"Off, off!"

Yesterday was the day Kayleigh was able to say, "Bye, bye, purple cast." Her arm was finally free to move around and feel the air. The doctor said everything is healing well, including the bone that was straightened. Shortly after the cast was taken off, Kayleigh was fitted with a new splint. The splint is much smaller and allows her to move her elbow and use her fingers and hand. She has to wear it 24 hours-a-day, though, for probably about a year. She's been saying, "No!" when Mom and Dad try to put it on, but she'll get used to it after awhile.

She'll see the doctor again in two months for a follow-up, and she'll have another minor surgery to remove the pin in her arm in August.

Kayleigh is already noticeably happier and, to Mom and Dad, it feels like they have their Kayleigh back now. On the ride home she talked on her Elmo cell phone and giggled a lot. She's been learning more and more words and speaking them more clearly -- none of them, it seems, more clearly than "No."

Kayleigh LOVES Momo

It has been nearly 3 weeks since Kayleigh's arm surgery, and she is feeling much better. She has adapted very well to her cast and is getting more and more brave using it. It was only a matter of days before she was resting her sippy cup against her arm and balancing it when she took a drink. She is now able to use it a lot more and even held a crayon with her little fingers.

Kayleigh had several doctor appointments last week, one of which was to see the orthopedic doctor in Cincinnati. The doctor removed her cast, took an x-ray, and put on a new and improved purple cast. Her current cast is not as bulky or heavy. The doctor was very pleased with the results of the surgery and even stated she may get her cast off at the next appointment in April. This is much sooner than Mom and Dad anticipated. Kayleigh's arm would then be protected with a splint, so Mom would be able to give her a regular bath again. Kayleigh is not too fond of sponge baths!

Aside from the doctor appointments, Kayleigh did get to enjoy some time outside during the beautiful weather this past week. Mom and Kayleigh spent time at the park and Kayleigh had a ball going down the slide. It was great to get outside and take in the warm weather.

Tomorrow, Kayleigh heads back to daycare to play with her friends. Mom and Dad are hopeful that the transition will be smooth. During her time away, Kayleigh was introduced to Sesame Street and Curious George. She LOVES Elmo (or Momo as she calls him) and will miss seeing him everyday. Mom will also miss the time she has spent with Kayleigh. She is already looking forward to the weekend.

I Have a Boo Boo

Kayleigh's arm surgery went very well. It took a little longer than anticipated just because it's a complicated surgery, but there weren't any problems. Kayleigh has been in a lot of pain since, but she's getting happier each day. Now, she just seems very unhappy at times, trying to get used to the cast on her arm. As you can see, though, she's starting to get back to the Kayleigh that we all know, smiling more often and being the happy little girl that she is.

She got her first sponge bath since the surgery tonight, and though she hated it at the time, she seemed to feel much better afterward. She's been keeping Mom and Dad (OK, Mom) up quite a bit the last couple nights while she tries to get back on her schedule. Her eating has slowly improved and she's talking more.

Overall, things could not have gone much better considering what she's been through. It's been quite difficult for Mom and Dad (and Kayleigh, of course) the last couple of days, but the worst seems to be over. Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers!

Snow Fort!

Kayleigh is having a good time near the fort the kids next door built.

It's been a while since the last update. Kayleigh is still doing well. Her EKG and echocardiograms have continued to be stable, which is good. She's learning lots of new things, like saying, "Choo, choo!" every time a train comes around. She can climb up and down the stairs, and pull all the pots and pans out of the cabinets. And, she loves to say, "Bye, bye" and "Night, night."

In less than two weeks, February 27, Kayleigh will have surgery on her right arm. The "centralization" will straighten her hand, so that it's in line with her arm. She'll be in a cast past her elbow for up to three months and will need to wear a splint for several hours a day after that. The end of the ulna bone is quite narrow, so positioning her wrist on the end of it is difficult. The splint will help to ensure that, as she grows, her wrist doesn't curl back.

Mom and Dad are feeling more and more nervous as the time nears, as they've grown so fond of her just the way she is. However, they know that this will be best for her in the long run. Kayleigh will again need your prayers to ensure that everything goes well during the surgery and during her recovery.

Kayleigh's One!

Kayleigh's 1st Birthday

Sep 24, 2006 - 34 Photos

Click on the picture above to see many more!

Mom and Dad have had a hard time updating the post lately due to all of the activity in the household. There are no soccer games or piano lessons to attend, just a very quick one year old to chase around the house. Kayleigh celebrated her 1st birthday a couple weeks ago and had a blast. Kayleigh had many loved ones come from as far away as Chicago, IL to help her celebrate her 1st year on Earth, and what a year it has been! Those of you who have been with Kayleigh since the very beginning know what a roller coaster ride it has been. From the first few days of not really knowing what was ahead to now watching this beautiful little girl laugh, play, walk and even say a few words has been an amazing adventure.

The past few months have been really exciting. Since the last update, Kayleigh has learned to walk and even has her first pair of shoes. She moved up to the next room at daycare and loves interacting with the other kids. She has stopped taking formula (YEA!!) and is drinking regular old milk out of sippy cups - yes, she was even weaned from her bottles. Dad put her to bed without her pacifier tonight, but Mom isn't ready to give that up yet. It seems that at the blink of an eye, she is no longer a little baby. She has her mother's ornery streak, so when the house gets quiet, you better go look for her. Most of the time, you will find her making her way up the stairs. One of Kayleigh's favorite evening activities is still going for walks. It is really the only time you can get her to sit in one spot for an extended period of time.

Mom and Dad have attached some pictures from Kayleigh's party. Thank you to all who could come and help us celebrate what a great year this has been.

Everything's just Ducky!

It's been a while since we've made a post and we know some of you are eagerly awaiting an update and some more pictures. We'll be putting several posts up in the next few days, so check back often to see what Kayleigh's been up to!

This picture was taken the night before Kayleigh's big Birthday bash. She was surrounded by her favorite animal and the theme of her party - Ducks!

"Duck!"

July started off with a bang as Kayleigh celebrated her first 4th of July. She slept through the fireworks, so she'll have to wait until next year to enjoy the sparkles in the sky. Kayleigh came down with a bad cold at the beginning of the month and has had ear infections on and off the rest of the month. Though feeling under the weather, she managed to not only muster up a smile, but also get into everything around the house. This month, Kayleigh improved on her crawling technique and increased her speed. She also started pulling herself up to a standing position. She loves to stand and can hardly wait to get moving on her feet.

She is becoming quite the communicator these days. She waves hi and bye, claps her hands, blows kisses, and loves to play patty cake and peek-a-boo. She also said her first word -- duck. She is becoming such a big girl!

Kayleigh had her 9-month check up and cardiology follow up this month as well. She weighs just under 18 pounds and is 28 inches tall. At the cardiology appointment, the doctor said that there hasn't been any significant change in the areas that were repaired during surgery, so he will continue to monitor her at 3-month intervals for now. After that appointment, Kayleigh stopped by to visit her very nice occupational therapist for new splints. Kayleigh showed off all her tricks and the therapist was impressed, especially by her ability to pick up veggie puffs with both hands. The therapist said Kayleigh's development is advanced at this stage compared to other children with radial club hand.

Mom and Dad received good news at all of these appointment, and continue to be thankful for having such a fun, playful and beautiful little girl.

Summer Time!

This has been a busy month for Kayleigh. On June 4, Kayleigh was baptized. The preacher told us in the early days of baptisms, it was believed that when the baby cried, it was because the devil was leaving the child's body. Kayleigh was a very good girl during the baptism and did not cry at all. Since then, however, let's just say that the devil has definitely left her.

Kayleigh had her nine month check-up this month. She weighs 17 lbs. 11 oz. and is 28 inches tall. She also has another tooth that is starting to come in. She is continuing to have problems with ear infections and has been on a number of antibiotics. For the most part, though, she is doing very well health-wise.

Kayleigh likes to play with everything that is not a toy. Her favorite thing is the spring-like door stop. She loves the sound it makes when she flips it. Doingggg! Kayleigh is doing very well at the daycare and has been crowned with the nickname "Tropical Storm." Apparently, that means she's moving around everywhere and is getting into everything. At least she hasn't developed into a hurricaine yet.

Mamma's Little Piggy

Kayleigh got pigtails today at daycare! It's almost time for her first haircut.

Pineapple Head

May has been another exciting month. Kayleigh has gone a little more than a month with no doctor visits. First time ever! She continues to do well taking her bottle and enjoying all of her solid foods. So far, she hasn't turned her nose up at any of the foods and gets very excited when seated in her highchair.

Kayleigh learned to sit on her own this month and in addition to rolling around the house, she is now doing the "army crawl." She is slowly transitioning into the "inchworm" crawl and is well on her way to crawling. It is becoming more and more apparent to Mom and Dad that she is going to be a very active little girl. She is also very talkative and mimics the noises around her, including "Mama, Dada, Baba, and Ha."

Kayleigh also spent some time with her little friend Miranda who came to visit all the way from Hawai'i. Kayleigh enjoyed the company of another little one to play with and hopes to visit Miranda back at her home soon!

Kayleigh's Mom wins MVM Award

In just her rookie year, Kayleigh's mom has been awarded World's Most Valuable Mom. By winning this award in just the first year of motherhood, Kayleigh's mom has accomplished an unheard-of achievement. Kayleigh's mom earned the award through lots of hard work and dedication rarely seen in a mother.

Staying by Kayleigh's side through many weeks at the hospital and through open-heart surgery was just the beginning. Once home, Kayleigh's mom worked through several months of difficult feedings, sleepless nights, appointments with many different doctors, multiple ear infections and a few viruses.

Through all the difficult times, she stayed strong and did a remarkable job of taking care of Kayleigh. Now that she has a great deal of experience, Kayleigh's mom makes everything look so easy and effortless, the sign of a true champion.

Watching the Cars Go By

Once again, another month seems to have passed us by in the blink of an eye. April was a very busy month, with lots of family events, doctor's appointments, and more and more milestones. It is so exciting watching Kayleigh grow and discover her surroundings.

Kayleigh enjoyed playing with her cousins, aunts, uncles, and of course, both sets of grandparents over the Easter holiday. Unfortunately, she had dual ear infections, so it was difficult eating and sleeping, but it didn't seem to affect her mood nevertheless. Kayleigh also went home this past weekend, and again, loved seeing her large family. She gets so much attention that it is hard for Mom and Dad to keep up with her demands during the week. She loves to be around people and is trying her hardest to communicate with everyone.

Kayleigh's doctor's appointments have all gone well. She had another visit to the cardiologist, and there has been no change to the areas that are narrowing. The goal is to postpone another surgery as long as possible, so mom and dad will continue to have routine apointments to monitor her heart.

At the last pediatric appointment, she weighed 15 pounds and measured 25 inches. The past few days, her eating has improved significantly, and she is finishing every bottle plus eating cereal and fruits or veggies. Mom and Dad can't explain the change in her appetite but are enjoying the ease of feedings as long as it lasts.

Kayleigh has been rolling all over the house these days. She isn't quite able to sit on her own, but she is giving it her best effort. She can stand with assistance and actually prefers standing to sitting. It seems she is going to be pretty active once she gets the strength and coordination to get moving. In the meantime, watch out because she will roll you over.

Ba Ba, Ba Ba

March is almost over and Mom and Dad didn't want it to slip away without providing an update. Kayleigh now weighs 14 pounds and is 25 inches long. She has been relatively healthy this month, but currently has ear infections in both ears. Feeding her formula continues to be a challenge, but she loves all the new foods that are being intoduced (rice, oatmeal, carrots, beans, bananas and sweet potatoes.) She is much better at taking food off the spoon than drinking from the bottle.

Kayleigh has been meeting all of her developmental milestones. Each morning, Mom and Dad find her in a different area of her crib, usually on her belly. A big difference in her appearance are the two bottom teeth that are visible when she gives you her famous smile. Kayleigh can also be heard saying "ba ba, ba ba" over and over. The most exciting development is that she attempts to wave at whomever is waving at her - with both hands! She also enjoys playing in her exersaucer which has a lot of things for her to grab, spin, and pound with her hands.

All of the doctors appointments have been going well. The ortho doctor in Cincinnati was worth the trip. He was much more optimistic with his outlook on Kayleigh's right arm, and suggested less invasive strategies to making the arm and hand more functional. Mom and Dad will continue to follow up with the doctor once her heart is healthy enough for the surgeries.

Cupid Has Pigtails

Kayleigh got all decked out in pink and hearts to celebrate Valentine's Day. The caretakers had fun playing with Kayleigh's hair and giving her pigtails for the first time. One of the boys at daycare got her a bowl with hearts on it to use when she eats cereal. Kayleigh had so much fun celebrating Valentine's Day that she fell asleep at 7:00pm and gave Mom and Dad time to spend together.

Not Quite Cap'n Crunch

So much has happened since the last update and Mom and Dad wanted to take time to share some of the experiences that occurred this past month. Kayleigh has been in daycare for a little over a month now. Although it was a rough start for all, the overall adjustment has been good. Kayleigh is finally eating better and getting used to her new friends.

She had her first cold and ear infection at the end of January, which led to her first antibiotic. Luckily, she liked the flavor of the medicine and didn’t give Mom and Dad any problems getting it down. She is feeling better now and getting more and more active. She is kicking her feet, squealing, and occasionally rolling over from her tummy to her back. At her last pediatrician appointment at the end of January, she weighed in at 12 pounds and measured 24 inches.

She also started taking cereal for the first time this past weekend and doesn’t seem to mind it too much. She is a little unsure of it, but even opens her mouth for more. Maybe this will be the feeding breakthrough Mom and Dad have been waiting for!

On a serious note, Kayleigh had a follow up with her cardiologist a few weeks ago. Based on the results of her echocardiogram, it appears the areas that were repaired during surgery are narrowing, and she may need another surgery. Nothing has been scheduled, and the doctor is going to monitor her heart every 2-3 months by repeating the echocardiogram. The news was disappointing, but Mom and Dad remain hopeful that Kayleigh will continue to thrive and get through yet another challenge.

In addition, Mom and Dad are taking Kayleigh to Cincinnati later this month to get a second opinion from an orthopedic doctor regarding her right arm. This too will entail several surgeries over the years, to give Kayleigh the optimal functioning of both arms. Again, Mom and Dad will keep everyone posted on the upcoming events.

Kayleigh Goes to Daycare

This past week, Mom started back to work fulltime, and Kayleigh went to daycare. So far, the adjustment has been rough for both. Mom and Dad are hopeful that Kayleigh will make lots of friends and get to experience unique interactions with the other babies that she wouldn’t get at home. However, she hasn’t been eating well, and the whole process has been somewhat frustrating. It has only been a few days, and Mom and Dad are confident that she will adjust to her new environment. She has adapted very well to all of the challenges presented to her and will no doubt do the same with the transition into the daycare center.

Since Mom and Dad are both back to work now, and evening time with Kayleigh is precious, the blog is not going to be updated as often. There will be periodic updates, but now that Kayleigh is doing better and her health is improving, Mom and Dad are going to spend most of the evening just hanging out as a family. Thanks again for all of your interest, comments and prayers over the past few months.

Kayleigh's New Puppy

Kayleigh had a nice first Christmas with all of her family members, and of course, Santa was very generous. Mom and Dad feel very fortunate, and know that the best gift of all was just spending time with family and their beautiful baby girl.

Kayleigh has had a lot of changes to her schedule since Mom started back to work a week ago. So far, she has been able to stay home through the holidays with the help of Grandma L. and Dad watching her a couple days during the week. With all the changes, Kayleigh hasn’t been eating as well, but Mom and Dad are hopeful that her feeding will increase again before she starts daycare next week. Sleeping through the night was also short-lived, and she is getting up once each night. Kayleigh went to the doctor yesterday, and she now weighs 10 pounds 4 ounces. The most impressive growth was in her height. She is 24 inches – up from 18.5 inches at birth!

Merry Christmas

Kayleigh wants to wish all of you a

Merry Christmas!

Fuzzy Head

Kayleigh is all ready for Christmas. She is keeping warm by cuddling next to her bears (and wearing their warm clothes). She is smiling almost as much as she cries now, eating very well, and overall doing great.

A couple of days ago, she slept through the night for the first time! That is very exciting for Mom and Dad (especially Mom). She also moved to larger bottles and is taking up to 5 ounces now. The best news is that she is down to only one medicine a day for her heart. She recently stopped taking two other medications for stomach problems and acid reflux.

Kayleigh's in Charge

Kayleigh had an appointment with the Pediatrician yesterday to get her first Synagis shot to help prevent RSV, a respiratory infection that is fairly common in children. She cried, but surprisingly, Mom didn’t. J She goes back to the Pediatrician next week to get her two-month immunizations – more shots. Kayleigh weighs just over 9 pounds now. She is still pretty small for her age, but she is gradually improving. She is now going through a phase where she cries after only drinking 2 ounces. She will only take more if Mom or Dad gets up and walks her. Mom and Dad are suckers and are completely aware that Kayleigh is now in control. Mom and Dad also know when Kayleigh flashes her smile, nothing else really matters.