Cutie's first camping trip

Last weekend we went to Austin to squeeze in a fall camping trip with Uncle David and Aunt Rachel before it got any colder. Steve and I really needed a temporary escape from our overwhelming, ever-growing to-do lists, and this was a quick fix. Rebecca had a blast at McKinney Falls State Park, where she was in stick and rock heaven. She was also excited to see some dogs and some deer (which she thought were dogs, since she had never seen any deer before). Aunt Rachel fixed some yummy pizza for us on Friday night, and Cutie ate some bell pepper strips for the first time (though not the first time they have ever been offered to her). She also enjoyed hanging out with Uncle Davy during the food prep. I was a little worried about how well she would sleep, but she was so tired from all the running around that she slept soundly for as long as she normally does, in the Pack'N'Play in our tent. The next morning we enjoyed exploring the falls and surrounding grounds with Aunt Rachel Louise while David had to go report for marching band. We found a caterpillar...here is Cutie pointing it out on Aunt Rachel's shoe.

We had lots of fun, and we hope to do it again in the spring, when Uncle Stephen and Aunt Rachel Kay can join us.

One and a half!

Cutie is 18 months old today, and is still as cute and sweet as ever! We probably won't get around to posting any pictures for at least a few days. Steve has been very busy at work, and of course I am as exhausted, and we are behind on lots of things, and have some social activities planned for this weekend. She doesn't look too different from the last picture I posted; she still gets many comments from friends and strangers on her pretty hair and blue eyes.

At her check-up, she was still following the growth curves that she has been for the past several months: she weighs 24 lbs, 7 oz (50%); she's 33 1/2 inches tall (95%); and her head circumference is 18 1/4 inches (50%). Her clothing size is 24 mos or 2T, depending on brand and style, and her shoe size is 6.5 XW.

She is still only saying one word ("Daddy"), but she has learned to sign the following in the last month: "more" (which usually applies to food, but occasionally is used to request another book, or the same book again); as well as "milk," "cheese," "apple," and "dog" (this last one gets used multiple times a day, whenever she hears a dog bark, which is often, since we can hear several neighbors' dogs bark from inside our house). She has an appointment next week to be evaluated by a speech therapist, to see if she needs speech therapy. I know it's a little early to be concerned, but if she does need help, I'd rather get it sooner than later.

She still loves being outside more than anything else, and loves animals, and reading books. Her new favorite book is a Bible storybook we found at the library sale a few weeks ago. It's written just for toddlers, and is pretty simple and lacking in scope and depth (doesn't even have Adam and Eve sinning); but the whole thing is rhyming, and she can listen to 200 pages in one sitting (with four lines on a page). Hopefully she'll enjoy more of the real thing when she's a little older. :)

Glutathione: the missing ingredient?

I finally saw my new doctor yesterday, after having had to wait a couple of months just for the first appointment. Dr. Salvato was recommended by the sister of a friend at church (who is also Type 1 diabetic and has chronic fatigue), and amazingly is a preferred provider for our insurance. She is board-certified in internal medicine, and specializes in autoimmune diseases and chronic fatigue syndrome, which is perfect for me since I already have three autoimmune diseases plus CFS. I was very hopeful that she would be able to help me, and I was very impressed after I saw her. She is the first doctor I have ever had (with the exception of my perinatologist who delivered Rebecca, although she didn't know much about thyroid issues) who seemed to know more about my body than I did! She stays very current with medical research and had loads of professional journal articles available in the exam rooms for patients to read (the kind of articles that usually I have to show the doctor myself, since whoever I have seen in the past is not familiar with whatever test I think I need or problem I think I have).

So, after taking my history and giving me a physical exam, Dr. Salvato suspects that I have a low amount of glutathione (GTH), which is a tripeptide that serves various important functions in the body, especially in the immune system, and is depleted by excess stress, among other things. She tested my blood level GTH, and assuming the lab results confirm her hypothesis, will prescribe GTH/ATP injections until my GTH levels are normal. (ATP is the form the body stores energy in, but also acts as a transport mechanism for GTH.) This would potentially eliminate the need to take steroids for my adrenal fatigue, and it should also reduce the severe headaches I've had, and the pain I've been experiencing in my neck, shoulders, and back (my chiropractor has helped some, but not as much as I'd hoped); I didn't realize before how connected my headaches and muscle pain were to the adrenal fatigue. This doctor definitely seems to have a far better grasp of how symptoms are related to each other than any other doctor I've seen.

I asked Dr. Salvato if she would also test me for vitamin and mineral deficiencies, and she said that usually she tests first for everything insurance will cover, and does what she can with those results; and then if I still want her to test for the ones that are not covered, she will. I told her that at this point, I am willing to pay for just about anything that has the potential to help me feel better. She also ordered a Reverse T3 thyroid test for me (I've never had another doctor willing to use this test, even though I've read in several places that it is by far more accurate and helpful than your regular TSH, T4, and T3). And the doctor actually suggested it this time, instead of me!

Thanks for all of you who have been praying for my health and specifically for this new appointment. Please continue to pray, that these labs will enable my doctor to treat me effectively, and that I will not get discouraged if I do not get immediate results from the treatment she gives me. I will post again after labs are in and treatment is prescribed.