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. 

Gone are the Purple People Eater Casts

Today we travelled down to Shriners Hospital in Chicago to have Rachel's monsterous purple long leg casts removed. She is approximately 6 weeks post op.

Rachel has her purple sunglasses on for the ride.

By the end of the 4 weeks with the purple people eater casts Rachel had worn down both of the heel sections and the fiberglass on the left foot was starting to loosen. We used minion duct tape to remedy the loosen piece of fiberglass.

Rachel insisted on staying in my arms while the casts were bivalved for removal. She cried from the sound of the cast saw even with little ear muffs on to buffer the sound. I tried to remind her that it sounds just like the mixer when we are making cookies. We went over the ingredient list for chocolate chip cookies- flour, baking soda, salt, butter, eggs, sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, chocolate chips and my secret ingredient (2 tbs vanilla wafer butter from Williams-Sonoma). This helped but she calmed down most when her dad came to sit closer to us. Nothing like a good dad to chase away the scary stuff.

Fair warning some of the following pictures may appear graphic to some and to those who become weak kneed at the sight of medical situations.

Left foot- yes that pin is going right down Rachel's big toe.

Right foot - pin is going down the top of Rachel's foot in between her big toe and 2nd toe.

The casts are off. 

Wow! As graphic as these may appear- look how wonderfully straight they look!

Left foot with pin.

Right foot with pin.

Dr.Altiok removed the pins from Rachel's feet. She cried shortly with the removal of each pin. 

After the pins were removed Rachel had small pressure dressings applied. She was then fitted for new AFOs. I didn't take any pictures of that process but describe it in an older blog entry. Rachel picked out the color red for her short leg walking casts. She will have this set of casts on for 2 weeks while her AFOs are being made. Rachel was also given a pair of knee immobilizers to place on at night to help stretch her knees. 

Rachel's red short leg casts with cast shoes. In the picture she has stockinet over her knees and thighs to help prevent her from scratching at the dry skin underneath. I applied a mixture of regular Johnson's baby lotion and cortisone cream on them when we arrived home. This combo seemed to help Rachel a lot. 

Not the best picture as the room was quite dark but look who was already cruising along with her walker. I caught her standing back up on her own and trying to take independent steps. Rachel's legs are like noodles right now from being immobile. I have faith that she is going to work hard and be on the go again.

Rachel was VERY happy to be standing again. Much love and big thank you's to Dr. Altiok and his team!

On the Final Countdown for the Purple People Eater Casts

Tomorrow will be the day we have been counting down for since Rachel's surgery last month- the removal of her purple long leg casts. We have all gotten alittle stronger from carrying Rachel around with the added weight of the casts. We have gotten scratch marks on our arms from them, have had our toes crunched by Rachel lifting her feet up and dropping them down on our toes and I have gotten kicked in the face by them on occasion while changing Rachel. She has done really well with them with the excepetion of this past week. This week she has been caught several times trying to stand up and trying to cruise along the couch with them. 

We started letting Rachel know about a week ago regarding tomorrow's appointment. She knows the doctor is going to remove them and she will get new ones on. 

Her legs have grown so much her feet touch the ground while she is riding on her pony.

Rachel has inherited Alicia's fiesty side. She really loves pointing that finger and saying "no way!"

The little cowgirl visited Lori's farm. She wasn't as brave when the cows came closer.

Rachel held onto Alicia tightly.

Made for a second fun picture!

We took the girls on a picnic at Little Cedar Lake. The older girls got to spend sometime in the lake while Rachel played with Steve on the playground equipment.

Then the older girls invaded.

Rachel loves when Gia visits. She talks to Gia, shows Gia her toys, reads books to Gia, says "Gia what's wrong?" when Gia cries, she helps Gia with her pacifer and bottle (after sampling them herself). Gia is 3 months old and so sweet and smiley. 

Rachel swiped my Starbucks.

Pretty happy about swiping mom's drink.