it very hard for us to see the same doctor with each visit and I hated this. We've been trying to make a decision, and we finally did last night. We received a phone call out of the blue from the doctor that saw Savannah her first 3 months of life. He said he was checking her file to see how she had been doing with her check-ups, and he read about her hip and the surgery. He was calling to see if there was anything we needed or any questions or concerns he could help answer. I talked to him for about 15 minutes, and he answered a lot of questions for me. He was so kind and compassionate, and I felt really comfortable talking to him. I just couldn't believe he called us out of the blue to see how we were doing. I've never had a doctor do that before, and I knew after talking to him that God had just sent us the answer to our doctor problem. We now feel that this doctor is the answer to our prayers.

There are still so many emotions running through me. I can still cry at the drop of a nail. I have moments where I deal with all this really well, and I have other moments where I just feel very sad and helpless. I am really scared about the surgery and the anethesia. I just want the surgery part to be over with, so we can move ahead. I feel overwhelmed at times, I really really do. I know that Matt and I both are strong, and I know Savannah is too. I also know that we are going to make it through all this, but it's still a lot to deal with right now. The road ahead is going to be hard, no doubt about it, but one thing is for sure...the grace of God will get us through it.

Surgery 12/19/07

Savannah will be having surgery December 19th.

They are going to go in with a needle and insert dye into her joint to determine if they can put the ball back in the socket without having to do open reduction. The doctor said if they were unable to put the ball back into the joint after the dye test, they would have to do open reduction. Either way we are in a spica cast for 6 weeks, and I believe he said we come back and do a cast switch and she will have that cast for another 6 weeks, and then we are in a brace! We will have to make a decision when she is 18 months on whether or not to do surgery again with another 6 weeks in a cast or she can wear a brace for a whole year. That's our options at 18 months. If we do the surgery at 18 months.. once her 6 weeks with the cast is over...this whole ordeal should be over... same thing with the brace for a year. I don't want to make that decision this far in advance, so we are just going to take it one day at a time.

I have so many thoughts and questions going through my head right now. What kind of clothing can she wear? What size should I get with the cast and all? Is there something I can get her so I can feed her.. because her high chair won't work with the cast? What about diaper changes.. how on earth do I change a diaper with that cast? Are there any special toys or things I could get her to help make her life easier? Is she going to be in a lot of pain after surgery if they have to do the open reduction? How is she going to react to this cast? What can I expect her to be like when she wakes up for surgery? I've actually wondered what if she doesn't come out of the anethesia?.. horrible thought I know, but I am just really scared right now. I have a lot of emotions running through me right now. Matt and I both are an emotional mess. We aren't really eating well or sleeping well either. There are times when I am really optimistic and I know that I can handle all this, and then there are times I wonder how am I going to possibly deal with it all? I'm just a mess right now.

I feel horrible that I haven't responded to my post on EB regarding her upcoming surgery. You have no idea how much I appreciate all the love and support everybody has given me. I have read each response through my tears, and I appreciate each and every one of them. I will respond when I can cope and find the words. Right now, I just need some time to deal with things. I hope all you wonderful ladies can forgive me for not responding yet. I am grateful for all the support, because I need all the help I can get. I have cried all day, and my husband isn't doing much better than me. My heart feels like it's being crushed in a million pieces. It's so hard to even look at her sometimes. I just feel so helpless and sad right now.

Emotional

I was an hour late getting to school today. Everything finally hit me this morning, and I just lost it. I knew once it all hit me, I would be a mess. I have been in tears on and off all day. There was just no way I would be able to give my students 100% of me, so I decided it was in the best interest of the students and myself if I just called in to work and let them know I would be a little late this morning. I needed to be alone, no husband, no parent or relatives coming to my house or calling. I just wanted to be alone for awhile, so I decided to just get in my car and ride around. I knew if I stayed home, my dad (whose retired now) would have probably noticed I was home when I should have been at work, and he would have stopped by or called in concern. He's awesome that way, and I love him for it. This time I just needed some time alone. I decided to ride around and get away from everything.

My best friend, Christina, from New Jersey consoled me on the phone while I drove around crying. I wanted to go somewhere and park and be alone, but in this little town, there is no such thing as privacy. I tried stopping at Sonic, Big Banjo's parking lot, and I even tried stopping in a grocery store parking lot. I was uncomfortable at all these places. I finally ended up in the parking area of my church. I was at ease there, and knew this was where I was supposed to end up this morning. As I sat there talking to my best friend, I confessed my location and how I really wanted to go inside and talk to my preacher. I was too embarrassed to go in because I hadn't been to church in so long. Of course, Christina being the wonderful person she is, encouraged me to go talk to my preacher. She reminded me that I had no reason to be embarrassed about not going to church in so long, and that it would do me a world of good to talk to him. She convinced me that I ended up at my church for a reason this morning. I knew in my heart that she was right and that God had let me back to my church. There was no other explanation for the difference in my feelings while in the church parking lot compared to everywhere else I had went before I ended up there. I did eventually go inside to talk to the preacher because I knew that was what I was being led to do, and I followed my heart. However, he was out on a call. Even though it saddened me that our meeting would have to wait, I knew I was doing the right thing. I left a message with the church secretary to have him call me and set up a time I could come and talk to him. Then I went into the sanctuary and prayed. I got on my knees and just prayed. It was so cold in that church, yet while on my knees, I was warm. I felt as if I had received a great big hug when I left the church. I instantly felt better, and I knew I could finally handle going back to work. I know that God gave me that big hug..it was such a great feeling!

The rest of my day went better than how my morning had started out...until my principal met with me for an hour after school about my job. It was an emotional meeting because I literately cried the whole time I was in there. I couldn't handle being lectured about things they thought I wasn't doing (which I've definately done everything they asked), and try to also deal with Savannah's situation. I was still in the grieving process over my baby, seeing as I had just found out the day before. You would think some people would have been a little more sensitive to the matter. I was pretty much told in this meeting that I would not have my job at the end of the year. This was no suprise to me since they've sabbatoged me and tried everything they could to get rid of me for 3 years. I was already planning to resign at the end of this year, but Savannah's situation is just going to make it all happen much faster. So, even though I was already leaving anyway, I still thought it was pretty cold and insensitive for the principal to approach me about that when she did. She could have easily done it any day, but she chose the one day that I was trying to cope with the news about Savannah. I can't help but think what a jerk she was for doing that.

This has been a very emotional day, and I am just drained. I have felt so drained and tired tonight. On a positive note.. the preacher did call me back, and I will be meeting with him tommorow after school.

Trying to Cope

Savannah's appt with the orthopedic specialist is now Monday at 3:30 at Ark. Children's Hospital.

I now have to ask off for Monday, possibly Tuesday too if they put her in a brace ( no way in the world I'm going to work the next day when they first put her in the brace!). I lost a day without pay today which we just can NOT afford right now, and I have to ask off I'm sure a lot more days for all this. My job/boss is NOT understanding, and they will eventually come down hard on me just like they did for missing so many days last year when I was put on BEDREST and MATERNITY LEAVE. If they can't give any on that, then they won't give on anything! I am supposed to turn in my lesson plans tommorow ( no other teacher has to do this) because I am on a improvement plan that I don't deserve to be on... there's no way I can get those plans done by tommorow after this.. I've asked my principal in the past to let me turn them in one Friday due to my kid being sick, and she flat said NO. NOT a BIT of UNDERSTANDING!! There's no way she'll allow me to turn these in Friday! Ya know what? I am going to turn them in Friday anyway, and the heck with her and that stupid school. If they jump me for turning them in Friday instead of tommorow considering my circumstances, don't ya think I could justify calling my AEA rep?

I just can't take it anymore. I am drowning in stress, and it is absolutely going to kill me. I hate my job, and they hate me. Why the heck won't they just release me with pay like they did the other teacher? I've been put through this crap for 3 years now.. 3 YEARS!! I could handle things a lot better if I didn't have to deal with this stupid job. Savannah is double covered, and if I lose my job, we lose her double coverage which has been a Godsend with all her problems. I don't know what to do, but I can't deal with all this anymore!

So, now it's another 4 more days of agonizing wait for this appointment!! Somebody please just shoot me and put me out of my misery because I have just about reached my breaking point, and I am having an extremely hard time coping!

Emotionally Drained

I am so emotionally drained right now. This has been a really bad day. I made all the arrangements at work to take off tommorow for Savannah's appointment with the orthopedic specialist, and it was all for nothing.

I called to confirm the appointment earlier today only to find out that we weren't even scheduled. I was completely shocked because the doctor scheduled this appointment before the end of her check-up, and everything was verified. I called the pediatrician pretty upset. I spent all day trying to get somebody to tell me what the heck was going on.. literately on the phone on and off today. Finally at 5:00 p.m., the pediatrician called me. She was extremely apologetic and told me that the person at the specialist clinic who set up the appointment was not the person who usually does this, and she did not know that this specialist no longer sees patients with Savannah's problem. When the lady who normally does the appointments saw we were scheduled for Congenital Hip Dysplasia, she canceled my appt and didn't bother calling me or the pediatrician.

I was so livid that the lady didn't bother calling me or the pediatrician. I can't begin to understand how somebody could be so heartless of somebody else's situation to do something like this. I mean it's not like we were seeing a SPECIALIST for the fun of it. She has a serious problem exspecially with it being caught at her age, and it's critical we start treating her ASAP. So, for this woman to just brush it off like she did, it really burns me up. I am going to call and speak to somebody tommorow when they open and do some major complaining. I don't appreciate what she did. I am a forgiving person, but when it comes to Savannah, I will come completely unglued. She's the most precious thing in my life, and I'm pretty protective of her.

The pediatrician told me they are trying to get her an appointment to see a orthopedic specialist at Children's Hospital. I was told they would call me tommorow by noon, and if for some reason I haven't heard from anybody regarding an appointment time, etc, by noon, I am to call the pediatric clinic and tell them to put me through immediately to a nurse named Elena. I hope I don't have to do that. I just hope they call me with the freaken information because if I have to chase people around tommorow begging for help, I think I'll scream. I've been through enough!

So, to sum it all up.. I have taken off work tommorow for no apparent reason now. I can't get in touch with my principal to tell her what happened, so she could cancel the sub. I guess I will just have a day off tommorow. I just don't have the days to be missing like this, but it's not the end of the world either. I don't know what else I can do. This was not my fault, so they can't hold that against me. They'll get over it. It's not like they really seriously give a crap about me anyway. If they give me a lot of trouble over this, I will just call my AEA rep. Point is.. I really don't care. I probably won't be there next year anyway.

I took a hot bubble bath to try and relax, but I'm still pretty tense. I am going to bed soon, and maybe sleep will be the best thing right now because I am completely emotionally screwed up, and just completely drained.

Rough Night

It has been a rough night. I have had one of my moments where I just broke down and cried. It's really hard not to be scared, worried, stressed out, and restless. It is 11:13 p.m., and once again I can't really sleep. I haven't slept very good since Savannah's 9 month check-up this past Wednesday when we completely unexpectedly found out she had a problem called hip dysplasia in her left hip. We were also told that she did not develop a left hip socket while in utero. I have been pretty much trying to just process everything since we found out.

We have an appointment with the Orthopedic Specialist this coming Wednesday. We will hopefully be getting a final diagnosis, and we will also begin treating/fixing this problem also. I am ready to find out what we are going to be up against on fixing this. I hate just waiting and anticipating this appointment. I know from my research (that I finally stopped) that the way they treat this sort of thing is with a cast, brace, and/or surgery. I am just ready for Wednesday, ready to get the ball rolling. This has really be an agonizing wait.

Matt finally expressed his feelings and concerns about the whole situation tonight. He hasn't really said much about it until tonight when he told me that he was having the same feelings and emotions as me, but that he is just dealing with it differently. He did validate my feelings though. He said he was nervous and worried about Wednesday's appointment. He said he was kinda glad that my mother was going with me (he is saving his days at work in case she has to have surgery, etc). He said he would rather me tell him what we are going to have to do to fix her hip problem because he is too nervous to deal with listening to the doctor. I am just so glad he finally told me how he felt because it just really validated my feelings. I don't feel so alone now.

It's nice to have a place where I can vent my feelings. This really helps to relieve some of the stress and tension. I'm going to go check on my baby girl (sleeps beside me), and then crawl into bed myself. Maybe I will sleep better tonight.. I hope!

First Diagnosis

Welcome to my blog. My daughter, Savannah, was diagnosed with Congenital Hip Dysplasia of her left hip while at her routine 9 month checkup on November 21, 2007. We were completely stunned and shocked when we were told our little girl had this problem. She had shown no signs of a problem existing, so we were just expecting another routine check-up without any problems. Instead we were immediately sent downstairs for an x-ray and an ultrasound of her hips after the pediatrician discovered a click in her left hip.

Her right hip socket was shown to be a little shallow, and we were told the left hip socket did not form completely while she was still in utero. Again I was just stunned. I had so many questions runnning through my head. Why my child? Why did this happen? Did I cause this some way? I felt very helpless and emotional about the whole situation. I had a lot of difficulty trying to come to terms with the fact she had this problem because I wanted to believe that she didn't. I think Matt was in denial too until he actually saw the ultrasound and the tech explained what he was seeing.

The pediatrician referred us to an orthopedic specialist the upcoming Wednesday, November 28. The idea of leaving this appointment not really knowing a confirmed diagnosis and treatment from the specialist was really hard. I don't do very well with waiting and anticipating things especially when it comes to my daughter. This was not going to be an easy wait. Both Matt and I wanted to know exactly what was wrong with our daughter so we could just move forward and begin treating it.

Rough Day!

Savannah has had a really rough day. The poor little baby is just completely miserable. Her nose has been congested and runny, and she's been coughing too. I've had to use the booger sucker on her nose twice, maybe three times already today, and she has been running a low grade fever.

She has been extremely fussy, crying on an off all day. She has taken several small naps, but keeps waking up before she gets to finish out her nap. That definately has made her even more irritable. She also has been very reluctant to take her bottle today.

I've had her most of the day, and Matt has her now. She has finally taken her bottle and went back to sleep. Bless her heart!... she's just miserable! I hate that she's sick like this. This is probably the worst cold she's ever had.

I am just hoping and praying that tommorow is a better day!

Dr. Appointment!

We saw the doctor today, and Savannah has a bad cold.

That crud has been going around, and I think every baby at daycare has it now. It all started up again when these twins started coming to daycare twice a week. Those boys were always snotty, and I bet that is why all the other babies are now sick. I don't and never will understand why parents can't keep their sick children at home away from other kids. I guess I am one to talk since I took Savannah to daycare today, but then again, all the babies are already snotty. She wasn't running any fever, or I would have taken off work and stayed home with her. I hate nothing more than leaving her at that daycare well, let alone when she's sick. I want to be a SAHM (stay at home mom), and I am praying that one day that will finally happen for me. In the meantime, I am forced to tolerate having to leave her every day, but I seriously hate it!

We went grocery shopping (35-40 minutes away from where we live), and we took Savannah with us. She played all the way there, but she slept through the whole store experience and all the way home. I really thought she'd be up all night as much as she'd already slept. I guess she really feels bad because I medicated her, Matt fed her, and she went right to sleep.

Sick Baby Girl!

Savannah has a runny nose, sneezing, cough, and snotty sounding congestion. She sounds so croupy. She was running a low grade temp of 100.1 after daycare.

I made her an appointment to see Carma tommorow until I picked her up from daycare. She was all snotty and had a low grade fever. I called back, and tried to get her in to see the doctor today, but the lady who makes the appointments was very rude. She told me they had a 3:30 appt open, but I couldn't take it because I would be cutting into her time. I was quite upset over it, and I fully intend to tell Carma what happened tommorow. Her appointment is tommorow at 5:00. Now understand that I have to fill out paper work before she can even be seen. We do not have a pharmacy that is open all night, and the one we do have closes at 6:00. Most likely the dr. will prescribe or ask me to pick up something for her, and I'll wait to wait another freaken day just to do that. I am just really frustrated and upset that the appointment lady was so rude. You would think people would be more considerate of a sick helpless little baby.

As a matter of fact, I am going to call the hospital tommorow and ask to speak to Carma directly. I am going to tell her what happened and that I am extremely concerned about the pharmacy being closed by the time we get done. I am going to ask if there is any way I can bring her after school around 4ish. I am 100% sure that this dr. is going to be highly upset about what happened. If at all possible, she will work me in earlier!

In the meantime, I have put vick's vapor rub on her feet, chest, and neck. I also have the vaporizer going. I gave her a dose of tylenol to prevent her fever from going up during the night.

I will post an update tommorow!

First Word!

DA-DA! :)

Savannah said her first word today at daycare!! I just couldn't believe it. She's been trying to say Ma-ma for awhile, and all of a sudden she just starts saying Da-da over and over. I was excited, but I almost felt kinda defeated too because I can't wait until she says ma-ma. I'm a little bit jealous, but it's ok. She'll say ma-ma soon enough... for now she can bug da-da for everything! (ha-ha)

Tonight while we were dressing her after her bath, Savannah started saying da-da over and over while laying in her crib. It was the first time Matt had heard her do it, and he was just in hog heaven! You would think he was just annointed king or something! It was sorta funny to sit back and watch him get so excited. I actually thought it was sweet. She is growing so fast that I will gladly wait patiently for her to say ma-ma. I can't believe she's almost 8 months old already. Sometimes, I really just want to freeze her in time! I already miss my newborn baby, and soon she won't even be a baby anymore at all. I just want to treasure every second I have with her now.

DA-DA will go in her books as her first word. I guess crawling is next since she is already scooting on her belly all over the place! :)

Open Sore Update!

The open sore looks much better this morning. It looks like it has already began to heal over. I couldn't believe it when I saw it this morning. It was open with a touch of bleeding last night, and this morning it is sealed over. This is the quickest I've ever seen a spot heal over with the antibiotic ointment.

We are being very careful with it, and continuing the antibiotic ointment with each diaper change. We are hoping it will continue to heal up on it's own without the need for another laser treatment. Seeing the difference from last night to this morning sure does make me feel a lot more optimistic! Time will surely tell!

Another Open Sore!

We have another open sore! I can not believe this is happening. We just had another laser treatment done yesterday.

I noticed the spot while changing her diaper after we got home from daycare. She was throwing a huge fit, and she didn't want me anywhere near her bottom. Usually after a laser treatment, she is perfectly fine and fuss free during diaper changes. The fit she was throwing was a huge red flag. I checked her bottom closer and discovered an open spot. It is right underneath the spot we just had lasered. It almost looked like somebody accidently scratched her while changing her diaper. I can't help but wonder if that's exactly what happened and if it happened at daycare.

I have tried getting in touch with Dr. Kincannon, her specialist, but I haven't had any luck at all. I even sent him an email, and that was returned to me. Evidently, his email isn't working right now, or he's changed email addresses. I even called Arkansas Children's Hospital to explain the situation to see if there was a way to get in contact with Dr. Kincannon. They sent me from one person to the next until finally I was disconnected. It's really frustrating to have no way of getting in touch with somebody when something like this happens.

To make matters worse, the daycare is refusing to treat her hemangioma with the antibiotic ointment that was prescribed to her unless I can get Dr. Kincannon to fax them a letter stating it is ok for them to apply the ointment during every diaper change. I am really upset over this because I can't get in touch with the doctor until after the weekend. I left a message at the Dermatology clinic after I picked her up from daycare. Now I have to worry about what is going to happen to her little bottom if it's not treated properly all day Monday while I am at work. This is exspecially upsetting since we have a new open sore we are dealing with on top of the one we just had lasered.

I hate this. I know it could be worse. I know she could have one on her head, nose, ears, eye, throat, etc. I get sick of people always telling me it could be worse. I know it could be worse, and I am very thankful and blessed that it is not worse. That doesn't make watching her go through all these laser treatments any easier. She's my baby, and I can't stand watching her go through all this. It's not fair that she's having to deal with this. I wish it were me instead. It just makes my heart wrench. I love her so much!

Laser Treatment # 3

We took Savannah to Little Rock today to have another laser treatment done on her hemangioma. I really don't want to talk about what it was like to watch her go through this again. I hate it, and I wish I could take away these stupid hemangiomas.

This is the third laser treatment we've had to endure. I asked Dr. Kincannon about her long term prognosis with this thing. He said that she shouldn't have to have anymore laser treatments done after she is 1 year old. I hope to goodness he is right. I am praying we don't have to do this again, yet I am sure we probably will, but I can hope. I hope this thing will go away soon after she is 1 year old. I just hate it. I hate watching my precious baby girl go through all this stuff. Not much more I can say on this subject. Just putting this in the records.

Sitting Up!

My baby girl is sitting alone now. She's been sitting up for awhile, but not long enough to be considered unassisted until today. She started sitting up and playing for a long time today. I can't believe how fast she is growing up. I love her so much!

Rough Night!

Savannah had a rough night last night, and she's still very fussy today. I figured I was in for a rough night after she starting running a higher fever than normal with her shots. The poor thing kept fussing on and off last night, and she was really clingy to me. I had to hold and rock her for a long time. If I even tried to put her down, she would cry. We finally got her to bed around 10:30.

Of course, I woke her up around 12:30 because I thought she her fever had went up high. I had checked her with a forehead thermometer, and it registered 102. I checked her temperature with her thermometer after I woke her up only to find out the Tylenol we had given her earlier worked. She wasn't running any fever. I had to fix her a bottle in order to get her to go back to sleep. I am such a dunce, but what can I say.

I didn't get much sleep last night since I ended up having to get up with her again around 6:30. Her fever was up again, so once again I had to give her more tylenol. She's been up and down all day with her fever, and she's been quite the fuss bucket today. I can tell she still doesn't feel very well... my poor little baby girl!

Hopefully, she will feel better tommorow. This is the worst she has been ever from getting shots. It's hard enough leaving her at daycare, so I'm hoping she will get back to her old self by Monday! *sigh*

6 Month Check-up

She's 6 and a half months old already! Where has the time gone already? She is seriously growing way too fast. She had her 6 month check-up today, and she's doing great. She now weighs 14 lbs 14 oz, and she is 25 3/4 inches long. She's not a fat baby at all, just those cute little chubby cheeks she's had since she was born!

The only thing different about today's appointment was being told that Savannah has a heart murmer. I was told not to worry about it (YEAH RIGHT!..impossible!), and that it was very very mild at this point. The doctor told us that on a severity scale from 1-6, she is at a 1 right now, meaning we will just monitor it at future check-ups. If the murmer changes (gets louder, stronger..according to the dr.), then that is another story that will require some tests! The doctor said that it could just go away, and that is what I am hoping and praying will happen. I will update after her next check-up. Her next appointment will be in 3 months.. she will be ....GASP... 9 MONTHS!!

Everybody keeps asking me what all she can do now at 6.5 months! Lets see... she can roll over both ways, she swims on her belly and scoots around some ( she's trying to crawl), and the newest milestone.... drumroll.... she is trying to SAY MAMA! I thought I might have been imagining it, but she did it again last night. Matt heard her, and agreed that she was trying to say it already! I don't consider this her first word yet, because it's still not consistent or completely clear, but I honestly don't think it will be much longer! Tee-hee, I love it! I know there is more she can do, but I will leave it at that for now.

However, I must mention that Savannah has the cutest belly laugh I have ever heard in my life. It amazes me the things that can make her laugh, such as a wind-sock or a piece of paper that is being shook in front of her. My favorite thing is when I laugh, she laughs with me!

Tonight is probably going to be a harder night for my little all night sleeper. She has slept a lot more today since she's gotten her shots, and I am afraid that will either cause her to wake up during the night or really early in the morning! Things might go better than I am anticipating, but only time will tell. She was running fever earlier from the shots, and she is sleeping in her daddy's arms now!

Thumb Sucker!

Oh my goodness! I have a thumb sucker on my hands.

She's never cared for her thumbs, but she's always loved chewing her whole fist. I was really shocked when all of a sudden today she started sucking her thumb.

My dad rode with me today to take Savannah to the doctor because for what ended up being a bad cold. On the way, I noticed Savannah had her fist in her mouth again or so I thought. I looked closer, and she was SUCKING HER THUMB!! It was so cute, I actually hollered "oh my goodness!"

She is so cute sucking her thumb. I can't believe it took her this long to find it. I don't think it was the issue of finding it. I just don't think she was interested in her thumb until now! Then again, who knows!

I love my little princess, but she's growing way too fast! :)

1st Veggie

Savannah ate her first vegetable today. She had sweet potatoes, and she loved them! I absolutely love feeding her solids, and I can't wait to introduce her to more foods. I have to wait at least 4 days between introducing a new vegetable in case of an allergic reaction. Hopefully she won't have any food allergies since Matt and I don't have any food allergies. Anyway, so far so good.

I feel like I got cheated out of the breast feeding experience, and I don't want to get cheated out of getting to feed my baby solids. I LOVE feeding her cereal, fruits, and vegetables. It's my favorite part of our day.

Savannah's Big Girl Bed!

Savannah is no longer sleeping in the basinett. I found a portable crib mattress that fits her pack and play perfectly and the sheets to go with it. It was the perfect solution, and the mattress only cost around $20. That is a lot cheaper than buying a co-sleeper for around $200!

I went shopping with my mother June 24, and that's when we lucked up on the mattress. I was even able to place it inside a pack and play that was on display before buying it. It must have really been my lucky day because I also found the munchkin bottles that I've been looking for the past several months. We bought one to try, and it turned out to be an awesome bottle. It does not leak all over Savannah while she eats, and the nipple doesn't stop up like the other bottles. I am definately going to purchase more of these bottles!

I have to mention TJ MAX! I LOVE this place. They have tons of the cutest brand name clothes, and they are always marked down CHEAP. I love buying Savannah's clothes there. Anyway, it ended up being a great shopping trip! After setting up the pack and play to use as a bed with the new mattress, I put Savannah in it before bedtime to introduce her to it. I told her she had a big girl bed now, and she just kicked her legs and smiled really big.

Now, I always call it her big girl bed! I thought she might be difficult to transition into a new bed the first night, but she slept through the night right off the bat. We know we are really lucky, because she has been sleeping through the night for a long time now. She is truely an awesome baby!

I can't believe my baby girl has finally outgrown the basinett. I will miss those times when she was a little newborn baby in her basinett sleeping beside me in the recliner. Those are precious times, and it went by so darn fast. I am excited about her new bed, but It's also bittersweet too.

My precious little baby girl is growing up so fast!

Savannah Discovers Her Feet!

I woke up this morning to find Savannah in her basinett looking at her feet. She was holding her feet with her hands, and she had them in her face. She was looking at them and moving them around trying to figure them out. What a sweet thing to wake up too this morning! I was beginning to wonder when the little monkey would find her feet since she found her hands awhile back. She is so cute when she is looking at her hands. She gets really fascinated by them, putting them in her face all the time and wiggling her fingers. I couldn't wait for her to find her feet to see what she would do with them. Now the FUN begins!

Off the subject of feet. Savannah is still in her basinett, and it is way past time for her to be sleeping somewhere else. She has outgrown the basinett, but I am so afraid to put her room in her crib. She spits up so badly with her reflux problem that the idea of putting her in the crib in her room worries me. I thought about purchasing a co-sleeper and/or a mini crib to go in our bedroom, but I have some issues with these also. The co-sleeper sounds perfect for our situation, but I don't know much about the mattress that goes in it. I know the ones for her crib are designed exspecially for her growing bones. I am not sure about the mattresses for the co-sleepers. The mini crib costs about the same as the co-sleeper. I have even thought about putting her crib in our room for now (even though her room will look funny without it). Her crib wouldn't fit in our bedroom in the house we are in now, but we are about to move soon. It will fit in our bedroom in the new house.

I am definately moving her out of the basinett in the new house, so I need to make a decision soon. I guess I will continue researching some more, and maybe it will come to me. I just want what is best for my little princess.

I hear thunder, and Matt said we are supposed to be getting severe storms. I am about to check my weather radio for updates. Since the tornado that hit here February 24, I have become a lot more aware of the weather.

Rainforest Jumperoo

That's what we got her!

I woke up this morning and decided that I really wanted to go shopping with my mother today. It was a sudden decision that I just made on a whim. As always, mom was thrilled I wanted to go with her, and Matt agreed to watch Savannah. I think he was glad to get rid of me for the day!

We got a late start (10:00 a.m.), but we accomplished a lot anyway. Here are the stores that we visited: Target, Baby Depot, ToysRUs, Pickles & Ice Cream, T.J. Max, and Hobby Lobby. We ate lunch at Ryans, and the cheese-cake was AWESOME! It was covered in caramel, with chocolate syrup drizzled over it... YUM! Anyway, I wanted to get the jumperoo at target because it was cheaper, but target in LR and NLR were both sold out. I ended up buying it at ToysRUs even though it was a little bit more expensive there. Everywhere else was sold out!

Matt was just as excited about the jumperoo, so he put it together when I got home. Savannah didn't know what to think about it at first. She can barely reach the ground with her feet when she stretches her legs, and she used the seat as a huge teether! When she was put in it again later, she began discovering the toys and she realized the seat would spin. She was truely funny trying to spin around ( it was hard because her feet aren't quite to the ground enough). She appeared mesmorized with the spinning ball (with the sun inside it) toy. She was so cute in it, and I think the older she gets, the more she is going to love it!

I think we made the right decision.

Exersaucer or Jumperoo?

That's the decision I have been trying to make. I want to get Savannah something where she can sit up and play. She loves her floor gym, but she is beginning to want to sit up more often now. The exersaucers with all the little toys are really cute, but the jumperoo's are cute too. These toys can be a little pricey, so I want to make sure that I have researched them well before I make a final decision.

I've looked at several exersaucers and several jumperoo's. Here are pictures of a few of my favorites:

Picture 1 is an Evenflo Exersaucer, Picture 2 is a Baby Einstein Exersaucer, and Picture 3 is the Rainforest Jumperoo. I really like the Rainforest Jumperoo a lot! It gets awesome 5 star reviews on amazon.com, and it has been voted on the most popular item registered on babiesrus.com. Now I just need to talk to Matt!

Back to Belly Roll

Savannah rolled from her back to her belly today!She was on playing on her rainforest floor mat, her favorite toy. I put her flat on her back so she could play, and I turned my back for just a few seconds. When I turned around to check on her, she was on her tummy. She still has difficulty rolling from her stomach to her back, but she's getting it. I couldn't believe it! I called Matt at work to tell him, and then I called my mom and dad.

I can remember the first time we started incorporating tummy time into her schedule. She would just lay there with her head down sideways on the mat. She has come a long way since then. She can hold her head up a lot better now.

Here is a picture of the little munchkin on her tummy.

Savannah is 4 months old

Savannah Grace is 4 months old today. Matt and I had a blast taking pictures and videos throughout the day to commemorate her 4 month birthday. Savannah was equally as happy, and she seemed to really enjoy all the pictures. She was a little ham for the camera!

Here are some of the pictures we took today. Happy 4 month birthday pookie bear!!

Savannah's First Stroll

Matt and I took Savannah strolling around the block for the first time. We decided it would be a great way for the both of us to get some much needed exercise, and Savannah could get some fresh air. She seemed to really enjoy it a lot. We stopped by our neighbor's house, so they could see her. They were both getting out of their vehicles when we went by their house. I think they both enjoyed finally getting to see her, and Savannah even got another gift. A set of 5 bodysuits which were the perfect size for her to wear now. She actually needed some more of these bodysuits, so we were happy about that.

We strolled to the end of our street, and Matt ran around the corner to the Movie Gallery (to take back a movie). I slowly strolled Savannah back towards our house while waiting on Matt to catch up. Savannah fell asleep on the way back home. I have always dreamed of taking my own child out in the stroller, and today it finally happened. I enjoyed it very much. It was great spending quality time as a family without a television or a computer. I enjoyed being able to have a conversation with Matt while we were out strolling. It was just so nice in so many different ways.

Weather permitting and barring nothing else comes up (baby sick, etc), we are planning to do this everyday. Tomorrow we are taking a different route. We will be strolling by some of our other neighbor's house (so they can see her), and we will make that block and head home. I can't wait!

Savannah Discovers Her Hands

Savannah found her hands for the first time today, and she is just so fascinated with them. She is really funny to watch. She constantly has them in front of her face. She moves them, wiggles her fingers, and just keeps looking at them. She will even do this while I am feeding her a bottle. I would LOVE to know what she is thinking when she is looking at and examining her hands. SHE'S SO CUTE!

I guess she will find her feet and toes next. That should be a lot of fun. I love watching her reach all of her milestones. She's so much fun and a joy to have around. She's such a blessing. I love being a mom, but I love being Savannah's mother the most. She is so precious to me, and I am so thankful that God chose me to be her mother. I am truly honored.

1st Laser Treatment

Savannah had her 1st and hopefully last laser treatment this morning. It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. I had myself so worked up over this, and it really wasn't THAT big of a deal. They tested the laser on my hand and on Matt's, so that we would know exactly what it felt like before the baby went through hers. I couldn't even feel it. It felt like somebody blowing air on my hand, and the sting I was supposed to feel was barely even noticeable.

Anyway, Matt stayed with Savannah during the procedure, and I waited out in the hallway. I wasn't sure how she was going to react to it all, and I couldn't handle the idea of watching her go through it. I opted for the hall while Matt stayed with her. I felt like the worst mother in the world for not being able to stay with my baby, but I hate watching her go through these things. I stood at the end of the hall and cried while I waited for the doctor to let me know how it went.

It was less than two minutes, and the Dr. came out carrying the car seat and the diaper bag. Matt was carrying Savannah, and she was fine. She wasn't crying or anything. The doctor said she did great and to continue the antibiotic and vaseline like we have been doing until our next appointment.

We went to the lobby on the first floor, and tried giving her a bottle before heading home. It was time for her to eat, but she was too interested in all the waterfalls and other scenery. We finally gave up and headed for home. Matt decided to go to work for the rest of the day once we were home.

Since we have been home, I have changed her diaper twice. Once it was a wet diaper, and once it was a dirty diaper. She didn't cry when she wet and/or pooped her diaper, and she didn't cry when I changed her. I am so grateful that diaper changes appear to no longer be miserable for her.It has been a night and day change since the laser treatment. We were told we wouldn't notice a change right off, but we have. It was immediate for her, and I am so very thankful for that. She is a much happier baby now, and the changing table isn't a nightmare anymore.

Her next appointment is June 14. They will decide then whether or not she will need another laser treatment to finish healing it. She will also have her 4 month check-up, and I am not looking forward to that. I hate the shots. The laser treatment is nothing compared to those awful shots. On the bright side, it will be interesting to see how much she weighs now and how long she has gotten since her last visit.

I am counting my blessings and praying for a good report from both doctors.

1st Laser Treatment Tommorow

We are taking Savannah tomorrow to have a laser treatment on her hemangioma. I talked to the nurse at the Dermatology Clinic at Arkansas Children's Hospital regarding the treatment with the topical antibiotic we have been doing for a little over a week now. It just wasn't healing well, so they recommended we bring her to the clinic tomorrow to have a laser treatment done.

I have researched the laser treatment for this sort of thing, and it's obviously the best way to go for this type of problem. It is supposed to seal off the open area that is ulcerated and help promote healing. I will do anything to make her life (exspecially during diaper changes) easier.

I am very nervous about the whole laser surgery thing. I don't want to see her go through a lot of pain, and I don't really know what exactly she will have to endure. I am just praying it won't be bad at all.

Hemangioma Update!

Oh my goodness! I located a specialist for Savannah's hemangiomas, and I am so thrilled.

I received a response from the support forum regarding my hunt for a good specialist in and/or near Arkansas. I hit the jackpot because this specialist is not only in Arkansas, but she is also located at the Children's Hospital. I am going to call her just as soon as school is out in the next two weeks and try to make an appointment.

I love my dermatologist, but I think I would feel more at peace with this whole thing if somebody who specializes in this would take a look at her too.

I am posting the information I received about her, so I will have a back-up copy in case I lose the one I attached to my refrigerator. I also plan to take some pictures of both of her hemangiomas for documentation purposes. I will post those in a later entry.

Here is the information regarding the specialist:
Dr. Lisa M. Buckmiller,
MDPediatric Otolaryngology
Cleft Lip/Palate & Vascular Anomalies
Arkansas Children's Hospital
800 Marshall St.Little Rock, Arkansas 72202-3591
(0)501-320-1696
(F)501-320-4790
Email: buckmillerlisam@uams.edu

Lots of Laughs

Savannah laughed out-loud again today!

I went to daycare at lunch to check on her like always, and she was in such a good mood. I put her in my lap facing me, and sang a little song which ended with me snorting like a pig. She thought it was the funniest thing. She is always squealing, but this is the second time she has actually laughed out loud. It was actually the first time she had ever laughed out loud that much in a row. It was absolutely the most wonderful sound I've ever heard, and I could never express in my journal just how awesome it made me feel. Her laugh is the most beautiful sound in the world, and I can't wait until I get to hear it more often.

I still can't believe that Matt has never heard her laugh out loud yet, and I can't wait until she does it for him. I've tried everything I can think of to get her to laugh out loud at home for her daddy, but she just will not do it. One of these days, Matt will finally get to hear her laugh and experience this joy with me. I can't wait for that day.

I couldn't sleep last night. While I was awake, I used adobe photoshop and made a new signature picture to use on the baby forum. I thought it turned out cute, so here it is!

Hemangioma

I finally was able to talk to the nurse at the dermatology clinic at Children's Hospital. She prescribed a topical antibotic called mupirocin for Savannah's hemangioma. I am supposed to use it with each diaper change, and I am also supposed to use vaseline on top of that. I was given the option of laser treatment if the antibotic didn't heal it up.

After doing a lot of research online, it has become very clear that the laser treatment is the way to go if the antibotic doesn't work. I am not at all thrilled about putting her through that, but if it will stop her from being so miserable with the diaper changes, then it will be worth it in the long run. I guess time will tell in this case.

I am a member of a support forum that I found online as well. I have posted on there regarding a specialist near Arkansas. I hope I can locate somebody because I really want Savannah to see a specialist for a second opinion on things.

It's not much longer now until school is out, and I am so relieved. I finished my last annual review today, and that made me very happy. Summer vacation will be here in a few weeks, and then I can enjoy having Savannah home with me all day.

11 days of school left until summer!

First Laugh

Savannah reached another milestone when she laughed outloud for the first time today.

I always go to the daycare at lunch to check on her, and today wasn't any different. I was holding her in my lap facing me, and I was baby-talking to her telling her how precious she is to me when she just belted out a laugh. She did it several times. It was the cutest thing ever, and the best sound I've ever heard in my life. There are no words that can describe the joy I felt hearing her laugh. It was awesome!

The rest of my day was fairly easy today. I had annual review conferences this morning, and the afternoon off to prepare for next weeks conferences. I managed to get a lot accomplished despite having to travel room to room trying to find a computer I could use to do my work. Conferences were being held in my classroom, and the Due Process Clerk took her computer with her to the other school. I managed to use a computer in one of the computer labs, and I got a lot done.

Savannah visited my classroom for the first time today. It was after school, and I was staying a little late to get some work done. Matt came home early from work, and brought Savannah to the school to see me. It was so sweet. She brought me a little flower picture holder and a card with her handprint on it that she made at daycare today. It was for Mother's Day on Sunday. The handprint in the card is priceless because it is the only handprint I have right now. I love it.

Viral Infection

This morning started out like always. Matt waking me up and then taking Savannah out of my arms, so I can get dressed. Savannah and I have a special time early in the mornings before I have to go to work. If she wakes up in time, I always feed her the morning bottle, and then we sleep together in the recliner until I have to get up and go to work. I love this mother-daughter time with her, and I know one day she will be too big to sleep in the recliner with me. I want to cherish these times while she is a baby as much as I possibly can, because I know that time is precious and it will fly by fast. It's already been three months which just seems so surreal. She's growing and changing so fast.

The day started as always. Me running around the house trying to get ready as fast as I could. I have to put on my make-up, do my hair, pack the diaper bag, dress Savannah, and fit breakfast in there somewhere. While dressing Savannah, I took her temperature because she felt a little too warm and flushed. It was 100 degrees, so I gave her a dose of tylenol. I just figured she must be trying to teeth or maybe she is still running a fever from her shots back in April. Somebody told me they can run a little fever after the shots, and sometimes it lasts this long. That didn't make sense to me, but then again I am a new mother still learning. She's been running a little fever on and off for the past few weeks, so I didn't think much of it.

Naturally, I took her to daycare and went to work like always. I received a call at 8:30 from the daycare telling me I had to go get her because she couldn't stay if she was running a 100 fever rectally. So for the first time, I had to go pick my baby girl up from daycare because she was sick. She definitely acted like she wasn't feeling good when I picked her up. I decided I better take her to a doctor to get her checked out just to be on the safe side. We saw a lady doctor in a town 30 minutes away, and she was really good. After examining her, she said that everything looked great, but a low grade fever, decrease in appetite, and her fussiness were key signs that she had a viral infection. I was told to continue giving her the tylenol for the fever, and that she should get better in a few days. If not, she was to come back to the doctor.

The worst part of this appointment was discovering that she has an ulcer forming on her hemangioma that's on her butt. It looks really bad, and it's got me worried. I was told to call the dermatologist and let him know because she might have to be seen. I tried calling the dermatologist's nurse all the way home, but no such luck. I will try again tomorrow. This is really stressing me out, and I want to get it taken care of immediately.