Leah Grace

Leah Grace has been home about six weeks now and overall, is doing really well.  We have had a lot of doctor appointments and she is checking out great.  Here is a quick update:

HIV:  Leah has been on anti-retrovirals for over a year, supposedly.  Uganda had only pills for Leah, so the orphanage had to smash and hide them in food.  Yea.... Not so sure how often she got them or in what dosage.  But now, she gets them religiously.  Prior to starting the liquids here, we tested Leah Grace to see where she stood.  Her viral load was about 300.  A reading of less than 50 is considered "undetectable."  Now, 300 sounded high to me until I learned that some other HIV positive kids have a viral load of 160,000.  Yep, Leah is almost undetectable WITHOUT being on the right meds religiously.  Praise God.  Her CD4 level is also high (which is good) and we feel very encouraged about the status of her disease.  I'm praying that by the time we next test her viral load, she is under 50.  :)

HIPS/LEGS:  Leah didn't walk until 18 months old (or later) and still is not a great walker, although she is showing great improvement since she's home.  We had a hip x-ray to make sure that both hips are in socket.  And, yes, again.  Her hips look great.  We saw the orthopedic surgeon this week who said that one leg might be slightly longer than the other, throwing her off a bit, but it's not major.  Her muscles and legs look good.  No surgery.  No orthotics.  Amen.

PARASITES:  Leah tested positive for giardia.  She took meds for two weeks and should be all clear now.  She also has ring worm, which is not an urgent matter to be addressed.  We'll get to it.... We are testing her, ehm, "stool" for any other parasites that were hiding behind the giardia. 

TB:  Leah also tested positive for TB.  She had a chest x-ray last week, which was negative.  Phew!  So she has latent TB and will take meds for about 9 months to ensure no infection.  She sure is used to some medicine!!

HEART:  Leah's great docs suggested that we take a look at her heart to make sure that it is not enlarged either from HIV or from malnutrition.  Last week, we had an EKG and an Echo.  Heart?  Perfect.  Check.  Amen, again.

IMMUNIZATIONS:  We don't think Leah has had any shots in her life, based on the anti-bodies (or lack thereof) in her blood.  So last week we started those.  Five down, a zillion to go.  She's a trooper.  :)

DEVELOPMENT:  Leah had an Early Intervention (EI) evaluation a few weeks back.  She is going to receive speech and physical therapies in the new year.  Leah says more new words every day, so I'm wondering if she will even qualify until her third birthday, or will test out in the next few months.  But until then, she'll get a little extra help from one of Seth's therapy buddies!  And physical therapy should help her with the walking and stairs.  We are setting an appointment to go to the Erikson Institute for a medical diagnostic evaluation -- also development related but by doctors (MDs) as opposed to therapists.  I'm excited to hear what they think.

Physically, Leah has gained a couple of pounds in the last few months and grown a couple inches.  She's getting big.  :)  Next up?  Ears, Nose and Throat doc......

On a personal note, Seth and Leah are doing great and are genuinely fond of each other.  I take great pleasure in watching them play and tease each other.  It is soooo sweet.  Leah still hits quite a bit and I'm working more seriously on that issue right now.  She knows she is not supposed to and has started to control her urges in the last week.  But it's her way of controlling her environment, so we have a ways to go on that one.  Erikson should help us there.  Leah is quite attached to me and seems to realize more all of the time that I am "the" Mommy as opposed to "a" Mama.  Great progress.  And as for me, I love her more everyday.  I am still in awe that God took me on this journey to Leah Grace but oh, so thankful He did.  Thank you for your continued prayers.  We covet them.