Days and counting.....

I took Jillian today to the Doctor's for her scheduled vaccines and Meningitis vaccine.

All together a total of five shots, needless to say she was ready to get out of there!

She weights 31 pounds and 35.5 inches.

She'll be 17 months on the 11th of this month!

Her BIG DAY is less then 5 days away!

We are ready and of course excited! I'm very curious to see how she'll respond!

I have been told that my expectations shouldn't be too high for the initial activation date, because at times it could be more of a trying event and within a few months I may see more of a successful responds. I of course am praying for the best results for her!

So of course, I will keep everyone updated with her progress!

My expectations are of course always high and I don't expect a miracle on Wednesday, but I can't wait to see her first responds from the first sound or word she does hear!

Whether it's from her Dad, sister or myself will bring a tear of joy! I pray that she isn't scared.

A DATE, WE'LL NEVER FORGET!

WOW, I have to get better at updating my Blog...alot has taken place since my last update!
As of FEBRUARY 5th 2008, Jillian received her first CI! It was 16 months of prayer and determination for her surgery to take place and her recovery to be successful!
The Surgery was just under three hours and she made a strong recovery. We were out of the Hospital the next day and off her pain meds by Thursday afternoon. There were no signs of any pain from her, just smiles, laughter and a great appetite the next day. Thank God!
Her Great-Grandparents and Aunt flew in from Toledo, Ohio to share this important day with her. She did end up back in the Hospital for a few days after her surgery but not from the CI. She woke up on Thursday morning and the right side of her head was completely swollen. The Doctor told us if the incision was inflamed to call but never warned us about her head. So I placed a phone call the surgeon and he asked us to come in, we saw one of his assistants and she stated that it was okay....if it gets worse call back! My thought was how much worse did it need to get, she looked like "Mike Tyson", with one ear bent like a car door and her head swollen. She stated if her eye becomes swollen to call back. Needless to say Friday morning she woke up looking like "Popeye" her right eye was swollen shut, so I called the doctor back and he advised us to come in to see him. We showed up at his location and the words were "wow, I have never seen this before!" Always something a Mom wants to hear! I appreciated the way he took care of the situation. He stated that we go back home , pack her a bag for a few days and go to the ER at All Children's Hospital. He gave me the orders to give to the first doctor that saw her. She was immediately given antibiotics through an IV and within just a few hours the swelling started to go down. The doctor diagnosed her with Cellucitus. Which can be extremely dangerous if not treated immediately. This was a isolated case and had nothing to do with the CI. So for any Moms (and Dads) out there that are reading this please don't think that this is a side effect from a CI.
Jillian also has been diagnosed a while back with Sensory Integration, so needless to say both of her admissions to the Hospital were not easy for her. She doesn't like people touching her. She is extremely sensitive to touch. When she sees a stranger (doctor, nurse, therapist) coming towards her she starts screaming and crying. Since she was born she has had nothing but therapist and doctors working with her to better her condition. When she was hospitalized the nurses and I made an agreement, they gave me the things to take her stats and when she was sleeping I would turn her arm gently to face the outside of the crib so that the nurses could very carefully and gently insert the antibodies to her IV. This was the only way to keep her peaceful. She is so sensitive that when I bend down to kiss her while she is asleep she wakes up immediately. So I have learned to kiss my hand and softly place it on her bottom, so with enough cushion she won't feel it.
Jillian has recovered just fine. She is on strong antibiotics and thank God we have two days left of taking them. The thing that breaks my heart is giving them to her three times a day. She gags and chocks every time, but I know how important it is make sure she has her dose and completes the course that was prescribe by the doctor so she doesn't relapse.
Jillian is still having troubles finding the interests in walking. I pray that she finds it soon, because a 27 pound baby starts to get heavy! But I remind myself that there will be a day in the future that she won't allow me to hold her through the mall and grocery store so I treasure every minute!
I took my Mom and the girls out to dinner last night, as we sat there with great conversation I expressed to her my concerns with Jillian's other challenges. Following the conversation my Mom reminded me of something that took place when I was 10, she said she'll never forget. We were at the mall in Toledo and I saw a child that to me at that age was a little different, I turned to my Mom and asked her "what was wrong with that child?" My Mom responded that he was a "Special Gift from God and that his Mom and Dad needed to give extra attention to his needs" .....and she remembered me saying as well as I do, " I hope that God would Bless me with a Child like that! " Thank you God for granting my wish!"