We're Back.

Not happy to be back...but, we are back.

It has been such a loooong time since I've posted because, quite honestly, Mia's joints have been perfect. We have been busy enjoying life for the first time since she was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis at 22 months old. And, oh man, how we enjoyed putting JRA up on the top shelf, hoping to never face it again.

Until today.... when Mia woke up with a swollen knee and we were forced to take JRA back off the shelf and assess what is going on with our little girl.

Mia's left knee and left ankle are starting to swell. It has been a year since she had the fluid drained off of her left knee and right elbow and then had the joints injected with steroids. The doctor told us the steroid injections would last about a year and if she was going to have a flare it would be around this time right now. Well, here we are...one year later.

Granted, the weather plays a huge factor when it comes to arthritic joints. And, it has been in the 90's the last several days and very humid. Also, Mia jumped on a moonbounce yesterday for the very first time at her school's end-of-the-year carnival. So, maybe it was that?

However...

Keeping in mind what the doctor told me a year ago, I have been watching for signs of a flare over the last several weeks. I did notice her swollen ankle about two weeks ago. And now her knee.

So, I did what I know to do. I called her physical therapist, who she hasn't seen since October 2009 because she told us Mia was "perfect" (and she was at the time) and did not need therapy, and I made an appointment to get a session in before seeing the rheumatologist in the hopes that she can help get some of that swelling down. Next, I called her rheumatologist and updated him on what is going on. He wants to see her immediately and start her back up on Motrin (2 tsp, 3x a day - THAT IS A LOT!!!). She has an appointment with him in two weeks.

So...here we go again. She is back on the gluten-free, dairy-free diet (we had been letting her have treats here and there for the last several months. It is kinda hard not to when you have a two-year-old who can eat whatever he wants) and she is back on the Carlson's Norwegian Cod Liver Oil.

Tonight she went to bed complaining of a severe headache. She NEVER gets headaches. We are praying the swelling goes down and she feels much better in the morning. For right now, we are taking things one day at a time. We know what to do (in the physical) and we know how to pray. Summer is right around the corner and Mia is going to have a GREAT summer!!