UPDATE

Eva turned 3 years old on November 28th! That is a huge miracle in itself! She still has all of her issues such as apnea, SPD, eating issues... But she is alive and happy :) Eva just started school too. She says she goes and "plays", but it is really speech therapy. She does this at the local school and is in the classroom with the teacher and one other student. (With no momma/cry)

Livia, her service dog, is working out really well. Livia has had all of her life saving training, but still NEEDS to finish all of her social training so that she can go to school with Eva. This is extremely important.

We need to raise funds for this training. If you have a facebook, you can link to MINE through here. You can also  DONATE and use the email address servicedog4eva@gmail.com to donate. Anything helps.

Thank you and God bless.

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Help Eva Video

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Talk to Me

Tell me what you think.  Tell me what you want. 

Eva's speech is delayed.  Very delayed.  She can say words.  The words she can say sometimes are a bit of a surprise.  The words are not all single syllable words and or just single words at a time.  She won't talk if asked.  She has an older brother and two older sisters that talk for her. 

Eva can communicate very clearly through sounds, facial expressions, signing, and showing you (pointing, taking you there) what she wants.  Why use words if she doesn't have a need to?  She has no physical reason why she doesn't talk.  They have found no mental reason why she doesn't talk.  So, Eva just needs to learn how to talk. 

EVERY thing is on Eva's schedule.  34 months, tiny in size, delayed speech, and potty trained since before two.  People are always amazed when we are in public when she asked to use the bathroom.  Seriously, she is almost three.  lol   

She has speech therapy once a week.  It is hard to tell if it is really helping or not. 

We have always talked to Eva like she was an adult.  We describe everything to her.  If we ask her to use her words, that never works.  That just makes her frustrated and she ends up crying which causes more problems as far as her health is concerned. 

I do love the days when she does talk.  It makes me smile.  It makes me happy to see that her brain is working right and it wasn't and hasn't been deprived from oxygen for too long during her many apnea spells. 

Eva almost sings more than she actually talks.  I don't mind that she sings.  My oldest daughter sings all the time too.  Music moves Eva and if she learns by singing better I have no complaints. 

I know I am going to miss her "Eva" talks, but I am going to be thrilled when she talks like a big kid too! 

Food Issues

Warning: This is a hard blog for me to write so it may not flow right, it may be missing things, so if you have questions, please ask...

I have to step back from my daily life with Eva to try to explain Eva and food.  I live it everyday so it has become so routine that 99% of the time, I don't even bat an eye at it anymore.  Eva is my miracle and this is just one more thing that makes her my little Eva Rose. 

Eating is something most of us love to do and we crave food. 

Eva's love-hate relationship with food is a daily struggle that seems never ending.   

Eva loves the taste, but pretty much hates to swallow most foods.  She tries everything at least once.  I will give her many kisses for that one.  She will chew up the food into tiny little pieces, but then not swallow the food.  This usually happens with harder foods, but not always. 

 GERD, apnea, coughing, puking, pain, possible texture/temperature (SPD) issues are all reasons why she doesn't eat. 

At 34 months old Eva should be eating 5-6 small meals a day.  That's the "norm".  It was about three months ago when she ate three meals in one day for the first time without spitting anything out.  I was so happy I nearly crawled out of my skin and told everyone who might care.  The guy at the gas station that has know about Eva since I was pregnant with her even heard the story!  He follows us on Face Book too.  :) 

94-96% of the pediatric population will eat if they are hungry enough.  This is NOT Eva.  Eva falls into the category that could care less about eating and food and will inadvertently "starve" themselves. 

Eva is very small for her age.  Some of this could be genetics.  I am 5'5" and her father is not much taller.  She is 26 pounds.  She has finally gained weight.  YAY!!!!  2T clothes are a bit big on her.  I worry about her all the time. 

Eva is still breast feed.  Yes, I would like to stop at some point.  When she doesn't nurse, she doesn't eat at all.  When she doesn't eat, she doesn't drink anything else...then she looses weight...then gets sick...then the downward spiral takes place that is so very hard to climb back out of for her.  So, yes she is still a boob baby. 

Here is a link about breastfeeding and GERD.  http://www.breastfeeding-magazine.com/acid-reflux-in-infants.html

Eva is and has been involved in a food group which has seemed to help.  They play with food.  They lick it.  Parents aren't involved in this group, but we watch through a one-way mirror and can hear everything that is going on.  They do this with other kids their own age that also have food issues.  The adults that are in there are their OT and speech therapists so the kids are very comfortable with them since they see them weekly. 

I am waiting for the day when everything just "clicks" for Eva and she eats without any problems.