Summer Wrap Up

When Rachel turned 3 years old in August she aged out of the Birth to Three program. We began taking Rachel to physical therapy in the clinic setting instead of receiving in our home. 

Going up the ladder

Having fun after going up the ladder

Climbing back down the ladder

A box was made for Rachel to try to stand in while popping bubbles with a racket

Trying hard

Standing strong!

Rachel even tried stepping with these at her insistence-I am trying to find a used pair to buy.

Getting ready to throw the ball

We visited Grandma and Papa up north. Long car ride with the 4 girls but well worth it.

Direct quote from Papa "slow down Rachel, Papa doesn't move that fast!" Love it!!!!!

The older girls looking like they want to find some mischief.

Papa let me take the girls around on one of the 4 wheelers (grandma's-not sure if his was truely in need of repair or he was fearful of my 4 wheeling skills) Rachel is so small. I had to keep my legs up and hold her in place with my knees.

It had been both Meg and Rachel's first time on a 4 wheeler. We love it! Rachel asks almost every morning to go to Papa's and drive the 4 wheeler. 

No trip up north is complete without stopping to listen to the world's greatest song played back to back. Alicia asks Meg- "what is Big John?"  Gotta love Meg's response - "a giant toilet-I don't know"

This was asked prior to arriving.

That is one big tire!

The girls found a giant bear across from Big John (not to be confused with the flushing kind)

We stopped at a wayside park to enjoy some waterfalls.

The pint sized princess was very wiggly here. We will need to stop there again to enjoy a longer time with watching and listening to the waterfalls.

Rachel went to her first Brewers game.

We had fun there as a family. Steve's employer hosted the game as a company event. It was nice to meet some of his coworkers. Alicia, Breanne and I climbed the Mountain Dew rock climbing wall together. Alicia is a rockstar rock climbing wall girl! 

The older girls headed back to school.

Last year of middle school for Bre and Meg.

I need a copy of that rule made to be hung up in mom mobile. 

We enjoyed Labor Day with Steve's family. It was great to see everyone. Grandma with 4 of her 7 granddaughters. Carl needs to start his own restaurant-best ribs ever! 

The kids turned off all electronic devices and had a very competitive game of Clue. Rematch coming up in the near future. They found another anime fan.

We adopted Pepper LD Jackson. He is a 4 month old German shepherd/mountain cur mix. We love his big ears! He has adjusted well into our family. 

Found him cuddled up in what was a clean load of laundry when I got home from work this weekend. The girls had used a baby gait to keep him in the craft room overnight but he had other ideas. Very smart little guy-waited for them to go upstairs then he jumped over the baby gait and proceeded to take a siesta in the clean laundry. He is in training mode with me to be my running companion. I am training to be able to do a half marathon by Valentine's day. Currently I am able to consistently run 6-7 miles and he can do a half mile. 

My selfie with more laundry looming in the background. 

Early Driving Lessons with Dad

Steve was starting Rachel out early for her future driving lessons. Ever since we made the animoto virtual car show both Rachel and Breanne have been preaching that Papa is going to teach both of them how to smoke the tires. Pint sized princess you have a few more years to go! Breanne on the other hand can get her learner's permit next summer. Holy cow! That is bringing terror to my heart and memories of my dad being sure I was going to wipe out St.Mary's Church in Lake Church. Not to mention my brother's invaluable advice of how to know when you are far enough in your lane on a unlined country road- if you hear the grass hitting the side of the car-you are good.Driving her 4 wheeler does require Rachel to practice lifting her right foot up and down for the 4 wheeler to go.

Virtual Car Show for Rachel

Rachel is crazy about cars. Here is the link to the animoto video I created for her.

http://youtu.be/stmMtMSa4-A

Shedd Aquarium 2014

Shedd Aquarium 2014

Happy 3rd Birthday Rachel

Rachel turned 3 yrs old today. Where does the time go?

She is so excited!! Yes, when Rachel was asked what she wanted for her birthday she said "tires".

Steve is trying to assemble her 4 wheeler while Rachel keeps adjusting the hub caps on her tires. She is eagerly watching and keeps saying "come on I want to drive it!"  

Little Miss Independent

Rachel had her short leg casts removed this past Thursday at the orthotist's office in Chicago. 

All ready to go- I love how Rachel says Chicago! In the two weeks time since the red casts were placed Rachel went from only a few independent steps to holy terror step mode. 

She became a blur on most of the pictures I tried to take of her. This girl must have made a long list of places she was going to go and things she was going to get into while recovering from surgery. 

We bought 2 more tennis rackets and several tennis balls in an effort to bring more activity into family time. We are comical to watch as all of us need great improvement in the tennis playing department. Luckily, for us Rachel loves chasing and picking up tennis balls. The pint sized princess took over my racket. She is pretty good considering the racket is nearly the same length as she is- then of course I am biased. 

I finally convinced the family to let me stop and take a picture of the giant chia head outside of the Mars chocolate factory on Oak Park Avenue. Meg was the only one brave enough to get out and walk with me to the giant chia head. (Let me tell you - the grass in front of the factory is very plush! I can see what my M&M addiction was paying for. It is the kind of grass that makes you wish you were young enough to go rolling across it without getting arrested or taken off in the paddy wagon). The Mars chocolate factory is located directly on the other side of Shriners Hospital - separated by railroad tracks. Each time we drive by it the girls and I argue about the chia head. I say "chia head" and they say "Rhianna"- Steve knows better than to get into the arguement considering he is the only guy in the group sitting in a vehicle filled with estrogen in front of a chocolate factory.

We were alittle (2 hrs) early for Rachel's appointment. We made our traditional stop in the Oak Park district. Above is Rachel sitting on the side of the Oak Park Library. This library looks amazing! One day I would love to explore it. 

Rachel changed her mind about getting her casts removed once she saw the cast saw. The orthotist who took care of her was very good and he had the casts off quickly.

Rachel's right foot

Rachel's left foot. These were some stinky feet! I was desperate to get her home and bathe her. 

Rachel didn't care about the stink. She was too eager to get a pair of shoes on and had requested to have her toe nails painted. She also wanted me to give her toes kisses. I opted to do this after she had clean socks on.

Her right foot is slightly swollen yet. While waiting for the orthotist to make some final adjustments to her braces we witnessed Rachel have increased ankle movement in her right foot from the movement she had prior to surgery. Not so much movement with the left ankle noted but you could see her concentrating hard to move anything on her left foot. 

New braces!!! She was alittle wobbly at the orthotist's office but improved greatly while waiting to be seen at Shriners. She was not going to sit still there - I love that she knows where to find her favorite places at Shriners. 

Walking at Shriners! Dream come true! 

Thank you Dr. Altiok! You have given our daughter beautiful bracable feet! With the talent of your hands you have given her one of the greatest gifts she could ever receive - the chance to walk to her ability! Much love and respect from our family to you Dr. Altiok and to your team!

Cooking the Noodle Legs

Each day since Rachel had her purple people eater casts removed-she has made her noodle legs work hard. No surprise-she is back to refusing to use her walker determined to do it on her own.

Hard work, determination are not only beliefs from the Biggest Loser but they are Rachel's code also.

The bottoms of her cast shoes are like us ladies wearing wedges. Besides working weakened leg muscles she is working double time on her ability to balance. Hard work determination pay off- she is standing longer and able to stand herself up frequently without needing to hold onto anything.

Rachel is at 3-5 independent steps. Keep up the hard work and determination Rachel! I am so proud of her and love her happy look when she knows how good she is doing.

Rachel and the older girls enjoying some sister time making s'mores. I am curious as to how many marshmallows Bre was trying to roast at once. 

Rachel enjoyed playing in the ballpit when Gia visited today. The ballpit in Rachel's room was one of the first places she demanded to play in after the long leg casts were removed. She has a slide that she climbs up and slides down into the ballpit.