Visit to the Rheumatologist...

So, today we got the kids up waaaay early so we could get Mia into Boston for her 9:00 a.m. appointment. But, getting there early was so worth it because this was the first time EVER that we didn't have to wait for an hour in the waiting room. Apparently, no one makes appointments that early...or at least not today. We were able to go straight to the room and wait for the doctor. Nice!

The doctor took a look at her joints and, while he wasn't as impressed as he was the last time we saw him, he definitely agreed she is better than she has been in the past. Although, he said he didn't like all the fluid and swelling he saw on her joints...specifically her left knee. He said what he always says, "I am greedy. I want her at 100%." Which I had to laugh at this time because he says this EVERY time. In my head I was like, "Yeah, doc! We do, too!!" But I understand what he means...

We also discussed how her left leg is now longer than her right leg. When I told him this, he said, "Are you sure it is her left that is longer? Because back in October it was her right leg that was longer than her left." I told him that is what the PT told us after she took measurements of it...and, from what I can see with my own eyes, her left is definitely longer than her right. So, he had her lay down on the table and he measured her again. Sure enough, her left is longer. So, he wants to see her in four weeks from now and wants her to have a scan-o-gram (ha ha...sorry, I think this term is very humorous!). Basically, all that means is she is going to have another x-ray from her waist down. So, the next time we come in she will have that done first and then we will meet with the doctor. And her Daddy will be going with her for the x-ray because he is much better at it than I am (hey! everyone has their weak points!!). So, hooray. Another looong appointment. We made sure we snagged an early time slot, though! ;)

Right now, he said he didn't want to switch her to a "stronger level of medicine." He never said the "s" word, but Jay and I knew he meant steroids. Instead he increased her naproxen from 5mls twice a day to 7.5mls twice a day to see if that helps...and because she is bigger now than she was several months ago. I was hoping that we'd be able to start weaning her off of it, but I can't complain. At least she isn't on steroids. Thank God!

We brought her brace in with us today because it is completey worn out and the velcro doesn't work anymore. She has worn it to bed every night since she got it in December, but I had her stop wearing it the last month or so because it wasn't doing what it is supposed to do - keep her leg perfectly straight at night while she sleeps. When I would go in her room in the morning, only one strap would be on...if any. So, the doctor had us go back down to the "Brace Shop," which is located in the lowermost parts of the hospital near the boilers in the basement (a very creep place!) and they measured her for a new brace. Her old brace was a size 6, so they gave her a size 10 today because she is now 30 lbs. and almost 3 ft. tall! They said we should get a new brace every six months. Good to know.

She had blood work done today, as well. I could hear her screaming from the waiting room - not fun! She did a good job, though. They are testing for numerous things and we should have the results back soon.

He also wants us to look into water therapy for Mia. We talked about this in the past with her OT and PT, but now it is coming from him. So, we are going to look into getting Mia into another therapy program. But, I am excited about this one because, as the nurse told me today, they have seen huge results from their patients who are under 3 years of age who are involved in water therapy. And I know Mia will just love it.

All-in-all, today's appointment was a good one. And, as always, Mia was a trooper! While I was hoping for a more positive response from the doctor, I can't complain. We are continuing on the same path that we have been on for the last six months and we are standing strong and believing God that this will soon be over for Mia. She isn't going to have to wait until her teenage years to see if the JRA will go away. It is gone now, in Jesus' name!!

And Mia was thrilled about her new brace! She told everyone about it. I mean everyone - the people in elevator, the lady at the front desk, the people in the lobby. So, tonight we will decorate a new brace and put new Charlie and Lola faces on it.

Stay tuned for another good report when we go back to see the doc at the end of June.

PT Update

Well, this week is the week. We head into Boston on Wednesday for another looooong appointment with Mia's rheumatologist. More blood work. More x-rays. More waiting. Please continue to pray for Mia this week. Today in therapy her knee was much more swollen than usual and she was still at -3 degrees (although, this is MUCH better than the -20 degrees she was at several months ago).

Also, there was much resistance in her right arm when Mary tried to get her to do certain exercises today. She has a very hard time straightening her arm out and it is really stiff. This is also affecting how Mia does things with her right hand, like, picking objects up or even simple things like dumping out a cup filled with water. Holding her palm out flat (like when I squeeze soap into her hand) has not been possible yet because her elbow is preventing her from doing what she should be easily able to do.

Aside from all the current challenges she is facing, we are believing for another GOOD report on Wednesday when we meet with the rheumatologist.

Also, please pray for that the length of Mia's legs will even out so they are the same. She wasn't like this several months ago, but her therapist says this is very typical of JRA - usually the leg that is most affected tends to grow faster than the other leg making it more difficult to walk.

That's it for now....more on Wednesday.
Mia's Momma :)

PT Update

Today at therapy...

• Mary noticed that Mia's knee is more swollen than usual.
  
  
• Mia had a very difficult time doing the stairs exercise and refused to go up the stairs using her left leg first. The same thing with coming down the stairs...she refused to go down the stairs using her right leg first. It seemed like her left leg was really bothering her today.
  
  
• Mary applied moist heat to her left leg and massaged her knee which allowed for a better extension, but Mia was still protecting her leg during the exercises.
  
  
• Mary measured Mia's knee today and she is around -3 degrees. At her last appointment with the rheumatologist, he said the goal is not only for Mia's leg to be completely straight, but when she is sitting down with her legs together out in front of her that we should be able to lift her left foot up so that it is off the floor. This is something all kids can do. Mia can do it with her right leg, but not with her left because of how the JRA is effecting her knee.

So, these are the things we need to work on with her...and what we need to pray about. Mia goes back next Wednesday for another appointment with her rheumatologist. This will be a longer appointment because they are going to be doing more blood work and checking for any JRA markers in her blood and checking her sedimentation rate. They will also be checking for traces of mycoplasma in her blood.

Will keep you posted...

Six months later.

So, here we are. Six months later.

As I look back and reflect over the last six months, I can finally be honest - in the beginning, I felt so alone through all of this. Besides having an excellent resource - and now friend - who my mother recommended to me, we were on our own. I had never even heard of JRA before. The next thing you know I am on the phone with the doctor who is telling me about Mia's white blood cell count and sedimentation rate being too high and that her immune system was attacking itself, causing inflammation in her joints. When he said, "She has JRA" I could feel my head spinning. At the time, I had a three-month-old baby at home who needed me every moment of every day and now my little girl would be needing me now more than ever. It was overwhelming.

The last six months have been difficult and challenging. And I've learned a lot along the way. It was especially hard in the beginning. A friend of mine put it this way, "There is a period of grief in the beginning; a season of sadness in knowing that your child is in pain and and has been diagnosed with something horrible. But, after that period of grief passes, and it will pass, you become strong again. And then you begin to fight."

This has stuck with me.

While I know there are many more horrible diseases out there (which I remind myself of every day and count my blessings), it is not fun, nor is it fair, for your child to suffer in any way. A day hasn't gone by where I didn't wish it was me instead of her. I now understand what it means to have a "mother's love."

So, now we are in a new season. More prayer. More research. More education about JRA and how we can get to the root of this auto-immune disease. If you treat the root then the weeds (allergies and sensitivities) disappear. It is our prayer that God will reveal those "hidden things" to us so we can help our daughter overcome JRA and lead a normal and healthy life.

During these last several months of research, there are many things I now wonder about ...and regret. For example, I wish I had educated myself more about breastfeeding. Perhaps I could have prevented her from getting JRA? Apparently, children who are breastfed have a lesser chance of getting JRA. Had I known that beforehand, I would have done it longer. For both my daughter and my son. But, I try not to beat myself up too much about it. :)

Mia is still on a "special diet." Though, as she is getting older now, it is getting harder to explain to her why she can't have what the other kids are eating. And I am sure it will get even more challenging as her brother starts to discover new and different foods. But, I am convinced this diet is what has helped her the most (despite what medical professionals say) and we are sticking with it for now.

Recently, I stumbled upon a couple of articles/blogs that only confirmed what I already knew in regards to the connection between JRA (and RA) and diet. It is encouraging to know there are others out who have tried what we are doing and it has improved their quality of life, as well. Here are some of my recent findings:

• JRAlife.com
• RA Heart Tip: Try Gluten-Free Vegan Diet
• For Rheumatoid Arthritis, Choose a Gluten-Free Vegan Diet
  

As stated in my initial post, the purpose of this blog is a journal for myself - a way for me remain strengthened and encouraged. It is also a way for me to keep my family and friends back home updated with Mia's progress. Six months later, this blog has become a way for me to track what has worked and what didn't work for Mia. Through this journal (and food journal), I can look back and see where she was at several months ago and the challenges she was facing with her joints and what we/her therapists/her doctors did to help ease the pain she was experiencing.

I am also blessed to know this blog has helped others. I greatly appreciate the emails I have received from people who are also going through their own challenging situations. Please know I pray the same prayer for you that I pray for my daughter...

"They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong." (Psalm 73:4, NIV)

New Allergy-Friendly Foods for Kids!

Cherrybrook Kitchen has just made my life so much easier. This summer, they will be coming out with a new line of GF, DF and egg-free mini cookies and ready-to-spread frostings - just like good ol' Duncan Hines, but better for you. :)

You can't imagine how excited I am about these new products! Now that Mia is in school twice a week, there are birthday parties and celebrations almost every month. Which means, I have to run out to Whole Foods or Trader Joe's, buy a box of allergy-friendly cake mix ($4-5) and a box of frosting ($6) and whip up a treat that my daughter can enjoy while all of her other friends are eating cupcakes made by a local grocery store (loaded with who knows what in them!) that probably cost $1.99 for a dozen. Grrr.

The biggest challenge with these cake mixes and frostings is I have to substitute a ton of stuff in them so they are "okay" for Mia to eat. I can't just dump the cake mix in a bowl, add the liquid ingredients and then bake it for 12-15 minutes. I have to substitute coconut oil (which looks like Crisco, so I have to melt it before I add it) for vegetable oil, rice milk for regular/soy milk, and if the recipe on the box calls for an egg or two I have to mix up some Ener-G Egg Replacer. Same deal with the frosting. All this for one, perfect, tasty cupcake for her to take to school or a birthday party so she won't feel excluded. Don't get me wrong. I am happy to do it for her and I don't ever want my daughter to feel left out, but it is a lot of work and I'd rather be in bed at 11:00 p.m. at night than playing around with egg substitute in my kitchen to get the batter to just right to make one little cupcake. Now you know why I dread going to birthday parties! Well, for that reason and because Mia is at the age where she is starting to realize she can't eat what everyone else is eating and it makes her very sad. Literally. Try explaining to a 2 1/2 year old why she can't have what all her little friends are having. It's not fun.

So, "thank you" Cherrybrook Kitchen. You've made this Mommy so very happy!

For those parents with kids who have food allergies, check out this awesome newsletter I subscribe to by Kids With Food Allergies. They always have helpful information, recipes, or ideas in their newsletters. Besides the Cherrybrook Kitchen products, they just posted a list of other allergy-friendly foods that are currently available or are about to come out soon. :)

New Tasty GF Treat!

In the effort to find an ice cream substitute for Mia during those hot summer days, I discovered a new tasty GF and DF treat at Trader Joe's - Sharon's Sorbets.

They come in a variety of flavors, too! And they are all natural - no artificial ingredients - and are made with pure, unbleached cane sugar. Also, most sorbets are made with milk, but this one is completely dairy-free. And they are so good and very inexpensive - I believe I paid $1.99 for a pint at TJ's. Not bad!

Mia is very happy with her new "ice cream" treat. Hooray! :)

Speaking of Eyes...

Mia has conjunctivitis! BLEH!

First, our entire household came down with bronchitis. It has taken over a month to get rid of it. Now this. I guess it is pretty contagious. Mia hasn't really been anywhere besides the eye doctor's last Friday. I am assuming this is where she got it. Thanks, doc. Thanks a lot.

I have bleached all of the kids' toys, sprayed Lysol all over the house and gone through several bottles of Clorox Anywhere Spray (my best germ-fighting friend). Guess I need to repeat the whole process once again.

Mia does pretty good about taking medicine (considering what she has been through the last six months), but this is the worst. She has never fought us on taking medicine before, but Jay and I practically have to sit on her to get the ointment in her eyes. There are many tears. I feel so bad for her.

So, stay tuned. This may be our SIXTH week of missing church. Lord help us!!

Checking for Uveitis...

Mia had her third eye appointment today since she was diagnosed six months ago. When we arrived, she already knew the drill - wait for the nurse to call her back, sit on Mommy's lap while the put drops in her eyes to dilate them, head back to the waiting room for 15 minutes to wait for them to dilate, head BACK into the examination room to meet with the doctor to have her look deep into her eyes to check for inflammation (uveitis) and scarring, then head directly to the toy chest in the lobby to pick out a special treat. Mia did great today - much better than she did six months ago. This was the first time we didn't have to hold her down while the doctor looked in her eyes. She sat there very patiently and didn't even fuss! Jay and I were so proud of her.

The doctor reported there isn't any inflammation in her eyes - in the front or in the way back. Also, there isn't any scarring from any past inflammation she may have had. This is all very good news! She said that everything looked perfect! Praise God! :)

She goes back again in July for another check up. She will be going to see the eye doctor every three months until she is 10 years old, or so I have been told. We are believing she won't have to for very much longer. :)

"...but in humility consider others..."

I stumbled upon this site via two different blogs that I read.

I felt I should share it with you...especially with those who pray.

Bring The Rain
(www.audreycaroline.blogspot.com)

When you get a moment, please take time to read through the posts...and pray for this family. It is a heartbreaking story. I can't imagine walking the road this mother has walked.

I pray for strength and peace for them. May they feel God's loving arms holding them close during this difficult time.

Postponed...

Mia's appointment with her rheumatologist was postponed for another three weeks. Apparently, she was supposed to have the chicken pox vaccine three weeks prior to this appointment and we were just told that this morning. Lovely. The reason being is because there are side effects after you get the vaccine (rash and fever) and they need to wait until that subsides before they can do the necessary blood work.

So, after being on the phone all morning with her rheumatolgist and her pediatrician (and my doctor's office because I have to go back AGAIN for this horrible virus I can't seem to kick), she will be getting the vaccine this week and in three weeks we will be heading back for the appointment she was supposed have today.

As I mentioned in a previous post, they will be doing blood work to check Mia's erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), which, at her initial diagnosis, was way too high (40), and her white blood cell count. And, at our request, they will be checking for mycoplasma in her blood. They will also be checking for "markers" to see if Mia will be getting the chicken pox.

You may ask, "So what's the big deal if she gets the chicken pox?" Well, because JRA is an autoimmune disease it has caused Mia's immune system to be at a weakened state. If she got chicken pox it would weaken her immune system even more. So, the doctor is just thinking ahead. He wants to make sure that variable is out of the equation.

So, we wait...some more. As always, I ask that you continue to pray for Mia and for us. Also, please pray for her legs - that the length of her left leg will be the same as her right. This just gives the doctor another reason to suggest steroids because they will slow down the growth of her left leg.

Thank you. :)

PT Update!

Good news: Mia did great at her therapy session today. She wasn't favoring either leg and was very balanced when walking on uneven surfaces and with squatting and bending. Mary was quite impressed! Also, her elbow was straighter today. She is still having problems turning her hand over so that her palm is facing upward. Also, when she is picking up something with her left hand, she always keeps her right arm bent. It is really odd. Probably just a bad habit or way she is protecting her joint, but she does it consistently.

We need your prayers!: In some cases, JRA can cause the leg that is most affected to grow faster than the other leg, causing one's balance to be off. This can also result in scoliosis later on in life. Up until now, the length of Mia's legs have been exactly the same. Mary measured the length of Mia's legs today to make sure they were still even. Her left leg is now longer than her right. I could visually see it while Mary was examining her. She told us we need to bring this up to the rheumatologist tomorrow during her appointment. For right now, Mary suggested we just keep an eye on it. However, she said if the left leg continues to grow faster than the right then she suggested we put a shoe lift or insert in her right shoe to even out her length and make her more balanced. She said to check with the doctor tomorrow about this because she said most of them don't like to do this, but she has seen great improvement in kids with JRA by just putting a lift/insert in the other shoe.

Mary said she had be en expecting this would eventually happen to Mia and that she has been watching for it. However, we know this is not something that is too big for God!! Mia has come so far since October...this is just another obstacle in the way on her journey to complete and total health!

So, you may ask, "What causes the leg to grow faster than the other?" Well, it is the same reason why her big toe started to grow faster than her other big toe about a year ago - too much blood is pumping to the affected joint causing it to grow at a faster rate than the opposite and unaffected joint.

So, please continue to pray! Also, Mia goes in to see the eye doctor this Friday to have them checked. We are believing and expecting a good report!!

As always...I'll keep you posted. :)

OT Update and Other News

Mia's OT appointment was at her school today. I am still waiting to talk to her therapist to see how everything went, but it sure was nice of her to stop by the school today to meet with Mia. Mia loves Kelly and enjoys her visits with her!

In other news, one week from today we will be heading back into Boston...again. Another appointment with the rheumatologist. I can't believe two months have come and gone since her last check-up. It will be interesting to see what he has to say. Everything has been the same since her last appointment, however, her right knee has some swelling on it now and she has been limping on it a bit. So, we will see what he says and what the next step is for her. We are hoping to start adding things back into her diet this summer to see what has been the cause of the flare-ups and inflammation to her joints.

Also, next Friday we take Mia back to the eye doctor for her three-month checkup. She goes every three months to have her eyes examined for a disease called uveitis (inflammation of the middle layer of the eye, which, if left untreated, can lead to blindness). JRA can cause uveitis in some cases...and girls are more prone to get it than boys. The last time we went the doctor just peeked in her eye (well, we had to hold Mia down while she was kicking and screaming so the doc could get a good look inside). This time, she will have to have her eyes dilated. She had this done back in October for the first time. They dilate both of her eyes in order to look way into the back of Mia's eyes to check for inflammation. It is certainly not a pleasant procedure for a two-year-old. :o/

Also, Mia will be going to see her pediatrician to get a shot to prevent her from getting the chicken pox. Her rheumatologist requested this so if Mia were to get the chicken pox and they had to treat her with some other medication other than what she is currently on that it wouldn't weaken or worsen her immune system even more than it already is. So, in essence, this vaccination will be protecting her immune system.

So, next week is a big week for us. Please continue to keep Mia in your prayers as we stand strong and believe God for a miracle for our little girl! We are believing for a normal, healthy life for her with no inflammation in her body and an immune system that functions the way God created it to with no malfunctions or disease.

PT and OT Updates

When they said on the news, "The cold season is upon us" they weren't kidding.

We, myself and my two babies, have been "fighting the good fight" for the last week or so. It began with Mia last Monday afternoon - a fever and sever coughing which turned into viral bronchitis; two days later, JJ came down with similar symptoms and a ear infection; two days after that, they lovingly passed it on to their mother. Hooray.

So, needless to say, therapy appointments have been put on hold for now until everyone is feeling better again.

And, as usual, Jay was spared from all ailments. :)

Have I mentioned how much I love bleach?!? I've bleached everything I can get my hands on. Our poor pug, Irving, ran for cover when he saw me coming for him! ;o)

So, we shall start fresh next week with all appointments and therapy sessions.

PEEP this!

An early Easter package came in the mail today, addressed to "Mia and family." Enclosed was a VERY special treat - marshmallow Peeps! At first when I saw them I thought, "Oh no! She can't have Peeps! What am I going to tell her when she asks if she can have one?"

Wellllll...as it turns out, Peeps are GLUTEN-FREE!! Hooray!

And I should have known...Gramma (pronounced "Grumma") would have never sent anything that wasn't an "approved" treat for Mia. :)

PT Update

During today's session, Mary noticed that Mia has fluid on her RIGHT knee now. So, we are keeping an eye on it. Mary took measurements right above, on, and right below her kneecap and well see what happens in the next few weeks. When Mary pressed on the center of Mia's kneecap, you could see the fluid ooze out right above....very squishy and puffy. So, this is something new for us to pray about.

Other than that, she did well during her session. During the exercises, she initiated more with her left leg (i.e., climbing stairs, stepping over hurdles, taking giant steps on the colored mats on the floor to get a good stretch out of her left leg). So, that was very good! Mary said her joints were very fluid today with minimal resistance. Her elbow still needs some work, but it is much straighter than it was several months ago.

Overall, it was a good session. :)

GF, Kid-friendly Food!

Mia's favorite thing to eat is chicken. Since she was a wee tot, Mia always preferred chicken over any other food. She will even ask to eat chicken for breakfast!

However, lately she has become a bit picky about what is placed before her at mealtime. While Mia's diet is a bit limited right now, I try to get creative with what she can eat. She will eat the GF chicken noodle soup I make for her (gluten-free chicken broth, with rice pasta, carrots, celery, chicken, onion and a pinch of parsley). Recently, I discovered that she loves my GF veggie meatloaf (I substitute the bread crumbs for gluten-free waffles that I toast and then blend in the food processor). And, of course, she will eat my chicken cutlets (which I bread with ground up rice crackers) and serve with sweet potato fries (white potatoes are a "no no"). I make most of Mia's food from scratch because not all GF foods in the grocery store are dairy-free and egg-free, too.

So, I need to come up with some other creative food options for her - especially for the days she goes to school. Toddlers can be very picky - one day they love it and the next day they don't! So, I need to send in something with her that I know she is going to eat. Otherwise, they just end up sending it back home to me. And then I wonder to myself, "Well, if she didn't eat lunch, then what DID she eat all day long? Nothing?"

So, I've been trying to come up with new and creative food choices for my little girl.

Last night, while making my weekly trip to Whole Foods to pick up food/snacks for Mia, I happened upon a wonderful, kid-friendly treat - Gluten Free Chicken Nuggets by Wellshire Farms. And they are dinosaur-shaped, too!


You have no idea how excited I was to find this awesome treat! For months I have been making EVERYTHING from scratch - staying up late at night after the kids go to bed preparing food for Mia...and making extra so I can freeze it and have it on-hand when she needs it.

Some of you may think, "Big deal...they are just chicken nuggets!" Well, when you can't pop into McDonald's for a happy meal like so many parents do, GF chicken nuggets are a big deal.

I am so excited about my new discovery! I am going to have her try them out at lunch today...hopefully, she likes them! If she does, this will definitely cut down my time in the kitchen late at night!

Waiting.

"Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good" (Romans 8:26-28, The Message Bible).

We are still waiting. Standing strong, but still waiting. Some days, it feels like we are in mid-air, flying in a holding pattern. Mia has made much progress since October, but what is the next step? Stop her meds next month? Continue her special diet? For how long? Start adding things back in to her diet and see what happens? Am I ready for that and for what may happen? I don't know. So, we are waiting on God for the next step.

However, even in the midst of our "waiting period," God continues to lift us up and encourage us - even at our lowest moments.

Yesterday, Mia met with her OT again. The therapist comes to the church once a week where Mia is in the nursery across the hall from my office. Mia had a great session and did very well with her exercises. At the end of the session, her therapist said to me, "I have a question...and it is not related to Mia's session." She proceeded to ask me about our church and what we believe. I saw the open door and began to tell her all about our church and what we believe and about having a personal relationship with God. She has two teenage daughters at home and seemed very open to everything I was telling her. It was an awesome opportunity to be able to share with her.

After the session, I got to thinking...maybe God has a purpose for this waiting period? I don't think it is an accident that these three therapist have been "assigned" to Mia. Perhaps God has another plan that I hadn't even considered. :)

In the midst of our darkest moments, God always has a way of working the situation into something good. Sometimes, waiting isn't so bad after all.

Goodbye. Hello!

So, you may be wondering to yourself, "Wow! What happened to Dana's other totally awesome layout?" Well, after perusing through several blog forums yesterday, I discovered that the old layout I had chosen is being referred to as the "poop brown" layout amongst other bloggers. Lovely. This news came as a total shock to me when I found out I was not considered "cool" in the blogging world.

In the hopes that none of those skilled bloggers ever saw my layout (which I once liked, but now look upon with total disgust because of the name it is being associated with), I stopped everything I was doing and made the necessary adjustments.

So,"goodbye old" and "hello new." I hope you enjoy the new look. :)

OT Update

Mia's therapist, Kelly, came to our house today for Mia's appointment. Mia is so comfortable with Kelly. She let Kelly go through all the stretches and exercises without very much resistance. She still needs some help getting her right palm to be completely straight when she has it facing upward. But, her knee is looking good and Mia was running all over the place and bending down and squatting just fine today. Kelly was amazed.

The session lasted longer than usual and cut into nap time, so Mia was exhausted by the time Kelly left. As a treat, after nap time we went over to visit Mia & JJ's great grandparents and we had dinner over there with my super cute niece, Isabella, and my husband's aunt, Judi. It was so much fun...a nice break from a long day. And the great grandparents had a blast having dinner with their three great grandchildren.

PT Update

It is Monday again. So, off we went for our morning appointment with Mary. :)

Today was much better than last week. Mia is starting to initiate activities with her left leg. Up until now, she would only go up the stairs or step over objects with her right leg first. Today was the first time that she started alternating legs...sometimes starting off with her left leg first. This is major progress.

As I have mentioned in previous blogs, bad habits have been formed as a result of the JRA. Mainly, because Mia is protecting her joints. Several months ago, she could hardly put any weight on her left leg when she was standing...now she can squat down evenly on both legs and she can lift her leg up to step over things. Praise God!

The Next Step: Mary wants to focus more attention on Mia's elbow as it is still not straight. She did a couple of stretches on her today, but Mia cried and pulled away and told Mary, "NO!" So, we will continue to work on her right elbow some more.