For Daddy

First off, I just wanted to follow up from last week. Everything went really well at LPCH. The procedures went smoothly, and we were back at CRC that evening. Our experience with the outpatient staff and Doctors truly confirmed why we moved to be close to that hospital. In the past, we've only had experience with the CVICU staff, and so I didn't know what to expect going into a different unit. However, everyone we came across was extremely kind, warm, and loving, and made me feel like a vital part of the team. M was a champ, and was back to her normal self the very next day. Let me tell you, it is SO NICE not to have the broviac anymore. As for the MRI, they did find four gall stones altogether, but they were not dislodged or causing issues in her gall bladder. We have yet to hear from Moriah's GI Doctor about what they are going to do about them - if anything at all.

Since Justin is still away for work, I'm letting him in on what his girl has been up to lately. Things have been rather calm, which is nice, and I've had nothing but a happy girl on my hands. She hasn't had anymore issues with pain for a couple weeks now, since they maxed out her Neurontin, and she is still going strong with being off the vent for 6 hours total. There is talk now about moving her up to 4 hour sprints, twice a day. Soooooo great!

Here we are enjoying the nice outdoors with Maji. She is doing a little weight-bearing on her feet


It only lasts for seconds, but it's still better than nothing. At least we can be outside,
off the vent, doing these exercises


While happy, Moriah's also been "naughty" and has been pulling her socks off about twenty times each day. Why not just leave them off, you ask? Because she pulls her pulseox probe (wire that lights up her toe) and sets off the alarms...this is the joy of having all the accessories...I've even seen the beginning signs of her pulling at her trach... I am not looking forward to facing that battle...you can see now why I'm happy the broviac is gone!


Smiling...with a really stretched out sock on her foot


Sporting a new swimsuit on pool day.
She got mad at me for making her wear her sunglasses, and she kept trying to take them off


She won


And last but not least, we have music therapy with Jodi!!
I have to be honest and admit that I had my doubts about music therapy for M. She cried and cried through the first few sessions, and was scared of all the noise and vibrations she would feel. Whenever Jodi would walk by her with the guitar, Moriah would cry and throw her hands as far back as she could so that she wouldn't have to touch anything (Jodi taught us that children with hearing impairments feel the vibrations of the instruments even more).

Over the past few months, through Jodi's passion, skill, and dedication, M can't get close enough to her when she plays the guitar!
For example:



And today, Jodi took Moriah on her lap, and let her explore the guitar herself. She loved it!



It's amazing to witness the progress that she is making right before our eyes...and I even think she might be taking after her Daddy from his college days


You all know that she's got one thing down....that CRAZY HAIR =)