My grandpa

My grandpa passed away on Friday afternoon. He lived a very long and happy life. I will be attending his funeral this Wednesday with my family. Cameron will be staying with the girls. I have many memories I hold close to my heart of summers past spent with my grandparents. I so wish I could take my little girls, but not this trip. They both were able to meet their great -grandpa and I am so glad. Caroline even has her own video of her and Pop-pop. I will miss you very much!!!!I will post pics if I can find them of grandpa each with the girls.

Orthopaedist

We went to see Dr. Loveless today. This was a follow up of her minor scoliosis diagnosis. Caroline's X-rays today showed a slight improvement from six months ago. From his perspective he does not think her spine will get worse. He also does not think she will need to be braced. So that is great news!!!! He did want to see an MRI of her spine in the future. So we can get a shot of that with her brain MRI in March or April. Just wanted to send a quick update.

Christmas,foot braces, and MORE

We had a fun time at mom and dad's in Tampa. we drove up on Christmas day and stayed through Sunday. We took the girls to the park and ate at Cameron's favor tie BBQ place. It is an old family favorite really - JIMBOS. Carley and Caroline opened lots of gifts before we left from Cameron's mom and dad and all the aunts, uncles, and cousins. Carley loves her Jeep and Cool School Computer best. She got so many new learning toys, games, and books we have not even began to play with them all. Caroline got lots of new little toys to manipulate and a nice fun Rocking horse that she can bounce on. Her favorite gifts were her Elmo that talks up a storm and her PT body blocks. We love them to exercises with. we found these signing time videos recommended by others that are wonderful!!!! She signed more to us appropriately yesterday at breakfast for more applesauce. Cameron and I did our best to get all the decor down. it took almost all day. Then we went to Starbucks while the girls napped in the car and did returns at Target. Caroline has little wheezing in her chest so we may go on to the doctor today for a check before the weekend. I am excited about our little cold blast we have today and yesterday. I actually got to wear long sleeves!!! I sure do miss the weather from NC and TN days. I have also really enjoyed connecting with friends on facebook - it is great! we want to wish all of our friends across the US a Happy New Year and many bright blessings!!!!! I will have Cam post pics of Christmas and the park soon.
PS - Caroline got her foot braces and I am excited about them. I hope they help her put more pressure on her little feet. They are so cute and little!!!! We are still waiting on her stander to be ordered. Pics of those little foot braces to follow soon!

A cup and No Pump

Caroline is trying new things this week. I am so thrilled that she is using a sippy cup after working on this and trying lots of cups. She is able to hold it if I tilt or prop her up. To night is also her official night on her pump. It is no longer mandatory nutritionally for her to have the pump. So we are weaning to regular milk and a cup. It is a long process. She will have to keep her tube for six more months and I will keep the pump on hand until we remove the mickey button. We are hoping to get her stander, wheels, and leg braces all covered by insurances before December 31st!!!!

Daffos

Caroline, Carley, and I went down to the San Marco area in Jacksonville this morning. Caroline got measured and casted for her tiny foot braces. we got to pick out pink foam inserts and a little lamb decorated ribbon. They are to aid in standing. The good news is insurances should cover all of the cost for these. we will have them by January. They will also be beneficial with using her stander. we hope to get hat by then end of January!

Brave Carley

Carley has been very lethargic and not herself the past week. However it came in waves and spurts and she had no fever or other sick symptoms. Although she did not want to eat anything - not even cookies or ice cream. So we force fed bites and minimal drinks for about 5-6 days before I could not do it any longer. We went to the Dr. yesterday for a hopeful answer.I also cringed as I hoped that nothing major was wrong. So we waited two hours and had a simple urinalysis that did indicate a possible infection. We also talked and looked at her growth and weight. She did not have strep or anything obvious. We also checked for diabetes, but her urine did not indicate that. She actually started eating and getting some appetite back yesterday.
The doctor was not concerned, but Cameron and I were not happy with no answers. So we opted for a full blood panel today at another location out at the beaches and 45 minutes away. So we gave Carley numbing cream and cow milk from Starbucks and off we went. She thought she was getting her blood pressure taken. I told her it was blood work and that there was a little pinch and then it would be all over with. She did great and I think the cream really helped!!!!
She did scream and pitched a fit to get me out of here, but it was short lived. Cameron held her head and I squeezed her arm and all of us held her arm still - three hands for five tubes.
We got some normal results back today. We are awaiting more news, but are hopeful all is well.
I am needing to rule out anything for my own knowledge to know where to go next and how to get her to eat something!!!!! So we have been bragging on how brave she was today. I asked Cameron if he thought I can numb her legs up when we go for her four year old check next.

Pictures with Santa