Results Are In

I was hoping to upload a video of Zoe talking, but unfortunately I could not get this to work so instead you will have to make do with a picture.

However, we did receive the results of the biopsy and Zoe definitely does not have EE. This is wonderful news! We still don't know what is going on but we know for sure that isn't it. We will meet with the specialist next week and see what he recommends we do and we will most likely be going to get some more opinions from other doctors.

We hope you all have a phenomenal weekend.

The Casmers

11 Months Old

Today I turned 11 months old!

Despite my yucky Wednesday I was back to my normal self today. Still a little hoarse in my throat but I don't mind too much.

I also went to see my pediatrician today and he was happy with my weight, 13 lb and 9 oz. Not a lot, but he says I am holding my own which is great.

I continue to be active and I even figured out how to take a nap, but mommy shouldn't get too used to it, I still like to be up and play as much as I can.

I have therapy next week, so I can't wait to hear how I am doing and if I am staying on track with my milestones. Mommy also started me in Baby Yoga, it is a lot of fun. (Who knew there were such funny names for stretches we do?)

Well I should go to bed, mommy likes me to get a lot of sleep, I don't mind, it just means I get up really early to play with her.

Love, Zoe

What a Long Day

Family & Friends,

I write to you with droopy eyelids, but wanted to make sure I gave an update from today's events.

The endoscopy is considered surgery since the patient is sedated, so Zoe was cut off from foods and she didn't seem to mind, till the doctors were behind schedule. Despite the late start, Zoe was in and out. The GI specialist reported that visually everything seemed normal but we would have to wait for the pathology report from the biopsies to come back. Once we know more or not know more we can determine a plan of action. One possible outcome, a GI tube to be placed in her nose, down her throat and in her stomach. That's right just like when she was in the NICU. SIGH, well we will worry about that when we get to that point, right now let's get back to how the girl is doing.

Zoe was pretty upset once she woke up, which was immediately after the tests. I was able to get her settled down and she slept for a good forty five minutes. She has mechanical croup, an irritation of the throat due to the scope, so she sounds wheezy. Zoe is very gassy as well, they had to pump gas into her stomach to look around and though they pumped it out, some is working its own way out of the digestive system. The last effect Zoe has, she reeks of the gas they used to knock her out. Every time she breathes out you can get a whiff of what they used, needless to say this might be what is causing the recent headache and sleepiness for me. Once the sedation wore off, Zoe was her normal chatty self.

Thanks be to God for a safe and successful endoscopy. Thanks to you all for the thoughts and prayers for today. We are grateful for them and glad to now be home so we can get back to life.

God's blessings and Good night,

Casmer Family

I Learned to Scrunch my Face

Not Sure What to Title This One

Dear Family and Friends,

Before I get into the details of Zoe's life, I am requesting some prayers for another family who recently had 25 week old twins. I don't know the family personally, but I was emailed earlier this week regarding the family from a close friend because of our recent experiences. Please pray with us that the Lord guide the hands of the doctors and nurses and comfort the family as he so graciously did for us.

Life here in the Casmer household has been, well how could one put it, interesting. After our trip to Michigan and the struggle with Zoe's eating we returned home to find a girl that had an appetite. (Now when I say appetite I mean she is not fighting the bottle and eating more than an ounce at a time.) We were pretty ecstatic and surely thought the trip was overwhelming and being home back in her routine was what she wanted. We should have learned that Zoe lives to prove her parents wrong. Friday was a pretty icky day but with patience and prayers, the evening was better and apart from extra congestion and a cough, Zoe's appetite seems to be improving.

We did find out the GI doctor still wants to perform the endoscopy for the biopsy despite not having any allergies. EE is still a concern so we will be doing that towards the end of the month. We also had an eye check up for Zoe, you may remember one of our concerns with Zoe is the loss of peripheral vision due to the damage in her brain. The ophthalmologist currently sees no signs of this and was very happy with how alert Zoe was. We will still be going in for check ups because of Zoe's prematurity, preemies are at a higher risk for being cross eyed or having a lazy eye. Finally, we had our monthly visit with the physical therapist. She was very happy to see how well Zoe has come along in her sitting, 3 minutes unassisted, and the reduced tightness in her arms. There are some definite areas where we are lagging behind, falling reflex (using your hands to stop the fall) and some weak rolls on her left side. So we are armed with more exercises and we will continue to work on them.

On a side note for those who live near us, now that we are in the autumn/school season, we will be more cautious with Zoe with the increased sickness that tends to happen this time of year. We ask that you help us with that by avoiding her if you even feel an inkling of a cold, please resist the need to touch her, even on her foot (she loves chewing on it now) and for everyone's health wash your hands often. We were happy to not be home bound this fall and winter but Zoe's immune system is still not where it should be and would like to avoid her getting sick. Thank you for your understanding.

God's blessings to you all,

Casmers

We Can Keep the Cat

We pray that you all had a wonderful and safe Labor Day holiday. We ventured to Michigan to visit family. Though the trip was fun and always great to be around family, we learned that little ones (Zoe) do not like change and will inevitably make a lovely vacation hard. Regardless, we were so happy to see family especially the now great-grandparents who had not met Zoe yet.

We did get some great news while away, Zoe's allergy tests came back, both turned out to be negative. We (mom) will need to make some phone calls to the doctors now to see if a biopsy is even needed or if EE is a possible diagnosis and see what other possibilities could be causing this ongoing trouble. Though this has been a very frustrating roller coaster of theories, doctors' and therapy appointments, and medications we are doing our best to stay positive and hopeful for a quick remedy.

With prayer full hearts,

Phil, Kimberly & Zoe

Labor Day Fun

Have a Happy Labor Day