B 'n Me Part 3: Bella the Brave

Bella had a CF Clinic appointment Thursday. We practiced a new way for her to sit while they did her throat culture hoping to make it quicker and easier for her. I think it might have worked..the only problem is that they have to do two swabs and she usually can only tolerate the first one..but a cherry flavored tongue depressor as a reward made everything okay! She blew on her pinwheel for Dr. Walter and impressed us all at how well she does it. She gained 1.2 lbs and grew 1 inch in the last three months! We are going to add Scandishakes to her diet to help on those days that she just isn't interested in eating, but everything else will stay the same until we get her lab results. She received her "Green Paper" and she was very happy!! Mommy, Daddy and I were very proud of her!

After her Clinic appointment we headed over for her lab work. She balked at getting her "pressure taken" (getting blood taken). To make matters worse they couldn't find a vein in one arm that didn't roll and had to try again in the other arm. Daddy held her on his lap but she just wasn't happy...plus her mask kept falling off, too, so she just wanted it to be over with!! Broke my heart. But she made it through and Daddy carried her back to the car. She hugged his neck the whole way. After we got home she kept apologizing for "not being brave"...I told her she was the bravest little girl that we knew and we loved her so much. (And yes I got teary eyed!!)

So to make the rest of her afternoon fun we watched a movie, picnic'd in Daddy's chair, had her favorite ice cream (mint chocolate chip) and made it into a shake for her. She held a cool towel on her arms to make them feel better and she took her nap in my arms.

All I can say is CF SUCKS!!!! Bella is such an inspiration and even though she doesn't think so..she is the BRAVEST LITTLE GIRL.