Namine
Namine Olivia Eiche was born on July 15, 2008 with a double-inlet left ventricle heart defect; Pierre Robin sequence, a condition that resulted in a regressed jaw and a partial (U-shaped) cleft palate; caudal regression syndrome (also known as sacral agenesis), which damages the growth of the tailbone and legs, also giving her clubfoot; and scoliosis.
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Speaking with the prosthetic
We gave Namine a couple days off from the prosthetic, if only to give her a chance to recuperate from whatever infection she might have.
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School is in
Namine is feeling much, much better today. Heck, that much is evident by her appetite alone. She was feeling well enough for the first time in quite a while to do some schoolwork.
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An exciting night
Namine was feeling much better by the time we got home from the urgent care clinic. At that point, it was quarter of eleven, so we ate our Fazoli’s and put her to bed. She was happy to go.
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Eye appointment
Namine had an eye doctor appointment this morning. Going to the hospital is nothing outside of routine for us, and this was just your normal checkup.
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A fair and a surprise
After church this morning, we went to Peppermint Fair, a craft fair going on at the middle school near our apartment. We found someone doing face painting, and Namine asked for a kitty nose and whiskers.
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Cardiology appointment
Yesterday afternoon Namine had a follow-up appointment with her cardiologist. Despite the long road of recovery, her chest incision is finally healing.
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Getting used to the palatal prosthetic
They weren’t kidding when they said Namine would gag quite a bit from the palatal prosthetic. She threw up when Jessica put it in yesterday, although the jury is still out on whether she triggered her gag reflex or if she just worked herself up too much.
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Sharpteeth don’t wear pants
Namine has a tendency, when she’s wearing pants that aren’t denim, to scoot right out of them.
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The palatal lift prosthesis is a mouthful
Namine has finally gotten her new palatal prosthetic.
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Namine at the pet store
Today my mom, Jessica, and Namine visited my brother at his job at the pet store. Namine got to hold a myriad of animals, and my wife asked me for a cat. (The answer’s still no, babe.)
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Dentist appointment
Namine sees many different doctors, for many different things. A given week can easily be full of appointments – not a single day of staying home, for the most part. Today, though, was Namine’s most feared visit: the dentist. At least, that’s what we thought.
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Counting on good behavior
I am by no means an expert on anything, least of all how to be a parent. Everything I’ve done with Namine has been the first time, and as such, mostly trial and error.