She Got The Pass

Bethany has held her weight and actually gained a few ounces -- which will help with our next visit to the CF clinic. She got her pass to Kings Dominion and has had one short visit so far, but we will be going a lot more this summer. Too bad I didn't think of this ages ago when we were having one of those many talks with nutritionists and doctors about her weight and how to get it up. Now I know -- just use a Kings Dominion pass as a prize. I know this may not work for long as Bethany has a real problem eating enough food to gain or even maintain her weight. At least this summer she is at a good weight.

More Miracles in Motion Pictures From 2015 Recital

I have gone through more pictures and picked a few more that I like so I thought I would get them posted. The girls love looking at all the pictures and telling me about everybody. Now they are bugging me about dance camp this summer. I had pretty much decided to skip it this summer, but now I am not sure. I think Sarah and Caroline have asked me about it every single day. They just finished dance for the year and are ready to start again. I am ready for a break -- with so many kids doing so many things. 

Miracles In Motion -- June 2015 Recital

Sarah, Caroline and Claire had their dance recital on Sunday afternoon. It was wonderful! I have said it before, but I can't say enough about how great this dance class has been for all three girls. They absolutely love it and it is definitely the highlight of their week. 

When Sarah had her first recital, I could see she was totally terrified. She barely moved or did anything she was supposed to do. But, now she is actually dancing and doing most of the movements and doesn't seem that scared -- though I am sure she is a little frightened about so many people watching as that is just her personality. This class has helped her so much. It is the one thing that will actually get her moving and excited. Caroline is a show- off naturally so she isn't one bit scared and you can tell. 

Claire struggles in so many things, but this is something she feels good about as her teacher, Miss Kim, has a way of making all the kids feel special. 

Sarah and Caroline were extra excited this year as their Sunday school teacher came. They told me at least 20 times that day that she would be watching them. We are so blessed to have a teacher that cares enough to spend her Sunday afternoon watching two girls from her class dance. 

I am going to post pictures for a couple of days as I haven't even looked at all of them yet. 

A New Baby

This past Tuesday afternoon my daughter and her husband had a baby boy -- Asher William. I felt very privileged to have been in with my daughter, Meredith, for the labor and delivery. It is something that I will never forget and I know that it is a blessing that she wanted me there. Another grandbaby. 

Big sister holding her new baby brother. She thinks he is hers.

CF Day

Since January, Bethany has been going to the CF clinic monthly. She usually goes every three months, but her weight had started dropping and her pulmonary function tests were down so her doctor wanted to see her every four weeks. Each month we would go in and I would hope she would blow really well (PFT) but the numbers just didn't go up. It isn't that they were low -- actually they were pretty good for a kid with cystic fibrosis, but her FEV1 had dropped some. I didn't really think it was a big deal, but her doctor just didn't like seeing her numbers go down and I am glad he is so conscientious.

Her weight had also dropped to the 5th percentile and lung function is directly related to weight -- I don't really understand that at all. So we had been working and working to get her weight up but it barely moved. I will never understand not wanting to eat. We all are just baffled by that, but she just hardly ever wants to eat anything. I pretty much have to push food on her all day long to get much of anything in her. We had tried just about everything we could think of to get food in her, but it was just never enough.

Finally, one day I had a thought. We had talked about getting season passes to Kings Dominion this summer, but hadn't bought them yet. All the kids love to go and it has been several years since we got passes. Then an idea hit me. I would bribe Bethany. Something I never do with my kids. I told her doctor today that she has made me do things I never would have considered doing. I don't like to give my kids rewards for doing what they are suppose to do. It goes against my grain. But, somehow it is different with Bethany -- her health and quality of life depend on her doing something she really dislikes doing -- eating. Sometimes when she eats her stomach hurts, sometimes it causes cramping and nausea and most of the time she just has no appetite.

So, I told Bethany that if she gained a certain amount of weight I would get her a pass to Kings Dominion. She actually jumped on it and started to eat a little more. That didn't last long, though, as there is not much that makes Bethany willing to eat. So, she kind of tapered off. Then as it got closer to summer and we talked about it more and some of the older kids got passes she started working on eating again. 

Today at the clinic Bethany had gained all the weight I asked her to gain and is now in the 25th percentile for weight instead of the 5th. She also blew much better and was only a few points from her highest reading. She did so well and she even looks healthier -- and we don't have to go back for three months! It was a great visit. 

Strangely enough, as we waited for our car to come, Bethany asked if she could get something to eat. I couldn't believe it. She actually asked for food. So, we went in the hospital and I got her the chicken sandwich she wanted with a drink and she ate almost every bite of it. I don't know if she did it because she was so thrilled that she had gained and she wanted to keep going or she was just hungry. I just hope this can last a little longer  -- especially after the season pass is bought and she has no more incentive to eat.