Long overdue...

Hi Everybody,

I don't even know how many people are reading the blog anymore, but I know at least a couple people are... so, I'm sorry!! I didn't mean for it to be this long before I updated again.

Mia had her first swim of the summer two weeks ago and it was so cute!!! Normally, the "vent" babies don't go in the pools, but I protested a bit. :-D So, Mia got a pool!! It was challenging, but I think she enjoyed it! This last week they changed it a bit so the non-vent kids had their swim day on Wednesday mornings and the vent kids were on Thursday! It was a LOT easier and they were actually able to get into the pools, too! Jordie and Juilianna went in the pools, too, even though they already had their pool day, so it was fun watching them play. I think Jordan is around 10 and Juilianna is almost 6. They definitely know how to use the big syringes!! Dr. Silva came out to take pictures of the babies and when he was bending down, Jordan got Dr. Silva's leg soaked!! haha =) (He knew not to get the camera wet!) So, a few minutes later, a nurse distracted Jordan and Dr. Silva ran up behind Jordan and dumped a pitcher of ice water on his head/back!! Jordan thought it was hilarious! He wanted him to do it again! haha =)

Mia really enjoys her swim days! It's so cute getting her all dressed up in her "tankini" - she looks so cute!! She gets really relaxed in the pool and ends up falling asleep! The first week they said it looked like she was waiting for her mani/pedi! This week they said it looked like she was waiting for her massage! They call her Miss Diva! She's the third Diva - Joslyn and Sophia are the first two. =)

Mom said that Mia found her hands!! During one of her visits, she said Mia was starring at her hand and would bring it closer to her face, then all of a sudden grab her own nose! Mom was cracking up! I think she got a video of Mia playing with her hands...

An ENT clinic comes to the Children's Recovery Center quarterly and Mia was on the list to be seen by them. Of course, it was a very quick deal, but from what they saw was that it looks like Mia's jaw is fused shut. Mia was also being very stubborn at the time and wouldn't open her mouth, the little that she can, so I think to them, she couldn't open it at all. I was telling them what she can do, but it didn't seem like they listened. Dr. Silva was telling the other doctors that she's been tested for a bunch of stuff and that just by looking at her, he'd think she had Mobius Syndrome. I'm not exactly sure if she was tested for that, or how you would test for that, but I do remember Dr. Miller and Dr. Piroozi from Las Vegas mentioning that as well. I think one of the doctors at Children's Hospital Oakland said the same thing. One really good thing the ENT said is that they want Mia to start tasting things, so we get to put some things in her mouth! Either tomorrow or Tuesday she'll be having a swallowing test, so be praying! I know she CAN swallow, it's just not all the time. If she passes the test, then she'll start getting her tastes of things.

Since I pump when I'm visiting Mia, I saved just a tiny bit of milk so I could put it in her mouth so she could taste it. Boy did her eyes get HUGE when she tasted it!! I think it was a good response. =) I don't know if she swallowed it, but I know it got onto her tongue at least. =)

The following day, I was talking with the Occupational Therapist saying that Dr. Silva mentioned Mobius and I asked her what that was. She actually didn't know, but she gave me something from Wikipedia, so I read it when I got home. Of course it was kinda hard reading it because I don't really want Mia to have a "syndrome", but at the same time, I want to know what's causing the issues that she's dealing with. It really does sound like she may have Mobius because the main things are expressionless face (basically facial paralysis), something wrong with the jaw, inability to suck/swallow, deformalities of the limbs/hands/feet (her index fingers are very turned in), difficulty breathing, crossed eyes, not moving eyes side to side but moving the head instead.... it really does seem to fit. She may have it along with something else... we have no idea. It could be a start of an explaination!

Well, Robert is now a Captain! He promoted from 1st Lieutenant to Captain last Wednesday! He doesn't think it's a big deal, but I think so. =) Still no word of official orders, but HOPEFULLY this week!! He has a TDY (temporary duty) at Beale AFB (north of Sacramento) at the end of July, so he's planning on being in town in mid-July, so we'll have Mercedes' birthday party when he's in town. He didn't want to miss it and I don't blame him! It'll be nice to see him!

Mercedes turns 3 years old on Wednesday, July 1st! She's such a big girl and is very into Curious George right now. =) She has to sleep with her Curious George books and loves "reading" to herself. It's so cute to hear her read the stories - we'll hear her say "zaa, zaa, zaa, zaa, zaa [part of the story she actually remembers], zaa, zaa, zaa". When she doesn't know the word, she says "zaa zaa zaa" heehee =) On her birthday, we're going to go to the Children's Discovery Museum and there's a new Curious George exhibit! She doesn't know yet so she'll be thrilled!! (I never tell her exciting stuff until the morning of - or I just surprise her! It's easier that way!)

Yesterday Mercedes put Willow (our kitten) on his kitty climber thing and she was reading him Pinocchio (in her jibberish way) and kissed him on the head, said "doodnight Wiwwow. Sweet dreams!"

Last week, Willow was taking a snooze on the couch and Mercedes was playing with Lincoln Logs on the living room floor, then without saying anything, she went up to Willow, picked up his little arm, stuck a long Lincoln Log in his armpit and put his arm back down! She was taking his temperature! It was so funny! =)

Well... I think that's basically what's been going on. Please be praying for Mia's jaw especially, that they would loosen up so she can open her mouth more and so we can work with her mouth to try to teach her to such and swallow.

I'll add pictures tomorrow, but for now I'll enclose a link of Mia's swimming two weeks ago. =)

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=100282&id=614762171&l=5fdf4c6e5e

Blessings,
Rachael <3

Come visit me!

Just another little video of Mia. =)

Video of Mia...

About the previous blog:

If you receive the blog in your email, the big picture of Mia in the boppy pillow is actually a video. My Mom wanted you all to make sure you knew that. When you check it on the blog website, it's clear that it's a video, so I didn't realize it was just going to look like a picture. =)

Take care!

A few new things ...

Hello again,

Well, Mia is doing a few new things, which is really exciting!! The other day Mom was holding her and she noticed Mia had a lot of spit building up in her mouth (because she can't swallow) and Mom saw Mia's little throat moving and the spit disappeared!! Mia swallowed!!! The RT, Audry, was right there as well and saw Mia swallow... pretty neat!!

A few minutes after that, Mom asked Audry to keep an eye on Mia's oxygen level and heartrate and Mom stood Mia on the bed to see what she would do... and Mia was holding her own weight! Mom said Mia's legs got really strong and she was standing really well... of course, her head was falling, though, because her neck muscles aren't the greatest right now. =)

During her physical therapy, the main thing Scott is working with is to teach Mia to hold her head up and to roll over. Mia's neck HAS gotten stronger, but it's still really "floppy". Keep praying for her muscle tone that it will keep building.

A week ago, I was on one side of Mia's crib, just looking at her and talking with her and I decided I'd change her diaper. So I walked around the crib to the other side to change her and Mia followed me as I walked, not only tracking with her eyes, but she moved her head as I walked around, too!!! Renee was there to see that and we were both so shocked and so excited!!!

Mia is blinking a lot now, too! She used to just look up and down, up and down; or close her eyes when she slept. Even then, her eyes wouldn't close completely when she slept. Now she closes her eyes completely and blinks all the time!! Being that she's doing that, her eyes aren't nearly as "goopy" anymore. I'd always have to be cleaning her eyes because nasty stuff would keep building up. Now I only clean them about once a day just to keep her eyes beautiful! =)

Yesterday at church, a pastor, a couple elders and a wife prayed for and over me for our family and Mia's healing. I've been so exhausted lately physically, emotionally and spiritually, so it was wonderful to have been prayed over. I know there are so many people praying that I don't see and I know without you all praying, I would have been stressed out from the very beginning! God has given us the strength we need and He will continue to bless us just as He has been! We just need to keep focused on the Truth and don't lose sight of what God is teaching us. =)

I was able to visit with Mia yesterday before church for about 1 1/2 hours which was great. Mia was in her swing in the hallway. It's so cute to interact with the little kids - they're so precious! When I came back in the afternoon, Audry told me that a group from church came to visit. I guess my shocked look gave it away that I had no idea what she was talking about. She got a little nervous because I didn't know those people were going to visit, so she called the gal who was at the front desk when they arrived. Turns out it was Cathy Denton bringing her Sunday School class of kids to see Mia through the window!! Everytime Mrs. Denton has come, I haven't been there!! I'm so bummed!! =) I haven't talked with her yet to get the details or anything, but all I know is that there were kids looking at Mia through the window, so the nurse took Mia out of bed and took her to the window so the kids could see her. They prayed for Mia through the window... isn't that so sweet??

I talked with the nurse and she said that next time there's a big group, we can take Mia to the lobby so everybody could see her at once! =) I didn't realize we could do that! She said being that I'm not "trained" yet, that a nurse can go out and sit there during the visit to make sure Mia's fine until we are trained! =)

Have a wonderful week, everybody!

Always,
Rachael <3

Visiting Mia at CRC

Hi Everybody,

I need a secretary!

Wow... I can't believe how tired I am. =) It's so nice being able to spend time with my family AND Mia! It's still hard, though, because now that I'm "home", there are so many things I need to get done on a daily basis and much more running around that is being done. But it's good... I'm trying to get into a routine, so that'll take a bit of time to figure out what times work with visiting Mia, then spending time with Mercedes and running errands, etc.

It's been two weeks since Mia's been at the Children's Recovery Center and I haven't even told any of you about visiting!! YES, you can visit... please do!! Visitors have to be 16 years of age and older. Visiting hours are from 12pm-9pm everyday. There is a visitor list that I have to add people to so they can visit when I'm not there (right now it's mainly just family and a few friends who have said they'd like to visit). If you'd like to visit, please arrange it with me so I can be there! (Otherwise, you can't get in if you're not on the list!) For those of you who ARE on the list so far, I'll be letting you know. =)

No kids are allowed to come in, but there is a little walking area by Mia's window that kids can see Mia that way. =) Arianna and Caitlin (Mia's older cousins) met her that way on Sunday!

The address is 3777 S. Bascom Avenue, Campbell, CA.

Mia's doing well... she's been going to group time with babies her age, but she keeps falling asleep! She is very adamant about her morning nap - nothing can wake her (except for her bath!) Then she's awake all afternoon to early evening, so that might be the best time to visit anyway! =)

Okay.. time for a nap. =)

Rachael <3

Mia's a big girl!

Mia's only 4 months old and already she's going to have two new baby cousins!! Katie (Robert's sister) is due with their third child the end of October and my brother's wife, Jen, is expecting their third child the end of January!! Exciting times for both the Adamis and Cortez families!! =)

I'm excited... I just had to share that with you all! =)

Rachael <3

Adamis family update

Hi everybody!

Sorry it's been so long since I last blogged...

Here I thought when Mia would be in Campbell, I'd have so much more free time! Turns out I hardly have any time - I hadn't been on Facebook or checked my email in a week!! Robert's in town, too, so it makes things a little more busy as well.

It's been nice be together again as a family! On Thursday, Robert arrived and then we went to visit Mia - he says she's grown so much in the 5 weeks he had been away!! That evening, we took Mercedes to Golfland for the first time and she did did pretty good ..... for the first 2 holes. After that, she decided she didn't want to do it anymore until the last hole. =) She had fun walking around with her club up her sleeve (in lieu of actually holding it) following Robert and I around as we played. =)



Robert and I had a great anniversary! We started the day up in Sacramento looking at several houses, then headed to San Francisco for the night. We stayed at a hotel very close to Union Square, so we went out for dinner to The Cheesecake Factory (of course!!) at 10:30pm!! It was so busy (and we were so hungry) that we opted to eat outside on the balcony. It's about 6 stories up, so it was VERY windy and the heat lamps didn't do much!! But the food and company was great. That's all that counts! =) The following day we went for a walk around Golden Gate Park, then headed back to San Jose to watch Up, then went to visit with Mia. It was a good weekend. =)

Another fun thing that happened this week was we got a kitten!!! My friends cat had kittens, so I've had this little guy "reserved" for a couple of weeks.... I just didn't exactly know how to tell Robert I had gotten the cat! haha I figured he wouldn't have a problem with it, but of course, I wasn't sure... so I got a wallet-sized picture made of the kitty, framed it and gave him a card when I picked him up from the airport along with the gift (picture)... it didn't take him too long to put it together!! I said "Happy anniversary!!" :-D He was totally fine with it, much to my relief!! So picked up our little boy on Sunday. =) Meet our 9 week old little Willow!

Mia's been pretty good for the most part. Yesterday wasn't the greatest - she had several desats and everybody was a little unsure of the source. I happen to think it's because she needs to get her trach changed, but we'll see. She was doing better today, so we were VERY happy to see that! It's been great having her so close, but especially because now Mercedes can visit with her, too!


Mia's been getting physical therapy done every morning and so far I've only been able to be there for one session. Scott is trying to get her to roll over and giving her tummy time so she can strengthen her neck muscles. She is doing better, but it's going to take some time and a lot of effort.


Continue to pray for our family! Robert has now heard that it might take another 4 weeks before we get orders, so pray for patients for all of us! God's timing is always perfect - it's easy to forget that at times. We're going to be looking at around a dozen houses tomorrow in Sacramento again, so pray that if it's God's will for us to purchase, pray that the right house will stay available until we get orders!

Also, continue praying for Mia's healing; breathing on her own; learning how to suck and swallow; strength in her muscles; etc. It's amazing how she's talking above her trach! I love having this little air leak because it's allowing air to move past the trach onto her vocal cords so she can make sounds! It's so adorable! =) Continue to pray for my milk supply as well so I can keep up with how much milk Mia is requiring. So far so good.... =)

Also pray for Mercedes - she's been such a trooper with everything that has been going on these past 4 months and through it all, she's generally very happy, content and obedient. She is starting to become a little disrespectful to her parents, so we're working on that. Pray that she will choose to have the right attitude! =)

Thank you so much for praying!!

I will have a request for those of you who are praying for Mia, but I'll mention it in a blog soon to follow.

Blessed,
Mia's Mommy <3 onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1_2Wx2TxSFt6guTVqD1uIMNLvRq1MR0pNAxZQ98GpFbGyWoJVSdOS6We3-Vl1sTGn5MqJNo1K1EkmN1A-f8frijysjQIFUlw_nLQrjHMElBsJ08oXhCRiYaQM84vj7ByX3eFqrQRFCnE/s1600-h/CIMG9047.JPG">