tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82753271105780552572011-12-15T20:27:54.459-05:00twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.comBlogger2291100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-57136711570215523732011-11-26T22:28:00.000-05:002011-11-26T22:28:17.245-05:00

So we have been wondering when Hannah might move on to using crutches or canes.  We played around with them once since her surgery but without much success.  Before surgery, she could stand with the crutches but not take steps independently. We saw Hannah's regular physiatrist last week and we showed him how Hannah has been wanting to, and doing a really good job with, walking holding one

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-90331289634623441952011-11-21T13:30:00.000-05:002011-11-21T13:30:52.685-05:00

  Some time ago, I copied this piece another mom wrote somewhere in the blogosphere, about this notion that other people look to her like she has some kind of super powers because she is raising a child with a disability.  I can't find it right now, but I wish I could.  I'm feeling a little prickly lately about being held up as this example of great, positive parenting in a difficult situation.

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-48291326794357804562011-11-01T14:22:00.000-04:002011-11-01T14:22:34.527-04:00

Really, how can you have a bad day when you're around this smile? Clearly, this is a happy kid.  So I guess we're doing something right.  It's good to keep looking at these when some days are a little tough, like today with me feeling a little beat-up after Halloween.  I do have the requisite cute kid in costume pictures to share, and everyone had a bucket full of candy, a good sugar high and

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-71232811971908340212011-10-10T20:46:00.000-04:002011-10-10T20:46:54.102-04:00

No, not the semi-autobiographical novel by James Frey, but the million little pieces, things about Hannah that B and I know inside and out because she is our girl, and she's been in our world for six years, and it's second nature to us to see when she's slouching and sneak behind her and scootch her tush back, or put some peanuts next to her while she's coloring if it's been awhile since she last

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-20231520777709539642011-10-05T21:38:00.000-04:002011-10-05T21:38:30.167-04:00

Sorry to all who diligently followed Hannah's SDR journey only to be left hanging once we got home.  Life got busy, in a good way, but I got buried under it all and am still digging out from laundry I think! But here we are, it's October and next week, the 13th, it will be 4 months since Hannah had her surgery.  Since we've been home, people have asked how it all went, how we made it through that

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-26109259930370451782011-08-05T21:43:00.000-04:002011-08-05T21:43:38.142-04:00

Walking into our house last Friday night, my first thought was, "Wow, our place is pretty big!"  Well  yeah, compared to the window spot in room 202B at Children's Specialized, it sure is.  To be able to walk around and breathe the freedom of being in my own space was amazing.  The kids were pretty psyched also.  Sam ran around yelling, "Toys! Toys!"  Isabelle kept saying, "I'm so much bigger

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-18891594957832955612011-07-28T22:06:00.001-04:002011-07-28T22:12:50.649-04:00

Well, it's been a whirlwind since I last wrote.  We have been busy getting our girl ready for her discharge which is finally upon us-tomorrow we head back home after being away for 7 weeks, 6 of which have been at the inpatient rehab facility.  I can't believe that we undertook this journey 7 weeks ago.  So much thinking, worrying about and planning for, and now we're on the other side.  At

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-39670750460993008782011-07-20T18:32:00.000-04:002011-07-20T18:32:30.960-04:00

I wish we had the money to buy a heated walk-in pool that started out shallow and got progressively deeper.  And that was indoors, but you could somehow make it outdoors in the summer.  Because I think we would live in it.  Or at least Hannah would. To see her in the water is to see a kid who can walk, swim, float, kick...just like everyone else.  The freedom of the water is so liberating for

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-66693150407086614162011-07-15T21:26:00.000-04:002011-07-15T21:26:28.694-04:00

Hannah has become a real social butterfly while at rehab.  It's a trip to see her hanging out with her wheelchair posse, laughing and waving at everyone and telling me to "go over there, Mommy, so I can be with my friends." When Isabelle comes to visit, it's interesting to see how they interact and that Isabelle is the odd man out.  In fact, pretty much anyone who is not in a wheelchair or

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-24012581195593715212011-07-14T22:29:00.001-04:002011-07-14T22:31:08.468-04:00

So I was going through some video clips to show Hannah's current PT the way she moved and walked before surgery.  We purposely took video the day before the procedure, when we were at a playground near my brother's house, because we wanted to be able to look back and see the changes.  I haven't looked at these until today, and honestly, they were hard to watch. In so many ways, Hannah's body is

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-36019463256838200522011-07-07T22:37:00.000-04:002011-07-07T22:37:27.248-04:00

Our girl, she's doing big things and we're seeing big results.  But it takes time and patience and hard, hard work.  She is downright whopped at the end of the day but still her spirits are up (most of the time) and she literally sings her way thru therapy to the delight of all of her therapists.  Yesterday she sang out, "OK, this is really hard noooooowwww, please it's really hard noooowwww...."

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-34499981650627837662011-07-07T20:32:00.002-04:002011-07-07T21:43:40.514-04:00

Oh my Via It would be un mal dia Without you in my life Four quarters for coffee Not very easy To scrounge up day and night Iced, decaf or high test No doubt you are the best Helpin me get thru this right

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-20999624585539815122011-06-30T13:26:00.000-04:002011-06-30T13:26:27.200-04:00

This is Hannah's new room, a huge upgrade from the last, as we don't currently have a roommate and we have the window view (it's the little things!)  There's a daybed by the window where I can sleep, but most nights I just snuggle right in with Miss H which suits us both just fine aside from the fact that the bed regularly inflates/deflates throughout the night-it's a pressure relieving bed and

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-44748121197784280362011-06-28T22:32:00.000-04:002011-06-28T22:32:19.559-04:00

So many random thoughts go through my head every day through this experience, and I think, "I want to jot these down." But they don't gel together into this nice narrative, or if I want them to gel nicely, it would take me awhile to sort out the thoughts and organize them somehow first.  And that kind of time and mental energy is in short supply, so I decided to just toss them out into the

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-68446343499965489102011-06-23T21:11:00.000-04:002011-06-23T21:11:34.894-04:00

Finally got some mail! Guess it was in the mail room but not sorted-they do it only ONCE A WEEK-eeh gads. Anyway, here's a thank you for the love from the little lady herself.  Scroll down a few posts if you need Hannah's address.  

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-15272460698274838882011-06-23T13:21:00.000-04:002011-06-23T13:21:52.162-04:00

Saturday was my 40th birthday.  While not quite the way I imagined ringing in my 40s, my amazing family made it a special day by baking a cake, bringing presents, and recreating a "birthday party" in the hospital dining room.  We broke some rules I'm sure when we lit the candle but lately my motto is, "Seek forgiveness and not permission."  And for Hannah, having all of us-my brother and his son

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-32589247869553055702011-06-21T15:26:00.001-04:002011-06-21T15:27:25.193-04:00

OK, my fears about Hannah not being put to work and maximizing her time in rehab are being shot down left and right.  Today they had her riding an adaptive bike and in the stander out on the playground.  Below are two clips-a shout out to Kim, her PT at home-wanted to be sure you can see how awesome she is doing and get that new bike ordered for her asap for when she gets home:) (video quality

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-8023344478538940162011-06-20T21:26:00.000-04:002011-06-20T21:26:48.341-04:00

I know there are some other parents reading this blog who are contemplating or about to have their child undertake this surgery, so I wanted to document some of the changes we are seeing in Hannah and some thoughts on the procedure, where we had it done, etc. We struggled with whether or not to have SDR done at the place/with the surgeon that pioneered the minimally invasive procedure and has

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-50983155331789047272011-06-20T21:12:00.000-04:002011-06-20T21:12:40.889-04:00

Haven't had a chance to really post or process the transition to rehab until now since it's been really busy getting used to the new routine, having visitors, going back and forth to my parents' to be with Isabelle and Sam... The transition here was really hard on many levels.  First, while being at Columbia wasn't a walk in the park, I had come to know the routine of the hospital, the best

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-6131385212821216442011-06-18T15:26:00.001-04:002011-06-18T15:37:59.782-04:00

 See below for a quick clip of Hannah learning how to motor around in her wheelchair.  This is her first attempt from yesterday morning.  Today she is an old pro.  A little slow, but gaining ground quickly! Open-toed shoe wearers, beware:)

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-37745541231219157842011-06-18T08:15:00.000-04:002011-06-18T08:15:48.311-04:00

Finally, an address! See below and I'll post more on rehab soon, it's been a busy time filled with a lot of adjustments.   PSE&G Children's Specialized Hospital at New Brunswick Hannah Gallivan Room 201A 200 Somerset Street New Brunswick, NJ 08901-1942 Also, can I put in a small plug for a note or two to be sent to  Isabelle at my parents'? I think she could probably use a little TLC as well,

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-60593132101180991532011-06-15T21:09:00.000-04:002011-06-15T21:09:23.234-04:00

Quick update to say that Hannah tried to take a few steps today which is awesome.  She's not afraid at all to try, which can sometimes happen with kids after SDR-they get anxious to try out their new bodies.  She did have a pretty hard time bearing weight and sort of buckled and wasn't able to hold herself up, but we tried to get her to push down into the floor with her feet which she was able to

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-73341606152584308932011-06-15T13:53:00.000-04:002011-06-15T13:53:29.257-04:00

This was taken yesterday late afternoon/early evening.  It's the first genuine smile we've seen since Monday morning, and it was brought about by a visit from Chia, the little Pomeranian who came by for a visit.  Chia looked like one of Hannah's stuffed animals and was just as snuggly and soft, and very chill.  She licked Hannah's hand and then settled right in next to her on the bed while Hannah

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-60671306390967080462011-06-14T09:31:00.000-04:002011-06-14T09:31:59.951-04:00

When we saw the attending this morning he said, "So I hear Hannah had an uneventful night."  Yes, compared to other possible scenarios for kids in the PICU, she really did have an uneventful night.  But...compared to what a regular night is like for Hannah, it was definitely not fun. The biggest complaint I think is her stomach, wrecked from being empty except for lots of meds.  She is having

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-22756254325164201752011-06-13T15:35:00.035-04:002011-06-13T18:49:26.396-04:00

Surgery went really well, about six hours total. Dr Anderson said he cut about 60% of the nerve rootlets that are the cause of the spasticity in her legs.  He called this the "sweet spot"-not too much cutting to render her a total wet noodle, but enough that she will reap the benefits of the surgery.  He said she did great but that now, the hard part begins.  Meaning, she will have a lot of work

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-44587137292271329302011-06-13T09:59:00.000-04:002011-06-13T09:59:33.796-04:00

Hi, all.  We got here by 6:30 and Hannah was in the OR by 8.  We got to go with her and wait while the gas took effect.  She was pretty nervous and scared.  Seeing us in surgical garb with face masks on probably didn't help.  We were so happy Dr. Uncle Scott could come in with us too.  We got one update already, to say that she was prepped and ready for Dr. Anderson to work his magic-the prep

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-15752633651433324872011-06-12T22:26:00.000-04:002011-06-12T22:26:10.596-04:00

Thank you to everyone who has called, sent e-mails/FB messages, dropped off goodies of one kind of another.  Tomorrow is Hannah's big day.  She will be at NY Children's Hospital probably thru Wed or Thurs and then transferred to Children's Specialized Hospital in NJ.  As soon as we have an address for her, we'll send it along since many have asked. We got to my brother's place yesterday and have

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-41468479721792609922011-06-07T21:42:00.002-04:002011-06-07T21:44:51.796-04:00

We sadly had to put down our just-shy-of-16 year old dog yesterday which has been a long time coming as she has been in a steady decline for about a year now, but which suddenly accelerated over the weekend.  This timing is surreal: wondering if she picked up on the vibes around here and was sending us the message that this was one journey she was going to sit out. Miss Maggie Magnolia has been

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-34765361547629471702011-05-18T21:55:00.000-04:002011-05-18T21:55:25.627-04:00

It's truly amazing, the things that come out of Hannah's mouth.  On the one hand, I am so grateful we have created a comfortable enough space for her to share her thoughts/fears/questions/anxieties.  On the other hand, it is hard to hear her say some of the things she says and not burst into tears.  I'm so in awe of her maturity and sensitivity, and hopeful it will help her navigate what will

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-89495888064039924742011-05-11T21:24:00.000-04:002011-05-13T16:33:17.566-04:00

My head is spinning, thinking of all of the stuff we need to take care of before we head down to NY for Hannah's surgery. I'm gathering lots of things: things to keep Hannah entertained and engaged while she's in the hospital and rehab, things to keep Isabelle and Sam out of trouble while they're at Grammie and Papa's, things to keep B and I sane while we spend long hours each day at H's bedside

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-23762295888675640432011-04-27T21:19:00.000-04:002011-04-27T21:19:38.495-04:00

 Well, we are taking the plunge: On June 13, Hannah will undergo a selective dorsal rhizotomy in NYC.  She will be there for about 3 days and then transfer to an inpatient rehab facility for about 4-6 weeks of intensive therapy so that she can rebuild strength in a body without so much tightness, as the surgery will be cutting many of the nerve rootlets which cause the spasticity in her lower

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-71217892276487428262011-04-14T20:50:00.000-04:002011-04-14T20:52:29.927-04:00

OK, I am a lame blogger.  Well, no.  I'm a busy mama! I do often think about posts I'd like to share-they pop into my head when I'm in the shower or doing the dishes or nursing Sam.  But then my few minutes of quiet time are gone and it's on to the next thing and I never get to write.  That's okay, I'm busy living life.  But I like how this blog has charted our course through this maze of raising

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-43356203012319192532010-11-11T21:06:00.000-05:002010-11-11T21:06:52.975-05:00

Hannah often mixes up "question" with "statement" especially when she's excited to tell me something.  Today she emerged from the bathroom and said, "Mommy, I have SUCH a special question to tell you!" Hannah can go to the bathroom in our house by herself almost totally independently, if she is wearing easy to pull down pants.  But she often asks for help especially if she gets hung up on the "

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-68683171739175879562010-11-04T20:48:00.000-04:002010-11-04T20:48:24.045-04:00

Today Hannah had her 3rd round of botax under sedation and I'm not sure how many botax rounds total she's had, maybe 6 or 7.  The first time we went to the Comfort Zone, she did fine.  The second time she was a lot more anxious about the IV insertion even though she had Emla cream to numb the area.  Today any time the nurse tried to get near her arms, she cried so they recommended giving her some

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-17953960135032305242010-10-20T22:54:00.000-04:002010-10-20T22:54:28.366-04:00

Just passing on a link that was shared with me via a listserv I belong to, which really resonates with me.  Please read when you're able. Not One of Those Mothers

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-63738907013951498032010-10-02T22:10:00.000-04:002010-10-02T22:10:02.175-04:00

Lately I have been on a one-woman mission to whip my town into shape.  First the school, then the library.  I stole the title of this post from a resource a friend shared with me, which was actually Guerilla Mum since it was written by a woman from Britain.  I like the "mum" bit, it's cute.  But I digress... So school started and with it, our high hopes for another great year of progress on all

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-8390872548144589152010-09-21T14:23:00.000-04:002010-09-21T14:23:52.959-04:00

When Hannah was really small and we did not yet have a CP diagnosis, but knew about the brain injury and saw her motor delays getting more and more significant, I would often lie in bed at night and cry, wondering what was in store for her and for us, feeling so sad and angry and filled with grief.  Then the next day would come and I would be too busy living life with Hannah (and Isabelle) to

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-3049589462876133362010-09-03T21:55:00.000-04:002010-09-03T21:55:04.797-04:00

Hannah had her latest round of botax at the end of July.  It seems to take about 2-3 weeks to hit its full potential with her and then she often gets weak and unmotivated for a little bit while she adjusts to the new way her body feels with the reduced spasticity.  And then she's starts the steady climb up to the sweet spot where she's feeling loose and strong and energized to do things she would

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-13249325776289377112010-09-02T22:34:00.000-04:002010-09-02T22:34:28.932-04:00

I want to give a shout out to Isabelle because lately I've been feeling like she gets the raw end of the deal.  She's probably lowest on the pecking order of my divided attention to the 3 kids, because she doesn't have a disability and because she is not the baby.  It's not fair and she handles it gracefully for the most part, but lately she's been giving a few indications that she realizes

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-71044729530906570342010-08-06T21:43:00.005-04:002010-08-06T22:05:50.294-04:00

Hannah has said some pretty amazing things lately. Yesterday at breakfast: "Even though I have a disability, I'm still happy." She's so matter-of-fact about it and meanwhile, my heart is being squeezed so tight I think it might burst. She must be going through an almost-five-years-old phase of realizing differences in other people and herself, and trying to make sense of it but without all the

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-42065087216201557292010-06-26T21:08:00.004-04:002010-06-26T21:29:56.437-04:00

I'm long overdue on a post. Ever since school ended for the girls and the summer travel season kicked off, things have been super busy around here! Sam as you can see in the top photo is growing like a weed. He's only about 3 1/2 lbs lighter than Hannah at this point: he's a big guy! He's also a very happy, smiley guy who is now commando crawling all over the place, pulling up, saying "Uh, oh"

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-16820994308384833502010-05-14T22:03:00.003-04:002010-05-14T22:07:40.498-04:00

I forgot to mention that after Hannah's visit to the Comfort Zone, we came home with two doll "patients" and an IV kit (minus the sharp!) that the child life specialist gave us. Isabelle, our resident doctor and nurturer of all things big and small, immediately decorated her doll (who I've dubbed Sedation Sally) and then gave it a full medical work up as you can see in the photo. Hannah on the

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-16221378967434667052010-05-14T21:46:00.003-04:002010-05-14T22:02:20.226-04:00

We had a great time walking this year! We weren't sure we were going to make it, as the girls both came down with a nasty stomach bug just two days before and I was waiting with bated breath to see if it tore through the rest of the family. Thankfully by the morning of the walk, we were all fine (albeit a little tired) and the weather was cooperating as well. This was also touch-and-go, as we

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-79379751253811185232010-05-09T14:01:00.002-04:002010-05-09T14:07:37.466-04:00

Just a quick note to say thanks to those who sent along their support and to let you know that the sedation went really well, Hannah was a total champ. She was fascinated by the IV insertion and watched the whole thing (thank God for Emla cream so she didn't feel any pain). She definitely had moments of being a little anxious as there were so many people coming in and out of her little "pod"--

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-49781613998465844152010-05-05T13:58:00.003-04:002010-05-05T14:08:17.071-04:00

So tomorrow we try our first round of botax under sedation. We did 4 rounds without anything and Hannah got progressively more anxious before each time. The last time she was in tears just leaving the house and then again when we arrived at the clinic. She has also generalized her anxiety to all doctors' offices/appointments and especially exam tables which she calls "shotter tables." After

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-50352175430656746992010-04-28T19:27:00.002-04:002010-04-28T19:30:15.700-04:00

Came across a great article posted on the Sibling Support Project website, "the only national effort dedicated to the interests of over six million brothers and sisters of people with special health, mental health, and developmental needs." I found it very timely as we've been thinking about this stuff anyway, which prompted our visit to the child psychologist a few weeks ago. I share it here

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-66801164403473965022010-04-23T15:01:00.002-04:002010-04-23T15:10:46.921-04:00

As time goes on, I see patterns of behavior in Hannah that indicate when "something's up" with her. I don't always know what it is, which frustrates me, but I can tell when she's off. So in the past few days, here are the things I'm noticing that are a little different for her:-She's gritting her teeth together a lot-She's eating A TON-When she naps, she wakes up hysterical as if from a bad

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-67065715191904068192010-04-13T22:01:00.003-04:002010-04-13T22:28:15.229-04:00

This winter, Hannah and Isabelle participated in an "adaptive" tumbling class at a gymnastics school near us, where Isabelle took a class last summer. While looking at ways to build Hannah's strength and keep her active this winter, I learned of this new program starting up and jumped at the chance to sign on, especially since it was directed at her age group and they welcomed "typically

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-1772636316538362252010-03-26T21:31:00.004-04:002010-03-26T21:37:43.362-04:00

With a little bit of help, Hannah is continuing to do some great things. B was able to install some bars in our bathroom and now she can get inside, on the stool, and get herself to the sink to wash her hands or lower herself to the potty without help (just some spotting to make sure she doesn't hurt herself!) Check her out in the video below-and a note that the spots on the toilet are just

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-42208284969858858492010-03-15T21:22:00.005-04:002010-04-22T20:05:59.258-04:00

I think post-trauma and grief are like this: you go along feeling fine and then all of a sudden, something hits you like a ton of bricks and you could, if you let yourself, go back to the hard, sad, overwhelming place that you were in when you first experienced a loss. It's hard to know what will set it off, but it's like your grief and trauma have these land mines scattered around your life and

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-74143838516893192042010-03-15T21:08:00.003-04:002010-03-15T21:20:12.125-04:00

I took a Hatha yoga class with a good friend last weekend. I haven't done yoga in a looong time. I'm still sore! I realized how out of wack my body is from my pregnancy with Sam. I was proud of myself for not trying to push through all the poses and be comfortable with taking the easiest option for many of them. And it was good to try to relax although it was hard for me to turn my brain off (

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-28514535400955689512010-03-09T22:33:00.004-05:002010-03-09T22:36:29.366-05:00

Hannah has been working so hard on this for such a long time. I'm so proud of her!

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-6375314025564712282010-03-03T21:40:00.002-05:002010-03-03T21:45:21.869-05:00

Our guy will be 6 months old in 2 days; where has the time gone?! He is such a fun little person to have around. He has a really great demeanor; he's very happy and easygoing and can entertain himself well. He LOVES his big sisters and is happiest when he's near them and watching them play. He's sitting up on his own now, rolling all over the place, and making tons of baby cooing sounds. He

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-11897182496054154762010-03-03T21:21:00.004-05:002010-03-03T21:36:41.937-05:00

I just got an appointment for us to see a child psychologist. Having a degree in counseling myself, I feel equipped in some basic ways to help myself and our family work through our thoughts and feelings around Hannah's CP, but as she becomes more aware (and Isabelle, too), I think we could use a consult and some more tips/tricks. Especially because it's always easier to counsel someone other

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-81418861422823118462010-02-18T21:16:00.003-05:002010-02-18T21:25:51.972-05:00

Today after I picked up the girls from school, I was driving out of the parking lot when I heard a whistle and saw two people running toward me, trying to get me to stop. I immediately realized that I had forgotten to put Hannah's walker in the trunk of my car before driving away.This is the second time it's happened in a month.I also ran over her walker a few weeks ago because I did the same

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-21104071671640996322010-02-13T21:24:00.007-05:002010-02-15T21:20:31.626-05:00

I think I have a post from last winter with the same title, posted after we took the girls skiing for the first time. Well, we went again this year. Actually, we went cross-country skiing one weekend and downhill two weekends later. Cross-country we did on our own and downhill was with the help of the local adaptive skiing program, which totally rocks. Both activities were so much fun and

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-11586775926752797792010-02-09T21:07:00.002-05:002010-02-09T21:22:40.930-05:00

I have often said that I worry about what Hannah might face when she gets older, because I know kids can be mean. But up until today, I have not witnessed this meanness and have instead been pleasantly surprised by most interactions we've had with other kids. I have come across curious kids, interested kids, kind kids, kids who are oblivious to her difference, kids who are drawn to her because

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-20023641748659038142010-02-04T20:43:00.003-05:002010-02-04T20:51:16.287-05:00

I was helping Hannah practice walking with her forearm crutches tonight (which she asked to do) when she turned to me and said, "Mommy, I just REALLY want to walk without any adult's help. I have a walker and crutches and glasses, and it's taking SO LONG for me to learn how to do it on my own." And then she added, "And my belly hurts, too."I'm so glad she added the belly hurting part because it

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-26157643317179044502010-01-07T21:43:00.002-05:002010-01-07T22:01:11.120-05:00

Watching Hannah move through different stages of development, these little things pop up now and again that remind me of just how much of an impact her CP has on every aspect of her (and our) life. And a lot of the time, it's these little things that can really get me down much more so than the big picture.The big one lately is shoes. Shoes are a MAJOR issue in our house. First of all, finding

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-91154130560272731052010-01-03T20:50:00.002-05:002010-01-03T21:07:08.191-05:00

The holidays have come and gone and I'm ready to start the new year off with a few resolutions:-be more patient with the girls: since Sam's arrival, I find myself more in baby mode than in preschooler mode and I often get snappy with the girls when they are just being typical 4 year olds. I'm going to try harder to remember this and enjoy them more at this amazing phase of intellectual growth

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-85823197868498518352009-12-17T21:49:00.003-05:002009-12-17T21:53:49.114-05:00

I've been meaning to jot these latest ones down. They aren't really quotes, more like mispronunciations that are super cute.Isabelle pronounces saddle (like what you put on a horse) the "sad-la." She also calls the reigns "rangs."Hannah was getting ready to race Isabelle around the house and she said "On your market, get set, go!"Cute cute cute!

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-41347482637803247972009-12-11T21:10:00.002-05:002009-12-11T21:19:03.878-05:00

I live in the Northeast and have always loved winter. (Well, mostly. By March the snow does get pretty old.) But I'm a snowboarder and cross country skier and snowshoer and I really appreciate the beauty of a crisp "blue bird day."Having kids makes winter a little more challenging. They get sick often, it's hard to go potty when they have 15 layers of clothing on and can't move, the snow

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-89306806521112422152009-12-11T20:56:00.004-05:002009-12-11T21:10:53.536-05:00

Our little guy is now 3 months old-how is it that 3 months have gone by in the blink of an eye?! To think that almost a year ago, I found out that I was pregnant with our unexpected Christmas miracle baby. Although it's definitely been a challenge, adding another wee one to our family, it has also been such a gift.First of all, experiencing a full-term pregnancy, birth and baby has been a marvel

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-23884824832857973482009-12-06T17:22:00.003-05:002009-12-06T22:19:23.709-05:00

Two weeks ago our wondergirl took a hard fall out of her walker and got 9 stitches in her chin; one of them was internal because it was such a deep cut. It happened right before bedtime: I was nursing Sam in my PJs, B was getting the girls into theirs, and BOOM. We were running around like the proverbial chickens without heads when we realized how deep a cut it was and that it definitely needed

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-923251174037134382009-11-29T21:21:00.003-05:002009-11-29T21:43:42.229-05:00

It's time for me to note some of Hannah's progress as of late, something I do periodically to make myself feel better as well as also chart where she has been and where she is headed, information that's useful to all of the people who provide her with care.This seems to be a good time to do it, as recently we just finished up hippotherapy for the winter and her therapist asked us to outline some

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-47431683727890449332009-11-09T15:07:00.002-05:002009-11-09T15:28:01.329-05:00

Things have been wild and wooly around here now that we're a family of 5! There has been a lot going on, so many things I've thought, "Oh, I should post about that on my blog" and then the moment is gone, eaten up by a baby needing to be nursed or four year old twins needing attention or dinner needing to be made...But I have a quick minute now, everyone is napping at the same time unbelievably,

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-90454569783830503402009-10-14T22:21:00.003-04:002009-10-14T22:28:42.407-04:00

I have been very negligent with my blog ever since our little one arrived. I have an entry that I started weeks ago, in an attempt to write his birth story and share it with everyone. But I never seem to find a minute to finish it. So while that's still in the works, here is the short, short version:Exactly on his due date (at 12:30am, in fact), our newest member to our family arrived: His

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-34245698260147003602009-08-26T08:12:00.001-04:002009-08-26T08:13:31.844-04:00

Today's NY Times has this article about the post-traumatic stress many parents face after having a child in the NICU. A good and validating piece.

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-88508825400332699792009-08-25T19:33:00.002-04:002009-08-25T19:40:17.522-04:00

I'm now 38.5 weeks pregnant and still amazed that I made it this far, over 11 weeks farther than I did with the girls. I'm starting to wonder if I'll EVER go into labor, actually, which is a pretty crazy feeling. I feel like I'm in pregnancy purgatory. I'm very ready and excited to meet this new little one, although I'm definitely anxious about it as well. I'm wondering how I'll manage the

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-70300282269861442872009-08-09T20:06:00.003-04:002009-08-09T20:22:23.028-04:00

Hannah is doing it, finally! It's so much work for her and you can see in this clip that some of it is "W sit scooting" as opposed to true four legged crawling, but she definitely gets herself up there and around and it's wonderful! You can hear her saying to herself, "One hand, two hands. One hand, two hands" as she reminds herself to get up on her arms AND her legs. Go, Hannah, go!

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-43051507989081325022009-08-09T19:47:00.003-04:002009-08-09T19:56:42.160-04:00

Agricultural fairs/field days are big around here. B took the girls to one yesterday while I lounged around at home. I would have loved to be with them, but the idea of walking around in the hot sun for hours didn't appeal to my late pregnancy self. He got some great pics though. You can see how Isabelle is the total animal whisperer in these pics. She absolutely LOVES animals of all kinds

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-31432096963190709742009-08-05T20:19:00.002-04:002009-08-05T20:54:25.280-04:00

We had our meeting Monday at the elementary school with the vice principal and the director of special ed. We had some immediate concerns to be addressed by the start of the school year:easy parking and access to the buildingaccessibility to the playground and a bucket swingIt seems like our immediate concerns will definitely be met, which is great news. Plans are already in place to install a

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-81269099351078115662009-08-02T22:36:00.002-04:002009-08-02T22:42:14.547-04:00

The girls and I had so much fun last week hanging with some Mommy friends and their little boys. We've known them since the girls and the first born of the boys were just a few months old, and it's such a comfortable and comforting relationship. I'm especially grateful for it because I think it's a really nice thing for them to have known Hannah since they were all so small, and know her as

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-20103262082278182752009-07-29T20:58:00.002-04:002009-07-29T21:16:12.448-04:00

On Friday I'll be 35 weeks...I'm beginning to wonder if I will actually carry to 40 weeks and maybe even beyond! I hope not, as I want to have a VBAC and I don't go into labor on my own by 40 weeks, they'll schedule a C. But either way, it's pretty amazing to be at this point, 8 weeks farther along than when I had the girls. I start with going 2x week to the OB next Friday at 36 weeks (2x a

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-28973129646428667942009-07-23T12:57:00.002-04:002009-07-23T12:59:52.884-04:00

We wrote a letter to the principal and head of special ed at Hannah and Isabelle's school, outlining all of our concerns about accessibility in the building and on the playground. I got a call yesterday from the assistant principal about setting up a meeting with him, the principal and the director of special ed. He seemed very interested in and eager to work with us so I'm crossing fingers

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-40226514916646653242009-07-19T22:56:00.002-04:002009-07-19T23:04:43.116-04:00

We had planned to host a "Team Hannah Day": invites went out, people signed up, B was deep in the design and materials stage. Then a friend of mine, doing a little research for me to see if anyone would donate or help out with the cost of materials, learned that a local Lions Club would actually come out and build and install the ramp for free!Given that time and money is limited around here, we

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-9423827260988203112009-07-08T21:41:00.003-04:002009-07-08T21:57:52.037-04:00

We just finished week two of the girls' summer preschool program and I'm still having a hard time with it. My heart squeezes tight each time I drop them off and I'm always eager to pick them back up again 2.5 hours later. It's definitely compounded by pregnancy hormones (almost 32 weeks now!) and being physically uncomfortable as it takes a lot work to get Hannah into and out of the building.

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-42403877946966507882009-07-02T20:54:00.003-04:002009-07-02T21:05:18.507-04:00

Isabelle is a real animal lover. Hannah, she's interested in them from afar but Isabelle wants to get right up close and love all animals to pieces. So Maggie, our very old mutt, is often the object of her affections which sadly for Isabelle, are not usually returned. Maggie sort of tolerates the girls and if they get too much in her space she'll show them some teeth and give them a growl.

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-61057551775343782952009-07-02T20:19:00.003-04:002009-07-02T20:54:24.069-04:00

This week, Hannah and Isabelle started school. I know, it's summer and most kids are just starting summer vacation. But the early education program that sponsors the preschool they're going to in the Fall has a summer "mini preschool" so we signed the girls up so that come Fall, they are a little more adjusted to the idea of going. It's only two days a week, 2.5 hours a day, for 4 weeks so

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-29109073584236704232009-06-28T19:14:00.002-04:002009-06-28T19:33:10.665-04:00

A full term pregnancy should be around 40 weeks. That's a long time. Really long. During that time you go through 3 full seasons and 9 full months. You're pregnant more of the year than you're not. Much more.Having only made it to 27 weeks last time around, I didn't realize how long 40 weeks can really be. I am so incredibly grateful to be at 30 weeks now and in no way do I want this baby

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-87870175080613285592009-06-08T19:41:00.003-04:002009-06-08T19:43:35.114-04:00

Has anyone read the kid's book The Gruffalo? The girls love it. They set up this fort under their easel and kept asking B and I to "join us in our treetop house," a quote directly from the book. Looks like an inviting spot, doesn't it?

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-80047132205934297622009-06-08T19:22:00.002-04:002009-06-08T19:39:09.434-04:00

Today I'm 27 weeks, 3 days, exactly how far along I was when Hannah and Isabelle were born. To celebrate, I made an unplanned visit to the OB because I'm feeling some pelvic pressure and have been kind of "off" all weekend. I was reassured to learn that things look fine for the most part; my cervix is starting to soften but not dilate or shorten so they're not concerned. I'll go back in next

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-12559108104102661452009-05-27T19:28:00.003-04:002009-05-27T19:48:36.549-04:00

Today Hannah had her second round of botax injections, just about 4 months from the first one we did in February. She had 6 injections again in pretty much the same places, with a little more focus on her left calf as she has been doing a lot of intoeing with that left foot. B took her this time which was a mixed blessing. On the one hand, I really hated to send her off without being there

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-34326788694374104542009-05-25T20:23:00.004-04:002009-05-25T21:30:44.159-04:00

The girls really like to tell stories while I videotape them, and then watch themselves after. Here's a chat Isabelle and I had recently.

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-47131874536727693032009-05-25T20:21:00.002-04:002009-05-25T20:22:58.878-04:00

I came down to breakfast this morning (it was my turn to sleep in!) and this is what Isabelle was wearing. I love it!

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-65282707139809291232009-05-20T22:16:00.002-04:002009-05-20T22:18:54.599-04:00

Today Isabelle asked at dinner why we decided to have another baby. B gave a really nice answer, along the lines of how wonderful she and Hannah are and that they would make great big sisters so we thought it would be fun to have another. Then Isabelle turned to me and asked, "Why did you decide to have another baby with Daddy? Why didn't you go outside and find someone else to have one with?"

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-65140849124151052082009-05-17T19:51:00.003-04:002009-05-17T20:01:38.116-04:00

About a month ago, I posted a gripe about the fact that Hannah was still so limited in her mobility, even though she was getting around great in her walker. The transitions to/from her walker and from her walker to other places were not happening so she still needed a lot of assistance.I guess I should post gripes more often because maybe the message goes out to the CP mobility gods and they

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-37010731180784043152009-05-17T19:31:00.003-04:002009-05-17T19:39:53.737-04:00

A few weeks late, but I'm checking in to report on the great success of our walk for the March of Dimes: we raised close to $1300 and are so grateful for those who contributed in some way even given the tenuous state of the economy. It's such an important cause, one very close to our heart, and we were buoyed by all of your support and love.The weather was much better this year than in years

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-55024844532929706162009-04-30T19:48:00.001-04:002009-04-30T19:48:46.209-04:00

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-4823773921043432422009-04-30T19:44:00.003-04:002009-04-30T19:47:11.756-04:00

In just two more days, our family will be walking for the 4th year in a row to raise money and awareness for the March of Dimes, as well as take time to honor and celebrate our own journey through prematurity with our amazing Hannah and Isabelle.Have you donated yet? We are still a bit shy of our fundraising goal and every dollar counts. If not, please consider doing so by clicking here. Thank

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-28583839172881885752009-04-30T19:36:00.002-04:002009-04-30T19:43:32.712-04:00

Hannah and Isabelle were born at 27 weeks, just 5 weeks from where I am now in this pregnancy. As the time gets closer, I find myself getting more anxious about every little cramp and twinge, wondering if it's going to happen again.My OB assures me that carrying a singleton is an entirely different kettle of fish than being pregnant with twins, and she reminds me that this pregnancy has been,

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-37006927532254283402009-04-23T19:12:00.004-04:002009-04-23T19:29:11.357-04:00

It's been awhile since I've done a post about our girl Isabelle. I want to be sure not to neglect her as she is definitely Miss Personality and doing all kinds of growing/learning/changing right along with her sister Hannah.Isabelle is a funny, quirky kid. One of her quirkier routines is this hording and stuffing/piling kind of thing that she does. She will put a doll in the toy shopping cart

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-86966343528368028042009-04-17T19:41:00.003-04:002009-04-17T19:52:48.384-04:00

Hannah finally got her glasses. I have to say, she looks pretty damn cute in them. Now we just have to get her to keep them on!

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-72146901599989827782009-04-16T19:28:00.002-04:002009-04-16T19:34:47.242-04:00

I want this so badly for Hannah. All day long, I watch her struggle to get what she wants and to where she wants. She always needs to rely on someone else to help her. Part of me is eager for her to have this independence for selfish reasons: it's hard for Hannah to play on her own for long periods of time because if she decides she wants a different toy, or would like to move to a different

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-43524954801447584342009-04-03T20:57:00.004-04:002009-04-03T21:05:24.189-04:00

As you can see from the pics, we had a great time in Florida last week! Also, check out the super cool playground in the first few pics; it included a ramp-accessible castle in which Hannah wheeled herself all around. It's so nice to encounter such accessible spaces!

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-90201268525063293472009-04-01T20:43:00.002-04:002009-04-01T20:51:55.884-04:00

The girls and I have been on the road for the past two weeks, hence the reason why I haven't posted in awhile. I'll add pictures of our adventures soon, but for now here's a quick update:We just got back from spending some time at my parents' and also joining them for one week in Florida. It was amazing to be in the warm sun, swim every day, walk around barefoot and see the ocean. We also got

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-90855103357018347352009-03-13T20:13:00.004-04:002009-03-13T20:35:40.899-04:00

Our girls love to rock. The green guitar B brought back from a recent trip to San Diego and his old keyboard are the most popular instruments in our house, but the girls will also play drums, maracas, harmonicas, you name it.

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-31905321930519808952009-03-13T19:46:00.002-04:002009-03-13T20:03:32.582-04:00

Things are looking up in the Galli-ringo household. First of all, daylight savings has done wonders for my evening mindset. It's so nice to see the sun still shining while I'm getting dinner ready. Now if only it would warm up enough to let the girls stay outside and play while I cook! We did have one afternoon in the 50s when we got outside for awhile before dinner, and it was amazing. I

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-11940760457276573352009-03-09T21:37:00.003-04:002009-03-09T21:50:11.869-04:00

I came across this post by another mom of a kiddo with CP whose blog I read somewhat regularly. She asks herself how her life would be different if her daughter didn't have CP. I think of this all the time as well, especially when I'm out with Hannah in a place where there are lots of other kids/parents. Our life is so different than the average family with typically developing kids, in ways

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8275327110578055257.post-24801207553727982172009-03-02T20:40:00.002-05:002009-03-02T20:44:02.449-05:00

Last week I noticed Hannah's left eye was turning in, independent of her right. I know that between ages 3-4 is when you often see this sign of far-sightedness crop up and I was hoping we'd escape unscathed. Ah, well.I put in a call to the opthomologist and we're scheduled for an appointment on Wednesday morning. Talking with my brother, who is an optometrist and opthomologist-in-training,

twinmamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09516244215791006853noreply@blogger.com1