Adventures of Rick and Kailey: Photo Bomb and Swallow Study

Hello Everyone! Kailey here.

We've had kind of a hectic last couple of weeks. January 3rd, Ellery had a swallow study done at Bingham Memorial Hospital. We were thinking it was possible she was aspirating, and that's why she is having such a hard time getting off of oxygen. What we found: There is a valve in the back of your throat that opens and closes to pass food down your esophagus. For some reason, Ellery's valve is malfunctioning. This is causing "residual" food to stick around, and get stuck in her throat. It causes her to get really raspy, especially after eating solid foods. (Like baby food purees, and baby "puffs".) The speech therapist told us when she sees this issue in adults, they are put on a liquid only diet. That is not a good solution for Ellery; right now is the most important time for her to learn how to chew foods. That helps development with speech, and oral motor skills. The speech therapist said our pediatrician will more than likely refer us to a Pediatric ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) and he will most likely perform an endoscopy to see what exactly is going on with that valve. The food that is getting "stuck" where the valve is not releasing it COULD be causing aspiration. Hopefully, if we get this issue taken care of, the oxygen issue will come next.

Other than that, she is doing very well with her helmet. It doesn't seem to bother her too much, and we are starting to see a small improvement on the front of her head, mainly her forehead. She is babbling away, and seems very close to saying "mama" or "dada". (At least I'm hoping!) We have started teaching her baby sign language, since we are assuming she will be delayed in speech, based on everything she has had to go through.

She's also got a birthday coming up in just about a month! I can't believe she will be one! It really seems like the second half has just flown by! We are having a very small birthday party for her, as we are still on pretty strict quarantine. We are not sure if she will be able to eat cake, with all of the food issues we are facing at the moment, but if not, we will find some sort of solution to give her something special.

I recently just made my March for Babies team! March for Babies is a walk through March of Dimes, where you are sponsored, and help fund raise money for March of Dimes. Our team name is "Ellery's Early Birdies", which my friend Kristin helped us think up. (Thank you Kristin!! She was also our first contributor!) So far, our team only consists of Rick and I, but I know a few more people that were interested, and I hope to have a good turnout. I will be posting more about March for Babies leading up to the walk, and what the money that goes to March of Dimes really does. Without March of Dimes, the research that was done for medical advancement to save preemies would not have been completed, and Ellery probably wouldn't be here today. So I am a BIG March of Dimes supporter!

That's about all that has been going on here for us. Still not a lot of snow on the ground here! We've actually had 40+ degree days, which is really unsual unusual for this part of the country in January. Hoping it keeps up! It's nice to have a milder winter! Last year, when Ellery came home in May, it was still only about 50 degrees. Brr!

And now, I leave you with a giant photo bomb, since I am very behind! :)