Dress Up Ellie

Ellie is really into dress-up these days!  Besides hardly ever leaving her room in the morning without being dressed....she always seems to have some crazy concoction of clothes choices going on.  First, it must match!  And she will point out which parts of the top match which parts of the bottom.  She mostly wants to wear skirts, dresses, or LEGGINGS!  Seriously, this child is sooo into leggings.

Brides!  Everything brides!  She loves looking at "married girls" and while we were in Houston visiting my parents, my dad found this wedding dress.  LOVE! She wears it all the time and is consumed with making sure the veil is on right.  My mom got her some play wedding rings and tied ribbon around these flowers to complete the look.  She isnt quite sure who she is going to marry yet. ;)

We are really into dress-up shoes too.  On occasion these have made the trip to Target and Kroger.  Ha!

God is awesome all the time!

This is phone blogging so I apologize for the set-up...if it looks funny.

First and foremost, an Ellie update. Monday evening, Dr Fawcett called with Ellie's allergy panel results. She is allergic to whatever is typically high year round. :( there is no argument there because it seems like she always had a runny nose, no matter the season. She is allergic to ragweed, elm, mountain cedar and timothy grass. Also dogs. Since we haven't noticed her wheezing, we were able to take her off of the albuterol inhaler. Praise God, one med down! She remains on the steroid nose spray, steroid inhaler and oral allergy med. I asked what the chance were of her coming off of the steroids and Dr Fawcett said this is not an option now. We will re-evaluate things are her follow up appointment, which is now in 4 weeks. She continues to do well with all of the meds. Another praise! My hope is for her to be cured & not as sensitive as she is to pollen. Prayers will continue for sure. As for being allergic to dogs, the doctor said we didn't have to get rid of them. I'm
Not sure why...a question I'll ask at the follow up.

Ok next! On Wednesday we said goodbye to our doggie love, Raider. He had been suffering from renal failure since February 2011. He was well managed on a daily med until this week. His condition worsened and we had already decided doggie dialysis was not in our treatment plan for him. He had 2 rounds in early 2011 but we didn't want to put him through that again. I have always prayed that we would know when it was his time to go. We knew. He knew. I am so thankful for the controlled situation we got. It was peaceful. I called a work friend - a child life specialist to help me know how to explain this to Ellie. Bless her heart, she says things like - raider is in doggie heaven, his body didn't work anymore, he is with Jesus, it's a happy day. I am so thankful she is taking this well. The other day, she told jon that they needed to get him out of doggie heaven ;)

Pics!!!!!

Little lungs

I suppose this is how it all began. Ellie had RSV (Respiratory syncytial virus) when she was 3 months old. RSV is a common respiratory virus that leads to cold-like symptoms. In adults and older children this usually is not a big deal. In small children it can lead to being hospitalized for IV fluids and oxygen. Thankfully, Ellie was able to be treated at home with an albuterol inhaler and oral steroids. She also had bilateral ear infections.....fun times for us all ;) She recovered and all was well. When kiddos have RSV as infants, they are more at risk for developing asthma later on. Flash forward to 2012.....

We landed ourselves in the Pediatricians office when Ellie was having respiratory symptoms for 4 weeks in February. Yes, 4 weeks!!!! She always seems to have a little runny/stuffy nose but this 4 weeks she had on and off fever, lots of congestion, a cough....and then she started wheezing. Here we are getting another breathing treatment in the doctor's office. She got a chest xray and had pulmonary infiltrates = pneumonia. Antibiotics and a tapering albuterol schedule and she was on her way to recovery.

This Easter weekend we made a visit to San Antonio to spend the holiday weekend with Jon's family. Ellie's "seasonal" allergies were still hanging out and we noticed a very little cough on our drive down to SA. Saturday night I woke up to Ellie wheezing like no other! I could hear it across the room, no need for a stethoscope. It wasn't on my mind to ever pack her inhaler. Shoot! So we made do with mine. It's the same medication but mine doesnt have a spacer or mask. We did our best. Two puffs and she was still wheezing a little but was able to fall asleep after some loving and a dose of benedryl to dry her up. Sunday, Easter morning, she was still wheezing....so more albuterol. She was able to run around and play with her cousins without many symptoms but I never listened to her lungs. Something else I dont carry around with me....a stethoscope ;) I am sure she was probably wheezing this whole time :( On our drive home, more audible wheezing....more albuterol. Monday I made an appointment with Dr Fawcett, an asthma allergy specialist. Ellie has been to her before, less than a year ago, when she was having an unusual reaction to bug bites. Her poor little legs swell up, the site is hard and very red. At this visit, I also mentioned that she is stuffy ALL THE TIME. She recommended Allegra. We have tried Allegra, Claritin, and Zyrtec for her allergies and benedryl to help with the stuffiness at night. I am here to tell you, those things do not work on this kid!!!! So here, we are back at Dr. Fawcett.....love her. She is so kind and makes sure I am mommy and not nurse. She explains things perfectly so my clouded nurse brain can make sense of the information through a stressed out nurse's mind. She reassures me! Ellie was wheezing this morning too! Not audible without a stethscope, though. We got our regimen of meds and were sent on our way to have an allergy panel drawn. I have yet to google what labs we were sent for, but there is a copy of our paperwork. Ellie was so brave! Not one tear!! I took her through McDonald's, so she would have a toy and a High-C to comfort her ;) She sat in my lap, we talked about the tight rubberband around her arm, Norman poking hard on her veins to find a good one, and how Raider & Bailey had just had the same thing done (heartworm test last week). She knew a big ouchie was coming. They told me to wrap my legs around her, so she wouldnt kick the assistant, Pat, and to grab her other arm tightly so she wouldnt swat. Ha! Let me tell you, being a nurse to other people's children is way easier than being mommy to my Ellie in this moment. A 25 gauge butterfly stick and a green bandaid later, all was well. She did quietly say, "mommy" when she saw the blood flowing but that was it. It will be a few weeks until the results are back.

For now, here are her meds, minus the prescription allergy medication....that one is waiting at the pharmacy.

She will be on Xyzal (liquid given at bedtime). Nasonex (nose spray in the morning). Proair (albuterol inhaler) 2 puffs morning and night....and then if we hear wheezing she can have it every 4-6 hours. Flovent 44 (inhaler) 2 puffs morning and night. The Xyzal is Rx form of Zyrtec. Nasonex is a steroid nose spray. Those two are for her allergies. Proair is a quick relief rescue inhaler; a bronchodilator that relaxes and opens the airway to make breathing easier. Flovent is a corticosteroid that prevents difficulty breathing, chest tightness, wheezing, and coughing caused by asthma.

Our prayer is this..........that we will give Ellie these meds for 2-3 weeks until her follow up appointment to discuss her progress on them and her lab results. At this time, her symptoms are controlled and she is back to some sort of normal baseline. Regardless of how long she has to be on these meds, especially the inhalers, our hope is that eventually she can be off of the inhalers and remain on the allergy meds. Hopefully if her allergies are controlled, she wont wheeze, she wont need inhalers. The Lord has Ellie in his hands and I will admit that I am torn on what to pray for at times. Do I just be sooooo grateful that she doesnt have FULL BLOWN asthma and that she has an awesome doctor helping us? Or do I pray for healing? I think my work background has a lot to do with this. I see babies never make it home with their parents, I see disabled kids make it home, I see healthy kids go home. I am just so grateful that she is pretty much 100% healthy and if this is the 'little' thing I have to deal with, fine! It is 'little' in comparison to what I see daily at work. Regardless, I do want a healthy child. I want her breathing to be normal. I want her to breathe clearly. That is my prayer. Thank you Jesus for the skill of Dr Fawcett, thank you Jesus for the medications! Thank you Jesus for your healing power. Thank you that this sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God that the Son of God might be glorified in it (John 11:14). Thank you Jesus that You will come and heal her (Matthew 8:7). Thank you that the prayers offered in faith will restore the one who is sick (James 5:15).

VITAMIX

First, thank you to my parents for blessing us with a Vitamix!!!! Besides college, car, wedding, everything else I could ever ask from them......this a wonderful gift ;)!!!!!! The Duran's are on a path to healthier living and there's no better way to start. What's a Vitamix?!?!?!? Click the link to find out what its really about.....I'll tell you what little I know. The Vitamix is the most powerful blender on Earth ;). It's the best thing out there to help you eat raw. So here we are, making our green smoothies everyday! My mom has really helped me to understand what she knows about green smoothies and healthier living. She has a lot of great resources.

Blend it and Mend it

Victoria Boutenko

And then for general healthy options - Nourishing Traditions cookbook & Cooking God's Way -- last year, her and I attended a cooking class with Cooking God's Way and we learned so much!

On to the pics!

OUR FIRST GREEN SMOOTHIE! ELLIE APPROVED!!!!

THESE PICS ARE PRICELESS. THIS SMOOTHIE CAME OUT LESS GREEN AND MORE BROWN BECAUSE ELLIE WANTED BLACKBERRIES ADDED. SHE LOVED IT! AND NAMED IT "LITTLE BROWN BEAR SMOOTHIE."

So what was in these smoothies? The first pics was --- spinach, cucumber, banana, apple, lemon, strawberries, clementine, water, ice. The second set of pics was --- spinach, swiss chard, banana, apple, lemon, kiwi, clementine, cucumber, blackberries, water.

Other things we have added are --- cilantro, celery, probiotic, elderberry. Whats on the grocery list for next week --- dandelion greens.

Jon and I are drinking these for lunch mostly and then trying to make healthy food choices for breakfast and dinner. We are a work in progress.

Thanks again to my gracious parents for the amazing, healthy gift! We are looking forward to healthier living!!!!!

Mimi & Pops visit

This past weekend, my parents came to visit us! It was just a day trip but we had a lot of fun in those hours. We went to Homestead Farms for a quick goat visit...ended up buying goat's milk, some produce, & farm fresh beef. (I made spaghetti out of the meat tonight & it w

as yummy. After the farm, my mom & I headed to Central Market to stock up on produce to use in the VitaMix. She also schooled me in things like chia seeds & Himalayan salt. Jon, Pops & Ellie hung out at home since Ellie wasn't much in the napping mood!

My parents brought Ellie an Easter basket and some pretty flowers to plant in pots. So on to planting it was....

Pretty fun filled day if you ask me!!!

Ellie Update!

Hi www world! It's been a while. But here! An Ellie update!!!!

Ellie is 2.5 years old. Where has the time gone?!?! She is getting so big & communicating so well. We at least we know what she's saying most of the time .... spend some time with her, you'll catch on. I think she knows so much & says so much because she hangs out with 4 year old Brenley while mommy is at work - perfect practice for communicating!

These days, her favorite foods are:
Blackberries, pizza, tomatoes, blueberries, pineapple, french fries, & broccoli. How this child chooses broccoli over macaroni some days, amazes me! I say a little thank you prayer ;)

Her favorite things to do are : chase the dogs, feed her babies, take baths, play on her backyard playset, watch movies, sing songs & play dress up. Oh how could I forget?!?!? Turn on a faucet & this child is entertained for a while! This is how mommy takes a shower or cleans up a bit ;) She'll gather toys, a stool & a bib....she's ready! Then every once in a while, I catch her running to get more toys - usually measuring spoons & cups.

The lion king & Cinderella are still regulars in our house.

Ellie's latest adventures - a trip to Houston & a trip to Lubbock. Ellie & I went to Houston for a short week day visit. She enjoyed shopping with Mimi & lots of eating out! She hung out with pops, uncle Dave & lexie too!! We went to Lubbock for the football spring game - an annual trip for the Duran's. It gets more enjoyable as Ellie gets older, she really watches the game, even tells touchdown!!!!! Daddy went to a concert in Austin & Ellie's grandma came to watch her while I was at work. From Ellie's account - they had a lot of fun hanging out.

Hmm what else?...... Pictures. Phone blogging won't put them in order but that's ok, she's cute nonetheless ;)

Coming soon.....Ellie had pneumonia & our Vitamix adventures!!!! Ok, ok pictures......

Ellie's First Haircut!!!

Up until today, Ellie has only had her bangs cut....by me....which usually involves me chasing her with scissors. Ha! Our neighbor & hair girl does my hair, so it's high time Ellie gets her hair done too!!! Thanks Bethany!!!!

As soon as Ellie woke up from her nap, it was her turn. She sat on my counter to watch all the action! Just a little trim in the back to even it all out.. And a bangs cut too. She sat sort of still but I think she loved it! We captured some locks for this sentimental momma.

After

Before (silly blogger)

After