Day 24: Analise goes to the pediatrician

Today, Analise had her first outpatient pediatric appointment.  The doctor she saw today did not know anything about Arthrogryposis or Amyoplasia, other than one mention of it during medical school!!  Erik and Dawn know far more about it than she does!  This pediatrician referred Analise to another doctor in Fontana.  Erik and Dawn have an appointment next Thursday with a high risk neonatologist.  Analise will also have another appointment with a geneticist.

Basically, the only things that were done today at the doctor's appointment were weighing and measuring Analise:  7 lbs 2 oz (just slightly less than when she was discharged from the hospital), and 20.25  inches.  The pediatrician told Erik and Dawn that  they may need to add formula to the breast milk feedings if Analise does not gain weight by next week.

Tomorrow is the appointment with the surgeon who did the first surgery, to assess Analise's progress and recovery after surgery.

On the family and friends front:

Erik's stepsisters, Amanda and Ashley, and Amanda's husband Chris, are planning a day (lunch and dinner) at BJ's in Corona, where a portion of the sales will given by BJ's to Erik and Dawn.  We are thinking it may be held on October 11, but we will let you guys know for sure when we have the exact date.

Thank you Amanda, Chris, and Ashley!!

Erik and Dawn's friend, Kim Tyler, is also organizing a night at Chick-fil-A in Corona, where a portion of the sales will be given by Chick-fil-A to Erik and Dawn.  Erik has had two of Kim's children as his students.  The date for this is also not set, but Kim is shooting for September 21st.  Again, we will let you know when we have a sure date.  For both these events you will need a flyer to present at the time you order, which we will make available to you all, so that Erik and Dawn will be given credit for your purchase.

Thank you Kim!!

Erik's cousin, Jessy, found a breathing/motion monitor for Analise through a friend, and now Erik and Dawn will be able to try it out and hopefully sleep a little better at night, and I think we will all also sleep better.
Thank you Jessy!!

Zoara, also Erik's cousin, after much searching, found a great website where they have clothes for preemies and larger babies that are in the hospital, that are really easy to put on and take off, AND they are made in the USA!!!  Not only are they functional, but they are also really cute.  I added the link on the side of the blog titled: "Links".  Zoara has also helped us tremendously with the blog, making the picture collages, including the new awesome picture on the top of our blog.
Thank you Zoara!!

Abuela Marta (Erik's 87 year old grandmother) got her Pertussis vaccine yesterday (something she was really afraid to do) after she obtained the ok from her doctor.  The first thing she asked when she told us she had the shot was "So, when do I get to see her??" ;-)  Abuela was able to visit with our Sweet Analise today.  She held her, sang to her, prayed over her, and just loved her up.
Thank you Abuela for getting the shot you feared so much!!

There are sooo many of you to thank that are not mentioned here, these are just the most recent examples!!!

Erik and Dawn are so blessed to have such a wonderful circle of family and friends that are being so supportive with their research, prayers, gifts, fund raising, getting their Pertussis shots, words of encouragement, anything they can do to take a little of the weight off Erik and Dawn during this challenging time.
THANK YOU GOD!!

PS: We know the videos from the previous post are long and there really isn't much to look at during the videos, so if you still want to learn from the videos and can't find the time to sit in front of the computer, you could just listen to them through your smart phone in your car on your way to work.  I did that today while I was in the car with Abuela, they really have great information.

Abuela and Analise

Dreamin'  I'm a ballerina...