Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

We created this blog as an easier way to keep everyone posted on our family. So, here is a brief intro of our family. Most you already know Phil and I married in May of 2004. My daughter Kayleigh and I moved to York,SC with Phil. Two years later we had our son Blake (May 2006), then came Reagan (June 2009). Reagan was born with a chromosome disorder which caused her to have some health problems. She had a coarctation of the aorta and heart surgery to repair it at 3 days old. The surgery was successful. However, she did not pick up on the feeding so she had a PEG feeding tube placed at three weeks during our hospital stay. So, finally after 4 weeks at Levine Children's hospital we went home.

It wasn't easy at first when we got home. There were lots to learn. She had feeding pump to pump the formula in her stomach if she didn't eat by bottle. We had many sleepless nights. She ended up having a several weeks of diarrhea and later determined it was due to a milk protein and soy allergy. So the GI doctor switched her to Elecare formula. It worked. Well, at least she didn't have 12 plus bowel movements a day.
Then we discovered she had torticollis. This causes her neck muscles to be tight and make her head shift to the right side. This is causing many developmental delays. So, she is seeing occupational and physical therapist two times a week. She has a speech therapist come out once a week to help get her to eat. She is doing better with eating. Most of the time she will eat half of her bottle. She just turned 6 months and we are now feeding her baby foods. She has had sweet potatoes and carrots so far. She is doing ok with this so far.
The therapist are strongly encouraging tummy time and neck exercises to help with the torticollis. Which she hates tummy time and does not like the exercises either. So, we have our work cut out for us.
As a result of the torticollis she has a mishapped head. So, she is being fitted this Friday for a cranial band (helmet) to reshape her head. She will wear it for about 10 weeks.
She just had her 6 month check up and she is doing fine. Her heart still sounds great. She is in the 10 percentile in weight and 25 percentile in height.

As far as the rest of the family Phil and I are doing great we are working and we have Rose(Phil's mom) who comes to take care of Reagan while we work. She has been wonderful and a true blessing.

Kayleigh is busy getting reading for college. She is a senior and has been accepted to University of South Carolina Upstate. Which so far plans to attend there. She is awaiting responses from a few other colleges.

Blake has had a chronic cough since August. It has at times been severe. So, we have seen the pediatrician many times. They have treated him for ear infections and sinus infections. He has seen an allergist and was tested for allergies. So, far he is only allergic to trees. They also, decided to treat him for asthma. They were not sure if he had it or not but thought that they would see if he responded to the treatment. They did an Xray of his chest and it was normal and an Xray of his nose and they determined he had an enlarged adenoids. So, we saw and ENT just before Christmas and he wanted to treat the double ear infection he had and also, tested his nose to see what type of bacteria it was. It came back as an antibiotic resistant bacteria, so he is on a nasty tasting antibiotic. He was also put on a presdisole (misspelled). Between the two his cough subsided. But, just a few days ago he started back with the coughing again. So, they put him back on the antibiotic and ears are still infected. We go back to the ENT on Tuesday so, we will find out how he wants to proceed.
Other than the cough Blake he is great. The typical 3 year old. It hardly affects him.

We had a really great Christmas and enjoyed our time with family.

We are so grateful to everyone for all you support and prayers. We will use this blog for future updates on Reagan and the rest of the family. I think there is a way to sign up for updates when we post another update.

Phil and Tammy