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This morning we had our MOMS Club holiday party and SANTA was there!!! Woo hoo!!! This is the first time we have ever gotten to meet Santa or have our picture taken with him as last year we still weren't leaving the house with Gracie. We talked about Santa and watched Frosty the Snow Man this morning so she could see that he was a friendly guy and not too intimidating. She squealed with delight when he walked in the door, but St. Nick was quickly upstaged by her special new Magna Doodle ;)
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Note: she has a tight grip on her special gift and was so busy drawing that she didn't mind sitting on Santa's lap for a photo!
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Now the reason for not leaving the house for pretty much G's first 13 months of life was to protect her from RSV and other such illnesses that are very, very bad for kiddos with airway issues, let alone a trach. But this year she is bigger, stronger, and has now had all of her vaccinations. We are still careful about hand washing and hanging out with anyone who is feeling under the weather, but it feels great to be out in the world!!
But we still must be vigilant and take those extra precautions to keep germs away from Gracie's trach area. We had a little reminder last week when Gracie's stoma (the hole in her neck where the trach goes) got irritated and then a little infected. It could be from touching it and transferring germs, or it could be that she has FINALLY started sleeping in her Big Girl Bed instead of her swing (yes, a baby swing and yes it was getting ridiculous). In the swing Gracie was sleeping in one position so nothing was really rubbing or tugging on her trach. Now in her toddler bed, she can sleep any which way and I suspect it takes some getting used to when you have to contend with a tube sticking out of your neck. So that could have irritated it, but who knows? The bottom line is, we called our ENT straight away and got an oral antibiotic and extra cleaning instructions. Between that and some breathing treatments, it cleared up without turning into anything scary (ie respiratory infection). Phew!
But we still must be vigilant and take those extra precautions to keep germs away from Gracie's trach area. We had a little reminder last week when Gracie's stoma (the hole in her neck where the trach goes) got irritated and then a little infected. It could be from touching it and transferring germs, or it could be that she has FINALLY started sleeping in her Big Girl Bed instead of her swing (yes, a baby swing and yes it was getting ridiculous). In the swing Gracie was sleeping in one position so nothing was really rubbing or tugging on her trach. Now in her toddler bed, she can sleep any which way and I suspect it takes some getting used to when you have to contend with a tube sticking out of your neck. So that could have irritated it, but who knows? The bottom line is, we called our ENT straight away and got an oral antibiotic and extra cleaning instructions. Between that and some breathing treatments, it cleared up without turning into anything scary (ie respiratory infection). Phew!
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Now I am just posting gratuitous cuteness because, well, she's CUTE!!! ;) She loves to put her dolls to bed in her doll house, feed them, etc. She is practicing to be a great big sister!!
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Reading a story to her friend Belle :) Please note the kitty cat hair bows that she finally has enough hair to sustain!