Hi Mishae,

My CAH daughter is 5 and getting ready to start kindergarten. I don’t think I would change anything (so far) as how I have been raising her. The big thing is I don’t allow CAH to become a defining factor in anything -- it is just a part of our life, not our life. I have always talked to Olivia about her CAH. I think this is very important because I really want Olivia to become aware of the signals that her body will give her. As a 5-year-old she knows:

• her medicine is Cortef and that she takes it 3 times a day
• if she gets sick she needs extra Cortef and some salty and sugary snacks
• if she gets really sick, mom will need to give her an injection
• if she gets really, really sick, mom will give her an injection and we will go to the hospital for a salt water (saline) and sugar water (glucose) IV
• hand x-rays (bone aging) doesn’t hurt and mom doesn’t have to be there
• concerning all of her blood draws -- I have always told her that being brave doesn’t mean that we still aren’t scared, we just have to do our very best.

Just so you know -- you have only been at this for 2 months, so I’m sure everything seems overwhelming right now. It will get much, much easier (if you let it) and will just become a part of your life. I won’t fool you, every time your little one gets sick, you will go into "high gear" making sure everything is done as it should be. But you will learn not to panic or to fall to pieces, but to just take care of the situation.

And most importantly, congratulations on the arrival of your son!

Warm regards,

Janet