Ella's Laughing Eyes

Well, I thought I would have a photo a day for my blog. For one thing, it's hard to catch Ella still to catch a good pose, or I'm not quick enough. Then by the time evening comes and I go upstairs, I'm not into posting. I've been enjoying everyone else's posts in the meantime. Last evening we were at the table and after Ella's daddy got up, she decided to climb up in his chair. I had my camera in hand, so David took it and snapped these photos.

Days are full with a toddler. One's work is never done. Of course, I don't have to tell any mothers that or anyone who is a caregiver. After my first day of taking care of Ella, I was ready for bed. She's such a good baby, but very busy, and one wouldn't want it any other way. She loves to go outside and see the birds, feel the breeze, and run her hands through the leaves, and pick up tiny sticks and whatever else she sees.

During the day we look at lots of books. Probably her favorite is "The Very Hungry Caterpillar." I know that many of you are familiar with that book. I picked up the DVD of it some months ago and gave it to Ella. Her daddy says that she likes it. Yesterday she brought me the DVD case. After I figured out how to play the DVD (I'm not really too technologically challenged, but there are lots of buttons to push on David's remote) we watched it, and watched it, and watched it. She seems mesmerized by it. I finally turned it off because her parents don't want her watching too much.

She has several CD's with kid's music on them that someone gave to Ella right after she was born. We listen to music a lot, and she loves to dance. Some of her moves are hilarious.

With CF, because of digestive issues and problems with failure to thrive, a high calorie diet is required. Ella has breakfast, then she has a snack, then lunch, another snack, and then dinner. The nutritionist encourages high calorie, high fat and salty snacks. Cheese is a great snack, peanut butter on graham crackers makes another great snack. A CF diet goes against everything that we're trying to incorporate into our diets today...low fat and low salt everything.

When I first began reading about CF, I read a post by a mom who said that she had to have a completely separate cabinet for her child's CF snacks because she (the mom) was gaining so much weight. David mentioned how hard it is not to pop anything into your mouth that she doesn't eat, and I understand completely. Every little mouthful adds up.

Ella went to the doctor on Monday for a throat culture to see if the Pseudomonas is still there. She has a few more days on the inhaled drug and then has a month off. Her doctor put her in a drug study, so her treatment is paid for.

This month is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I so fully support that. Dear friends have had breast cancer. One of my cousins died at 33 from breast cancer. I do wish that there was more Cystic Fibrosis Awareness. The number of people with CF is relatively small. There are approximately 30,000 in the United States with CF. A genetic disorder inherited from a recessive gene that both parents carry. When both parents have that gene, there is a 1 in 4 chance of having a baby with CF. Unless there is reason to suspect it,parents are not routinely tested.

Fortunately for Ella, Virgina had just begun newborn testing in March before she was born in August of 2006. Florida just began testing July 1 of this year. Only a little over half of the states do routine testing in newborns. Early detection is one of the keys to having a healthy baby and toddler.

Well, I could go on and on, but I won't, but I will write more at another time. Thanks for checking in and reading.