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Monday, June 1, 2009

First follow up at Duke!







Well, Beth carried Katie for what will undoubtedly be one of the many follow up appointments that she will have to have at Duke. Therefore, this is the first of what may be many future updates. We are pleased to relate that after 3 hours of continuous examinations and observations Katie was deemed to be in very good shape. Katie was observed by the speech therapist as she quite handily sucked the bottom out of a bottle containing three ounces of milk! The therapist reportedly just put her hands on her hips and said “I have no suggestions.”Not only did Katie demonstrate her ability to eat, she also proved it on the scales. Katie had gained an ounce a day since she had come home! Wooooooooo-hooooooooo! She may turn out to be a Cole after all! Dr. Mommy and Dr. Daddy have been working hard to keep her at the best clinic possible….home.Everything is not all peaches and cream. Since Katie spent so long in bassinets with tubes and wiring, she is several weeks behind in her muscle development and requires a bit of home physical therapy. She never got to lay on her stomach, so those back and neck muscles that she would have been using are very week. Her hamstrings are also very tight which requires us to stretch them out a bit in order for her to fully extend her legs. We have to help her hold her head up when we hold her, but she is beginning to build up her neck muscles.We are so proud of our little Katie. We are proud of our Michael as well. He has adjusted quite well to her presence, and seems to care about her. He got a bit upset when Papa Bennie pretended to take her home with him. He always kisses her on top of the head before we leave and at bedtime. He has been a bit clingy and somewhat hardheaded lately, but we are unsure if it is because of having another baby in the house or just because he is two years old. Either way, Beth and I are very glad to have them both at home.We have agreed to be apart of a research study at Duke to help determine the cause of CDH. This is simply the collection of a little blood from me and Beth. We are excited to be able to participate in something that will hopefully prevent other cases of CDH. Future updates and pictures as they become available.Andy

3 comments:

  1. I rejoice with you over your great news!

    "Praise the Lord! Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever." ~ Psalm 106:1

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  2. What a wonderful follow-up report. Sounds like the Doctors at the home clinic know just what to do, as we all know you would. Katie's smile could makes me just melt....so precious.

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  3. Katie is looking so good! It's great to hear that she's doing far better than anyone could expect. Truly a show of God's hand!

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