Couple Pictures

Too sick for a real update -

1. See where the toys are? See where she is? She got there in 15 seconds just by rolling!
2. Computer skills with Daddy
3. Making new friends

Never Once

I'll skip the science of it and say there are two kinds of allergic reactions - one that happens instantly or at least quickly... the other takes much longer, even up to 2 weeks. Immediate reaction allergies are easy to test for with blood and skin tests. The reactions that take awhile require a different kind of testing involving a patch containing the suspected allergen left on the skin for an extended period of time. Well Kiersyn saw the allergy doctor. He said it sounded like any of her problems that are allergy related sound like long term reactions and he does not test children under 2 for those types of reactions. He went ahead and did skin tests for immediate reactions even though he repeated over and over that it sounded like it would all be negative and that infant allergy tests are unreliable. Everything was indeed negative. We should hear about the blood testing tomorrow but I assume, as does the doctor, that it will all be negative. Additionally, Kiersyn's oxygen saturation levels were pretty low and after talking awhile the doctor also believes she has asthma. Not at all surprising since Danley has the worst asthma I've ever seen and there is a high correlation between reflux and asthma. It is his belief also that the reason she has difficulty swallowing is a simple asthma issue - an asthmatic trying to get enough air while drinking from a bottle for 15 straight minutes equals problems - swallowing after every suck may just be too difficult. He gave her an inhaler but I'm not sold on it. Asthma meds can trigger reflux and it is a steroid - it has the possibility of all kinds of behavioral side effects in pediatric patients. Suffice it to say ... almost 5 months and we're still trying to figure out what all is going on!

I will say this - all her troubles have made me so grateful for the precious days when she doesn't have something major. Days without a reflux flare up, crying, hurting or a scary doctor visit seem like such a gift and such a special moment.

I've been listening to this song on repeat:

Never Once by Matt Redman

Standing on this mountaintop
Looking just how far we've come
Knowing that for every step
You were with us

Kneeling on this battle ground
Seeing just how much You've done
Knowing every victory
Is Your power in us

Scars and struggles on the way
But with joy our hearts can say
Yes, our hearts can say

Never once did we ever walk alone
Never once did You leave us on our own
You are faithful, God, You are faithful

Scars and struggles on the way
But with joy our hearts can say
Never once did we ever walk alone
Carried by Your constant grace
Held within Your perfect peace
Never once, no, we never walk alone

Every step we are breathing in Your grace
Evermore we'll be breathing out Your praise
You are faithful, God, You are faithful
You are faithful, God, You are faithful

Beautiful powerful truth. There are so many moments in my life I can look back on and see how they were connected, how God was working when I didn't get it at the time. What comfort it is to know every trial we go through, He is there every step of the way. I don't know how we ever express enough gratitude to our Savior for being totally forsaken so that we would never have to be.

I'm so thankful He is walking with us through such a frustrating time.

Never once, no, we never walk alone

Surgery Consultation and Swimming!

So the surgeon says Kiersyn's cyst is uncomplicated and wants to wait a month before surgery so she is a little older before anesthesia. I may push it later because she may have to go up to 8 hours without eating before the surgery and she is not capable of that right now. In any event - good news, and for now I'm not even going to think about how she will have to be put under and all of that. :(

Kiersyn continues to be extremely sensitive to ANY changes in her diet. She has reacted poorly to milk, soy, cereal and now we have realized she is actually reacting to the DHA/ARA in her formula. Her prescription formula comes in two forms - one with DHA/ARA and one without - she has had both and until now I didn't realize it was contributing to her "bad" days. I didn't even know it was POSSIBLE for synthetic dha/ara to cause problems. If you formula feed your child or plan to - I strongly urge you to read this article concerning the USDA's call to ban the addition of synthetic DHA/ARA to formulas. We will be seeing a food allergy specialist who treats several disorders than can cause ALL of Kiersyn's symptoms. Though I probably shouldn't put it in writing - this should be the last new doctor we have to visit and one we stick with for a long time...

Danley is at camp this week and we are staying with my parents which means Kiersyn has had time to work on a new skill!