Re-Check of Eye Pressure

Yesterday we took Kyleigh to Duke to be re-checked after the surgery to reduce eye pressure in the right eye. We were really concerned as her eye looked the worst it has since the beginning, very red and cloudy. However, we were pleasantly surprised to receive the news that she is doing well and that her pressure is reading at a normal level in both eyes right now. She changed one of her eye drops in the hopes to help reinstate her appetite. Kyleigh has been struggling feeding again the past few days. We don't know if it was the eyedrop or the change to EleCare formula but we hope she gets back on track soon. Dr. Freedman has also asked our permission to request a referral to Governor Morehead for vision therapy for Kyleigh. We agreed because we are concerned that Kyleigh isn't responding visually as she should and having a therapist work with us would be great. Until then we are to be patient and treat her as if she was just born considering she has been through so much up until now. 

On another note, I returned to work this week. It has been one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. It makes it a little less painful to the heart because my mom is watching her this week and possibly next until we can get her off of so many medications. However, it doesn't make returning to the working world any easier. The demands of a teacher are never ending and yet the demands of motherhood are never ending as well. Please pray for strength, rest and continued healing health of Kyleigh as well as that I will be able to share my time equally between both girls and my husband now that I have returned to work. 

Sisters

Kyleigh chillin' on the blankie and big sister being silly! 

My shirt says "Little Sister" and matches Kaitlyn's "Big Sister" shirt - How cute! 

Back from 3rd Surgery

"Let's Get Outta Here Daddy!"                                           Resting Finally                                        Sleeping Angel

The actual surgery took longer than we anticipated as Dr. Freedman had to go to plan B once Kyleigh was sedated and she was able to look in her eye and see that opening the duct for fluid to drain was not going to work. So instead, she used a laser treatment to allow the eye to drain fluid that was causing a pressure build up on her eye. She was awake in recovery immediately and they called me back to be with her right away this time. She was not a happy baby from the moment she awoke from surgery. She can tell that something is different and tries to rub the side of her face where the patch is covering. She was having some belly aches and eye pain as well as broken out in a rash/eczema. It was pitiful. We spent forever in recovery because our room was given away to another patient when the doctor failed to put orders into the system. Then Kyleigh pulled out her IV in a fit of frustration and we had to wait and get cleared by anesthesia to proceed without the IV or get a new one. Finally, by 5:30 we were told we could proceed to room 7725 Pediatrics without a new IV. When we arrived to the room Kyleigh was really fussy and hard to manage. It was breaking my heart to know she was uncomfortable and there wasn't anything I could do as rocking, paci, singing, patting, nothing was helping. My parents left after I had a bite to eat and we set in for a long night together. I rocked her and soothed her all evening until she finally gave up around 10:30 pm and I laid her down for a rest. She slept until midnight when the nurse came in to check her vitals. Then back down by 1am and slept until 4:30am. Nice long rest for us both and much needed by this point. From 4:30 until the time daddy arrived she was a fussy baby again. She quickly calmed down when Dennis picked her up and things seemed to go smoother the rest of the morning with some occasional heartbreaking cries. The doctor checked her this morning and said things were looking good. We go back on Monday. In the meantime she has a strict eyedrop regimen to follow for this eye to prevent infection and inflammation. Please continue to pray for us as this has been very draining on me emotionally and taxing on us physically. I have even found myself in a spiritual downtime right now even though  I know so many are lifting me and our family in prayer. I know this too will pass--I just wish it was already gone! 

Another Formula

Kyleigh had her allergy testing completed today. It was confirmed that she is indeed allergic to milk and Alimentum, although an allergen free formula, is milk based. So the allergists has changed her formula to an amino acid based formula called EleCare and it is only available through special order at the pharmacy. So she had our pharmacy order the EleCare for us and we have to check with our insurance to see if it is covered. 

We will take her tomorrow morning to Duke Eye Center. Her arrival time is scheduled for 9:45 am. I am not sure how long this procedure will last. She will have to stay overnight. We will return home on Thursday. 

Bye-Bye Newborn

So it seems that Kyleigh has decided it is time to grow. She not only rid her newborn diapers this weekend and upgraded to size 1 but she is also wearing some 0-3 months sleepers now. Oh my goodness, my baby is growing up. She can still wear some newborn sleepers and definitely wears newborn pants still. She weighed in at 8 lbs 15 oz today at the doctor's office. Woohoo!!! She also took in a 4 oz bottle today with no trouble at all -- hungry little thing! 

Allergies run in the Family

Seems that the swollen eye that Kyleigh has had may be the culprit of unwanted allergies and eczema. The nurse practitioner looked at her again today and determined it was not infected. So we are cleared for surgery on Wednesday but will need to see an allergy specialist, Dr. Whelan, same doctor Kaitlyn goes to for allergies soon. Until then I am changing her bath to Aveeno Baby fragrance free and her lotion too. I hope this helps. She is sound asleep right now--I love watching her sleep! 

Another Great Weekend

This weekend was so nice as I got to see so many friends. 

Friday night was dinner at the Pagano's house and it was great hanging out with adults and knowing that our girls were in the good hands of a sitter (plus they were sound asleep). Then Saturday Kaitlyn and I went to a birthday party for one of her little preschool friends. She had so much fun except she was scared silly of Mickie and Minnie Mouse who came to the party too! She wasn't the only little one that ran screaming and crying when they made their grand appearance. I guess we won't be scheduling a trip to Disneyworld any time soon. 

Today we had friends over for a cookout - Kristy, Kinley, Kristen and Sissy. To prepare for the cookout Kaitlyn and I made our first cake together. It was strawberry with vanilla icing. She thought that was the greatest thing to help me make a cake. She helped mix the ingredients and watched it cook and then helped spread the icing. While I was turned around looking for the lid to the cake pan she also helped herself to a taste of the cake--oops! She said "umm..yummy!". Sissy then marked that spot of the cake with a letter "K" so we knew to cut that piece for her since she had licked the icing---gross :). Sissy took pictures and will email them soon so I can show everyone the fun time we had. Speaking of Sissy, it was her  first time meeting little Kyleigh. We also played outside with Kaitlyn and Kinley since it was such a beautiful day. It is so nice to be surrounded by friends.