Girl, You have no faith in Medicine...

So not true, but this post is all about doctors... and their "magic".

Audrey has had 2 doctors appointments this week - I'm predicting a busy summer.

Yesterday we saw her Pulmonologist and I voiced a few concerns because Audrey has had this nasty little cough for over a week and half. We though maybe she was showing signs of allergies to animals because we dogsitted Audrey's uncle's dog. Audrey's uncle would prefer me to say "cousin" but I just can't force myself to say it - he'll change his mind one day when he has a baby. Anyway, we watched Orsen Welles, who did wonderful around Audrey. He was curious of her, she was curious of him and watched him run around everywhere, but we tried to keep the two apart after the second day. Previous to watching Orsen, we spent Wednesday evening at our friends for dinner, they have a cat and dog. The following morning, her cough started. Friday night, she stayed the night with her grandparents, they have a dog and cat. Her cough continued. Saturday we spent the majority of our night at her other grandparents - they have a dog and that night was the beginning of our dogsitting term. Sunday we started her on her breathing treatments of Xopenex and Pulmicort twice a day and we've been doing it since... Not only did she have a cough, but her nose was runny, she was sneezing and she had purple tinted circles under her eyes - I researched and it said those are possible signs of allergies in little ones. So, this is what I brought up with the Pulmo Guy and he said it was very possible... He checked her lungs because she was wheezy and rattly sounding, but said she checked out fine. He sent me home with long list of instructions to help her ashmatic symptoms. Continue doing Xopenex every 4-6 hours, he increased her Pulmicort dosage and that's twice a day. If she doesn't seem to get better, we put her on Orvapred (an oral steroid) and then he said we should try Zyrtec rather than Claritin for her allergy symptoms... I'm checking with her Pedi on that one though.

Today, we had our hearing aid discussions with Callier Center at UTD. We met with an audiologist, she immediately took impressions of Audrey's ears. Audrey tolerated that better than I thought she would. We sat there for 5 minutes, Audrey and I talked to each other while the putty hardened. The audiologist came back with a couple of hearing aid models for me to choose from. Audrey will be sporting a pair of Phonak Nios micro. We found out that Aetna doesn't really contribute a whole lot towards hearing aids - they will give us up to $1000 for 3 years. I'm not one to discuss finances on here, but we were hoping our insurance would cover a little bit more than that... But, that's what we have a savings account for, right?
Here's what they will look like, of course in Pink:
The ear molds will be a pink and clear glittery swirl - at no extra charge. We will get them in about 3 weeks. They will do a fitting and then some hearing tests... and then we'll be on our way to learning language!!! We will need to go back once a month so they can make sure everything is working properly. I'm sure Audrey will adjust to them very well!!

Okay, I've got more to add but I can hear in the next room that Audrey's ready for her bath. Until next time.

What'd You Say?

You heard that correctly... She said "GAGA" like "DADA". She is babbling more and more each day. And, hopefully when she gets her hearing aids she will want to babble even more!

I know it's been two weeks since I last posted and I'm really sorry for not posting updates on the happenings of Audrey... but today is not going to be an update either.

Below, I've attached another video of sounds that make our lives worth living.

Serious Time...

Funny Girl!

We have had a lot on our mind lately... Are you ready to hear this?

1) Scottish Rite may not be the best fit for Audrey. I emailed Dr. Lund about a month ago to ask for his thoughts on the removal of Audrey's extra toes. He confirmed what I was worried about and told me that removing Audrey's strongest toe (the 1st big toe) would not only create difficulties in learning to walk but it would cause her to develop calluses under her big toe and toes 2-5 would develop hammertoe in about 20 years causing her to have pain and future surgeries to correct them. Dr. Lund also told us that she should not even be considered for ATTT surgery until she's 3.5 or older because some children's feet can improve after they've walked on them for a couple of years. And, he said he doesn't feel like Audrey would even be a candidate in 2 years... Hearing this was a big blow because we were so hopeful for Scottish Rite. So many people have benefited from their doctors and services, we hoped we'd be that fortunate. Shawn and I have toyed with the idea of pushing back to Scottish Rite and suggesting we find a different solution for Audrey - one that Dr. Lund would do... but I feel staying under Dr. Lund's care would be best for Audrey. He's not afraid to voice his concerns with his approach to her treatment and if something's not working, he helps us find different solutions. So, that's where we're at with her feet...

2) Audrey had a CT scan and her 6 month follow-up post Shunt surgery with her Neurosurgeon, Dr. Price. She cried the entire time they were scanning her because she hated being taped and bundled up to the table. She had an MRI scan on her ears mid-March at Children's and Dr. Price used that scan to compare with her most recent CT Scan. Results were good! Ventricles are slightly smaller, still enlarged but they've gone down!!! Her head circumference was 49cm and when she charted it, the dot was only about a millimeter away from the top line of the curve. Dr. Price said she may never be on the curve - heck Shawn and I aren't on the curve (we follow our own drum) - but Audrey looks great!!

3) Audrey has a follow-up ABR tomorrow morning. She will be having a clinical ABR rather than a sedated ABR. I'm hoping she cooperates with the audiologist and allows her to put the ear things in her ears... If she doesn't we will have to schedule a sedated ABR. I pray that God will help her stay calm tomorrow morning because having her go under general anestethia causes me serious anxiety. I get really upset watching them put that mask over her face and then having to watch her try to understand what's going on as she wakes up. Let's also pray that her hearing has improved since January. Her ENT said that sometimes ABR's done after ear tube surgery aren't always accurate because there could be tissue swelling from the incision or possibly fluid behind her ear... We shall see tomorrow. If the hearing loss has not changed, then she will require hearing aids. Her hearing specialist that has started working with her said that they like to see babies in hearing aids by 12 months. She said this will help Audrey with her language development and hopefully will help us meet our goals sooner than 6 months.

The Three of us have each caught an upper respiratory infection. It started with Audrey a couple of weeks ago when she had a slight ear infection in her right ear (even with tubes) and an upper respiratory infection. She was given an antibiotic for the ear infection and then a 3 day oral steroid to stop her cough followed by a week of breathing treatments. It then came to me on her birthday but I overlooked my symptoms because we had so much to do for her birthday party. Her party came and gone, along with my voice. I finally hit a brick wall and stayed home from work last Tuesday. I went to the doctor and she gave me a zpack and some POTENT cough syrup. I took one dose of cough syrup at 2pm on Tuesday and slept until 6:30 pm, woke up to spend see Audrey until she went to bed. Once I put her shoes back on and said goodnight, I was out again until 6am the next morning. It probably would have been in my best interest to stay home from work another day, but I had some loose ends I needed to tie up so I went in... but, that's when Shawn contracted this little infection that lived in our household for over 2 weeks. He stayed home from work last Wednesday and Thursday. I came home from work on Wednesday to find our house CLEAN! Who cleans when they are sick? I told him to stay in bed all day long so he would get better, but he didn't. On Thursday, he did it again!!! When Audrey and I got home from her CT Scan, he was not at the house... he was at Blockbuster getting a movie because he was bored. But, I'm happy to say the Hannon household is upper respiratory infection free and it wasn't Swine Flu!!!

Audrey went swimming yesterday for the 2nd time ever!! We hope to spend a lot of weekends at Nana and Papa's enjoying great food and relaxing in the pool this summer! Enjoy these incredible photos of her swimming!

WOW, What a Year!!!

I Love Sweets!

This isn't going to be your usual post. First of all, this is not Stefani typing this. This is Shawn. Yes, Shawn the father of the most beautiful baby of all time! (Yes, I believe that just as much as Stefani does!) First of all, let me just say that it has been a whirl wind of a year. From the time we found out that we were going to be a mommy and daddy till today has gone by so fast. I am so proud to see my little baby girl grow up to be one year old. (Or is it one year's old? I've never understood that) Not only have I seen my beautiful little Audrey Sue (Bubba as I lovingly call her) grow up and develop, I've seen my beautiful wife grow and develop into the greatest mother in the entire world. I know it might sound biased but Stefani has done so much for our daughter already, I just can't wait to see how she improves her role as mother AND wife of the century!

My Beautiful Wife and Beautiful Daughter

Stefani and I had big plans for Audrey's party today. The weather did not cooperate with us so we had to wing it the best we could. There was a great turn out and we mostly had her party indoors. Thanks so much to Staci, Tami, David, JennyLind and everyone else who helped us either clean or get something ready for Audrey's party. The house looked spotless and the decorations looked even better!

The Cupcakes and Autograph Invitation Frame Table
Pink was everywhere, thanks to Staci for hanging these!

Thanks to everyone who came out to celebrate this family event with us. It has been a wonderful year of blessings and we look forward and cannot wait to see what next year brings.

Mommy getting me ready for everyone to adore me.

One of the many outfits I got.

One of the many cards I got.

Happy Birthday Sweet Audrey Sue!!

Our little Princess!

Today, we celebrated Audrey's 1st birthday. We had everyone that was present at the hospital on her day over for dinner and it was cramped, but wonderful!

Her guests:
Papa and Nana
PawPaw and Nanny
Great Papa Turkey and Great Grandma Sue
Maw-Maw
Aunt Staci and Little Madi
Uncle Chad and Aunt Maddie
Clint and Heather

Her guest list for the BIG party on Saturday is quite a bit longer. We're very excited to show her off to everyone!!!

Audrey was wonderful and enjoyed the company. Towards the end of dinner she was ready to go to bed but we kept her up for the best part... CAKE!

Daddy saying Grace and thanked God for Audrey!

Audrey is and always will be a dainty little lady - she kept it very clean and collected. I, on the other hand, was an emotional wreck. I've been on the verge of tears all day today and once we started singing Happy Birthday - they came rolling down my face.

She's Ready!

What is this?


Her first bite of cupcake!

And... she's done!

Daddy documenting everything.

Madi felt bad for the cupcakes that didn't make the good plate, so she was trying to pass them out to everyone...

This last year has been a rollercoaster, a whirlwind of emotions but it has also been perfect. I will always be grateful to God for having faith in me that I could do this job. And, I will always have faith in Him that I'm a mother because I was meant to be Audrey's mother. She is loved by more people than I could possibly imagine. She lights everyone's day with that sweet smile and her little squeal of delight. To be her parents was our purpose in life and although, everything else may distract us, we always make our way back to what was meant.

Audrey opening her present from Clint and Heather.

I had to have Shawn read the card because I started crying...

And, her expression was too cute not to put up :)

Audrey, we love you more than you could ever know. We are so proud of what you have accomplished in one year and remain hopeful that you will do great things with your life. We hope you teach people about compassion, true happiness and true love. You're our sweet little girl, the sweetest in the world and we love you so much.

*** the following are Raw images, no work has been done and if Shawn knew I was putting these up, he would plead that I let him work on them in photoshop... Sorry hon!***

One Year Ago Today

I was admitted into Labor and Delivery and anxiously awaiting for tomorrow to come. They gave me Cervadil around 8pm, to help thin out my cervix. I was 39 weeks and 1 day and I was HUGE! I had polyhydramnios and I was induced because my doctor said it would be best if my water broke in a "controlled" environment - it was going to be a gusher!

The parents-to-be anxiously waiting to go to the hospital.

The next morning my doctor took the cervadil ribbon out and said I was 1 cm dilated and my cervix was thinned out. She suggested I shower and then she'd be back in an hour to start the pitocin. I showered and as my sister was in the bathroom talking to me as I toweled off - the flood gates opened!!! I hopped on the toilet quickly, screamed for help, still releasing amniotic fluid. And, then decided to make a run for it to the bed... leaving a trail of amniotic fluid for the nurse to clean up. Hopped in bed and still it wouldn't stop!!! Now, this is where I think Audrey got in the position that she was in... The fluid came out of me so quickly that it pulled her down into my cervix face first.

Once I was in bed, the contractions hit me hard!! Now, I thought I was going to be prepared for that type of pain but I discovered something about myself that day... I'm a wimp!! I think I went through 3 contractions and then requested my pain-go-away medicine. During my pregnancy, I started to show at around 4 1/2 months and I started having braxton hicks contractions. At around 6 months they were pretty much every 30 minutes and I would call the doctor on a weekly basis (almost) asking her if this is normal. Audrey wasn't much of a mover or a shaker while she was in my tummy (she had a lot of fluid to wade in) but whenever I'd have a BH contraction she would thump me a little.

My pregnancy was very different than other women, I never got a kick to the rib, a jab to my bladder - she just floated peacefully. And, my feet would swell up so bad they'd be the size of thighs. I waddled more when my feet and cankles were the size of tree trunks because I lost the ability to move my ankles and knees.

I slept the entire day on May 12, 2008 to prepare for the big push. My doctor came in around 2:30 pm to check on me and discovered Audrey was face presentation. She worked on her a couple of times to try to get her to tuck her chin under - Thank God I decided on an epidural - this probably would have been a little more than uncomfortable for me... I was dilated to a 7 (and I dilated every hour prior to 7). At about 4:15, she came in again to check to see where I was, but I was stuck and Audrey was starting to become a littles stressed in her environment. That's when we discussed a Cesarean. It was the best decision for our situation, it wasn't my first choice, but it was the right choice. Entering the world face first isn't an easy task, this banged her up pretty badly and our doctor warned us she was going to swollen and bruised.

She came into this world at exactly 5:12pm on 5/12/2008 - her timing was impecable!! And, that's when she sent my world a whirling and completely swept me away.

Audrey sweeping Mommy away into motherhood.

Tomorrow, I will post her 1 year pics in her birthday outfit!! you're in for a treat!

Did Ya Miss Us?

Our dear friend Clint took our family photos and Audrey's 1 year pics... Grandparents do not print this out on your office/home printer, we will give you copies!!

Boy, have we been busy!!! This little princess has us so tightly wrapped around her little pinky!!

Or, should I say Daddy's pinky?
My most favorite thing about being a Mommy. Nothing feels better than to
have your baby rest their head in the "nook"
We should do this to her right before her first date... She would be so embarrassed!

Audrey had her first Easter and it was wonderful! We met her Nanny and PawPaw up at church for Easter Sunday and she was dressed so pretty!! Then, we ate lunch and came home to rest before heading over to Nana and Papa's for Easter Dinner. The day was wonderful and Audrey had the sweetest little dress on.

Audrey's 1st Easter!

Dress was chosen by Audrey's Papa!

We had our appointment with Scottish Rite and they said her feet look great and Dr. Morcuende in Iowa did a great job! Great news! They offered a different solution with her toes, though. We've heard the same thing from 3 different doctors and they've told us the second big toe is the one they would remove. Dr. Karl at Scottish Rite said she would remove the first big toe, which also happens to be the strongest of the two. She said that we have plenty of time to think about it and that's exactly what we're going to do. She also said that she would to an Anterior Tibula Tendon Transfer, which they will transfer the tendon in her big toe to the center of her foot. She said it will help with her dorsilflexion and she will be able to walk a lot easier. (Dorsilfexion is the movement pulling your toes upward - all you clubfoot Mommies know what I'm talking about) I'm very conflicted about these two procedures, although, I've had this strong feeling that she would need the ATTT anyway. But, I'm really leary about them removing the first big toe, the strongest toe. She didn't take any x-rays at our appointment, it was mainly a consultation and she said that if she does this surgery, we should also commit to Scottish Rite being the primary treatment center for her clubfeet as well. Financially it makes sense and I know they would put the best interest of Audrey in their treatment plan, but I'm very sad that Dr. Lund will not be treating her anymore. Dr. Karl gave us better news when she told us these two procedures would be an outpatient surgery and Audrey would be home same day!!! She would be in casts 6 weeks after the surgery so the tendon can heal properly. Shawn and I are leaning towards having the procedure done after Audrey starts walking. We feel that doing the procedure sooner rather than later would really slow down her development even more. Our goal is to have her up and walking by 20 months... so we shall see!

Audrey also had her hearing evaluation with a hearing specialist from Richardson Independent School District. She said Audrey's hearing at 2 month level with her receptive hearing and a 4 month level with her expressive hearing (and understanding). I half agree with this but I think her services would be really beneficial to Audrey. We set a goal that within the next 6 months, Audrey will be understanding baby signs and hopefully even communicate with them herself. She starts next week... if I can get the enrollment info in to her! I'm the world's worst procrastinator.

This photo was waiting for me in my inbox when I got to work one day!! (well, actually my birthday!!)
Shawn and I went to the Texas Rangers game on 04/19 with his family for Audrey's PawPaw's birthday. We did not bring Audrey because we weren't sure how she would do, but the weather was very touch and go so it's was best we didn't.

This past weekend, Audrey stayed with her Papa and Nana while we went camping for my sister and I's birthday. We had so much fun, relaxing by the fire and singing. Shawn brought out his guitar and I'm sure our wonderful singing kept our neighbors quite entertained!! We went with our friends Clint and Heather, who are always great company. My sister and I celebrated our 28th birthday... dundun dunnn... This weekend is the big celebration with friends at my house. Audrey's staying the night with her Nanny and PawPaw. I'm really starting to miss my little angel on Sunday mornings, but it's been nice to sleep in the last couple of weekends. Grandparents are the absolute best!!!

Also... If I might add, Audrey's therapists are very, very, very pleased with her progress physically and cognitively. She's reacting more to sounds and facial expressions, she's also communicating A LOT more!! She has become more and more vocal over the last month. It's wonderful to hear her start to babble.

She enjoyed Mommy's Birthday balloon!

I keep telling myself that she's moving at the pace she needs to be moving at. I love that she's doing it at her own speed (with some loving encouragement from all of us). Her Daddy works really hard with her leg strength every night during her free time. It's usually while I'm preparing dinner, but I can hear them work together from the living room. Audrey's wonderful Daddy will say "1, 2, 3, Up" and pull her up into a standing position. Every night, we see the improvement because she stands a little more each time. We're up to 5-7 seconds!!! GO AUDREY!

The house is coming along nicely. We've gotten all the painting almost 100% completed but need to go back and touch up the trim and ceilings. This weekend I'm hoping to do a little curb appeal but our weather forcast calls for rain, rain, rain and more rain.

I'm sorry for going almost an entire month without an update or photos for the grandparents... But, I promise I will not do this again to you. I get to see that little darling face every single day, I can't imagine going an entire month without even a photo to look at her... I fall to the mercy of the Mommy court, "Please, Please, Please forgive me for not showing off my beautiful baby... I vow to never, ever, ever, ever do this again to my family and friends."