Asthma or Reflux?!?!?

Lyric has been battling a cough since the middle of January and we have seen her Pediatrician, her Cardiologist, and last but not least a Pulmonary Specialist! We received a wonderful report from the Cardiologist, her heart looks great... beautiful I believe were his words :) So he recommended that we see a Pulmonary specialist concerning her cough, which we did! She said that had her vocal chord not been paralyzed it would be an easy diagnosis of asthma but considering it was paralyzed and still may be paralyzed she wants us to do a repeat swallow study (our first study in Oklahoma, her last study was done in Dallas) they hope to rule out anything before just labeling it as asthma. The doctor seems to think that she has asthma coupled with vocal chord paralysis causing silent aspiration and possible reflux! She started Lyric on a "trial treatment" to see if treating her for asthma (inhaler), prevacid (reflux), and also we are back to thickening her feeds hoping to give her airway time to completely close off! She is not coughing through the night and is sleeping good again... YAY... but she is still coughing when she is awake and you can hear her breathe from across the room! This is not what we were hoping for considering they are treating 3 different issues but we are taking one day at a time! We go in for her swallow study on June 30Th (far out I know but OU Children's... lets just say they take FOREVER to do anything) Pray that we have wisdom as we move forward! Thank you for all the prayers so far!

Lyric's 1st Easter!!

Today was Lyric's very first Easter and what a wonderful day it was!! God has been so gracious to us and we feel so honored to have Lyric in our lives! Having a child is like seeing & celebrating everything for the first time! Here are a few pictures from today!

Lyric makes this face all the time :) I love it!

WOW time flies!

So sorry that I have not updated in three months.... time flew by! Lyric is doing wonderful and growing so much everyday, she weighs... are you ready for this?????

16LBS 3OZ!!

Can you believe it?!?!? Our little girl who at 4 months old weighed 9lbs 2oz now is growing out of her 6-9 month clothes :) God has been so faithful & we are humbled by His mercy and goodness everyday! The walk for Lyric was an amazing success, 29 people came and walked (or cheered on the walkers :) We had sponsors from all over the US & even the Europe :) Now that is pretty cool! So to everyone who has walked this journey with us, we would like to say thank you once again! We know that prayer is so important & have seen soooooo many prayers answered in Lyric's life and the lives of others through what God has done & is doing! It is amazing to think that at any moment prayers all around the world are being prayed on behalf of our daughter! As we pray for one another may we grow closer to the God that gives us every good & perfect gift!

Pictures coming soon, I know you all want to see our "Chunky Monkey"

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; Philippians 1:3-6

2 Months!!!

Today is the 2 month mark since Lyric had her open heart surgery and we are so thankful for all that the Lord has brought us through! Lyric is doing so amazing & growing so fast! Here is a look over the past 2 months!

Our poor baby just a few hours after surgery!

One week post... looking so good!

Couple weeks post surgery at HOME!!

Lyric & Daddy in Dallas just before Christmas, I love the love in that picture!

Christmas morning!!

All dressed up for her first CHRISTMAS!!

Growing up so fast, holding her own bottle!

1st night in her big girl jammies, they made her look sooooo BIG!

Watching football with Daddy

!!!My favorite!!!

This was today & I felt that the shirt says it all!

God has been so good & faithful! Thank you for the love, support, and most of all your prayers!

Come and see what God has done, his awesome deeds for mankind!
Psalm 66:5

2011 is here!

Lyric is doing wonderful and is growing like a beautiful flower :) We have an evaluation tomorrow to check Lyric vocal chords & overall developement. We have no doubt that she is doing great and learning something new everyday!! We had a fairy stop by the house the other day and leave us diaper wipes :) Thank you Diaper Wipe Fairy, whoever you are... You are a hero & this was a great blessing!!
Thank you for all the prayers! God is SO good!!

Update

As you all know we had an appointment in Dallas this past Tuesday (sorry to be a slacker & just now post) Lyric had a swallow study done & they found that she is having a little trouble swallowing due to her vocal chord being paralyzed. It can't completely close therefore a little bit of her food was "going down the wrong pipe" & she has a little bit of silent aspiration (Silent aspiration is when food, liquids, or stomach contents are swallowed poorly, and go into the lungs by mistake) They have added a thickener to her formula to give her airway time to close off completely. This has seemed to help tremendously... she hasn't coughed very much at all through her feeds!!! They want us to follow up with an Ear, Nose & Thoat Doctor in 6 weeks & have a speech therapist come to the house weekly to keep an eye on her & hopefully get the report that it is getting better :) Thank you for your prayers & please continue to pray for our dear friends

Jon, Amy & Ella
Scott, Sarah & Emma
Cody & Brittany, baby Taylor went home to be with the Lord on December 12th.

Please pray as they come to mind & have a Merry Christmas!
Love,
The Nichols

December update

We followed up with Children's Medical Center today & we will be taking a trip back down to Dallas this coming week, they will be doing another swallow study & scope test to check Lyric's throat & vocal chords. She still has no voice, coughs through her feeds & is also having trouble gaining weight. At first we thought a minor cold but the cough is different from a cold cough & only happens when she eats. We don't know why she is having trouble putting on weight because she is at 27 calories per ounce & most babies are on a 20 calorie diet. Overall she is doing good and for that we are so thankful! Thank you all for love & prayers! Merry Christmas!!