We Are Walking in Honor of Briella. Please Help Us Meet Our Goal.

Friday, April 19, 2013

Update with Culture Results

We got the call that her urine culture grew NOTHING!!! The hospital culture was severely contaminated, it grew over 100,000! Thank you God for answering our prayers!!!!
I also think that our pediatrician is amazing. She did not jump the gun giving Briella unnecessary antibiotics. Instead did her own testing to make sure what needed to happen. We are so grateful for our knowledgable caregivers & for all on your prayers!!!

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Briella's 1st Cold

Well Briella decided to give her immune system a test. Low grade fever started on Thursday night. It continued through the weekend with no other symptoms. We were hopeful she was just teething. Monday morning the congestion started so we took her to a children's hospital immediately. She tested negative for RSV, thank God. They took blood & urine samples & they came back fine. It was determined she had a virus & her body is handling it as it should. Her breathing was good & oxygen levels good, so we were allowed to go back home and watch her there. I am SO proud of her! I cannot believe she is fighting this off!
The hospital called back yesterday morning & said we need to go into our doctors to retest the urine. So we did. We found out that a bacteria, Alpha Strep, had grown from her urine culture. We are praying that the original sample w as contaminated. We should know by Friday afternoon. I will update when I find out.

Also, please pray for Briella's hearing to improve. Right now, her brain cannot comprehend what her ears hear. She isn't deaf, but there is a possibility of her needing hearing aids for several years until her brain develops enough to allow hearing. Again, we do not believe it has to do with the ears but neurological.

Please pray that Briella's weight gain improves. At the hospital they measured her at 12lbs 4oz, however at the drs she was only 11lbs 11oz. Two days apart.

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Prayers Please

Just a quick update to ask for prayers. Please pray that Briella gets the nourishment she needs to grow.
Over the last several weeks we had been struggling with feeds. The struggle have turned into a feeding aversion. We have a really hard time getting her to start and then take more than half of her bottle. I'm a little concerned that we may be re-admitted to the hospital soon. I really do not want that title "Failure to Thrive". I feel Briella is the opposite of that. She has been thriving. It's just this stupid severe reflux that's making it painful for her.




Tuesday, April 2, 2013

6 Months Old!!!!

WOW!!! Can you believe it?! Miss Briella has been teaching the world never to give up for 6 MONTHS! Thursday is her actual half birthday. Since today is my birthday, and not a fun one, I decided I would rather celebrate her half birthday so cake for Briella we will have!
Thursday Briella had her last synagis shot. The insurance company will not cover any more. They are $2900 a shot. She gets the monthly to give her antibodies to help her fight RSV. RSV is an illness that 90% of children have had at least once before the age of two. It's usually nothing more than a cold for a healthy child. For Briella, it would mean being hospitalized & getting out back on the ventilator. It could mean worse. Rsv gives me panic attacks. Anyone coughing or sniffling gives me panic attacks. I am just fine being in isolation.
Since we are in isolation, we cannot go out to eat for birthday celebrations. So today, after Briella's appointment at Children's Mercy Hospital, we went to Nelson Atkins Museum and had a wonderful picnic on the lawn. Brian fed me grapes! Hehe. We had more fun than if we were at a restaurant!
At Briella's appointment with the feeding therapist, we learned that she is a little "tongue tied." She might have to have the skin under her tongue cut in several months. She is having some oral development delays that cause issues with eating. Also, her reflux is bad. She is having aversions, choking, milk shoots out of her nose, and she refuses to eat. After spending the whole morning at the hospital, we have made so many changes to see if we can turn this around & avoid a feeding tube. They have decided to up her dose of medicine that helps her stool. She still cannot go on her own. They have switched her reflux meds from Zantac to Prevacid. They want us to switch her formula. So many changes at once makes me really nervous! We shall see!
Briella weighs 11 pounds 6 ounces. My ONE pound baby is 11 pounds!! Wahoo!
Life is so great. We are so blessed. It is the best feeling to be at home with the whole family. Sister & Briella have an amazing bond already. It's so awesome to see.
All 4 of us will be walking in the March of Dimes walk the end of this month. If you would like to help us reach our goal you can make a tax deductible donation at www.Marchforbabies.org/briellasjourney

I have also started my own boutique named after Briella in hopes to get some extra income so that staying home with her won't become a burden on the household finances. It is mostly girls clothing that is perfect for birthdays/parties/holidays/events/pictures & very cute. I made all of my items less expensive than my competitors :)
Www.briellasbowtique.storenvy.com










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