Developmental Clinic

Aaliyah and kissy above.

I went to get my hair done and Corey taught Ciara to hold her bottle while I was gone.

Some cute pictures of a happy baby

On all fours

Going through mommy's purse with a smirk on her face

Decorating the tree

Sister love

Aaliyah coloring her nails on the potty. Notice the crossed legs! Hilarious!

Putting the angel on

Building a "castle"

Aaliyah and her castle. We were potty training that day.

Ciara is doing well again weighing in at 13lb 6 oz. She has grown to 26 1/4 inches and is finally on the percentile chart for her head circumference and length. He length is the 7% and her head is in the 5%. She is still not on for her weight. So we are getting there!!! She had a check up on December 7 and everything looked good. She got her second round of synagis and her vaccinations updated. Aaliyah went to the appointment with us so I went ahead and got the girls there H1N1 shot while we were there. I was undecided on whether or not I wanted them to get one. After some talking with my doctor, who I have come to admire and trust because I worked for him, I decided to get it. Aaliyah was not too pleased and she cried and yelled "I don't want a pinchy!" She cried for a little bit and then was fine. Little does she know we have to go back in a month to get the second round. Shots are a part of life and although I feel horrible when she has to get them, I am saving her from some nasty diseases.

On Wednesday, December 9 we traveled to Dubois hospital to have our first Developmental Clinic appointment. The night before we got a nasty snow/ice storm, but the main roads were fine so we made the trip. At her evaluation they took her height, weight, head circumference, and details on her eating and sleeping habits. After the initial interview we went over to see the speech therapist to see how she was progressing. She did will with the speech evaluation but she is not quite on target for her gestational age. She scored at about 4 1/2 months. We want to see her around 5 1/2 months, because she would be that old if she came around her due date. Then we went over to see the physical therapist for her evaluation. Ciara did excellent in her motor skills and scored 6 1/2 months! She is about a month ahead. I was so pleased and excited. So their recommendations to improve her speech would be to talk to her more and read her more books. I have made an effort to do both of those things daily. We go back for another evaluation in June. We will go about ever 6 months until she is two. When she hits two years old they will expect her to be on track with her chronological age. I think we are on the right track and we will continue weekly therapy with Kathy as long as we need it.

Aaliyah's allergy medicine seems to be working. She would not take Claritin for the life of her so I spoke to the doctor and we tried Allegra on her. She says this medicine is much yummier and she gives me no problems taking it. She can breathe much better and I'm not constantly wiping snot from her nose!! We have continued to try to get her potty trained. Corey's Uncle Keith suggested that we let her run around naked. It worked when he was potty training his boys. So for 3 days she was naked from the waste down. And for those 3 days she did not have one accident. She went on the potty everytime. When we would have to go out of the house we put a pull up on her and she would not use the potty even though I hounded her. She was doing well then just this past week she regressed. She just got out of the tub and started yelling "I need a diaper." So I said well just go on the potty. She threw herself down and was having a major temper tantrum and refused to go on the potty. So I put a diaper on her and she peed. I have been trying since and she does not want to go on the potty at all. She just cries for a diaper. I will continue to try, but it is exhausting when she fights me.

Aaliyah is so excited about Christmas and she talks about Santa daily. There are a couple of presents under the tree and she has already asked me if they are for her. Her newest thing is spending the night with grammy. Usually once a week she spends the night with Grandma Benson and then on the weekend she spends the night with my mom. If we happen to be visiting on a night that she can't spend the night, we have a royal meltdown when we have to leave. She cries and sobs and pleads to stay. She is definitely a product of Corey and me. Corey and I used to cry to stay with our grammies and beg to be with them all the time. Corey actually used to get in the car to go home with his parents and then he would cry that he wanted to stay with grandma then once he got there he would cry to go home. There was no pleasing him even back then!!!

Ciara has started to get up on all fours and getting ready to crawl. She did get forward a little bit by moving her one hand and knee to get to the kitty but she hasn't figured it out since. She'll get up on all fours and rock back and forth and then she'll lift up her hand and fall. It is so awesome watching her grow.

My hysterectomy went very well. After I got out of surgery I was in a TON of pain and nothing seemed to work. I was pumped full of pain medicine and it wasn't touching the pain. I only had to stay the night because I was so uncomfortable I begged Dr. Cherian to send me home. The back pain continued and I never did have any belly pain. Dr. thinks it was gas pains and it might very well have been, but it was very painful. I did not go anywhere for Thanksgiving and Corey took the girls to Auntie Kay's house to celebrate with the Bensons. He brought me home a plate, but I did not feel like eating for days. I have been slowly recovering and I get better everyday. I still can't lift anything and whenever I have to take the girls somewhere I am really sore after lifting Ciara's seat in and out of the car. I had to lift Aaliyah into the car one time because she was really tired and I was in serious pain for a couple of days. I actually thought about going to the ER, but with rest I was fine. I have lost 14 pounds since the surgery and I am feeling good. I don't know if I was retaining fluid or what but the weight just fell off. It feels good to loose some weight.

We went to a benefit for Phalen Manners and had a great time. My mom came and got the girls after they were there for a bit to visit and then Corey and I had a date night. Corey made a beautiful shelf to be auctioned off and my grandpa Detwiler donated some spoons and spatulas and a cutting board. There were a lot of businesses that donated as well. Corey and I had a good time and it felt good to help raise some money for such a good cause. I have not talked to Sarah since the benefit, but the last update I got was promising. She was weighing in at 2lbs and was fighting an infection. Unfortunately somehow she got a lung infection and is on a 21 day stint of antibiotics. After talking to Luke's step mom I learned that they were contemplating giving her some more steroids to help the lungs. There is a possibility that the steroids could cause some brain damage so they had not decided what to do yet. Please continue to pray for Sarah, Luke, Phalen, and the rest of their family. I know that God can do wonderful things and he is with Phalen while she is fighting to breathe.

If I don't update before Christmas I would like to wish all of you a Merry Christmas. We are quite excited about it this year and it is going to be a ton of fun with Aaliyah. But also remember the real reason for this season. Remember that tiny baby that was born in a stable that changed the world. Everytime I hear the song "Do you hear what I hear" I get teary eyed thinking what Mary and Joseph were going through that starry night. "He will bring us goodness and light" and he certainly has done that for me and my family. May God continue to bless you and keep you safe.

Trying to get Ciara to crawl! and Aaliyah jumping off the couch

Relief for mommy

Aaliyah playing horsee with daddy

"Aaliyah go over and stand by your sister so I can take a picture of you" and that's what I got.

Wearing a Wendy's bag on her head

In her Cinderella costume. She LIVES in it.

Well hello

Silly mommy

Aaliyah sitting with her daddy watching TV

Jimmy Pierce got Ciara this shirt and she looks pretty happy to wear it.

We repainted the bathroom and Aaliyah got to help

Ciara is doing very well and I would guess probably weighing in around 13 pounds. She continues to do well in therapy and is progressing well. We did an updated assesment on her last week and she was only behind on one section. She does not turn her head to sound. She will turn her head to a voice if you call her name, but she won't turn for sound. I talked to the therapist about how she was constantly hearing beeping and buzzing in the NICU, so maybe she has learned to tune it out. Other than that she is functioning at a 5 month level! Praise the Lord!

Aaliyah is super excited about Christmas and she IS christmas spirit!! She loves the lights on the houses and the decorated trees. Today I had to take her to the pediatrician because she has been coughing for about a week and a half. I've done breathing treatments on her but they don't seem to be helping. The doctor feels she has allergies and maybe some asthma. But sometimes allergies will present asthma symptoms. So we are starting her on a daily dose of Claritin. If this clears her symptoms up we won't have to do anything else. If she continues to have symptoms she will have to go through allergy testing. I'm praying that this will work. I had to go through testing once and there are a lot of needles involved. After the pediatrician we stopped by Hometown pharmacy to pick up her prescription and there was a blow up snowman that spun around. She was so amazed by this and wanted to get one to put in our yard. Well, seeing as how the snow man was 50 bucks we didn't get one. I have a feeling that everytime we have to go there we will be standing and admiring that snowman. I think we stood there and watched it for about 10 minutes before I could convince her to leave. She loves Christmas! There was also a tree decorated with wrapped boxes underneath. She saw them and said "Look mommy presents!! Can I have one" I explained to her that they really weren't presents just wrapped boxes and she was fine.

I had an appointment with Dr. Cherian last Wednesday because I have been having some problems with bleeding and pain. Unfortunatley the ablation did not work. So I am scheduled to have a hysterectomy tomorrow at the Punxsy hospital. I am super excited and can not wait to have things removed. I do understand there is risk with everything, but after 13 years of pain I am ready!! My mom has the day off tomorrow and she will be going to the hospital with me. Corey is also taking the day off and staying home with the girls. He has been having a lot of promblems with his lower back and we felt it would be better for him to stay home and not have to sit waiting for me at the hospital. I am fine with it. As long as I have someone there with me I'll be great. I will have to stay overnight, but if there are no complications I can come home on Wednesday. I don't know how I will feel on Thanksgiving. If I am still in pain Corey will just take the girls to Auntie Kay's house and I'll stay home. We had planned on going to spend the day with the Detwiler's because last year we spent Christmas with them and we want to start Christmas at the Bensons. To be fair. But this has put a wrench in our plans!!! So if you don't get to see us, I'm sorry. We will get to see you eventually!

We are so grateful and thankful on this Thanksgiving. Last Thanksgiving I was a couple of months pregnant and raising a one and half year old. Just assuming that I would have a normal pregnancy and hoping I could keep this one in full term. Little did I know that this would be the most difficult year of my life!!! God has blessed our family so much and I sometimes find myself wondering what I did so well that he let me keep her and not have to burry her. I love her so very much and I praise Him and his glory for all that he has done for me. I wanted Ciara more than anything and I was willing to do anything to keep her. Even if that ment standing on my head. I ran into a nurse today who had heard of my story and said she couldn't believe what I had gone through. She said that is true mother's love to go through all of that. Honestly (up until the last couple of days where I cried all the time) I wanted to do everything I could to keep her. I didn't care that I was on my head. It did bother me that I couldn't be with Aaliyah, but I did whatever I had to do to keep my baby. True love is God loving me and blessing me with two beautiful daughters!!! God is good.

Baby Phalen is doing awesome!!! I have been keeping in touch with her parents Sarah and Luke. She was taken off of C-pap and put on nasal cannula, but then had a set back and was put on the vent. This is to be expected with a premie and I told Sarah not to get too upset. If you take two steps forward you will probably take one step back. Sarah's friend is holding a benefit for her and Luke on December 4th at the Walston Club. I have been donating and doing as much as I can to help her out. Corey is making a shelf to be auctioned off and I have been hounding businesses for money or products!!! If you are around the area on December 4th stop by and help this family and this gorgeous little girl out!!! The last time I checked she was weighing in at 1lb 6 3/4 oz.

I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving and please continue to pray for Ciara and Phalen.

A forgotten thank you

Ciara bounces herself to sleep daily in her jumparoo

look at all my candy

I'm concentrating
Cinderelly

Happy Pumpkin

Happy grammy

Hmmmm...whats this

asleep again

Aaliyah bathing Ciara

and again asleep

Ciara is doing wonderful again today weighing in at 12lbs 8 oz. She had her first RSV prevention shot today called Synagis. For those of you who don't know RSV is a respiratory virus that can attack Ciara's weak and vulnerable lungs. Because she was so premature our insurance company and her pediatrician are trying to do everything they can to keep her out of the hospital during these winter months. Ciara has a social worker from Highmark that calls us monthly to check on her and make sure we have everything we need for her. Now that it is officially cold/flu season Ciara won't be going out into public very often. I talked with the pediatrician today and she felt it would be ok to take her to church as long as I don't let anyone touch or be around her that is sick. Also I need to ask them to sanitize their hands before holding her. I am not a confrontational person, but I need to figure out a way to keep my angel safe. I won't be taking her to the grocery store or to the mall unless for some reason I absolutely have to get groceries and I can't find a baby sitter. I'm pretty sure between Corey, my parents, and Grandma Benson we'll be ok. The doctor also asked if Aaliyah was going to preschool or daycare. I told her that she does go to the daycare down the road occasionally to learn and be with other children. She advised me not to send Aaliyah unless I absolutely felt the need. When Aaliyah is around other children she brings home all the germs with her. So I decided that unless Aaliyah asks me to go to "school" I will just continue playing with her at home and working on our ABC's and so on. She honestly hasn't been there for a couple of weeks because she has had one cold after another.

After our visit to the pediatrician today we stopped by the Punxsy maternity unit to visit the nurses. These girls were an absolute life saver when I went into labor that snowy February morning. When we were told we would deliver our baby any minute and she would not survive, these girls were right there holding my hand, praying, and crying with me. There were a couple in particular that I really got close with and will have a special bond forever. Dawn Fulton was like my mom during my 2 week stay and I love her so much. She took care of me like I was one of her own and I really appreciate her compassion and love during that time. Candi Knox, who was my best friend in school, was also a nurse who I connected with. Unfortunately when I was on bed rest that meant complete bed rest and I had to go on a bed pan. At first it was REALLY embarrassing for me to have my friend wipe my butt!!!!! But as time went on it just became really funny. Who knew someday she would be doing such a thing for me. Ashley Parsons also has a special spot in my heart. That girl always made sure my hair was clean. She was so wonderful to wash my hair and my entire body!!!! I was not able to bathe myself either and those girls were my angels. There are many other nurses that I did not mention that did so much for me. Mrs. Lingenfelter ( I honestly can't remember her first name, sorry) on night shift had me laughing every night and Carol was so sweet to me always. These girls were sent from God to be there with me in my darkest hour and I thank him and praise him for such wonderful care takers that are now friends. Dr. Khan and her staff were also so so good to me. GeGe, Patty, and Lisa came down during their lunch breaks and after work to see how I was quite often. I had such love and support from everyone! I love you all!!! Even though I did mention during the interview with the Spirit how wonderful the maternity unit was to me and my family there was just not enough room for everything. So this is my personal ad thanking these girls. There are not enough words to thank you and show you how much I and my family appreciate you. God Bless all of you, and we love you dearly!!!

Ciara and Aaliyah dressed up for Halloween this year and we went trick or treating. Corey was on call that night, and my mom wanted to stay at my house and hand out candy, so my dad drove us from family to family so the girls could show off their costumes. Aaliyah had her costume picked out for months and new she wanted to be Cinderella, or Cinderelly and she calls her. I originally wanted to dress Ciara up as one of the mice from the movie, but I could not find a mouse costume that was brown. All I could find were gray or white. So I decided she would be the magic pumpkin. It was more than easy to find a pumpkin costume. On Halloween night we went over to Corey's cousin Tracie and Wayne's house for a Halloween party. Aaliyah got sooooo much candy that night and was in sugar heaven!! When we walked into the party there were several people with masks on. Aaliyah was quite frightened and I had to explain to her that they were actual people and that the masks were fake. Finally we just had to ask them to take off their masks for a minute so Aaliyah could understand. After that she was fine and told Corey and me "those aren't real monsters."

The day after the Spirit ran our story in the paper I received a message from Gwen Miller on facebook about her daughter in law Sarah. Unfortunately Sarah's water broke at 23 weeks gestation and was contracting every 5 minutes. I immediately called Sarah's cell phone and we talked for an hour. By then she had stopped contracting but was faced with a hospital stay until her baby girl arrived. She also has a two year old at home and was not sure how she was going to take care of her while being on hospital bed rest. After finding some further complications, Sarah was transferred to Magee Women's Hospital in Pittsburgh. When she hit 24 weeks and 3 days her daughter Phalan arrived. Weighing in at 1lb 6 oz and only 12 inches long she has a long and bumpy road ahead of her. So far she is doing great and the last time I talked to Sarah she was on the regular vent but had not needed to be on the oscillating vent at all yet!! Please put Sarah, Phalan, and her family in your prayers. I will continue to give you updates when I receive them. God is with them and they are praying everyday for a healthy baby. I know how good God is and I praise and thank him everyday for our beautiful girls. I know that he has a plan and with his love and will anything can happen. Keep up the good fight Phalan!!!

Please continue to pray for Ciara and also our new little friend. God is so awesome.