Ice skating with Mending Kids

We are really on the ice skating roll this week...3 times. Josie is loving it and so are the people skating with her. I love to watch her engage with "normal" activities and that she isn't limited by her abilities.

The PCY girl gang



Josie and Mark Urata. Mark is the doctor that separated Josie. He did all her reconstruction and continues to be her lead doctor. Fun to be with he and his darling family that day.


Mending Kids had a terrific ice skating day at Santa Monica Beach on Sunday. It was quite a trip to be skating on frozen ice when it was 81 degrees at the beach that day. The poor guys trying to manage the ice had a heck of a time trying to clear the water off the rink. We had a ball pretending we were staking in a pool. Fun to be with all our MKI friends new and old. Mark Urata and family were there. I always feel more comfortable doing any kind of activity when Josie's lead doctor is present!! Good thing he lives down the block. Sorry for you Mark. After skating we went to 3rd and Promenade with the Drummond Family. Josie brought her good buddy Audrey with us so Cole and the girls enjoyed dinner. Thanks for taking us out Drummonds. Great to have time to catch up with you all.

OK Michigan family and friends...I realize that we still don't get the idea of winter sports, but it is hard when it is so hot out. Come visit us!! Miss you all so much. Jenny and Josie

Brownies on Ice

Today I took our Brownie troop ice skating. We had so much fun. A very special thanks to Brad Lew for helping out. I realized very quickly yesterday that there was no way for me alone to get all those skates on and laced up in time for our lesson. A nice man named Tau did our lesson for us. He was helpful since a majority of the girls have never been on ice skates. It was fun to watch them progress in such a short time but most of all to see their smiles and hear the giggles. We have such an adorable troop that has been together since kindergarten. Josie thought she was skating like them. She would hold her body they way they were instructed. I love that she can have "normal" experiences in her life. Her life is so far from normal.





Tonight we went to dinner at Steph's house. Michele, Brian and boys were back up in La Canada. The cousins all have such a great time together. Luke and Matt play so well with Josie. Fun they are older to actually play together. The babies are getting so much older and more interactive. Trent is just about to take off walking. Amazing to watch the precess. As I have learned, it is a huge process and amazing that anyone can walk when you really dissect what it takes. I know an enormous brain injury doesn't help. Beating the odds is what we are trying to do best. Night, Jenny and Josie

Ice Skating

Josie has wanted to go ice skating for a really long time now. I just couldn't quite figure out how exactly to make that work. After school we went to the Pasadena ice rink to give it a try. I brought the Crocodile walker thinking that would be the best idea. After I got her skates on (after 2 pairs) I put her in the walker and onto the ice. Immediately the feet went out in front of her. After realizing that there was no good or safe way to make this work, I put her back in her blue cadillac. Bingo it totally worked. We skated for an hour and she couldn't have been happier. She was moving her arms all over like a professional skater. She would spin in circles> most importantly she was having a ball and was really safe. Tomorrow I am taking the whole Brownie troop there so we wanted to check it out first. Tomorrow I am going to use the blue Cadillac again but remove the blue foot plate so she can put skates on, feel the feeling of the ice under her feet and still be extremely safe on the ice. Loved hearing her laughter on the ice. Don't tell us know, just let me figure it out and it will be done.

At school today she got %100 on her purple words spelling test. She was so proud of all her hard work and accomplishment. We are moving onto the blue words tonight. She is doing really well in school. I am so proud of her. Thanks for checking in. Jenny and Josie

Went to the pet store for rabbit food today...

And guess what jumped into our basket...


Josie and I just couldn't resist and the man at the store didn't make it any easier. What's 3 when you already have two. Speaking of 2, we picked up our old male bunny from the neighbors who so kindly bunnysat it while we were in Michigan. I would love to return it to the neighbors but Josie won't hear of it. George (what the neighbors named him since they didn't like the name Fatty da Tatty (Josie named of course) if happily hopping in the back yard. He didn't forget a thing being gone 6 months. I walked out tonight to put him away and he hoped right over to the cage, got in and waited for his food. I didn't realize before having these bunnies that they were so smart.

The keeper of the kingdom, Lolly, isn't warming up too quickly to the new bunny. Every time the bunny goes into the little castle thing, Lolly flops herself at the entrance so the bunny can't get out. They are also separated right now because Lolly is chasing her like a crazy lady around the pen. Speaking of crazy ladies, my suspicion now is that they didn't sex Lolly right at the pet shop and that she may actually be a boy. Acting that way if you know what I mean. I'll have to sun her to the vet for a second opinion.



Keeper of the Kingdom...Miss Loly blocking in the new bunny


Liz, you shouldn't give us days off. We run ourselves into all kinds of trouble!!

Not much more happening in our world. Tomorrow we are going to measure out the run way measurements for the fashion show in March. We have to start timing these practices so we can get them under 5 minutes. 5 minutes with an audience is going to be the trick!! Perfect practice makes perfect...we just have to practice. Night from bunnyland, Jenny and Josie

PS. IF Lolly turns out to be a boy, you all can have first pick of the litter!!

Weekend in the OC

Josie and I headed down to Orange County right after school on Friday for a couple of meetings I had to attend. Josie is so amazing during these meetings. There are very few 9 year old that can sit quiet and patiently during something that is so boring to them. It was cute today when we were asked to got around the room and introduce ourselves. When we came to Josie she spoke right up and said, "Hi I am Josie Hull. I got into this business with my mom. I sell Fusion for her and I take Omega." She was adorable and probably more poised than most of the adults that were in the room. After our meeting ended yesterday, she asked to make a quick announcement and told everyone that she was selling Girl Scout cookies. Let me tell you how many orders she took!! She is my little entrepreneur. I love my business and I love even more how open and welcoming everyone is to her.

When we weren't in meetings we were at the Amigleo's house in San Clemente. Josie absolutely loves being with Tony and Anne Marie's 4 kids. The kids are 11, 10, 9 and 4 so they all play together well. We are thankful to have them and are able to stay with them. Thanks Amigleos.

Hope all of you are having a great weekend. Love, Jenny and Josie

300

I know what you are all thinking because I posted a number. I wish you were right in thinking she stood independently for 300 seconds, but unfortunately that isn't it. 300 represents the number of posts to date. Who knew I had so much to say..oh with me of course I had so much to say.

So let's take a quick recap of what has transpired over 300 posts which includes 1 and a half years. Here is the bottom line...post number 1 she couldn't walk, post number 300 she can walk. I hope and pray by post 600 that she is walking without canes or anything. I think it is in the realm of possibility. There is still a lot of hard work ahead of us. I need to reeve the engines back up in me. I feel a tad burnt out but can't let down after all this time. Josie isn't burnt out and that is what matters most.

Thank you to all of you who check in on us. Knowing we have your support makes the journey worthwhile. Thank you to our friends and especially family who have been so supportive and caring. We could not have gotten this far without you. Stay tuned more exciting things to come. Jenny and Josie

Happy Birthday to my Darling Sister, Stephanie

It is Steph's birthday and we had a nice celebration at our parent's house tonight. Brian and Michelle and the boys came down today from Tahoe. Gary and Carol Richards (Mike's parents) got to join us. Grams and Gramps were there. The kids loved helping blow out candles and open presents. Happy birthday my sweet Stephanie!!

Cute Josie is loving school so much. I think the social part is the true draw even though I would like to believe it was the academics...haha. Every Monday she has to leave school during lunch time to get to therapy on time. She doesn't like leaving early in fear that she will miss some big event at school. Last year she was leaving 2 and 3 days early so she lucked out this year. Anyway, just before we got in the car this morning, she asked if she could stay at school until night time and that it was more fun there. Stab to the heart in one sense and overjoyed that she likes it so much in another. I don't blame her for wanting to stay. After school she either has to go to therapy for hours or do her walking and workout with me at home with homework. I must not be the fun mom to her since I am always making her work. I do try to keep life fun for her. Oh well.

Before the party she did a good job with an hour and a half of homework. The page that I thought she would struggle with she actually totally understood. She amazes me daily. She also had to do a lot of cane walking today since we have slacked off on it this past few days...sorry P and S!! I will pick it up again I promise.

Speaking of P and S, aren't you guys impressed that I am posting for the 3rd day in a row!! I apologise to my main subscribers for the lack of posting happening lately. So great to Skype with you guys last night. Josie was still talking about it today. Hugs to the big Max Man for us.

Over and out. Will check in again tomorrow. Jen and Jos