Merry Christmas

May your holidays be merry and bright!  Sending lots of love from our family to yours!

Ryan, Jodi, Olivia and Abigail

Spreading Christmas Cheer

I haven't updated in awhile.  I have a lot to talk about including Olivia's test results, Abigail's 4th birthday and the fact that I'm returning to work full time on Monday!  But, for now I will just leave you with a few Christmas pictures.  I hope you are having a wonderful holiday season and I will write more soon!!

Today is also Olivia's Homecoming Day.  We brought her home from the hospital nine years ago today.  She has not spent another night in the hospital since! 

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween from the Power Puff Girls and Professor Utonium

New Bikes

Abigail received her cousin's old bike this week and was ecstatic to learn to ride a bike.  This is something that Olivia has always struggled with learning.  She previously became so frustrated with learning to pedal, that she just gave up learning.  Well, little sisters are good motivators.  So, we went ahead and bought Olivia a new bike.  Now, I have two bike riders!  We've had a lot of fun riding bikes this week and I'm sure the training wheels will come off in no time!!  Who knows. . .I may need a bike before too long.  Pretty soon my legs won't be able to keep up!

Growing Up

As a mother, it's so rewarding (albeit a little sad) to watch your child grow. . .mentally, emotionally and physically.  As much as you want them to stay little. . .you want them to grow into the person they are to become.  It's tough when you don't see much physical growth.  Over the past 9 years, we have celebrated every ounce that Olivia has ever gained.  I even threw her a 32 lb party years ago because I didn't think we would ever get past 31 lbs.  But, I always knew there was a problem.  She has never been a good eater, but even when she eats well. . .she still doesn't gain.  She's always been below the growth chart or around the 1-3 percentile. Sometimes I would find myself strongly "willing" her to gain weight!!  Praying!  Please. . .just gain one more pound so that I don't worry when she gets sick and loses 2 lbs.  It's like trying to get to the top of a hill and no matter how hard we try. . .we cannot make it to the top. 

At her nine year check up, her doctor became concerned.  Olivia did a bone age study last week and the results weren't good.  It showed her final height to be 4 ft 10 inches tall at most.  Most likely she has a growth hormone deficiency.  She is being referred to a pediatric endocrinologist.  If it is a growth horomone deficiency, she would need daily growth hormone injections.  Olivia is someone with multiple sensory issues.  Cutting her nails and hair is still very difficult for her.  I can't imagine daily injections.  Growth hormone deficiencies don't just affect growth. . .they affect lipids (Olivia has high cholesterol) cardiac issues, blood sugar, etc. 

So, I ask you, as you have for the past 9 years, to hold Olivia close to your heart.  Please pray for her continued growth in all areas of her life. 

I'll leave you with my favorite Olivia-ism.  She wants to be a preschool teacher when she grows up.  She talks all of the time about the wonderful ideas that she has and she would be an AMAZING teacher!  I talked with her about having her growth tested and not gaining like she should.  She replied:

God must have known I wanted to be a preschool teacher.  You don't have to be very big to do that.

She may not be big in size, but she's big in wisdom!

Halloween Preview

Guess who loves the Powerpuff Girls?  Yep, Abigail is going as Blossom and she makes the cutest Blossom in the history of the world.  Not only that, but she has convinced the entire family to join in.  Olivia is Buttercup, I'm Bubbles and Ryan is the Professor.  LOL!  Oh, what a sight we will be. Look for more pics coming later this month. 

NIne Year Checkup

Today Olivia had her 9 year checkup. . .nine years!!  Sometimes I just can't believe it!  I always post her stats here so that I'll know where to look when I need them (and inevitably lose the piece of paper it's written on.)

Weight:  45.0 lbs  = less than 3%
Height:  48 inches = 2%
BMI: 13 = 5%

Her growth is not quite as good as they want it.  I don't think it matters how tall she ends up, but for her sake, I hope she's at least over 5 ft.  When reminded of her small size, Olivia smiles and says:

God must have known I wanted to be a preschool teacher.  You don't have to be very big to do that.

I love her outlook.  If only everyone could approach life the Olivia way.

Olivia is having a bone age study done, which is basically an x-ray of her hand.  That will determine whether we need to test her growth hormones or not.  Here is a bit more information about it.

http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/xray-bone-age.html

I haven't written on here about our struggles over the summer.  Sometime I will try to write a post about it.  I'll just say that Olivia now currently sees a pediatric nephrologist and urologist.  It was a stressful summer searching for answers.  It's an ongoing health issue that we've been dealing with since about May.  So, I ask for prayers in regards to that health issue, prayers for her growth, overall health and happiness.  I'm not sure anyone reads this blog anymore since I stopped blogging for quite awhile.  But, if you still read it (and have from the beginning or just started) I would love to hear from you.  Leave a comment or simply email me at jsail63@hotmail.com.  In the comment section write something about the blog as I'm known to just click through and delete messages.  Thanks!

Olivia Paige

I worry about my children just like any other parent. . .okay, probably a bit more knowing me.  My worries change as my children change and grow.  I've recently realized that Olivia has a lot of trouble knowing how to just hang out and socialize.  This worries me as a lot of what pre-teens and teenagers do is socialize instead of play together. It is extremely difficult for her to have the reciprocal communication needed on the telephone and any back and forth conversation between peers is tough.  She socializes with her family just fine as we know her and understand her.  She's such a kind, lovable, extremely funny girl with many talents that the world has yet to see.  But, as a mom I worry.  Olivia is so blessed with the friends that she has who understand her, help her and love her (how can you not?)  I pray that the world is kind to her and that she learns to open up to other people.

Our new family picture at the pumpkin patch

My sweet Olivia Paige

She was brave and tried and zip line for the first time and loved it.

Slingshot pumpkins

These are two of her very sweet friends.

This is my new favorite picture of the girls with their cousins/best friends.  Olivia is extremely close to her cousin, Izzy, who is just a week older than her. 

Updated Pics

It's been a long time since I updated the blog.  Yikes!  We are doing well.  Olivia is now in 3rd grade and just celebrated her 9th birthday.  Abigail started preschool last week and will be 4 years old in November.  Time flies!  I will try to update again before 6 months passes me by.

My Girls

I am so blessed with these two amazing girls.  They are so different from each other, yet both so wonderful and special.  And they are truly each other's best friend. 

Growing Up

I hope all of you are having a wonderful New Year. We have been doing well.


We got our hair cut recently and Abigail was adamant about getting green hair. Ha! What does this say about her teenage years? Yikes!



She is a born leader, however, at this age I cringe when I hear her say," Hey, I have an idea!" You never know what she has come up with. She is the first of my children to cut her hair, put a Lego up her nose, swallow a penny, etc. Her ideas aren't always the best. Ha!


Olivia really likes second grade and got all As and 1 B on her report card. She continues to take piano lessons and does really well with that.



Love my two girls. I am very blessed.


Jodi- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone