Birthday Botox

Last week was my big 29th birthday.  So, I packed up the car drove to the doctor for some much needed Botox.....for Elena!  Though, teetering on the edge of my 30's has me finding a few more grays and another wrinkle or two!

But really, on my birthday last week, Elena had another round of Botox injected into her inner thighs, hamstrings and triceps.  As usual, it was painful for both Elena and Mom and Dad.  But, she's had a great week in therapy no doubt attributed to the Botox.  Keep praying that this round of Botox will continue to produce good boosts in progress.

Last weekend, we had a mini-getaway to French Lick for a family reunion.  Elena was such a champ.  We spent some time in the pool, which she absolutely loves.  She stayed up with all of us, enjoying a ragtime band, on the veranda of the hotel until nearly 10pm.  She loved the music!  And best of all, she enjoyed a queen size bed all to herself!  She's getting much too big to sleep comfortably in a pack n' play, so we nestled her into the bed and she did great.  It reminds me that my little peanut is no longer a baby!

We're enjoying our last two weeks of "summer" before Elena begins at the Jackson Center.  As the date approaches, I'm starting to get very apprehensive about it.  I'm not just nervous about doubling the amount of rigorous therapy Elena will be receiving on a weekly basis.  It's lots of things.  The first few sessions I anticipate will be miserable, as Elena will have to adjust to strangers pushing her through tough physical activities for three hours.  I'm not sure I will be able to even watch.  I'm nervous about pushing her too hard.  I'm anxious about our new weekly schedule, and if we'll have time for anything else.  This is going to be a big step and huge adjustment for Elena and me.  Your prayers over the next couple weeks will certainly be appreciated.  I know I'll be praying my way that first week.

I'll leave you on a higher note with a sneak peek of Elena's two year pictures.  Our dear friend and reliable photographer, Sam, knocked it out of the park again.  We've only seen one picture and it immediately made Chad and me giggle.  It captures exactly our precious Elena.....our happy, easy-going, full of smiles, Elena.

Videos

We've been taking quite a few videos of Elena the last couple months.  I'm trying to do a better job of capturing some of her therapy-based moments so that *hopefully* this time next year, we can giggle about about all the progress she's made!  

The first was from back in June when we were testing out a gait trainer for Elena.  It was her first time being upright like that and able to move her legs in a stepping motion.  She really did a great job, taking a few steps with her right, but like everything that left side is tough for her to control.  Still, it was so precious to see how proud she was of herself after taking a step!  

This next one, is from the other day when Elena and I were working on some vision and touching exercises.  I put this toy in her hand her little arm just started shaking it!  We've really been pushing her to learn specific commands.  We get so excited when we observe her understanding a command and actually is able to act on it.  It was even better when she started to try and put the toy in her mouth!  Considering how orally averse she is to pretty much anything, this is great!

This last one, is from the same day working on sitting in one of her therapy sessions.  She is just so darn close!  Elena has high muscle tone in her extremities and low tone in her neck and trunk so sitting for her is the ultimate balancing act.  We treat her high tone with Botox; if only there were a way to take the tone out of her extremities and put it into her trunk!   Keep praying she accomplishes this goal soon...it's soooo important!

I'm just now getting around to uploading pictures from her birthday party...so I hope to share those with you later this week.  Thanks for all your continued prayers and love for our little sweet pea!

She's T-W-O!

Good Lord, how is my baby TWO?  I know every parent says that, but honestly I have a hard time believing that my sweet Elena is two.

Two years ago I was soooo over being pregnant ready to meet my little boy or girl.

Two years ago the doctor announced "It's a GIRL!"

Two years ago I laid my eyes upon the sweetest little face I had ever seen.

Two years ago my life changed forever.

Elena came into our lives and made us feel a love you can never describe.  She has made my heart grow to the size of Texas with love, compassion and tenderness.  Our lives have become more chaotic but we wouldn't change it for the world.  Her smile melts my heart and her giggle is contagious.  She is the best cuddle bug and never tires of my excessive hugs and kisses.  My Elena is the sweetest soul.  I can't imagine my life without her.  I became Elena Catherine's Mommy two years ago and there's been no greater moment in my life.

For Elena, each birthday truly is a celebration of her life, a life that was spared for a greater purpose.  Each birthday is an incredible blessing to us.

Happy, happy birthday my darling, my sweet, my precious, Elena!  We love you more than could ever be put into words.

Santa Barbara

Boy, am I backed up on blogging.  I feel like I have about five posts I need to publish!

I'll start with our trip a few weeks ago to Santa Barbara, California.  Each year Chad's company rewards those on their sales team who exceed their goals, with a fabulous trip.  Chad and I went out for a few days and came back wondering why exactly we live in Indiana!  I mean the Midwest is great and all, but I'm pretty sure I found my little piece of heaven.  It's a beautiful part of the country with the most ideal weather.  I would assume that's why real estate costs what it does out there!

Anyway, we enjoyed laying by the pool, amazing food and the great people that Chad works with.  Laney was great for my Mom and Dad, which helped us relax all the more.

 Chad's ugly catch

 I hate running but I'm pretty sure I would run this path every day!

 Part of the crew on the last night

 We're soooooo Hollywood!

Some more of our friends, you know Sammy, Dean, Frank and Marilyn.

An Update on Laney

It's been a little awhile since I posted prayer requests and an update on how our little Elena is doing.  Summer is flying by.  I can hardly believe her second birthday is just a couple weeks away!  I feel like I just finished planning her first birthday!

We're looking forward to having a therapy free day each week in July.  Her Mother's Day Out program is out for the summer and she doesn't begin her new therapy at the Jackson Center until early August.  We plan on spending some time at the pool, the zoo and maybe some shopping with Gramma :).  It will be so fun to not be planning every single day around nap schedules and therapy! We can't wait!

While Elena is doing well, Mom and Dad admittedly have been a little frustrated.  It has felt like we've been at a plateau for a few months now.  We're anxious to see a bump in progress.  She is sooo close to sitting, but just can't make the leap.  She still struggles with keeping her little head up and maintaining her trunk control.  She can sit typically for 10-20 seconds before she ends up tipping over.  This is a HUGE, HUGE, HUGE milestone for her and we're just so anxious for her achieve it.  I know it isn't our timing but it feels like we've been on the cusp with this for months.  Bless her heart, it is just so difficult for her.

As if sitting wasn't frustrating enough, eating is even more frustrating.  She isn't eating nearly the volume she was back in December.  Every time we sit for "bites", it's a battle.  She usually wins, as it's hard to wiggle a spoon in her mouth when it's clamped shut!  Some days are more encouraging than others, but it is SO slow.  We remain committed to her eating, but it's impossible sometimes to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Sitting and eating are such big milestones for Elena to inch towards independence.  I can't explain how difficult is to be continually working on these tasks and to see minimal improvement.  If only we could will her to achieve these feats!  We would be so grateful for prayers for these two things.  I find myself saying a million little prayers throughout the day for her.  Sometimes our list feels so long that I can only mentally focus on these two things.

Our days are usually frenzied and sometimes very long, but our girl is still so content.  She provides me with infinite smiles and giggles, which are so darn cute with all her new teeth!

As always, thank you for your continued love and support of our family!  No matter how much time goes by, I still tear up when people tell me they still pray for our girl.  Our journey can be so daunting sometimes, but it is so, so comforting to know God still hears prayers every day for Elena's continual healing.  So thank you.

Prayer Requests:

-That Elena would SIT!!
-Improvement in eating
-Improvement in Elena's muscle tightness/weakness
-Improved vision
-That we would see an increase in her ability to move her arms
-That Chad and I would continue to make the right decisions for Elena's care

Last but not least...we promised the sweet Shaw family that we would post a picture of the adorable outfit they sent Elena this winter!  She didn't cooperate too well when trying to take a picture but let me tell you she rocked it and was so cute in it!!  Thanks for thinking of us!

Martha's Vineyard

You may remember me blogging about a Ronald McDonald House fundraiser  back in November.  During a silent auction, we bid on a week's stay at a house on Martha's Vineyard.  This past week we traveled to the East Coast for a few days with our friends the Ertels, the DeMoss', Kyle and my brother and sister in-law!

We had so much fun!  Our house was on 22 acres in the middle of the island.  It was a perfect setup.  We enjoyed bonfires, bocce ball and whiffle ball games.  During the days we explored each of the towns on the island, definitely getting our fill of crab cakes, lobstah rolls and chowdah!

It was a great trip with great friends!

Pulling into the harbor

 The Gents:  Ev, Aaron, Chad, Andy and Kyle

 The Ladies:  Amy, Alisha, Lindsay and me

 Taking in the sights!

 Kyle enjoying some attention from us ladies :)

Happy Father's Day!

I wanted to give my honey a little recognition today on the blog.  He generally doesn't enjoy any kind of public acknowledgement of himself, it makes him really uncomfortable.  He is a fly under the radar kind of guy.  But, just this once I want to brag on him...just a little :)

Our anniversary is coming up a little later this summer.  I once heard someone say that your wedding is only the beginning.  It's the beginning of a lifetime of ups and downs, joys and sorrows.  I knew on my wedding day that I was marrying my best friend, someone I could always depend on and who always (well, mostly) laughed at my jokes.  It's funny though, I knew all that but it has really been special to see all of what I "knew", be put into action.  I, without a doubt, believe that God put Chad in my life because He knew that Chad would be the perfect person for me to walk through life with.

Chad is the glue to our family.  He keeps us grounded, when I'm overly emotional.  He always has some ridiculously positive quote to reassure me when I'm feeling blue.  He can make Elena and me laugh until our cheeks hurt.  He is the strength to my weaknesses.  He works so incredibly hard at his job to provide so that I can continue to stay home and work with Elena.  For Chad, our family always, always comes first.

And to Elena.  Gosh, is he the best Dad.  I'll never forget seeing him the first time he held her when she was born.  I feel like I saw his heart change before my very eyes.  It is such a joy to me when I see them together.  He is the definition of a hands-on Dad, taking an active role in every aspect of her care.  I often have to remind him that she is up 30 minutes past her bedtime, just because Daddy wants to hold her.  Seeing how much he loves her makes my heart burst.

He understands when I need a break or am tired and takes over without hesitation.  I am so thankful to have a loving, caring, understanding partner in all of this.  I cannot even imagine having to walk this journey without him.  And Elena just may be the luckiest little girl in the world to have a Daddy who loves her to a million pieces.

We love you more than words can say Chaddy.  Happy Father's Day to a very deserving Father!  You're the best!