PT

Well PT is moving along nicely. Since we are leaving for the long weekend next week I only have to go once. I SHOULD (cross your fingers) be done with PT on September 1oth. I see Dr. Kalafut again for a reevaluation of everything. I did how ever find out that my Sciatic nerve goes through my right piriformis muscle in stead of staying under it like EVERYONE else's. This is only seen in like 7% of the population so its rare. To keep my hip from hurting cause the nerve is being pinched I need to keep it stretched out and flexible.

Michelle's flower girl dress

Mom emailed me the pics of Michelle's dress and all I can say is OH my how cute.

Happy Birthday Dad

Today is Dad's birthday!!! We hope he enjoys today and can find something at Lowe's with his gift card we sent him. Michelle said she would also help you eat your caket oo :)

Not much else is going on. I am BACK (lol) into PT for my back and with a whole new therapist at the spine clinic. After seeing Dr. Kalafut (Cal-foot) on Monday it was determined that I some how ruptured the disc under my L-5, which was pinching the nerves on the right side causing sever hip pain and the numbing of the last two toes on my right foot. I will go for 6 PT sessions and then will see the dr again in mid-august. If PT hasn't helped I have other options, one involving needles and sedatives, OH joy. There is also a good change that an MRI will have to be done at some point down the road, OH JOY.

In the good news department, Michelle doesn't have to wear ankle braces any more YEAH!!! She has one more recheck appointment in October and them will hopefully be release. Since she is out of her ankle braces I can now begin the task of finding shoes to go wither little flower girl dress for (Tia) Anne's wedding.

OH my aching Hip

Last Thursday I went to see Dr Harper (the GP doc) about my right hip giving me trouble. So much trouble that sleep was a hard thing to find. I had to have lower spine and hip X-rays done just to see what was going on. Silly me though it was the bursitis acting up. BUT according to Dr. Harper my L-5 (the one right above the hips) was out of alignment. Um okay, but my back DOES NOT HURT and I have mild scoliosis. So instead of telling me what is wrong he goes here's some celebex and go to the specialist. Oh joy the specialist. So Debbie, Dr. Harper's nurse set me up with Dr. Kalafut (pronounced Cal-Foot). Down side I don't go to the specialist until the 23rd and the Celebrex is doing NOTHING for the pain.

Birthday Pictures & Ohio Pictures

Here are a couple of pictures from Michelle's 2nd birthday. We forgot to get the other pictures from Nana.
1: Michelle is on her way to Ohio to see Nana & Timmy
2: Michelle and her 2nd Birthday Cake. She got an Ice Cream Cake From Dairy Queen.
3: Michelle back home and in her big girl bed.
Michelle got a Pink Tricycle for her birthday from Nana & Timmy. They also got her a helmet. Can't have Mitchie getting hurt if she would fall off the tricycle.

Happy Mother's Day

Brian and Michelle took me out to dinner last night so we could avoid the crowds. Today we went to the mall and had Dip n' Dot. We also went to Books-a-Million so I could look for a crochet stitch book. Also Happy Mother's day to Mom, Mom, Granny, & Grandma.

Excited

About a year ago one of the girls I grew up with and went to school with sent me an email. In the email she told me she had gotten married and found out that we had Mitchie and where living in Texas. As if the world isn't small enough her brother-in-law also lives in Abilene. NO joke. We have kept in touch over the last year and what not. I sent her a Christmas card and so on.
I emailed her last week to let her know we would be in Ohio next month and to see if we could get together. Unfortunately her and her hubby are going to Africa for 6 weeks to she his family that does missons down there. But there is an upside to this, her brother in law is getting married in August. YEAH!!! So they are coming down here for the wedding. I am hoping we can get our schedules to match up so I can see her and play catch up.

Almost May

Can some one PLEASE tell me where the last 4 months have gone. I swear yesterday it was January and BAM now its the end of April. I think Michelle keeps me SO busy that time just buzzes by.
We rented Night At the Museum from Netflix. I do have to say I like the movie. We got to watch it on Saturday afternoon while some was napping. Yesterday I fixed Jamaican Pork chops from Pampered Chef's Stoneware Sensations cook book. I will definitely do the pork chops over again with the rub but not the apples and potatoes. There is something about chili powder and apples that just doesn't fly. While I was in the cooking mood I also made homemade yeast rolls and apple crisp. I do have to say I love the Apple Peeler/Corer/Slicer that I was given (Thanks Mom). It makes doing thing like crisps and pie like thing easy.
I think once the crisp is gone I am going to make Pocket Pies. I saw this on Good Eats and they look easy to make and can be filled with pretty much anything you want. There are even directions on how to make your own toaster pastries AKA Pop Tarts.
Michelle has been done with PT now for a couple of weeks. She doesn't go back until tuesday May 29th at 11am fora check-up/reevaluation.

Happy Anniversary

I can't believe that it has been 4 years already that Brian and I have been married.... Boy does time fly.

Not much else going on here . Michelle is just into everything and that is nothing new.

Swim Lessons

Michelle is doing great at swim lessons. She has learned how to "jump" in the pool and her bubble blowing skills are getting better. Once we get to the pool, she is all about getting in and playing. Forget about getting undressed, she wants in NOW.
We took out Duckie that Grandma sent us with our chocolate easter bunny to class on Monday night. Michelle even knew it was a duckie before we told her what it was. She would not let duckie go in the car. Then once we got to the pool she wanted duckie.

Not much else really. We still have PT once a week and are getting ready for a coll spell this weekend. According to the weather thing on Google it's supposed to get down to 36 degrees. ICK

Little Ankle Braces

Michelle got her ankle braces last Thursday. We have been slowing working up to wearing them all day. Unfortunately we had to go get a new pair of shoes so her braces would fit. The first couple of days she wore them she didn't know quite how to walk with them on.
Along with PT once a week we have swim lessons on Monday and Wednesday nights. Michelle was a bit of a clingy monkey tonight a swim lessons since Brian didn't get in with her. We worked on blowing bubbles and "jumping" in the pool. Of course Mitchie wanted to sit down and slide into the pool. The water was a little chilly tonight which was part of her problem and I don't blame her for not liking the cooler water.

Walking with Mitchie

Michelle's newest movie

She WALKED!!!!!!!

Monday night Michelle was playing in the living room and banging on the Pudgy's cage. Which is nothing new for her to do. Then out of no where she takes off across the living room towards the TV, turns toward the kitchen, then comes back to Brian. With no help or motivations she just WALKED on her own.
So at PT yesterday I told Tammy that Michelle has been walking on her own, which is VERY good. Tammy also said the Michelle as met all of the goals Tammy had set for her. We are still waiting on the ankle braces, which I would love to have before or next PT appointment.
Not much else is going. Brian has 5 days left of ALS (thankfully) and then has a Graduation dinner next Thursday evening, which is adults only. One of our neighbors is going to come over and watch Michelle for us while we are gone. I am hoping dinner doesn't last too long, as seeing we haven't left Michelle with a sitter too often. :) I know she'll do fine while we are gone.

Color it Purple and call it Mine

Michelle has learned to say purple and the dreaded MINE. She'll pick up something, say the TV remote, and once you ask for it back she goes MINE. Ask nicely with a please may I have that back, MINE. Oh yes I think I'm going to hate MINE more than EH. I have no clue where she learned the word mine from.

As for walking, she is getting better. Wednesday at PT Michelle took some good steps on her own. Thursday morningwe went and had her feet measured for the little ankle braces. The braces will come up right above her ankle bone, which is nice. We do not know yet how long she will hve to wear them or how long each day she need to have them on. We should have the braces with in the next 2 weeks.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Happy Birthday Brian!!

Michelle and I hope you have a good day today :)

Also Happy Birthday to Jacob Michael Edicola who came to join us today.
Congrats Becky & Tom

Weekly update

Michelle is doing great at PT. Her muscles are strenghtening up just fine ans she continues to make good progress. We are STILL waiting on her doctor to sign the paper work for her ankle braces. I am hoping we can get those made sometime here soon. Tammy, Michelle's PT gal, thinks the braces will help her out and then she'll be able to walk better sooner.

Last week at PT Tammy put some light ankle weights on Michelle to help out. Boy was that interesting to watch. Poor Mitchie was lost as to why Tammy made her ankles heavier. I do have to say she did great with them on.

Starting in March Michelle will also be taking swimming lessons down at the YMCA. We had to get the okay from Tammy before we went down to sign up for lessons. Tammy said go for it. She thinks that swimming will help strengthen those muscles and also keep her active so we don't have problems further down the line.

Not much else is really going on. Michelle's vocabulary now includes Purple, yes she can say purple, shoe and sock.

Michelle & PT, pt.2

Michelle went to her PT evaluation today. She met with speech, Occupational and physical therapists. Her speech is right on par for her age as well as her motor skills. As for the walking, she is super flexible in her hips and ankles. To fix this in her ankles and to build the arches she will be getting ankle braces that come up right over the ankle bone. After she can walk independently, then we will have insoles made for her if we choose to do so.

PT

Michelle does not got to PT until January 29th. I don't think i can wait that long. While she is at PT they are also going to evaluate her speech....um HELLO she can talk JUST fine. Give Michelle a few minute and she'll tell you ALL about something, yet we still have no clue as to what the something is, hehe.

Although it would be funny if she desided to walk on her own before then. That would make my day.

Michelle & PT

Michelle went to the doctor on Thursday. She is 32.5 inches tall and is 21lbs 4oz. She is FINALLY over 20lbs. As for her not walking independently, she has to go to West Texas Rehab for an extensive evaluation to make sure she is not "developmentally" challenged. The doctor checked her hips and nothing is wrong with them. Michelle shows no signs of developmental hip dysplasia.
I have to call and make the appointment for Michelle to got to PT for her exam, but am waiting on her letter from Tricare.

We are hoping that all Michelle's problem is her lack of self confidance or as Brian calls it her lazyness. Not too much is going on. We are trying to make room for all of Michelle's new toys in her room, including her table and chair set Grandma (Sally) got her. Pooh Bear is hanging out in the living room on the love seat.

Happy Halloween

Hi everyone!!!
It has cooled down into the 40's here so it made for a cool night. Michelle went to about 12 houses then we came home and handed out our candy. We had about 50 kids or so, which wasn't too bad. I still have candy left over. Which we will eat. I went to the BX and bought Michelle a bag of M&M's to use for potty training. Here she is all dressed up tonight.

I hope everyone has a safe trip back home from Lufkin. I'll be posting to the knitting blog later on this week with sock pictures.