Another good day

On Sunday, Maura took a step.  She cannot be stopped now, I hope this is an indication of good things to happen for her in the near future.  She has worked so hard to strengthen her legs, her efforts have paid off.

Steps...

Slow News Day

Just another day, so I thought I would show you what I've done lately.  I'm really starting to like crochet....
1. The pink and white blanket is a cotton bed spread type for Maura, it isn't as bright a pink as the picture makes it seem.
2. The purple granny square was donated to a hospital in Atlanta in memory of a baby that was lost the day after Nathan was born, a week before she was due.
3. A little purse for Maura.
4. A bag to keep in the car, it folds into a pocket in the base of it.
5.  My first blanket.  It is already ripping at the seams, I'm going to have to re sew it eventually.  Not bad for my first try.

Maura and her hips

We are closing in on Maura's visit with the pediatric orthopedist at Boston Children's Hospital next Wednesday.  I had her Physical Therapist compile a list of her observations and concerns so that I can make sure I mention everything to give them a better picture of her life day to day.  While she makes progress there are definite deficits.  She will be okay no matter the outcome, she already is so tough.  Or "tuff" like they said in The Outsiders.

Concerns about Maura's legs/hips

1. Keeps left foot pointed, resistant to dorsiflexion, tight
2. Drags right leg while crawling, dragged left leg while belly scooting/army crawling
3. Uneven leg folds, right leg has 2  close left ones are farther apart
4. Uses right leg to pull to stand as preference
5. Right foot points outward, ankle rolls in and seems to collapse slightly
6. Pull to stand with right leg in as stand support, keeps right hip/foot pointed out and placed out
7. Lowers to squat, left side sit or left knee down, always
8. Walk: right hip turns out, left is straight with push toy, large shift to left side
9.  Motor planning concern possibly how she gets into the shopping cart and in/out of sandbox
10.  Foot position standing @ rest, pointed but can go flat, walks flat
11. Left hip clicked at one year checkup
12. Sits sometimes shifted to left, using using right foot and leg to be active and move.
13.  Left leg kept still with foot flexed, limited active foot motion

It's been a while...

I've been lazy, or busy, and not updating my blog.  Life has a way of speeding up for me these days, before I know it a week has passed, a month a passed, another year has passed.
I don't want to write too much, there is a lot floating around in my head.  So instead I will flood my page with pictures from Maura's 1st birthday.  I'm thankful I took these photos, I have zero memory of it thanks to whatever stomach bug I had.  And with no big party, I think I can say I officially missed my baby girl's first birthday.

My Happy Birthday Girl

Devil's Food Cake.....everyone said it was good.  It was gone before I was well

You can see where I sat, quarantined.

Fast Forward to today, which started out pouring rain but was gorgeous by the afternoon.  We spent a few hours on the back deck, watching airplanes and digging in the sand.  Nathan isn't so fond of the sand, Maura would live in it day in and day out if I let her.

Why not eat the rake

He's getting....old  :(

Cough cough

Poor little babies with coughs.  It's 2:18 am and I am sitting in Nathan's room listening to him toss and turn in between coughs.  He won't let me leave the room but is in bed at least.  I can hear a Maura coughing in her room every so often as well but she hasn't woken up yet.  What better time is there to update?
We have had a very boring and ho-hum week, the really warm weather left us so we are back to about 60° highs which isn't cold unless you add the gale force winds to it.  Maybe after this next round of rain leaves we will warm up just a bit.
I guess nothing much is happening.

Easter Recap

This was Maura's first Easter but Nathan's third.  Sadly, I forgot to get bunny ears so nobody wore any for pictures like in years past.
The bunny did make a stop on Holyoke St, I don't know if it's like Santa and you have to be well behaved for a visit, but either way we made the cut.  The kids had fun looking in their baskets, Nathan was especially fond of the bubbles which he learned to blow the week before.  The stuffed animals were from a fundraiser and have these "scent packs" in them, they smell amazing.
I made a new recipe for breakfast, Cinna-bites.  I highly recommend, it's like Monkey Bread but it won't break your teeth if it sits.  It was a sweet dough (thanks for the flavoring, Mom) rolled in cinnamon sugar and put into 2 cake pans instead of a bundt.  In the bottom of the cake pans I put some maple syrup and poured butter over after the bites were added.  Overnight in the fridge (I love that trick) with a quick thaw and re-rise before popping in the oven.  They disappeared before I could grab a picture!
We all ate the fresh bread and forgot about eggs, so we had those with the leftover breakfast for lunch.  Maura is not a fan of eggs, Nathan likes them warm instead of cold like the hardboiled ones.  He was a fan of whacking them on the table to break them though.
During Maura's morning nap Nathan was able to go and see if any eggs were left in the yard for him to find, and sure enough there were tons.  There was a piece of chocolate inside each egg, which he quickly figured out and started just eating the chocolate while leaving the egg behind.  Then he was disappointed when there were only open, empty eggs left.  The horrors of being 2.
I made a ham dinner, with awful rolls that started a fight (long story), roasted brussel sprouts, glazed carrots, mashed potatos and roasted potatos.  I also made lemon meringue pie for dessert!  It was amazing.  The vanilla cupcakes were over mixed and on the tougher side.  Maura didn't seem to mind, though (see picture on facebook).
It was a good holiday overall, although not complete without my family.

Maura's Basket

Nay Nay's Basket

Not sure what to expect at the bottom of the stairs

Happy boy

He painted with the craft that the bunn left him

Egg Hunt Time

There is something in that one still

I think he spied another egg and wouldn't look at me

I didn't leave her out, she is always blurry though, she moves too fast.

Thursday

I notice I seem to write a lot on Thursdays.  I don't know the significance, maybe because it's Therapy Day so there is actually something to write about that has meaning?
Today was Physical Therapy for M.  She got so tired, rubbing her eyes, crying, trying to snuggle.  Kate wanted to spend some more time with her but it wasn't happening, On her notes she states that Maura is presenting with a longer right leg and really is right side dominant as well.  We need to work on making her use her left hand more as well as her legs if possible.  It means attempting to have her climb the stairs and prevent her from using her right leg.  I'm not looking forward to that, I tried it once and she screamed at me.  While using her walking toy we were able to watch her gait better, and it seems as though one foot points in (left) and the other (right) points out, so both feet are pointing to the right instead of straight ahead.  Usually if there is a direction they will both point in or out so this isn't typical.  However, by holding pressure on her hips (pushing in a little as though something was around them) both feet straightened out immediately.  This just indicates the likely cause of this, her hips.  Yes, I am kicking myself more today.
But we have things that I can work on, a list of exercises to do with her.  She will improve, we will figure out what is going on.  It may not be in the time frame I would prefer (like tomorrow) but it will happen.  I just have to learn some patience.

I will just add this to show how things can change in a year....and to make you smile.

Easter 2013