Breathing

Yesterday morning Leya and I watched the sunrise together. I failed to get any pictures. Know why? Because it was 5:30 in the morning and you know I'm barely functional before 7:30AM. So no pictures because I was focused on my daughter, but anyways it was beautiful, as is my Sweet Baby Love, Leya. The reason we were awake at such an early hour is not so beautiful.

My tiny little girl not only looks just like her big brother, Landen, but she also seems to be taking after him. Three days ago Leya started wheezing, was lethargic, and not her usual happy self. Two days ago we took her to the doctor thinking it might be bronchitis. But she didn't have bronchitis. She has Reactive Airway Disease, which is what doctors say babies, infants, and toddlers who wheeze have because asthma can not be officially diagnosed until the child is around 5 or 6. It is what Landen was diagnosed with as a toddler (he now has been diagnosed with exercise induced asthma and is treated with both a nebulizer and an inhaler). Just like with Landen I was told she may outgrow it as her lungs mature, but was also told to be aware that it has started much earlier for her (not a good sign), I already have one child with asthma (not a good sign), and hers is worse than I have ever seen Landen (not a good sign). But I will pray that she does outgrow it anyway. So for now, what does it mean?...First it means that Neil and I have barely slept the last few nights. Hearing your baby wheeze while asleep is an absolutely terrifying sound to hear as a parent. And so who could possibly sleep through that. And also the nebulizer treatments have a side affect of hyperactivity and sleeplessness (something that never happened with Landen) for Leya, hence the being awake at from 4:30AM to 6:00AM yesterday just in time for the sunrise. Good news is that now that we have cut her dose in half, the side effects have lessened and the treatments seem to be helping so long as we do them consistently every 4 hours. So, now we just have to be ready for what we know might happen: minor colds that most always turn into wheezy coughs, coughs that linger for weeks, and an occasional upset tummy from coughing fits. Please, Leya, outgrow this. So to everyone reading, if you could take a little moment to send a prayer up for Leya, we'd all appreciate it.

Pictures of our little trooper...



Sporting one of Landen's old sleepers...


And some other cute ones just because...

She looks so much like Lana in this one...



And hanging out with big sis. Notice the hand holding. ;)

"She can take the breath away from heaven." The Beatles' George Harrison