Teasing Teresa

Today after school we got to go visit Teresa at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. She is still in for her shunts. They are still externalized and will hopefully be put back in her next week as long as the fungal infection clears up. She is strong and the rest of her vitals are staying normal. The GI doctor will go in tomorrow (if they have an operating room available) and replace her G tube to a GJ feeding tube. They aren't letting her take in anything by mouth which is unfortunate because we worry that she will start to loss strength in her ability to eat. She was making great gains in this area.

As we were getting ready to leave the hospital, I saw that Teresa was fake sleeping. She does this a lot. I got right up to her and told her that I knew she was faking and that she was really awake...no reaction. Then I leaned forward again and said goodbye and she answered with a hmm. So I did it again and so did she...hmm. I told her I knew she was faking and she just smiled like a Cheshire cat!! This went on for about 15 times back and forth. If I said bye whe would answer back with her hmm sound. If I said anything else then she wouldn't talk. She was purposefully teasing me. I love it!! She is so there and nobody seems to realize it. This was her exact personality before separation. She was funny and a jokester at one years old. I think it is that great fiestyness(sp?) that keeps her going. I can't wait until we go back on Monday to play with her. By the way, Josie was loving being with her today, too. She spent most of the time talking to her and holding her hand.

I saw some more progress with the walking today. She is taking better steps that seem to have more control. We didn't have many opportunities to walk at school today, but she did a lot at home. I just need to work on her speed. We see Liz tomorrow she I will get ideas from her on how to approach this.

School was good today. One alarming thing happened. A little bit before we were going to leave she had a seizure that was a little bit harder and a little bit longer but still not in the grand mal category. She was walking with my assistance back to her seat from the carpet. All of a sudden she wasn't moving her feet. I told her to move and she didn't answer. I then realized that she couldn't answer that she was seizing. So it past like normal and off we went to her seat. Here is the alarming part, she had to write her name on her paper. She started and she put SOJ with the J backwards. I erased it, thought she was goofing off. I told her to write her name properly. It was eisoj with the e upside down and the j backwards. Even when she was learning to write her name in kindergarten she never ever put it backwards. A bit freaked out, I went to show it to Mrs. Watts. An you can bet your bottom dollar that the neurologist will be seeing this on Monday at her appointment. Freaky!! 2 minutes later she did all her work. Wrote in the correct order including her name. Some wire must have crossed during that seizure that enabled her from writing forwards. The brain, especially hers, is a mysterious thing.

Ok, off to put the final touches on the Valentine bags for tomorrow then to bed. Looking forward to a 4 day weekend. We are going to Arizona. More on that adventure later. Jenny and Josie

Better Walking

Today I definitely started to see the walking improve. I felt like we were getting a bit stagnant and it was worrying me. Today at therapy, she began to take very controlled steps especially with her right foot. She is beginning to control muscles that she hasn't ever been able to do in her feet. I will continue to pick up the frequency of walking at home. I let life take over a bit and I need to settle it back down and focus in on the importance of giving her every opportunity to walk. Liz is great at getting her back on track. Josie is enjoying having Bree, Liz's PT student, work with them as well. It is another person for Josie to entertain.

This morning I had to attend our Mending Kids board meeting. Unfortunately for Josie, she only got to go to the first hour of school because there wasn't anyone to stay with her the rest of the day. I hope they find her the right aid soon. I can't continue to put off life much longer and not get my work done to help support us. On the flip side, I can't afford to have them put the wrong person with her just to have someone there. We did have a very productive meeting which is always helpful. The video below is for Przemek and Slywia's review. We are trying to work on picking up the pace of her walking so she can begin to keep up with others. Thanks to all of you who are reading this. We appreciate the support. Jenny and Josie

Baby Shower for Baby Richards

My grandparents had the nicest baby shower for Steph and Mike tonight. It was fun to all be together to celebrate Baby Richards who is due March 22nd. Steph looks and feels great. Luke is very excited to be a big brother. Tonight he was just excited to play with cousin Matt. Brian, Michele, Matt and Trent were down for the party. Josie, of course, loves having all the cousins around. Since we still aren't in our house it is like on big slumber party at grandma and grandpa's house.

We got to go to the Hartman's for the first half of the game today. Always great to be with those friends. Josie had fun playing with the kids and the new guinea pigs.

Thankfully we are all ok from the mud slides. Thanks for all the calls from those who live out of state to check on us. Steph and Mike couldn't get out of their street yesterday because there was a slide across the main road. It was cleared up within a few hours. We pray for those who did have damage to their homes. Hopefully the hillsides will have time to dry up a bit before the rains come again. Good night, Jenny and Josie

First Reconciliation

This morning was Josie's first reconciliation. What a special event. There were 90 children receiving the sacrament of confession for the first time today. I could tell some were fairly nervous. Josie was so calm about the whole process. We have a very caring and supportive priest at our church that I knew would handle the situation perfectly. After the group service the children lined up for individual confessions. Josie was first in line and was so excited to get her own moment with Fr. Jim. I couldn't hear what she said but she was excited to go through it. I was so proud of her.

After reconciliation, I went down to Irvine for a training for a new company I am going to rep called Amerisciences. I am so excited about this company and the opportunity it has. It is a pharmaceutical grade wellness company that predominately sells to physicians. They are teamed with NASA to develop the purest products with the most bioavailability (absorption rate)on the market today. A great majority of the people who where there were doctors. A few of them practice at USC as well as teach there. I will post more on this company as I learn about it. I am so excited about the products they have. I am ordering samples so some of you might be lucky enough to try them and give me your personal feedback. My friend, Anne-Marie loves the energy and the AS 10 super food drink. Can't wait to get my hands on this stuff. Stay tune, more to come...

Off to bed. My head is spinning with so much to digest from a great day. Our best, Jenny and Josie

Kick Ball

So the new game of choice at recess is kick ball. She decided that since the ball is rolled on the ground this would be the perfect ball activity for her. When it was her turn to kick the first time, I let her start running and I just balanced her. All of a sudden her competitive side kicked in and she told me to hold her and RUN!! Just remember: don't tell her she is handicap because she still doesn't see it!! By the second recess the game had picked up popularity and we had 15 on each team. She kept telling me that she just has to kick and run. She forgets that her horse (me) isn't as quick as she would like. So cute.

This morning it was readers workshop in class the kids get to pick a book and sit anywhere in the classroom to read. Today Mrs. Watts was reading with Josie in the classroom library area. Cole thought they looked so comfortable that he just laid down next to them and read his book. See the picture above. Darling!

Today was parachute day at P.E. Nothing more fun! See pic above

We have to pick up the frequency of her walking again. I feel like we lost a bit from being sick last week. I can't afford her to go backwards at all. I have to remember not to let life get in the way of her progress. It is so easy to regress because it is so much effort to maintain and even more to advance. Don't get me wrong, she hasn't really lost anything she just hasn't moved forward this past week. (Przemek and Sylwia don't freak out. I just want to see more forward movement) I have my work cut out from me this weekend.

Off to bed. 2nd grade will come fast tomorrow. I sure hope they find an aid. We are finishing up week 5. Night, Jenny

J.J. and Josie


Going to bed after a long, but positive day. I just had to post that cute picture of J.J. and Josie from school today. It just shows the sweetness of her friends. Funny story about this moment too. J.J. likes to walk with Josie from recess back to the classroom. We go in the back door to put her bike away. Today J.J. said maybe he was going to go line up at the front door but then decided to wait with Josie. As we were going inside, we learned that one of the other kids had thrown up in line. Josie looks at J.J. and says, "Betcha glad you came with me today, huh?" Yes he was. Poor Mrs. Watts had a clean up to do in the hallway. Thank goodness it was outside. Never dull in 2nd grade.

No therapy today, just first communion class. Josie has first reconciliation on Saturday. Please keep her in your prayers. Night, Jenny and Josie

Lucky Us

We are so incredibly blessed to have wonderful people in our lives. I love taking Josie to school and seeing the great love and support she gets there from all the kids. When I was on the treadmill today watching the news (horribly depressing) I realized how lucky we are to be in a happy and healthy environment. I picked up Josie from therapy after that and realized how fortunate we are to have great therapists in our lives. I miss our CHLA ones so much and can't wait until we can get back there. On the way home I got to speak with a friend of mine who I haven't been in close contact with regarding Mending Kids stuff and was so pleased to to talk again. Tonight I got to go play cards at my sister's house with my cards group and I know how fortunate I am to have that group of friends. We love our family more than anything. I could go on and on and on, but I will stop with the mushy part now.

Josie is moving ahead in her life. She is getting the hang of the school thing. I can't believe how well she is adapting to the rigorous schedule with school and therapy. I will try to post video of her walking in the next few days. I shot some today, but it was after 3 hours of therapy and her legs could barely hold herself up they were so fatigued.

One cute story that happened this morning in class. Mrs. Watts asked the kids what they wanted to be when they grew up. Josie of course answered that she wants to be a veterinarian. She said that she has a dog, 3 bunnies, 2 frogs, and a fish. Mrs. Watts said that that must help her with her decision to be a vet. Josie's response to that was, "Yes it really inspires me." That comment stopped Mrs. Watts and I in our tracks. I love the word inspires in that phrase. She never stops to amaze me in her thought process.

Good night to all. You all truly inspire us. Jenny and Josie

PS. Congrats Dolly on the big win tonight!!