Adoption Day

News!!

We're home and Cataleya is feeling great since her run in with RSV.

Since being home, she has decided to start eating by mouth and is progressing really nicely with that. We've been slowly making the switch away from formula through her Gtube to pureed food through the Gtube and by mouth. She's getting too big!!

Cataleya was approved for adoption subsidy AND we got her adoption finalization date!!!!

So on March 15th, she will officially be Cataleya and stuck with us forever.

I don't want to ruin the happiness with complaining, but here it is anyway: I begged and pleaded and dealt with several levels of private and government agencies to get the agency of disappointment to apply for subsidy for her. I was told she didn't qualify. I was told there was no one in a position to help her. I was told no one wanted to help her. Finally on January 5th, Dear Sir sent the application and it was approved on January 17th without even a request for additional information. This approval will ensure Cataleya never has a lapse in medical coverage and can be given every medical and therapy opportunity needed to keep her well through childhood. Something that without this program and considering her medical needs- would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars out of pocket even with private insurance. So why did it take several threats and angry emails to get this done, when clearly New York State agreed she needed this and clearly it was possible? We could have all played nice and been friends, but they forced me to get all Italian Mama on them. Either way, it's over and I am content in knowing I did what was best for Cataleya.

I can't believe I get to keep her. I have the cutest Valentine now and forever.

Fw: Baby Girl Needs Forever Family

Exactly one year ago today, I received this email:

---- Forwarded Message -----
From:
To:
Sent: Friday, January 27, 2012 7:33 PM
Subject: Baby Girl Needs Forever Family

I am sending you this email hoping you may have contacts of families who may be interested in adopting a child with special needs.

We are seeking an immediate forever family for Baby Girl “D” born with significant special needs.

"D" is of Mexican heritage.  She was born in CA at 33 weeks on January 2, 2012.   Baby was diagnosed withDiGeorge Syndrome, which involves a multitude of medical issues and may involve future mental health issues.  She has a severe heart defect that will require several surgeries.  First surgery will be occurring soon and then two shortly afterward.  Her right side of her heart is very small.  There is banding of the right ventricle and too much blood is flowing from the heart to the lungs.  She is described as beautiful and appears healthy but many current and long-term health issues are and will be involved. “D” has lots of hair, big brown eyes, and her ears appear to be set evenly.  She has two very slightly webbed toes on both feet (the second and third toes.)  Birth mom is 13 years old.  Birth mom will sign upon family identification.  Birth father already signed.

Baby will be in hospital in CA for at least three more weeks.

After a few text messages with the amazing friend who thought of us when she got this email, and a lot of reigning in my own excitement, I showed it to my husband who I believe said, "That'd be cool". And it certainly has been cool. 5 weeks to the day after this email, I held my daughter for the first time.

RSV

There is a long version of this story that no one would ever want to read, so here are our past 2 weeks in a nutshell:

Cataleya is high risk, so she receives the Synagis vaccine every month to prevent RSV. The shots are $4,000 each and they are needed every moth from November -April. She got her November and December dose, and was scheduled to get the January dose on the 21st.

On the 16th, she started with a runny nose and fever, so we brought her to the pediatrician and they did a flu swab. The next day they called to say she did not have the flu, she had RSV. She was really sleepy that day, but nothing terrible. At 3am on Friday the 18th, Cataleya's overnight nurse woke us up because Cataleya was having a difficult time keeping her oxygen up. We tried to help her at home until 8am when we brought her into the hospital.

Friday 1/18 at admission

 At home, Cataleya takes about 70% of her breaths on her own and the vent gives her 10 breaths per minute. Because she was struggling so hard to take her breaths, The doctors had to increase the vent settings so the vent was taking all of Cat's breaths for her. Cataleya didn't like that and needed to be sedated and paralyzed in order to stop fighting the vent.

There were some bumps in the road like high blood pressure that turned into low blood pressure and a secondary bacterial infection. I hate not being able to hold her and I'm concerned about what 2 weeks flat in a bed is going to do to her amazing recent physical progress.

But today they went down a little on her vent and lifted some of her sedation. She blew a kiss and is opening her eyes a little here and there. She alternately cries and smiles. I think she's confused about what's going on.

I think we're in the upswing right now. It's scary how quickly she can get so sick, but it could have been worse.

Cataleya's Candy Shoppe

When we were in California last March meeting Cataleya, I came up with the idea of a candy themed party for her. Maybe it would be her welcome home party or adoption day party, but either way I needed to do some pinterest-ing. Over the year, this party took shape into the sweetest 1st birthday party ever.

The striped candy bags say: "Grab a bag. Take a treat. Cat is 1 and life is sweet"

"Gumdrops, Lollipops, and so much fun!
Sweet Cataleya just turned 1 !"

Cataleya did not try any cake, but she tasted every single gift. She is one loved little girl.

At the end of the night, we were left with some extra coloring sheets and some sleepy Mama/toddler snuggling.

Happy Birthday Miracle Baby!!

Cataleya had a great 1st birthday. It was in the middle of the week, so she still had to work during the day, with the physical and speech therapists coming to the house to work with her for an hour each. 

I don't know that I've mentioned Cat's therapy before, but she has a great team around her to help her continue meeting her milestones and progress to her fullest potential. Right now she receives physical therapy twice/week, speech therapy (they also do feeding therapy) twice/week, and special education twice/month through our county's early intervention program. 

In the evening we partied!! We had cake and home made chicken soup (not Cat's favorite, but contains all ingredients she could eat, should the mood strike). She was so cute the whole day and I felt overwhelming awe at the gift we've been given. Cataleya is amazing and I'm so happy to get to be her Mom.

There was a sadness too around the whole day. I was sad her biological family missed it. Thinking about how perfect she is makes me think of what they've lost. I prayed hard that day for her Mom. We both love Cat and I can't living without her. I sent birthday pictures to the agency for her hoping that seeing how happy her baby is would comfort her. I don't know that any pictures we've sent have been picked up, but they are there when she comes for them. I can only anticipate what Cataleya might want me to do to connect to her family of origin and what kind of information she will want as she grows older. As with most parenting decisions, I do my best and pray God uses that to meet Cat's needs.

Cat went right for her cake

Apparently she didn't anticipate the cake not being solid 

She wasn't happy about the frosting on her hand.
 It certainly wasn't going in her mouth.

She tried to kick the cake away, but it backfired and got her even dirtier.

She had no other option but to wipe the frosting on the walls

Cat was much happier in her post-cake smash bath

After she was clean and cozy, she opened her Princess DVD player from Papa

She's trying to blog like Mommy

Happy Birthday Princess!

12 months

It's the holiday season

I haven't been posting lately because we've been really enjoying just experiencing life with Cataleya. She's doing GREAT!! We survived out first post trach/vent virus without any hospital visits. 

Thanksgiving went well. Cataleya looks like she's enjoying her food in the picture, but really she was just laughing at us trying to get her to open her mouth. She is drinking water from a sippy cup, though! Progress...

Cataleya got her first two teeth in November. She's got the top two now as well and thinks she's hot stuff.

She kind of is hot stuff. she sits by herself now!!

Cataleya was not impressed with Santa at all, which made for some fun pictures. She was all smiles while waiting in line for him though.

In adoption news, we had our court investigation. I was worried because my husband lost his job at the beginning of this month. While our savings and unemployment benefits will keep us afloat financially, the idea of a social worker coming in when no one is working made me sweat. Our attorney told us not to be concerned and the social worker asked some questions about our financial plans, but did not indicate there was reason for worry. The investigation was basically what we did for our homestudy and, like many aspects  of this process, I found it redundant and unreasonably costly.

We are still waiting for subsidy to be applied for. Dear Sir from the agency of disappointment sent me an email complaining about how hard it is to apply for it. So we can't finalize until all that gets done. March maybe?

I tried to get the Pulmonary Dr to allow Cat to start taking some time off her vent everyday. He said no, but we go to vent clinic at the end of the month to adjust her settings and hopefully work toward less breath support from the machine and more independent breaths from Cat.

Surgery is still planned for April. It's getting too close for comfort and I'm getting antsy. She's so much stronger now than just a few months ago. I really think she'll do great.

This was Cataleya's first ever gift on Christmas Eve. Her brother painted a sun-catcher for her. I love her reaction!

We had the whole family over for Christmas Day and Cataleya was totally spoiled. It was awesome. I can't believe that last Christmas I existed without her. It's seems impossible to me now. We've been so blessed this year.

Next week Cat turns one. We have a big celebration planned. There is much to celebrate. We have a beautiful daughter who is strong and happy. There is not a day where I forget she's a miracle.

11 months