One Year Later...

Hello! 

I've taken a bit of a break because my parents have been in town with us and we have been quite busy over the last several weeks. Mia got moved up to the next class at school (she is now in the three-year-old's class with her new teacher, Miss Linda). And we've attended birthday parties, gone to the apple orchard and played outside as much as we can because the chilly winter air is right around the corner!

So, we are in our third month now since Mia's last visit with Dr. Lopez and it has been a NICE break...for all of us. We have reduced her PT & OT to once a month and she has been doing great. Mia is now in ballet classes every Saturday morning (which has been approved by both her doctor and her therapists). She is still taking naproxen twice a day (7.5 mls), but no flare ups or inflammation issues!!

We meet with Dr. Lopex next Thursday for a check-up. Three months from THAT appointment, if Mia continues to do as well as she has been doing, he said we can start to wean her off of the naproxen. Hooray!

We have added eggs back into her diet...so far, so good! However, we are waiting on the dairy and the gluten until after she is off of the naproxen completely because it would be hard to tell if either of those things are affecting her while she is on the medicine.

Also, Mia goes back next Friday for another appointment with the eye doctor. This time they will dilate her eyes to get a good look all the way into the back to check for inflammation, which we are believing there will be none of!

All-in-all, it has been a nice break..from everything. It was one year ago this month that she was diagnosed...and it has been a rough year for all of us, but especially for her. I pray we go into the new year a bit better than we did last year. We were completely blindsided by JRA and I am definitely ready to say goodbye to 2008 (for many reasons...more than just JRA). Mia endured a ton of appointments, many therapy sessions, blood work (again and again and again!), an MRI, ultrasounds and x-rays, a leg brace, medicines, iron supplements for anemia, bandage wraps for her elbow, many STIFF (and tearful) mornings, and one horrible flare-up last November. She is no longer dragging her leg or limping when she walks. And her elbow is almost there...bent just a few degrees. She has been running more, jumping more and enjoying life more. Looking back, I am SO GLAD we put her on the diet when we did because I don't think we'd be where we are right now if we didn't. Best decision we made for her!

It is so good to be on the other side of things now. :)