Sophia's Barium Swallow Study

While waiting for her test, John & Sophie racing the car across the table

This morning Sophie had her third modified barium swallow study at Cardon Children's Medical Center. The test is done in one of the radiology suite at the hospital with a radiologist, a speech-language pathologist, a radiology technician, and John and I. Typically the child is seated in a special chair that is placed next to the radiographic equipment that takes the pictures as she swallows, but today our special little girl got to sit on Daddy's lap after a very vocal protest and unwillingness to drink in the "special chair". They gave Sophie liquid that has been mixed with barium (and chocolate syrup, yum) to make it show up on the x-ray monitor.  It is really interesting to see the x-ray video of her drinking.

Enough about the test - to the results:

To recap her two previous studies-

Her first Barium Swallow test was in August 2010 and showed she was silently aspirating when she drank or ate thin, half-nectar, and even sometimes nectar consistency liquids and solids. She had some penetration of the airway, but did not aspirate with honey consistency. 

Her second Barium Swallow test was done in November 2010 and showed she had a small improvement in her swallow but still silently aspirated with thin and half-nectar consistencies. She didn't have as much penetration with the nectar consistency as the first test. 

I had hoped and really believed we would walk away from the test today knowing she no longer has a swallow defect. I was mistaken. Despite my disappointment there is good news in the results. Today she had penetration of the vocal cords (airways) with the half nectar and full nectar consistencies but no aspiration. Their recommendation now is to thicken her liquids to half-nectar instead of full nectar. 

I think I was surprised by the results today because John and I had stopped thickening her liquids about 1-2 months ago because we found she would drink more water and milk when they weren't thickened. She hasn't regressed in her eating or drinking since then which would be expected if she was still having problems. 

Well, I thank the Lord for the small improvement in the test results but really for the great improvement she has made in her eating and drinking over the last 8 months.

Crossroads Toddler Family Fun Day

On Saturday our church had a Toddler Family Fun Day at one of the childrens pastor's home. There were yummy snacks and lots of activities for the children. Zoe really liked the play house including the cell phone inside. She talked to Papa, Nana, Ryan and daddy on the "play" phone. Sophie had a blast with all the water activities, especially the play pool with water toys.  All in all a great morning of fun outside in the Arizona spring weather.

Lunch with Great Grandma Crowley

Yesterday we went with Nana and Papa in their car to Phoenix to visit with my Great Grandma Crowley. Zoe sat next to great grandma during lunch and had a great time. We don't get to visit with her very often so it was great to see Zoe so comfortable with her. It was a good visit and the girls did great.

Easter Sunday 2011

Opening Easter baskets

We started our day out with going to church in the morning. The girls wore their dresses that Mama Shar (John's stepmom) made them - hand knitted. They really did look quite cute. We spent some time talking with the girls about what they learned in Sunday school about Easter.

Sophie searching for eggs

When we got home we spent some time in the backyard opening Easter baskets and doing an Easter egg hunt with the girls. They has such a good time hunting for the eggs and were so excited to see what was inside.

Uncle Shane and Zoe being goofy 

After naps we headed over to Shane and Alisha's house for a mid-day Easter dinner with Nana, Papa, Great Grandma Brusch, uncle Mike, Great Aunt Kay, and the Crowley family. We had a great meal together. The girls played outside with the boys on the trampoline for a while. Then the boys hid some more eggs for the girls and helped them hunt for the them. It was pretty fun to watch my brothers boys (ages 14, 12, and 10) take Sophie around and help her find eggs. Zoe had a blast jumping on the trampoline with her basket full of eggs. Sophie's favorite was finding the eggs with the chocolate candy.

All in all it was a great day celebrating with family!

To see all our Easter pictures visit our Flickr website here.

Easter to a child

Tonight when we were putting the girls to bed we read a chapter from their Bible, read a few prayers from their prayer book (Sophie's all time favorite book), and then John told the girls the story of Easter. Sophie really wasn't all that interested but Zoe did a good job listening and asking questions. As I listened to John tell the very basic version to Zoe I kept thinking to myself - this must seem like such a strange story at least to a 3 year old. It is simple yet complex all at the same time. It is only by faith that it makes any sense and a 3 year old has that childlike faith that we are supposed to have and just responded "Jesus was resurrected".

I love how God can use our own children to teach us.

Zoe's 3rd Birthday

This was the first year she really understood what her birthday meant and helped figure out who to invite to her party and what kind of cake she wanted. Her birthday was actually on Monday but her birthday party was on Saturday.

On Monday she wanted pizza and wings for dinner so we went to Barro's pizza. She really does like chicken wings (BBQ flavor) on the bone. After dinner we spent some time at the neighborhood park and then back to the house for some birthday cake and ice cream. She also opened a few presents and talked to Mimi, Papa Broom and Nana and Papa Crowley. It was a good day!

On Thursday her preschool class celebrated Zoe's and another girl's birthday.  She took some cookies to share with all her friends. When I picked her up she had a birthday crown and a birthday girl sticker on her shirt. She was so proud.

All week she kept talking about her party and I had to keep telling her not for a few more days. Saturday came and she was so excited all day. Especially when the bounce house arrived at 11am and the party didn't start til 4pm. We had some good family bouncing before lunch.

She had tons of family and friends show up for her party. Thankfully we have a fairly big backyard so it didn't seem crowded. The kids loved the bubbles we gave them all and of course jumping in the bounce house. We ate sub sandwiches and had chocolate birthday cake. Then she opened her presents and ended the party with a pinata. A cupcake shaped pinata. The kids had a great time hitting it and trying to break it open.

All in all I would call it a success! Zoe was exhausted by the time she went to bed and said, "I want to have my party again tomorrow!"

To view all the birthday pictures check out our Flickr website.

What a Week!

I can really relate to the expression TGIF this week. It has been a pretty busy week for our family.

We started out on Sunday learning that both our girls had head lice. What it takes to get rid of the lice is not necessarily difficult, just very time consuming. Washing all the sheets in the house, all the girls' blankets, their bears and bunny and placing all other stuffed toys in a garbage bag to be put away for a few weeks. Changing the sheets the first few days every time they slept in their beds and then again laundry. Thorough cleanings of their hair, plus olive oil treatment with a seriously fine tooth comb and then strand by strand inspections. On Monday we discovered John and I had it also - thankfully not bad cases.

The inspections and combing continued all week while Sophie started running a high fever on Monday. To the doctor on Wednesday to find out she has strep. To add to all the fun Sophie pulled her elbow out while we where trying to leave for the doctors office Wednesday morning. The doctor tried twice to put it back in place and she still would not use it and complained a lot so we spent the rest of the morning getting x-rays. Praise the Lord they showed nothing was wrong! She was still not using the arm on Thursday and Zoe was starting to run a fever, so back to the doctor. The doctor tried the procedure again to put her elbow back and said if she didn't start using it by Monday to see a pediatric orthopedic. Zoe also has strep.

I have to say God sure gives us the strength needed to get through weeks like this. Praise God that Sophie started using her arm again today and she seems to be feeling much better. Zoe is still on her road to recovery but I know all will be well soon.

In spite of all the challenges this week I know and feel God's strength.