Catchin Up

Holly Cow, I'm way-hay behind. Let's see.....the last thing I posted about was potty training with Larkin. She's still not potty trained. I guess I'll start there. Larkin was diagnosed with IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) late last year. Although we knew she had IBS when we started potty training her, we wanted to try anyway. It didn't work and she's still in diapers to this day. But here is the miracle. In January, we had a little get together for my friend's birthday. One of our friends heard Larkin's raspy voice and asked if she was sick. I told her that she's always been hoarse....from day 1. She asked me if she had nodules on her vocal chords. Not knowing what the heck a nodule was, I googled it. The best way to describe it is that it's like a callus on her vocal chords from the way she speaks and thus the way her vocal chords rub together. This can cause hoarseness. BINGO!! I took Larkin to the ENT (ears, nose & throat DR). He put a scope up her nose and down her throat. She was so happy about it, NOT. Not only did the doctor see the nodule (which is treated though vocal exercises), but he saw that her voice box is very red, irritated, and swollen. He suspected acid reflux. Really, reflux? Jacob had reflux as a baby and so we know about reflux. Larkin never throws up. I was shocked. She needed an upper GI. This is a test where they give her a barium drink and take x-rays and watch it go down. They watch for the barium to come back up. Larkin's did. She actually has a significant amount of reflux. While she does not actually throw up, the acid comes up and burns everything, including her voice box. If left untreated, her voice could be damaged permanently. As a vocal major, this was hard to hear, especially when Larkin's name means 'song bird.' They wrote a Rx for Prevacid. Okay, here's the miracle. Larkin was on the Prevacid for not quite a week when it happened. She had a 'normal' bowel movement. She hasn't had one of those since July 2009. (I'll spare you the details). The Prevacid is for acid reflux, but for her it seems to help her IBS too. For the first time since July, she doesn't need Miralax every day. She's starting to eat more and being less irritated after she eats. It's all coming together! So, now maybe we can start potty training. Maybe she'll start growing some freakin hair!

Adventures in Potty Training: Book 3 Chapter 1

Larkin's turn. I've been waiting to find out what was going on with her bowel issues to potty train. Now that we know what's going on and it won't get in the way of potty training, I have no excuses. Larkin is 3 and will be a sunbeam in 2 months (crazy). She needs to be potty trained, in my opinion. She's doing normal for the first day...a few accidents. So here is the first funny story:

I put her on the potty. She didn't go (I don't think she had to). I took her off the potty and said, 'thank you for sitting on the potty.' She bowed and said in her little 3 year old raspy voice, 'My pleasure'. This girl makes me laugh everyday. She is hilarious!

Finally the Answer

I took Larkin to the pediatric gastro dude yesterday. The diagnosis is IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). All we can do is continue with the Miralax on an 'as needed' basis. The doctor said that this is a life long condition, but she will cycle through times when everything is working fine and times when she'll need the miralax. I asked the doctor if there are foods to avoid and foods to push. She said 'no'. Generally, dairy can cause problems, but Larkin still needs dairy so feed it to her and stay on top of the miralax. This is genetic (thanks Grandpa Smith). There are others in my family with this condition. It's no big deal, just something we have to deal with. We're happy to have a diagnosis and that it's a common condition and very treatable. All in all...good news. We'll take it!

Larkin's Birthday Cupcakes

She blew them out one by one.

They are supposed to be ghosts, or 'ghostes' as Larkin calls them.

Larkin's Birthday

Larkin loves baby dolls. She takes care of them very well. She feeds them, changes diapers, and puts them to bed. She has great maternal instincts and will be a very good mother one day.
Thanks Grandma & Grandpa Bales!

SHOES!!!!!

oh, and gloves too.

PRESENTS!!!

My Larky and me

Today our little baby turned 3. Unbelievable....maybe because she still doesn't have much hair. She was a very early talker and we are still surprised to hear real sentences coming out of her mouth. It's extremely hard to believe that in 2 1/2 short months she'll be a sunbeam. Larkin loves being around other kids and loves to dance & sing. I've taken her to primary with me a couple times (I teach the sunbeams) and she loves it.

I Love My Dog

See what I mean? She Loves her dog. And he's such a good dog! He puts up with all the hugs without a complaint. Larkin gets a little jealous and will pinch, kick or ever hit him and he's NEVER snapped at her. Such a good dog!

I Love Jewelry

Larkin is turning into such a girly girl. Her new favorite activity is getting into my jewelry box and putting on all my necklaces and bracelets. She likes to wear shoes and pretty dresses too.