I know it's been forever since I've posted on Zoe's website, but as usual life has been busy, busy, busy. We had Zoe's big 1 year birthday bash on August 15th. It was a whirlwind of a party for all involved. Zoe was a bit out of sorts for a lot of the party since she hadn't napped much the day of and there were so many people there she was a bit overwhelemed. She had fun being the center of attention as usual and then ended up taking a nap halfway through the party. We woke her up to do her birthday cake. She was great at getting the cake smeared everywhere on her excpet getting it in her mouth, but it was fun to watch. The party was a ladybug theme, so Zoe's was entirely covered in red and black frosting, which let me tell you is not easy to get off of skin!! It was fantastic to see everyone and Jason and I will remember it forever, even if Zoe won't.
Zoe had a few weeks in late August, early Sepetember where she was vommitting alot. Becasue of this she lost all interest in trying to eat once again. Because she still has reflux, or GERD, whenever she vomits, it causes a burning sensation, so when this happens over and over she knows that eating might make her do that also and it is like she is scared to try to eat. We are sort of starting over with the eating thing. Somedays, she will do OK and try a few bites and other days nothing. We are just trying to stay patient and let Zoe do it on her own time. It has to be the most frusterating thing I have ever dealt with, It's hard to comprehend not wanting to eat anything no matter how good it tastes, especially since Jason and I are such good cooks! We started her on a new drug called Periactin last week. This is an appetite stimulant that is oftyen given to anorexia patients. We are hoping it will make her a bit hungrier and more apt to try stuff. Jury is still out on it as of now.
Zoe had her first ECHO in three months on last Thursday the 17th and it went great. When Zoe was discharged from the hospital the first time back in November her lung pressures were in the 100's- normal are in the 30's. In June her pressures had dropped into the 90's and as of Thursday theay are in the 70's!! We obviously still have a ways to go, but it appears the flolan in doing it's job. Her dosage for flolan continues to go up slowly every week adb she seems to tolerate it well. It does casue her some vomitting sometimes, but i guess that is the price we pay. Her heart still looks enlarged a bit ont he right side, but it doesn't appear to have gotten any worse. The other good news is that two of the small holes she had in her heart that were allowing blood to flow the wrong way seem to be closing up because of the lessening pressures!! Her cardiologist is very excited by Zoe's progress but wants to continue to hit her as hard as we can with the drugs with the hope for further improvment.
Becasue it is supposed to be a rough flu season again this winter, we will have to go on a bit of a lockdown again. Probably not as strict as last year, but we still need to be very careful and keep Zoe away from anyone that could be sick or around sick people. She will be getting her RSV shots again along with a flu shot and the H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine.
As of last week Zoe weighs 20 pounds 6 ounces which puts her in the 30th percentile for weight and the 50th percentile for height. Also, her hair is growing in like crazy and it's curly like mine!! She's babbling like crazy lately and starting to make some da-da sounds, even though she isn't referencing Jason since he goes by Papa. Zoe will also be startign to recieve some physicla thereapy and speech therapy through Washington State's birth to 3 program to try and catch her up a bit on her gross motor skills since she still isn't crawling,although she can get herself around just fine by scooting, rolling and spinning.
Please continue to send prayers and happy thoughts Zoe's way to keep her healthy and to encourage her to learn to eat on her own and of course for patience on Jason's and my part!!
The following are some fun pictures from the past month or so that we love.
Zoe's birthday party ensemble- a ladybug tutu!!
the cakes, my sister-in-law made the little ladybug cake for Zoe
The mess!!
At the kitsap county fair withmy mom, she went on the merry-go-round 4 times- she LOVED it !!
Seahawk Sunday with Papa, TOUCHDOWN!