Fun at a Hotel

Last weekend we met the Coffindaffers at a hotel for a little bit of fun. The kids were excited to go swimming and play together. The hotel had a very nice set up with the pool area being located right outside our hotel rooms along with a play area. Addy was very excited about going swimming. After thinking back, we really hadn't taken her to a hotel before so this was a new experience for her. She slept very well in her own double bed. Lots of fun was had by all. The pics are a little blurry as I totally forgot my camera and had to use my phone:(

Birthday Parties

This weekend we attended two birthday parties. The first one was for Logan and Landon, twin boys who live across the street from us. They turned 1! After their party we headed over to Isabelle's party who lives next door to us. She turned 2!

Now that Addy understands birthday parties and what they are all about, she was really looking forward to them and had a great time. I would be lying if I didn't say that attending events like this makes me a little sad to see what a disadvantage she has physically with the other kids. It's difficult because she is at the age where she wants to play with them and do what they are doing. When we attend many functions, we find that typically there isn't enough room for her to use her walker which is her only form of independence. She is then forced to sit with us rather than run and play with other kids her age. I can only hope that her time will eventually come. Here are a few cute pics from the day.

Happy Valentine's Day

Addy really got into Valentine's day this year. She was very excited about her party at school and giving Valentines to all her friends. She sat and helped me write out each Valentine. Her contribution was drawing a face on each Valentine as you can see by the picture. She loves to draw and faces seems to be her favorite. For a little girl who came out of the womb with very strange looking hands, I think she's doing a great job. Never in a million years would I have guessed her fine motor skills to be this far along at 2 1/2 years old.

She had a great time at her party which I attended with her. On Valentine's day her and Aaron brought me breakfast in bed which she thought was pretty cool along with a homemade card from her which of course included several faces.

Snow Fun!

Addy had a fun time in the new fallen snow today. We didn't stay out long, but it really is one of her first experiences this year with the snow. She went on a quick sled ride at Grandma and Grandpa's house a while back , but never really got out of the sled to play. She has seen Max & Ruby (TV show) make snow angels and snow bunnies on TV and she had her heart set on making one. She tried very hard. She loved throwing snow balls and really wanted to make a snowman, but it just wasn't the right kind of snow. After getting cold outside, we came in and warmed up with a nice cup of hot cocoa....her new favorite thing.

Low Key Weekend

Well we were suppose to go away with the Coffindaffers this weekend, but instead Addy came down with a bout of pneumonia. So, we canceled our trip and laid low all weekend. Even though she's sick, she has been in great spirits. So what does a little girl do when she has pneumonia? Well, she primps her bear and files his nails as well as gets her own nails painted of course! How fun! Then she falls asleep while playing the computer with daddy. Hopefully we are on our way to recovery.

Surgery update/Having fun

Addy's surgery went very well. Tubes were put in both ears and a scope was done. After the scope, the doc paged me to discuss the results before they lifted the anesthesia. What they found was kind of expected. She still showed signs of laryngomalacia. Most kids outgrow this by her age and there is no telling whether or not she would outgrow it in time, so the doc suggested that we cut some of the tissue away in the glottal area to help her out. They did just that and amazingly it has seemed to work. We no longer hear any loud breathing during physical activity. I am thrilled that it worked. Addy recovered much better than we could have expected and took everything in stride. We couldn't have asked for more. Doesn't she look just thrilled in this picture???



Addy's new favorite thing is to make hot cocoa with marshmallows. In therapy this week she created an art project of a cup of cocoa using real cocoa, paint and cotton balls. The project was then followed by the experience of her getting to make her own hot cocoa. Boy did she like it and now of course we have to do it at home!



Last weekend we headed to Ionia to visit Grandma and Grandpa Mills. On New Year's Eve, Aaron and I went out while Grandma and Grandpa took Addy to a roller skating party. Now I know you are asking yourself how in the world a kid who can't walk roller skated. Well, we assumed that she would just walk around the rink using her walker. She did that, but also told Grandma that she wanted to put on her own pair of roller skates. She even said in her own words..."Grandma, I'm gonna try really, really hard." So, she did. It was difficult for her and she didn't get far, but enjoyed having the skates on her feet. So after hearing the stories, Aaron and I had to go for a trip to see it for ourselves.

This time we took along our own pair of skates that we higher in the ankle for more stability. She could wear them over her shoes and fit well. I was amazed that she actually was able to get up and roller skate with them on using her walker. I held her by the back of the pants just in case of a fall, but she did the rest. She is one motivated little girl! What fun it was to see her trying so hard. Our friends, Marty, Steph and Kaya also came along. Kaya was very scared at first since she had never roller skated before, bu it didn't take her long to really enjoy it. Guess we will have to do that more often.

Medical/Therapy Update

Just a little bit of medical and therapy news to update. Tomorrow we venture to Children's Hospital for tubes in ears as well as a scope. Addy had tubes in her ears as an infant due to chronic ear infections, but the tubes have since come out. She has had continual fluid in her ears over the course of the last few ENT appointments which is beginning to affect how she hears. The only way to correct this is to replace the tubes so we can get rid of the fluid.

While she is under the anesthesia, she is going to be scoped to take a look at her vocal chords/throat/larynx area. She has laryngomalacia which is a common condition in infancy in which the soft cartilage of the upper larynx collapses inward during inhalation. Typically by now most kids have outgrown this. Addison continues to have very loud breathing when exerting physical activity to the point that people have questioned me as to whether or not she is breathing okay. She sounds like she is struggling to breath, but if you look at her she shows no outward signs of struggle. The ENT thinks that it continues to be due to low tone in that area, however, just to be sure the scope will be done to check for abnormalities.

Her surgery is scheduled from 10:00-11:30. The worst part about it is nothing to eat or drink after midnight. That is going to be rough for a little girl that loves to eat. We shall see how that goes.

In therapy news, Addy recently received a new pair of braces. This time they gave her an SMO/AFO combination which is a short ankle brace that fits inside a taller ankle brace. She needs to have the use of both kinds of braces so they thought this might be the route to go. Well, it's not quite working for us. The inner ankle brace is made of such thin plastic that it gaps and just doesn't seem to be a snug fit on her feet. The orthotist is going to relook at them and we will probably end up getting new ones made.

We also just ordered Addy an orthopedic stroller. The regular stroller that she currently uses she has almost outgrown and she will definitely continue to have a need for a stroller when it comes to distance. I will post pictures when we get them, but it will probably take 6-8 weeks to receive it. She's also on the last hole of her walker to be able to adjust it in height, so that will probably have to be ordered in the near future as well.

I think that's all for now. Here are some cute around the house pics of Addy. Oh and by the way, in case you missed it........IT'S A GIRL!!!! We are excited that Addy is going to have a sister.