Catching Up

So I've done a terrible job keeping up with the blog. Life has been catching up with me and now I've gotten myself into a situation not unlike when you don't call your friend for a while and you know the call is going to last three hours so you keep putting it off. The pictures above are a few months old and long overdue. These are pictures of Seren in her class. She was pushing the easy button to make the machine react. She was also reaching out to touch a mylar pompom. (Thanks Diane for sending these to me!)

Seren hasn't really made any further progress in reacting to the world but she has definitely made a lot more progress in seeming more comfortable. Its seems she had the dreaded flux (my nickname for reflux) so some medicine and a formula change have really helped her out. Her seizures are much improved. We are starting to figure out what other things she needs to make her comfortable and I think progress has been great on that front. Its much easier to sleep at night knowing she is comfortable and content.

Since last month, Seren has, of course, turned six months old. A huge milestone. She is weighing in at 9 lbs, 13 ounces and is doing generally well. She is ready to be upgraded to the next size hair bows:) However, her big news is that she will likely be getting a feeding tube inserted in her abdomen soon! This will get that wretched tube out of her nose and hopefully make her more comfortable.

This morning we took her to a cardiologist who did another echo cardiogram- everything is still pretty much the same but right now her body is compensating for the defects in her heart. I think that is pretty amazing. SO-after getting general clearance to go under the anesthesia necessary for the surgery we now have a consult with the Dr. who will do the surgery. I anticipate that it will happen pretty quickly once the decision is made but then what do I know?

I've always been a date oriented person so the six month birthday hit me pretty hard. I don't have anything profound to say about it in our individual situation. It takes a while to adjust to what your life looks like and I think we might be getting there. We have realized with absolute wonder people's capacity to be greater than you could ever expect. In honor of Seren's six month birthday-to everyone who has touched us in such an amazing way-thank you is not enough but at the moment it is all I can offer. Thank you for truly caring about us and letting us know. On difficult days we remember our dear dear friends as well as the people who knew us only a little bit, or even not at all, who have prayed for us, brought us dinner, sent us notes, sent baby S gifts, let us stay at their house, watched G for us to go to doctors appointments or on a date, met, held, cried and prayed over Seren and cut us such slack for not being the people we used to be as we find our new footing-as well as the amazing wonderful special people who care for Seren so so so very well-- you are the people who remind us of what is good and worth trying for and what gets us through the day.

Somebody told me that Seren would bring out the best in us. It gave me something to strive for--at the moment though I do know that Seren has shown her parents the best in other people. Thank you.

Oh and I almost forgot the miles-We have gotten 612 more miles!!! One bible study group contributed over 100 and the lead up to the New York Marathon is also helping out in a major way (nooo its not me running in it)! She's had three people run in half marathons for her and lots and lots of other contributors-People from high school and college who have made the effort have really touched my heart. It makes my day to hear from someone from my past who thought of Seren that day. I'll be collecting again in a few weeks!