Double Digits

When we first brought Alexandrea home, we could wrap her up in this blanket and she could not get out, now she is too big, I still can wrap her but by morning her toes are hanging out. Since she has also discovered her feet they are constantly at her mouth. One of her favorite things to do is to pull off her socks and chew on her toes.

I just love this sweet little face

I thought this was too cute how she has her arms place while sitting in her bumbo. She love to see all that is going on around her.

Alexandrea is such a happy baby, We have completed some of the testing (blood work)for why she has continued to grow on the slow side, so far everything has come back normal, We are very happy about this.

Also Aexandrea did have her repeat echocardiogram on her ASD, She was not a happy camper and as I sat there holding my baby girl while they did this test, I still could see the hole. I just knew it, After it was compled we , immediatly met with the pediatric cardiologist, who confirmed what I had just saw. She said it was a moderate sized, and that it would most likely not close on its own and she will eventually need surgery to repair this defect.
Atrial septal defects (ASD) are among the most common types of congenital heart defects. In general the defect is a hole in the wall (septum) between the top two chambers of the heart (atria). There are three common types of ASD's, named in relation to their position in the atrial septum. A physician will identify the type of ASD a patient has and whether associated defects are present.

The Dr said that there are two ways this can be fixed

Surgery
The standard method for closure of atrial septal defects has been open-heart surgery. Surgery requires a heart-lung cardiac bypass machine to allow the heart to be opened and the defect closed — with stitches if it is small, or, if too large, with a patch. This surgery has a very low risk and has been performed for more than 35 years. Minimally invasive incisions are utilized in selected circumstances when surgery for this defect is performed. Long-term survival after repair of this defect is similar to that of a healthy person of the same age.

Nonsurgical Closure
Nonsurgical closure, a relatively new procedure is done in the heart catheterization laboratory and avoids the need for surgery. A patch, usually resembling a small umbrella, is inserted into the damaged area through a small tube, called a catheter. Various other patches are being investigated. Cardiologists at Mayo Clinic are involved in investigational trials for these devices

THey said that Alexandrea is a good canidate for the nonsurgical closure.

Our biggest hurdle though will be Alexandrea's weight, for the non surgical procedure, they would like Alexandrea to be about 30- 33 lbs, they want her to be at least 18 months old but they want to fix it before she enters school.

Alexandrea's is just now at 10 pounds, Yippee she has finally hit double digits and is at 10 lbs. If she is anything like her mama, It will be 5 before she even hits the weight they would like her to be at. They can do the procedure when they are smaller but they just wnat them to be biggger.

Here is also a twist, while they do not feel like the asd is causing her weight issues, it at times can cause poor growth.
So please pray for growth for Alexandrea, Please also pray that this defect asd will close on its own.

much love Becky, Lars and Alexandrea

Picture Friday~

happy 7th month

so sleepy

she has found her feet

Look at Me!

We received this stuffed cow from the Ronald McDonald House when we were there, (The Shriners have a ride every year where they drop off toys for the kids that are in the hospital). It was practically as big as Alexandrea, you can just see her feet , It is amazing to see how much she has grown. She was 3 days short of being one month here.

Now she is here at almost 7 months.

Alexandrea -15 days, this little bear is half her size

I am growing 10 weeks

Look at me! I have grown so big!

Dedication

We had a pretty good day today, At church today we dedication our little one. Everyone Just though how cute she was in her dress. Right after though I had go go change her as on the way to church, she spit up nice and good all over the front of her dress and smell like soured milk. Good thing I was able to clean her up enough before church started. Then she wanted to eat again, so I really did not get to hear ther service as i spent it with her instead.
Aleexandrea is now alomost 7 months, If she has been born on her due date she would be 5 months. I can't believe how much she is changing,, After service was all over we were talking ot soem friends and we had her laying on the chairs in the sanctuary, she found the backs of the chair pretty facinating and alomost rolled over from her back to her tummy, if the back had not been there, she should of made it all the way. It was just too cute.

I also think she has started teething, she is just wanting to gum everything and has just been a little more fussy. She is still sleeping through the night and We have no issues here. We love this, we followed baby wise (just the parts really felt too) and also went by her since we do have a little one with feeding issues.

When we were at the Dr last week he did ok to start on foods but vegies before fruit and so far she has had rice cereal , which she thought was ok, Took a few bites real well then was done and then also has tried sweet potatoes, took one bite and then another then she was not too sure, It was rather cute to see

Please continue to pray for Alexandrea to gain weight, Here over the next couple of weeks she will be having a few test just to be on the safe side, to make sure she does not have certain things such as cystic fibrosis, a metobolic disorder and other things.

I Just realized tonight I had not updated in a while. We have been pretty busy.
While I would love to say Alexandrea is growing like a weed, she still is growing at her own pace. We went to the dr today for her 6 mo check up, she weighed in at 9lbs 2.2 oz and was around 23 in long. The dr would love her to be gaining more weight but was happy as developmentally she is right where she needs to be.
We are going to have a few tests done to be sure that there is nothing more going on.
OHSU has a clinic that comes to medford once a month , so Alexandrea will be getting an echocardigram to check on her asd (atrial septal defect), We are hoping and praying that this will have closed.

Alexandrea is full of smiles and laughter, and is so much fun. We are amazed more and more by her every day. Over Memorial day Weekend, we had our first road trip, we went to Portland to see Aunt Karen and Uncle Chris and Alexandrea's cousins David and Kevin. We also saw a good friend our ours and some other Family members that soon will have a new little one. We had a great time and it was great to see you all and can't wait to see you all again.



Lars and I also have few prayer requests for extended family members, It is rather ironic that they almost have idetical names and both are due around the same time and will deliver at the same hosp.

please say a prayer for Kari and Darin as they approach the birth of their daughter Emma Grace, She will have to have surgery soon after birth for a sacrococcygeal teratoma. She will be here on june 8th unless she comes earlier.

then also prayers for karen and darrin as they also approach there due date for the birth of a little boy, who yet has to be named , for karen blood pressure to stay down.

We love you all and Alexandrea can't wait to play!

Please also say a prayer for Alexandrea to continue to grow and all her test to go well.

This weekend we will also be dedicating Alexandrea. We are so excited to be doing this. We will post pictures as well.

much love
becky

prayers

Please say a prayer for thr Freeman Family , I wanted to let you know in case you haven't heard .....little Kayleigh went to be with Jesus last night. She was a little baby born who was just around 1 lb and has spent the last 11 months in the NICU. After some recent surgeries, she had become brain dead and last night she left this world for a much better place. Please keep her family in your prayers. I can't imagine all they have been through. The pictures from yesterday will break your heart - but their faith is strong.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!

Today marked another first for us, as it was our first mother's day. Yes I am a step mom but Chris is with his mom on this sepcial day but it is my first mothers.

Last year on mothers day we annouced to some of our family that we were pregnant.
Motherhood has been awesome and wonderful. We have had so much already ups and downs in Alexandrea's short life but they are so woth it.

Today also marks Alexandreas 6 month birthday. Can you belive we had our little girl 6 months ago? it seem s like just yesturday

I hope everyone has a wonderful mothers day.

Jennifer and her daughter

Chasie trying to hold Lexi

too cute!!

jumper

wow! I can't believe it has been 2 weeks since I have posted. We have been quite busy.

e had my neice here for alomost a week so that kept me super busy with 2 babbies under 1, but it was still lots of fun. She is a acive baby on the go, She is 11 months as of yesturday.

Lars and I are tired tonight. Today was the march of dimes walk in our area. The walk was around 6 miles. We fed Alexandrea right before we left, she did great and slept most of the time. We do not have but a few pics on the cell phone as we brought the camera, but had forgot to get the memory card out of the computer.

Lexi is now almost 6 months or 4 months corrected, She loves to sit and just look around to see what is going on, so today we tried putting her in the jumper. Since she is still very tiny , even on the lowest setting, she cannot reach, but she enjoyed being in it for about 10 min.

Please continue to pray for growth for Alexandrea. Last weight on my scale was 8lbs 8oz.

also please pray for baby Kayleigh (click on the button for her link) as after her latest sugery, now the dr's are sayign she is brain dead. Her parents are still hoping for a miracle and to bring her home.

Smiles!!

ahh something that melts my heart, I just can't help but smile when i see this every morning. It melts my heart. I just love it.

The March of Dimes holds a very special place in my heart. Because of the amazing grace of God, the might power of prayer, and the research done by the March of Dimes our baby girl is alive and well.


Until this past year I really knew nothing about the March of Dimes. Of course I knew they had an impact on babies and families, they held walks and raised money. But I didn't really know anything more.


After having Alexandrea the March of Dimes gave us us a packet full of information. The packet included information about premature babies, information about the NICU, information about how to be a parent in the NICU, and so forth. The information was very helpful. At this point in time I still didn't know exactly what the March of Dimes did. We also met the March of Dimes Head of Oregon Chapter at Doernbecker, Her Name was Jennifer, She gave me a disposable camera, and printed pictures, gave me some scrapbook supplies etc.


Since that time I have learned. And I am so very thankful. The March of Dimes conducts research. Research that helps prevent pre-term births and research that helps those babies that are born pre-term. Matter of fact in 1985 the March of Dimes funded research that led to the use of surfactant to treat respiratory distress syndrome. Babies don't have the surfactant they need in order to breathe. The minute babies are born too early surfactant is administered and helps them breath. Thank you March of Dimes! The March of Dimes also educates women on how to have a healthy pregnancy and in turn have a healthy baby. And they provide information to families with newborns in intensive care.


I will be participating in this year's walk which will be held on May 2nd and other cities is April 25th. I will be walking in honor of Alexandrea and Chaselynn and their lives. I will also be donating money to this worthy cause. If you feel led to donate to the March of Dimes you can click on the purple button in the left sidebar.

ONE YEAR

one year ago Lars and I took a test, this one was positive.
one year ago we found out we were pregnant.
one year ago.

it is amazing how our lives have changed in one year
we can't believe it has been one year we love our little muchkin more and more everyday and look forward to the years to come and getting to see her grow more and what she will become.

I have almost caught her smile on camera.

Her new thing this week is putting things in her mouth, she seems to like to chew on whatever and of course, then she starts drooling and blowing bubbles it is rather cute.

please continue to say a prayer for Alexandrea's growth, it is still slow but the dr ok at this point as long as she is growing.
we did meet with the feeding clinic, they were happy that we had tried numerous bottles, nipples, formula etc. They really did not have much to offer at this point other than what I was already doing. The occupational thereapist was there and also due to Alexandrea's prematuraty , they also gave her a develpmental eval. She did great, So far she is on track , they did give us a few exercises that we can do with her, to help strengthen her muscles, rolling over,and standing.

please also pray for kayleigh, she was born around 12 weeks early and is now almost 10 months old, she is still in the NICU and has never gone home, She has had so many challenges in her short life and again has to recently again had to have surgery, please click on the side button or visit http://www.kayleighannefreeman.blogspot.com/