AzariaSage.org

12.21.07

The year has passed so quickly and it is hard to believe our little baby girl is now 5 years old. Azaria turned 5 on October 26^th. She is growing and growing and really looks like such a pretty little girl now. She is long and tall, she loves to have her hair in braids, with barrettes and bows. Azaria even got her first doll for her birthday, a doll with black hair and two pony tails. Azaria really likes to play with her doll (in fact, as I type she is tossing her doll about now.)

Azaria continues to have daily seizures, and she is having the big convulsions that require emergency care about every seven to ten days. We are in the midst of adjusting Azaria's medications. She was recently weaned from the anti-convulsant Vigabatrin, we are currently increasing her dose of Lamictal, and she remains steady with her Zonegran. We are looking at possibly trying the Ketogenic Diet again, another option is the VNS implant if Azaria's seizures don't get under control.

Over the year, we haven't noticed much progress in Azaria's physical abilities. We gave her a long break from exercise routines and physical therapy, mostly because of all the seizure activity. She is in a home based school program, her teacher Marlene comes to visit once a week and her physical therapist Amanda comes to visit twice a month. We are working on getting Azaria to weight bear on her legs, and to sit unassisted. She wears braces on her feet/legs, a brace on her left hand to help keep it open, and a brace around her trunk to help keep her upright.

Azaria is such an amazing little girl. She continues to bless us with her loving and peaceful presence. She is such an angelic little girl, who is usually happy and content to play with her doll, watch her little brother Aidan run in circles, or to sit with her Daddy, or to listen to Josh Groban with her Mommy.

Wishing everyone a safe, blessed and Happy Holiday!

The Baker Family