Water Cycle Science With A (healthy!) Snack!

As we were driving yesterday, Annabelle pointed out the clouds, and predicted that it was going to rain. I took advantage of this teachable moment, and asked her a series of questions:
Why do you think it's going to rain?
What do those clouds look like?
What's in those clouds?
What happens when it rains?
We talked about the different types of clouds, and how they formed.
Then I got to thinking. A few searches around the internet directed me to two fun science experiments to help better explain the water cycle.
The first experiment involved a jar, water, food coloring, medicine dropper, and some Barbasol shaving cream.
We filled the jar about 2/3 with water, and topped it with shaving cream.
It looked just like a puffy cumulus cloud!
Next, I filled a bowl with a little water and blue food coloring.
The girls had a great time squeezing and dripping the colored water onto the shaving cream cloud.

We did learn that I used too much shaving cream, as it took the colored water a long time to make its way down to the bottom of the cloud to "rain" into the jar.
Once I scraped a heap of shaving cream off the top of the jar, things started moving more quickly.
The girls were astonished when the shaving cream clouds filled with blue water, and began to "rain" down.

Next, we made a real cloud in a jar.
I explained that the sun warms the water on the ground, and it evaporates into the sky, where it's colder.
We filled this jar about 1/3 of the way with hot water. I also took advantage of this opportunity to make myself a cup of tea! Food coloring is optional here, but it makes it easier to see what's happening, and adds an element of fun for the kids.
A slightly larger bowl of ice was added to the top, and we waited and watched.

Talking about what we learned about the water cycle, I asked Annabelle what she thought would happen. What do you think will happen to the bottom of the bowl? She predicted that it would be wet, and she was right!
After some time, the water collected at the bottom of the bowl (condensation), and it rained down onto the table.
That moment. The moment when I could tell that Annabelle had truly learned something, about how clouds are formed. She made a cloud! And she made it rain!
After all that excitement, it was time for a snack.

Greek yogurt served as our cumulus clouds, and blueberries served as the rain drops.
We always love finding snacks that are fun AND healthy.
Both girls had a good time making (and eating) rain clouds.

Hazel's Eye Update

Over the winter months, Hazel came down with three consecutive eye infections caused by normal winter sickies and a blocked tear duct. After the third infection, we decided it was time to head to Delaware and have her eyes looked at by an ophthalmologist. Her tear duct just wasn't opening enough for her tears (as well as bacteria) to run out as they should. We noticed that her eye was a puffy after waking up, and crusty almost every morning.
Heading down to the hospital for her appointment on Friday was a little nerve-wracking. I was fully expecting to schedule surgery to open up the tear duct. But, as always, the friendly staff at the hospital calmed all my fears and anxieties. We are so blessed and lucky to have access to such a wonderful facility, less than 2 hours away.
Because Hazel's appointment was scheduled for 1pm (right after lunch), we arrived early so we could grab a bite to eat in the cafeteria before being seen by the doctor. It also gave us a chance to meet up with a Brave Little Warrior, Jude and his family. I always love meeting with other families in the LP community FAMILY.
After our delicious (yes, I referred to hospital food as delicious.) meal, we made our way up to ophthalmology. I admit, I was expecting the worst. You see, Hazel does not like doctor's offices. Even when she's not the patient, I have to reassure her that it's not her turn this time to prevent the waterworks. Also, she typically falls asleep for her nap by 1:30. However, she did surprisingly well. With the exception of the dye they used to check how well her tear duct was draining, and the drops used to dialate her pupils, she was very compliant.
Even though she almost got away with swiping a toy from the office. Oops!
While her tear duct is indeed blocked, Dr. Hendricks decided to take a wait-and-see approach, unless she requires anesthesia for anything else in the near future. As long as her tear duct stays healthy, she does not want to put under general anesthesia unless absolutely necessary.
We did find out something else, though. Hazel's vision is not what it should be at this point. Her left eye is far weaker than the right, and left untreated, could lead to lazy eye. She also has a slight astigmatism in her right eye that needs correction.
We are so thankful that Dr. Hendricks was so thorough with her eye exam, and was able to catch her vision problems before needing further intervention. Hazel will be getting her first pair of glasses very soon. I'm pretty excited to see what a difference it makes.
Oh, and not to mention how adorable she is going to look.

I'll just leave you with a few pictures I took while we were waiting to see the doctor...

Goodbye Winter

As Winter waves farewell with one last (hopefully) snow storm, we are stuck inside once again. Usually, we would do winter-themed crafts and embrace the falling snow. But not any more. We have had enough snow and Winter-y crafts this year. And it's March!
So we said our goodbyes to Winter by greeting Spring with some fun crafts.

First, we made some fun fork-printed tulip flowers. For Annabelle's tulip garden, I drew the flower stems, so she knew where to print the flowers. For Hazel's, I let her stamp freely, and added the stems later.

Annabelle had to take a quick break from doing her project to talk on the phone though. Grandmom called.

Our next project was popcorn cherry blossoms. I traced each of their hands onto a piece of brown paper and cut it out to use as the tree. Annabelle did a great job gluing the popcorn onto her tree. Hazel, on the other hand, was upset that I wouldn't let her eat the popcorn that had glue on it. I couldn't resist that little pout, so I just let her have a little snack.

And just like that, all was well in Hazel's world.

For our third project, Annabelle did a number matching activity, gluing leaves to carrots.  The carrots were numbered 1-5 and glued randomly to a piece of paper. Annabelle was then instructed to identify the numbers, and glue the correct number of leaves to each one.

While she did that, Hazel played with a container of magnetic  letters and a cookie sheet. I love using these Pamper's wipe containers, as they also allowed her to practice fine-motor skills, sliding each letter into the small hole at the top.

We hope you all enjoyed one last snow day this year. Spring will be here soon, and so will more fun activities. We cannot wait to get outside and enjoy the park, sidewalk chalk, bubbles, and more.

Bubbles, Bubbles

This never-ending Winter has trapped us inside for yet another long week. Cabin fever setting in, the girls becoming increasingly antsy, I had to come up with something new for them to do.
Bubbles!
We haven't broken out the bubbles in months! I don't usually like blowing them inside, since they leave soapy, sticky spots all over everything. But I didn't care anymore. We needed something fun to do.
And it was a blast.
Yes. Just a cheap little bottle of bubbles that Hazel got from her Sunday School class kept both girls entertained for a while.
Annabelle had a great time blowing the bubble for Hazel. And Hazel had a great time trying to catch them.
Squeals, giggles, and joy filled the living room.
All because of a tiny bottle of bubbles.
What's better is that Hazel was able to really work on her core strength. Reaching, leaning, and stretching to get the bubbles. It was beautiful.
I had a great time just watching the two of them interact and play so nicely together. These girls absolutely love each other, but it was especially nice to see Annabelle taking the time to patiently blow bubbles to make her baby sister happy.
And she even added a new word to her vocabulary, "buh." Okay. Not quite a word. But when I asked her today if she wanted to do bubbles, she responded with a very emphatic "buh."
Now we are working on encouraging Hazel to stand with her back to the couch, and blowing bubbles for her to reach from a supported standing position. She tolerated this for a little while this morning, but I ran out of bubble solution, and she ran out of patience as I desperately tried to catch the last bit of the bubbles from the container.

My New Normal

Before Hazel's diagnosis, my life was relatively normal. I am married to the love of my life, raising two young girls, just under 2.5 years apart. I stay at home with the girls in our town home in the middle of Suburbia, while he works a manual labor job for 50+ hours a week. We attend church on a weekly basis (sometimes more!), where we are active in ministry, both serving and being served.
Normal.
Then my world was rocked with the word "achondroplasia".
My youngest is now considered a special needs child.
Specialists, x-rays, adaptations, therapy, and her future were being discussed in a serious matter.
I reached out to other parents through social media. I never thought I'd be so thankful for Facebook and Instagram. The other moms I talked to seemed to be so casual about their children's diagnoses. It seemed so normal for them. I went through the "this is the stuff that happens to other people" feeling over and over again. It didn't feel real. It didn't feel normal.
It felt strange. I wondered if her x-rays got mixed up with another child's. Maybe she's just really short. Like, really, really short. I knew though, that those thoughts were untrue. Hazel has achondroplasia. Just like she has red hair. It's a part of her.
In the end, Hazel is still Hazel. Nothing has changed about her. We just got to know her a little better.
And she is little and loving it.

One

And just like that, she's one.
So here's a little bit about our joyful little girl.

And of course, Hazel is little & loving it!

Hazel Update

For those of you asking how Hazel's appointments went last week:
1. Thank you all for your prayers and words of encouragement. It is easy to feel alone as a "special needs" mom. It means so much to me to know that so many people care about and love my girls so much.
2. Annabelle's behavior and patience through the morning was amazing! After a long car ride, late dinner, early morning, unfamiliar meals, and being away from home, we were prepared for the worst. But she gave us her best. We were in appointments from 8:30-11:30. Not once did she whine or complain. In fact, she was very curious, and excited to see Hazel's x-rays. Maybe we have a future x-ray technician on our hands?
3. I cannot say enough about the Ronald McDonald House! There was a moment when we thought they wouldn't have a room available for us, but they offered a room voucher for a nearby hotel since we had booked our room ahead of time. (Because they never know for sure how long a family will need a room, they cannot guarantee room availability). However, they called us back a few hours later, and reconfirmed that we would indeed have a room in the House. While there, the girls were able to enjoy the play rooms, and we were able to enjoy having hot meals provided for us.
4. Hazel's doctors are very happy with what they saw. Hazel's spine looks wonderful, and she is showing no signs of hydrocephalus or other complications related to her Achondroplasia. Yay! They want to see her again in 6 months for another followup.
5. She slept enough during her sleep study to get sufficient data. After screaming, and pulling at the nasal cannula  (used for monitoring oxygen flow) for a full 2 hours, she finally exhausted herself, and slept until 5am, only waking 2 or 3 times when she lost her pacifier. This time around, I personally slept better than her last sleep study, as I knew more of what to expect.

All that being said, we had a very wonderful trip to Delaware. We even got to meet with another LP family for a playground play-date.

Used with permission from http://www.aisforadelaide.com

11 Months

10 months, 3 weeks, 2 days to be exact.
That's how long it took for strangers to notice Hazel's small stature.
When we first began sharing her diagnosis with loved ones, we were often asked, "When will it become noticeable?"
I never really knew how to handle the question. I noticed it. Specialists noticed it. Other people in the LP community noticed it.
But now strangers are noticing it. And commenting on it. And asking questions.
We were at our favorite place for lunch, Chick-fil-A as a special mid-week treat. After finishing our meal (rather, after Annabelle ate all her food, as well as half of my nuggets, and most of my fries!), it was time to run, climb, and slide. Annabelle took off ahead of me, ready to play.
I sat on a small bench next to a friend, and put Hazel down to crawl around the floor for a bit.
She scooted and commando-crawled all over the place, as fast as she could. She squealed and giggled the whole time, watching the bigger kids climb and slide. I flashed back to Annabelle at that age. By a year, she was climbing along with the bigger kids, cruising all over the place.
Some of the other Moms who were watching their kids play, commented on Hazel.
"Look at her go!"
"She's quick!"
"So strong!"
"Is she just a peanut? Or just really strong for her age?"
...
There it was.
The height of a 4-month-old, moving around like an 8-month-old.
But nearing her 1st birthday.
"Well, she's almost 11 months."
Suddenly the comments regarding her strength and speed seemed to fall from the air and shatter into a million little pieces. She isn't quick or strong for a typical 11-month-old.
While my eyes never left Hazel, careful that she didn't get stepped on or tripped over by the gaggle of preschoolers around her, I could feel the awkwardness in the air.
11 months old? She should be practically walking by now. She's so small.
"She has a form of dwarfism, so she's very short for her age."
I didn't go into detail about her low tone, or delayed physical development.
I just didn't know what to say.
Yes, she's  peanut. But there's so much more to it than just that.
There is so much to HER than just that.
Hazel is a little comedian. Hazel doesn't let anything stand in her way. Hazel is a very happy little girl.
Hazel is little and loving it!

On The Move

I haven't made time for writing these past few weeks, so I thought I would give a little Hazel update.
She's crawling!

Sort of. It's more like an Army crawl, bear crawl combo. I honestly didn't believe it when I first saw it. I thought it was a fluke. There's no way my baby is crawling already at 8 months!
Sure enough, as the days passed, it became more evident that my little Hazelnut is indeed mobile. I love watching her get up on hands and feet, rocking herself back and forth, finally pushing her little body forward for the toy that is just out of reach. She squirms the right side of her body forward, the the left, and right again. Nothing is safe anymore. Once she reaches her desired toy, she grabs hold of it, and effortlessly flips to her back, bringing the treasure in for a taste.

Just three months ago, she was barely holding her head up. She would only roll over when her neck became wearie, and her head flopped over to one side.
Just one month ago, she was laying on her tummy, bringing one arm out from under her (being supported only by her other arm) to reach for toys.
And now this.
Hazel is a very determined little girl, and I am so proud of her hard work.
Sunday night, she spied a standing toy that she wanted to play with at church. My heart broke a little as I thought she wouldn't be able to play with it.
But she didn't know that.
She wriggled her little self across the room to the toy. There was a spinning rattle piece with colorful beads that was so inviting to her.

She moved closer and closer, until she was almost under the toy.
She reached one arm up, then the switched to the other.
Stretching as much as her elbows would allow, she finally got it!
She laid there, spinning the rattle, watching the colorful beads dance around.
Never underestimate your children.
Never doubt what they are able to do.
Sometimes, it's best to sit back and watch. Let them figure it out.
Hazel is very determined to do whatever she wants.
And Hazel is little and loving it!
P.S. Be sure to check out the Facebook Page for more photos and videos!

Why I Write

When I was in first grade, I misspelled my first word on a spelling test. Dinosaur. I had never misspelled a word on a test before, and rarely have I misspelled a word on a test since that moment.
When I was in third grade, I was given a free-writing assignment. I chose to write about a recent dream I had. I remember becoming so engrossed in the assignment, that the time allotted was not sufficient for me to finish my story.
In tenth grade, I loved vocabulary assignments. I loved learning new words, and writing elaborate, poetic sentences on the white board.
Writing has always been a passion of mine.
But as I got older - and busier - I stopped making time to write. I also felt like I had nothing to write about. I read other blogs and thought, "I'm not an expert at anything. Nobody will want to read my blog."
Because, let's face it, I actually want people to read what I write.
Any other blog I've read is written by experts. Expert photographers. Expert designers. Expert chefs. Expert home organizers. I'm not an expert in any of those areas.
I was facing major writer's block.
Then we were blessed with Hazel.
I realized that my area of expertise is my own home. My own children.
Raising a child with a developmental difference can be stressful at times. Hazel came with her own bag of parental concerns. Is she holding her head up steadily enough? Should she be as physically active as she is? Is her back okay? When was the last time I checked her soft spot? When is her next checkup? Can this concern wait until we see the doctor next? Is that a concern for her pediatrician? Geneticist? Orthopedist? And the list goes on.
In this whirlwind of confusion, I have been blessed by other Mom bloggers who have been where I am now. I have become part of a wonderful community of parents who are going through the same struggles (and joys!).
Social media has been a helpful tool for myself and my family through these past months.
Writing has become an outlet for myself, as well as an educational tool for others (I hope!).
I don't have all the answers. I don't know everything there is to know about raising a child with achondroplasia. But I am learning.
God blessed me with a special little girl for a special purpose. And I'm not about to sit back, and let my gift go to waste.
Through this blog, I hope to educate, bless, and connect.
I am not an expert photographer, designer, chef, or home organizer. (That last one makes me laugh!)
But I am an expert at being Mommy to Annabelle and Hazel.
And that is a good enough reason to write.
Thank you all for joining my journey, and I hope you always leave blessed.

Here's just a fun little picture of me with my girls on Cow Appreciation Day.

Equal Restroom Access For Little People

At nearly 3 years old, Annabelle has become quite the independent little girl. When she needs to use a public restroom, she waves her hand, and tells me, "Just don't watch. I can do it." I stand off to the side, peeking at her so I can help if she falls, or starts taking too much toilet paper. She wriggles herself up onto the toilet, and I take a deep breath, ignoring all the germs she is touching.
That's what soap is for, right?
She steadies herself on the toilet, and does her business. Now for the hard part. One hand on the toilet seat, she leans over to reach the toilet paper, and pull it towards herself. She's almost there.
A wipe, hop, and flush later, and she's done. She did it all by herself!
I hoist her 27-pound frame to reach the sink. She squirms uncomfortably, as I need to do this with one arm around her waist, while I balance Hazel on my hip, mindful of her head, which could flop back at any moment.
Bubbles foam, water splashes, and we are done.
Whew!
I can't wait til she is tall enough to do this all independently.
For the LP community (people with dwarfism), this is an everyday struggle. It's not just preschoolers.

I spoke with one Mom, Chrissy Bernal about this.
Her daughter, Sienna, has a form of dwarfism, called primordial dwarfism. When Sienna was 13, they took a trip to the movies. When they needed to use the restroom, Chrissy was faced with a decision. Did she lift her teenager up to the sink, so she can wash her hands? Nope.
"Normally I would lift her up to help her wash her hands in the restroom, but I wanted to see how she would do on her own,"Chrissy recalls. "Without hesitation she climbed up on the counter and washed her hands."
Sounds legit, right?
Young teenage girl, hopping onto a counter to wash her hands.
Chrissy coninues, "Two ladies were near her and didn't see me. I saw them snicker about her ."
Not only can this be humiliating, it can also be dangerous.
Chrissy saw a need for change, and was not going to sit back.
She started asking local businesses to place stools, or lower sinks in their public restrooms.
What can you do to help?
First, I ask that you consider joining this movement. The next time you use a public restroom, take an extra minute to speak with the manager of the establishment, and ask about placing a step-stool at the sinks.
Second, please take a moment to sign and share this petition for change.

Third, follow the facebook page for updates on the changes that are occurring across the country, and hopefully around the world..
This change is not only for the LP community, but also for young children.

These images were provided to me by Chrissy Bernal, to illustrate a few of the many options available for equal access.

Sleep Study

Once Hazel was diagnosed, our first order of business was to schedule a sleep study. Sleep study? She's the better sleeper between her and Annabelle. She has slept through the night since birth. There's nothing wrong with her sleep. Or is there?
The questions and doubt flooded my heart. She sometimes snores, especially when she's in her car seat. And she does that funny thing with her head to open her airways. Maybe she's sleeping too soundly. Maybe I'm sleeping too soundly. Maybe, maybe, maybe....
Deep breaths.
Count back from ten...
Nine...
Eight....
I can do this.
Seven...
Six....
Five....
One day at a time.
Four....
Three...
One step at a time.
Two...
One...
Okay. I can do this. We can do this. We will do this.
I had no idea what to expect as the day approached. I Googled, Facebooked, and did my research. I read blogs about other experiences with sleep studies. I saw pictures of other babies hooked up to all the sensors and wires. In doing so, I mentally placed Hazel in those hospital cribs, with the scratchy sheets and gauze wrapped around her face, wires surrounding her tiny body My heart broke. I was still at a loss.
The weeks passed, and the day quickly arrived for us to load up, and travel back to Delaware. Annabelle was so excited, as her and Daddy were going to sleep in a "princess bed " at the Ronald McDonald House. I was to stay with Hazel through her sleep study.
We had an appointment with the pulmonologist in the afternoon, which set my heart and mind at ease. The team at Nemours was friendly and welcoming once again. I cannot say enough for the staff there. Every person in that building greeted us with smiles, answering any questions, and extinguishing any concerns we had.
After we finished up with the pulmonologist, we took advantage of the beautiful weather and the playground. Annabelle was getting antsy, after being stuck in the car all morning, then playing quietly through Hazel's appointment. She was excited to have a chance to run, climb, slide, and swing her energy out.
Before long, we had dinner, and headed back to the hospital. Hazel took a catnap as we navigated the halls towards the sleep center. I got myself turned around at one point, and was helped by a kind maintenance worker, who pointed me in the right direction.
The room was plain. Nothing special about it. A couch on one side, a bed on the other, and a crib in the middle. It was all set up, waiting for Hazel.
This is it.
She was rather tolerant of the wires as they were glued to her hair and face. The technician wrapped a roll of gauze around her head and face to hold all the sensors in place, and wrapped more sensors around her torso. She looked a little silly, with her face all scrunched, peeping out of the gauze wrap. She didn't seem to mind at all.
She nursed.
And fell asleep.
And just like that, the study began.
She only woke a few times, and was settled back down without needing to be held, or nursed again. She really was a champ through the whole procedure.
6:30am came around, and the study was over, just as quickly as it began.
She was cleaned up and sent on her way.
That's it? We're done?
"We will have your results in about two weeks," we were told.
Two weeks? I  have to wait another two weeks to find out if my baby is breathing in her sleep?
When we received the results of the study, we were told that she showed no signs of central sleep apnea. In other words, she's not holding her breath in her sleep. This can be common in achondroplastic children, and can signify bigger proplems. Whew! However, she did experience some obstructive sleep apnea. Snoring. Her airways are so tiny, that any slight inflammation, irritation, or even a little boogery nose, can affect her breathing more than an average child. It wasn't bad enough to cause a need for a CPAP machine, but she was prescribed a few medications to help clear up her airways. She will also have a follow-up study in November, to see she is doing.
Yup. We get to go through it again.
But this time, I know more of what to expect.
Yes, she will be older. Yes, she will probably put up a fight next time. No, it will not be fun.
But it's in November.
Today, I am dealing with today.
Today, she is learning to roll, and reach for toys.
Today, she is starting to babble, and blow raspberries.
Today, she is smiling all the time.
Today, I am choosing to live in the present.
One day at a time.

Though she be but little...

She is fierce!
When friends hear about Hazel's achondroplasia, I get a variety of reactions - from curiosity, to sorrow, and everything in between. I know it's only natural to  feel sorry. But you don't have to. In fact, I implore you not to feel sorry. To feel sorry for her, is to suggest that something is wrong with her. I want to tell you this: nothing is wrong with Hazel. Her bones just grow differently than yours or mine. She is not sick. She is not in pain. She will do wonderful things. And guess what? She will also fail in life. Because she is human.
When we got the official word of Hazel's diagnosis, we were not in shock. We were not in denial. We had already done our research, and come to the conclusion on our own, that she probably had a form of dwarfism, and it was most likely achondroplasia. But that's not to say that we never felt the emotions any parent goes through when hearing such news. We were lucky enough to go through the emotions in the weeks leading up to her diagnosis.
The most prominent stage I went through was denial. I had the "this kind of stuff only happens to other people" thoughts. I even felt crazy for thinking my child had achondroplasia. I tried convincing myself that she was just short, and would eventually even out. When I looked at pictures of her big sister, Annabelle as a newborn, I thought Annabelle looked different. Not Hazel. Annabelle was long and thin, with skinny little arms and legs, and long fingers. But Annabelle looked more like other babies. Hazel has always been more plump, with short limbs.
But I never felt soul-crushing sorrow, because I know these two truths: God made Hazel; and God doesn't make mistakes. Psalm 139:13-18 tells us this:

¹³ For You formed my inward parts;
You wove me in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;
¹⁶ Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in Your book were all written
The days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them.

¹⁷ How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
¹⁸ If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand.
When I awake, I am still with You.

Wow! That passage is filled with such beautiful truths. I pray that both of my girls cling to these truths, and hold onto the promises of God.
I know that when God created Hazel, and chose to make her different, he did so for a purpose. I am so excited to see what that purpose will be.
But for now, I just know that Hazel it little and loving it.

Achondroplasia

The most common question I am asked is this: "How did you find out about Hazel's condition?"
In retrospect, there were several occasions that pointed to achondroplasia. As mentioned in my first post, her large head size was noted at my 20-week ultrasound, and we noticed at birth that her arms and legs were short. But we thought it was "just Hazel". We figured she hadn't grown into her body yet; babies spend 9 months all scrunched up in the womb, so maybe her arms and legs hadn't fully stretched out yet.
As time went on, Hazel fell lower and lower on the growth charts. When Hazel was three months, we started doing some research. One of my image searches directed me to Chelly's blog: A Is For Adelaide. When I first scrolled by the image of little Adelaide, I had to do a double-take. I thought it was Hazel!
This was too weird. How could Hazel look more like this little girl, whom we have never met, than like her own big sister? The nose. The forehead. The arms and legs. And that belly! All of these characteristic of achondroplastic children.
I loved reading Chelly's blog.
I contacted her, and she immediately responded back. She was so reassuring and sweet.
Weeks went by, and it was finally time for Hazel's 4-month checkup. We entered the pediatrician's office armed with a manila folder, containing growth charts. The appointment was the most nerve-wracking appointment I had ever been to. I began to have second thoughts
What if I'm wrong?
What if I look like a crazy person, who thinks something is wrong with my child, when she's perfectly fine?
What if the doctor doesn't think anything is wrong, but there is something wrong, and...?
What if?
The nurse called us back, and took Hazel's vitals before weighing and measuring her. When she left the examining room, we whipped out the charts, and mentally plotted her growth on both the average height chart, and the achondroplasia chart.
When the doctor came in, she was cheery as usual. That's what I like about her. She has an "it's all good" vibe about her. A very good trait for a pediatrician, dealing with nervous parents all day.
Wait. I'm one of those nervous parents.
She sat at the computer, and pulled up Hazel's charts, along with her newest stats. She mentioned things like blood work and hormonal imbalances.
Blood work?! They want to take my baby's blood? They will have to get through me first.
When she paused to take a breath, Tad jumped right in.
"Will these tests include testing for achondroplasia?"
Yup.
By the end of the appointment, we were given a stack of papers. Blood work orders, and a list of both local blood-draw locations and orthopedists.
After a few weeks of going back and forth, we finally decided to take Hazel to AI DuPont Hospital. Her appointment felt like it was ages away. In the meantime, she got her blood drawn, and all blood work came back normal.
Sigh of relief.
Then we wait. Wait for the day to come when we would enter the doors of DuPont, and meet with the geneticist regarding our precious baby's condition.
The day finally came. Loading up the car, I felt like I was in a dream. Is this really my life? Is this really my kid? Achondroplasia? Really?
Then the what-ifs returned.
A quick stop for coffee, and we were on the road.
As I entered the building, my nerves eased up. The hospital was so open and bright. "Welcome" was sprawled across the wall in several languages. And there was even a coffee shop right in the entrance. The building was abuzz with parents pulling wagons full of happy children, and a joyful staff that was more than happy to help.
We were directed back to radiology, so Hazel could get x-rays taken. I sat with our oldest, Annabelle in the waiting room, while Tad took Hazel into the room. When they emerged, Hazel was happy and oblivious to what had just happened.
Another walk down a hallway to wait for our appointment with Dr. Boeber.
We were about to meet with a world-renowned geneticist.
Whoa!
He greeted us in the waiting room, and lead us to a meeting room. A long table, surrounded by four office chairs sat in the middle of the room. It wasn't the cold doctor's office I had envisioned. There was no examining table, with a roll of crinkly paper sprawled across it. Instead, just the meeting table and chairs. it was so much more welcoming than I expected.
Dr. Bober immediately gave us the news of Hazel's diagnosis. Achondroplasia.
We spent the next 90 minutes talking about the condition, and what to expect over the next few years. We discussed risks and complications, and how to care for her. We discussed what her future might look like.
In the midst of the whirlwind of information being thrown at us, Dr. Bober gave us a sense of normalcy. She, like any other person, will have her share of struggles. She will have her victories. She will get sick, and get better. She will have dreams and goals.
Hazel is just like any other person. She's just little.
Hazel is little and loving it.