More pictures

Day Trip

Well, it was a Morning Trip to be more accurate.  We ventured out to Rockport, a short 38 minute drive door to parking space.  We arrived just as Maura was waking from her nap which worked perfectly.  It's a great area to walk around, very scenic and full of little shops and artist galleries with everything from stained glass to airbrushing to pewter something or other.  Most shops were not stroller friendly, aside from the "Fudgery" which was charming and reminded me of Maine and Cape Cod vacations from ages ago.  Nathan charmed the owner who made the big stuffed animal bear wave for him.  Nathan isn't as fond of fudge as Maura, but I have yet to find anything aside from peas that she won't eat.
We roamed for a while, and watched boats entering the harbor.  It was perfect weather for this, a nice sea breeze and strong sun let us enjoy our hot dogs outdoors overlooking the other side of the harbor.  After lunch we quickly packed up and headed home so the kids could not nap.  Such is life.

The Famour Fishing Shack

Look, it's historic!

Rocks underfoot

She is beautiful

Lunch, Maura has no room left in those cheeks and Nathan stole her bow

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.