Celebrate This Week 6.05.16

 

It's always good to end the week on a positive note.  Sometimes we concentrate on the negatives.  We have a choice.  Choose positive.  Choose to celebrate.  I will be joining Ruth Ayres and her weekly link-up, Celebrate This Week.  Check out all the other celebrations HERE

Thanks for checking in on my daughter's limb lengthening journey!  We're heading into week 7.  I haven't been able to check in since week 3.  Around that time we got into our weekly schedule and it was PACKED.  Then my husband went home.  I often complain that I do everything... apparently not!  I had to give things up and unfortunately it was writing and a lot of reading.  The worst of it was when the dishwasher broke.  For over a week I had to hand wash everything.  That was not fun.  But things have gotten better and I have time to celebrate!  Here are thing things we're celebrating this week!

1.  SCHOOLS OUT.... FOR SUMMER!

Even though I've been "out" of school since we left to come out here, I've still been teaching my daughter.  We finished her last lesson on Friday and not we're both officially done!

2.  Back to swim meets

My daughter has not only gone back to swim practice, but she has also participated in 2 meets!  Yesterday was our first official outdoor meet that was not just our team.  I definitely felt like a fish out of water!  The complex was beautiful - two big pools!  First we had to find her team.  All of the teams were around the pool under large tents.  The kids sat together and the adults sat together.  Everyone brought chairs.  My daughter liked sitting in those way better than sitting on bleachers!  The hardest part was how hot it was!  It was 88 degrees, but according to Weather Bug, felt like 96!  My daughter swam in 3 events.  She didn't have a best time in anything, but I reminded her:  she is diving off 1 leg, isn't doing fast flip turns because of her heel, is swimming in 90 degree heat and HAS 2 BROKEN BONES!!  The fact she was swimming was great!  She enjoyed herself and I'm glad she could do an activity that felt "normal".

3.  Hello Fresh

Many of you know I CANNOT cook.  Really, I mess up everything.  I ordered meals from a company called Hello Fresh.  I made 3 meals, all by myself!  And they were edible. :)  They don't change my attitude about cooking, but I'm glad I could make meals that are healthy for my daughter and me.

4.  Growing growing growing!
Medically, things have been going well.  My daughter's bones have grown about 2 inches already! When we first got here, her shoes from last summer were way too big - meaning the lift was too small.  Now, the lift is almost too big!  She's getting 3cm cut off this week.  It's more than she needs, but as her leg continues to grow, she'll actually need more cut off.  She's almost at 5cm of growth, and she'll stop when she gets to 10cm.  That will not make her even, but that's how much she should safely achieve.

X-rays of the femur.  

Left side shows 1/2inch growth

Right side shows 1 inch growth

X-rays of the tibia.

Left side shows 1/2 inch growth

Right side shows 1 inch growth

5.  Least restrictive
Just like we look for the least restrictive learning environment, my daughter needs the least restrictive walking device!  Which means she's moved from a walker to crutches.  She's thrilled with that move - they are more socially acceptable, according to her!

Thanks for checking in!