But she passed and the ENT said he'd see us in February at our yearly craniofacial team appointment!
Monday, August 21, 2006
She Can Hear!!!
Rachel passed her hearing evaluation this morning. One of her tympanic membranes wasn't responding real strong, but her ENT attributed it the fact that ear was caked with wax. LOL.
But she passed and the ENT said he'd see us in February at our yearly craniofacial team appointment!
Thank you soooo much for your thoughts and prayers!
But she passed and the ENT said he'd see us in February at our yearly craniofacial team appointment!
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Prayers Please
Rachel has her repeat hearing evaluation tomorrow (11:00am), and then a visit with her ENT following the test.
Please keep Rachel in your prayers that she 1) cooperates with what is expected of her and 2) the results are normal.
Rachel failed the hearing evaluation she had in May and was diagnosed with a mild hearing loss. At that time her ENT saw some wax build up in her ears and thought that might have been the reason for her failing, not to mention her age and having not cooperated very well. Thus the reason for retesting.
Thanks in advance for your thoughts and prayers!
Please keep Rachel in your prayers that she 1) cooperates with what is expected of her and 2) the results are normal.
Rachel failed the hearing evaluation she had in May and was diagnosed with a mild hearing loss. At that time her ENT saw some wax build up in her ears and thought that might have been the reason for her failing, not to mention her age and having not cooperated very well. Thus the reason for retesting.
Thanks in advance for your thoughts and prayers!
Saturday, August 19, 2006
A Glimpse into our Journey
Last weekend as I was searching You Tube for some videos of an experiment we had seen on TV, I entered "Cleft Lip" into the site search, and much to my suprise I actually found a video.
This video is about Zachary's lip repair, his cleft lip was a different cleft than Rachel's, but a cleft none the less.
This video gives a glimpse of what it was like when Rachel had her lip repaired. We handed our baby off to the scrub nurse, we waited for hours in the waiting room, we were amazed at the work her plastic surgeon had performed, and experieced the "fun at home".
Reading the updates on Rachel's Journey is one thing, but seeing this video will truly give you a feel as to what our journey was like.
Zachary's Lip Repair
Thanks Jen for letting me share this.
This video is about Zachary's lip repair, his cleft lip was a different cleft than Rachel's, but a cleft none the less.
This video gives a glimpse of what it was like when Rachel had her lip repaired. We handed our baby off to the scrub nurse, we waited for hours in the waiting room, we were amazed at the work her plastic surgeon had performed, and experieced the "fun at home".
Reading the updates on Rachel's Journey is one thing, but seeing this video will truly give you a feel as to what our journey was like.
Friday, August 18, 2006
Guestbook
One of the things about having a public blog is you never know of all the people who follow and read your blog.
Last week, my parents ran into a friend, and she told my mom she had recently visited Rachel's Journey. I can't tell you how blessed I was, and how much it meant to me to know she had been keeping up with Rachel and how far she has come. I know there are probably others who also follow Rachel on a regular basis that I don't know about.
If you follow Rachel's Journey on a regular basis, and you haven't signed my guestbook, I would LOVE to have you sign it!!!
Followers of Rachel's Journey
Last week, my parents ran into a friend, and she told my mom she had recently visited Rachel's Journey. I can't tell you how blessed I was, and how much it meant to me to know she had been keeping up with Rachel and how far she has come. I know there are probably others who also follow Rachel on a regular basis that I don't know about.
If you follow Rachel's Journey on a regular basis, and you haven't signed my guestbook, I would LOVE to have you sign it!!!
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Playing with Potatoes...
One of the toys Rachel loves to play with every week at Speech Therapy is Mr and Mrs Potato Head. When I brought ours out today for her to play with she was so excited!
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Monday, August 07, 2006
Shopping Carts Deemed Unsafe
This morning while I was driving Hannah to school, one of the news pieces was that the American Academy of Pediatrics is recommending parents "consider alternatives to placing children in shopping carts, until carts are redesigned to prevent injury", in the August Issue.
This news blurb made me chuckle as I remembered back to Rachel's encounter with a grocery cart last year. I didn't think about the serious injuries, such as the carts tipping over, children obtaining head injuries and such, as mentioned in the article, until I read why they were deeming shopping carts unsafe, I simply thought about my child getting her leg stuck in the cart, which required the fire department come to her rescue. LOL.
This news blurb made me chuckle as I remembered back to Rachel's encounter with a grocery cart last year. I didn't think about the serious injuries, such as the carts tipping over, children obtaining head injuries and such, as mentioned in the article, until I read why they were deeming shopping carts unsafe, I simply thought about my child getting her leg stuck in the cart, which required the fire department come to her rescue. LOL.
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
A Trip to Disneyland
Southern California is finally getting a break in the horrid heat we've been having for the last several weeks. Honestly, it's been too hot even for going to Disneyland. :::gasp::: LOL. But today, after dropping Hannah off at school, Rachel and I headed to Disneyland for our first ever Mommy and Rachel trip to Disneyland. Before Rachel came along, Hannah and I had four years together of going to Disneyland together, today, it was Rachel's turn. And boy, did it feel different going just the two of us. LOL. 
We waited in line to see Snow White and went to visit Mickey Mouse in his house in Toontown. Surprisingly, when it was her turn, Rachel walked right up to them and stood there long enough for them to interact with her and for pictures. LOL. 
We were there for about 4 hours, which gave us plenty of time to get back to get Hannah from school. It was nice and I'm looking forward to going again soon!
We waited in line to see Snow White and went to visit Mickey Mouse in his house in Toontown. Surprisingly, when it was her turn, Rachel walked right up to them and stood there long enough for them to interact with her and for pictures. LOL. 
We were there for about 4 hours, which gave us plenty of time to get back to get Hannah from school. It was nice and I'm looking forward to going again soon!
Saturday, July 29, 2006
Doing New Things
It seems like over the past week or two Rachel is doing more and more new things. The latest...going from room to room turning on the lights because she is apparently growing and can now reach the light switches. LOL. Which would be okay if we weren't in an energy crisis and trying to not use as much electricity during the day so that we can run our beloved air conditioning. LOL.
The other thing...opening doors! We keep Hannah's bedroom door closed to keep Rachel out, mainly because she has this habit of making a mess. However, now that she can open the door, it's impossible to keep her out!
In the last month, Hannah has been given the occassional chore of unloading the dishwasher, today, Rachel thought she should help.
The other thing...opening doors! We keep Hannah's bedroom door closed to keep Rachel out, mainly because she has this habit of making a mess. However, now that she can open the door, it's impossible to keep her out!
In the last month, Hannah has been given the occassional chore of unloading the dishwasher, today, Rachel thought she should help.
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Speech
Today was Rachel's Speech day. We've been going to Speech once a week for the last 14 weeks. She's getting better at talking with Adriana, her therapist. And she jibber jabbers all day long at home. Defiantely improving.
After todays session, we have five insurance approved sessions left. I asked Adriana what her plan was for Rachel. While she has improved tremendously, she'd like to go ahead and evaluate Rachel as to how far she has come and then request five more sessions from our insurance to finish working on a couple of letters and do some "cleaning up" of her jibber jabber.
I'm hoping that because I asked early enough, she can get to working on getting approval from our insurance so there won't be a lapse in therapy once our five sessions are up.
After todays session, we have five insurance approved sessions left. I asked Adriana what her plan was for Rachel. While she has improved tremendously, she'd like to go ahead and evaluate Rachel as to how far she has come and then request five more sessions from our insurance to finish working on a couple of letters and do some "cleaning up" of her jibber jabber.
I'm hoping that because I asked early enough, she can get to working on getting approval from our insurance so there won't be a lapse in therapy once our five sessions are up.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Rejoicing Over the Simple Things
As I was surfing some of my routine blogs this morning, I found this exciting post by my friend Theresa.
Her son, Ethan, was born a week before Rachel with the exact same cleft...unilateral, cleft lip and cleft palate, as well as a cleft in his aveolar ridge, the gum. Our stories are almost identical, and the kids have had their surgeries sometimes only a week apart from one another. It's been nice knowing someone else was going through what we were going through at almost the exact same time.
Ethan mastered the art of drinking through a straw last night! The thought of drinking from a straw being impossible or a difficulty may never have crossed one's mind. But for a parent of a cleft affected child, something so simple, when accomplished is cause for great rejoicing.
For the record, Rachel does drink from a straw. She mastered that in March. Like Theresa mentioned in her post, forgetting the sippee cup when out to eat or out in public, isn't a good thing. I know, I've done it.
Her son, Ethan, was born a week before Rachel with the exact same cleft...unilateral, cleft lip and cleft palate, as well as a cleft in his aveolar ridge, the gum. Our stories are almost identical, and the kids have had their surgeries sometimes only a week apart from one another. It's been nice knowing someone else was going through what we were going through at almost the exact same time.
Ethan mastered the art of drinking through a straw last night! The thought of drinking from a straw being impossible or a difficulty may never have crossed one's mind. But for a parent of a cleft affected child, something so simple, when accomplished is cause for great rejoicing.
For the record, Rachel does drink from a straw. She mastered that in March. Like Theresa mentioned in her post, forgetting the sippee cup when out to eat or out in public, isn't a good thing. I know, I've done it.
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Pool Fun with Gracie
I found a little wading pool today, just like the one Rachel enjoyed so much at the 4th of July church function. Even better it was 50% off and I got it for $2.50!!
Before naptime, Rachel and Gracie dawned their swimsuits and gathered at Gracie's pool for some fun.
Who needs a pool, when you have a bucket?
Just like the bucket says, "It's all purpose". 
Before naptime, Rachel and Gracie dawned their swimsuits and gathered at Gracie's pool for some fun.
Just like the bucket says, "It's all purpose".
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Happy 4th of July!
Happy 4th of July! Our day was a busy one. Starting off with our church's celebration at the park. We had a huge BBQ, water games for the kids, water slides, watermelon eating contest, cook offs, bake offs, you name it!
Rachel had a blast!! She especially loved the little plastic pool, so much that I'm thinking of trying to find one for her. LOL. 
Following our church celebration, we had a block party on our cul de sac. Again, we had a BBQ and everything contributed, and ended our evening with watching the fireworks being shot off the local mountain, in addition to all the neighbors shooting them off. We had a bounce house/slide this year. Rachel absolutely LOVED it. She could climb into it on her own, and then up the stairs inside it to the long slide down. By the end of the evening, she was getting pretty close to climbing up the slide!!!
Rachel had a blast!! She especially loved the little plastic pool, so much that I'm thinking of trying to find one for her. LOL. 
Following our church celebration, we had a block party on our cul de sac. Again, we had a BBQ and everything contributed, and ended our evening with watching the fireworks being shot off the local mountain, in addition to all the neighbors shooting them off. We had a bounce house/slide this year. Rachel absolutely LOVED it. She could climb into it on her own, and then up the stairs inside it to the long slide down. By the end of the evening, she was getting pretty close to climbing up the slide!!!
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