Much Improvement

Nikki is doing great.  Right now she feels safe in her brace so she is not fighting that and last night and today has gone to bathroom and walked (with help).  We are so thankful and feel so relieved.  Obviously there's still a lot more to deal with but we will take any small steps.

Bethany has been with her other grandparents most of the weekend so I am missing her.  Except for a little shopping we haven't had much time to do anything fun.  Hopefully we can before she goes home.

If you have seen many pictures of Sophie she usually has Pooh Bear in her arms.  She loves her Pooh - so Amy knew she had to try and take her to see the Winnie the Pooh movie yesterday.  This was her first movie and she did great.  I helped that it was just an hour long, but I think she could have even lasted a little longer.  It was a cute, old-fashioned movie.

As you can see - Pooh went with us!

Tough Week

My sweet little 4 year old granddaughter is going through something no little girl should have to go through.  Since birth she has battled scoliosis and we've all hoped and prayed that surgery wouldn't have to happen for years, but it came to a point where the doctors said it had to be now. The curve in her spine had progressed to a point where it was beginning to cause other problems.On Wednesday she had surgery to place rods alongside her spine and straighten it.  It was an early morning for everyone and a nail-biting nervous wait for all of us, but she came through the 4.5 hr. surgery fine. The pediatric orthopedic surgeon was wonderful and he said the surgery went just as it should - no unforeseen problems. 

After they moved her to the PICU unit we got to go in 2 at a time to see her.  She had come out of the anesthesia fine, and before they sedated her again she was in pain and a little agitated and kept saying, "Mama, I don't want this".  It was soooo hard to see a little one in this situation who doesn't understand what's going on.  Heart breaking.  In a little while they got her sedated and calmed down.

This was day one after they got her pain regulated and she went to sleep.

We left late that afternoon to come home and brought Bethany with us so that my son and DIL could stay at the hospital as much as needed and not have to worry about her.  Since then we have been in contact by email and phone, but really wish I could be there too. 

She was kept sedated until today.  Yesterday they measured her for her brace and today Jon said they put the brace on and stood her up.  They have taken out some of the tubes and possibly will move her to a regular room as soon as they have one.  She has such a long journey ahead of her.  Please pray for her and for Jon & Janet for patience and guidance.  She is a headstrong little thing and isn't going to like that brace, but she has to wear it for awhile.  I know this is all for the best - but will be so glad when it is behind her and she is comfortable and pain free again.

We hope to see her like this again soon.