Jennifer,
I don't blame you a bit for going the route you are. These medication choices present a scary proposition, especially considering you're making decisions for your child. It's one thing to have a bad reaction to a medication that you choose for yourself, but to do that to your daughter is difficult to live with.
You and I are in similar situations, with daughters about the same age. You have more experience with all of this since you have been coping with the disease personally as well.
I too, would like to keep my daughter on Pentasa, after this current round of Prednisone. We did that for the last 2 yrs., but looking back, I can see that the disease was brewing during that time. But none the less, she was apparently healthy and thriving for that 2 yrs. Hopefully, you can do this with your daughter, as it's a very safe medication. You just don't want to accelerate the cycle and have to contiuously resort to Prednisone to get things under control. That's what I'm wrestling with right now.
I'm not sure yet which route we're going to take, (they want to try Imuran/same as 6MP).
How is she doing now on Prednisone? When my daughter first went on it, I thought it was a miracle drug, but of course I realized quickly that you have to have alot of respect for it. I seem to remember that you were worried about her size. If it's any consolation, my daughter is still growing. Two yrs. ago she looked like she should be in Grade 3, now almost 5'6". I understand that this is very typical, so I don't think you have to worry. Good luck with everything.
Tom.