Special Times

On December 6th we had our family Christmas pictures taken. I was pretty happy with the results - everyone is looking the right way but lately we haven't been able to get the kids to smile anymore during photo shoots, I think they're too curious about the surroundings.







That night we had a special visit from Santa. In our family there is a special Santa that comes to see the children and for the trio this is extra special given that it wouldn't be a good idea for them to see one of Santa's helpers at the mall due to all of the germs. Surprisingly none of the kids were scared and they all love the gloworms that were given to them. This week we decided to give the kids their Pooh blankets to sleep with that came with their bedding sets. I was SO nervous but knew that by now SIDs should not be a risk at all and they of course have handled the blankets just fine.

Last Thursday morning I was able to meet my good friend Laura's new baby girl Leah. She is absolutely perfect and I am so happy for them! What an amazing little girl, bringing so much joy and happiness to a family who has gone thru so much, she is definitely a gift from God!

Thursday afternoon Annabel had her follow-up Optometrist appointment and the doctor is very happy with how the patching is working, controlling her left eye turning in so that her vision in that eye (we can tell she is using it) at a bare minimal remains stable and ideally will eventually strengthen as will her right eye. It is believed that her corrected vision will be at worst case 20/40, potentially 20/30 so vision should not be her limiting factor in any way! The plan is to continue patching 2 hours per day and see the Opthamologist again in 3 months. Annabel also received her cast for her right arm on Thursday to work on constraint therapy. The thought is that by constraining her dominant hand that she will learn to use her left hand in the same manner. Thus far she's made a few attempts with it but is mostly frustrated and has learned to get it off a few times (surprise, surprise). I do have to say that patching has been easier since having it on! It's such a toss up right now because she's doing so well at pulling herself up that I don't want her to slow down with that development but on the other hand I know that her learning to use her left hand is so important too and that it will be much easier to learn now rather than later and the pulling to stand/walking will come in time no matter what.

On Friday I took Annabel to where she may attend preschool to use the HOPSA dress and track system. What this does is allows her to walk all around the room by herself. Her PT believes that this will get her walking even sooner than using the treadmill. She LOVED it!! And she did even better with using her left foot than her PT expected her too. We're planning to get her there at least twice a month for now, hopefully even more often seeing the benefit! We'd love to get a track system for in the basement so she could use it daily but a)we need to get the basement finished first and b)all the equipment is so darn expensive. It's so sad when you see how things can help your children but you're limited on what you can do for them.



Friday afternoon the trio went in for a weight check, Annabel blood pressure check, and Mady head circumference check. All three have gained weight and Johnathan is FINALLY in the 1%, NOT adjusted!! Weights were Annabel - 22.7 lbs, Mady - 21.9 lbs, and Johnathan - 22.7 lbs. Annabel's bp was slightly high but not alarming (I think nephrology is just going to say that hers flunctuates when we return in February and is nothing to treat), and Mady's head continues to grow so no worries there. Johnathan will see the low vision doctor this Friday morning and pulmonary right after. I have to say, if pulmonary gives me any crap about his weight I think I will lose it right then and there!!