Update!

I'm not sure how many people read this blog and don't know about our family Web site, but I will be updating our family site all day today.

Natalie is undergoing surgery on her hips today at Altru in Grand Forks.  Please, if you could, send some prayers her way.  She has the most amazing group of followers...we couldn't be more grateful for all of the prayers you've offered for her in her five and a half years with us!

Here's the link.  Please feel free to check in and leave comments.  I love to read them to her throughout the day!

http://theolsonsite.blogspot.com

Thank you!
Melissa

iLove It!

For the past five years, we've used all kinds of gadgets to help Natalie learn new skills.  From the simple, like squeaky toys, to the more complex, like switches...we've tried it all.  Some things she really responds well to, and others are not such a bit hit.

What I've learned in the past five years is that a toy, no matter how simple, when labeled as "medical equipment," becomes incredibly expensive.  

This plastic toy ball?  It can be yours for the low, low price of $63.95!

This "gait trainer," which helps kids with disabilities learn to walk, seems pretty simple.  It's only $1390.00.

This is a switch.  I learned what a switch was early on in Natalie's life.  It's basically a big button that, when pressed, plays a recorded sound.  It can also be hooked into compatible toys and makes the toys start and stop with each press of the button.  It may seem a bit complicated, but it's really a very simple "toy."  It helps Natalie learn cause and effect.  Hopefully, one day she can use a switch to tell us she is hungry, wants to dance, etc.

 It's a great tool, but this small switch costs $136.95.

While all of these toys and tools are good, we have found something that is much better in so many ways.

The iPad!

I can't express to you in words how over-the-moon excited I am about the iPad.  It's great for so many reasons:

1.  The smallest touch from Natalie triggers a response from the iPad.

2.  It's lightweight and can sit on Natalie's lap while she plays with it.

3.  It's small and easy to transport.

4.  There are a MILLION apps, and new apps available every day.  

5.  It's FUN!  

This is an app called "Magic Piano."  Natalie loves music and can make her own music by touching the piano.  There are apps made specifically for kids with disabilities, but we mainly use apps that are used by all.

I like to wait until evening and turn off all of the lights so she just sees the glow of the screen.  She seems to focus best when I do this.

 Of course, Calvin is never far from the iPad, too.  He loves to help her out, even when he's not supposed to help!  He's very sweet about it though, and she loves it.

One of my biggest pet peeves is when toys or equipment for kids (or even adults!) with disabilities look like medical equipment.  They deserve to have nice looking stuff just like the rest of us!  That's why I'm happy that technology for the rest of us is available as a learning device for Natalie.  The possibilities are endless!

Our Little Pumpkin is 5!

Okay, so there weren't any pony rides or carnival rides, but I'd say Natalie's birthday party was lots of fun.  I still can't believe it's been five years since she came into our lives.  What a blessing she has been to not only our family, but to friends and people who have never even met her.  Look at that beautiful face!

Since Natalie's birthday is in the fall, and she doesn't necessarily care about Disney princesses, I decided to make a pumpkin cake for her this year.  I had fun making it, and I think it turned out pretty well!

And if you're going to have a pumpkin cake, you've gotta have some candy corn!

Natalie's day started out with a spa treatment...a relaxing bath, massage and mani-pedi.  Check out those bright pink nails!  :)

We held the big party at Steve and Brittany's new home...they just moved in a couple of weeks ago.  Thanks for letting us invade your space!

Grandma Cheryl enjoyed lots of snuggle time with Natalie.

Onto the presents...what a lucky girl!

Her cousins love to help her unwrap...

Auntie Carolyn made this beautiful shawl and matching leggings for Natalie.

Uncle Tim picked out a couple of great books!  We love Snuggle Puppy.

Grandma Lori found some fun bath stuff for Natalie--she also got her a new swing for our back yard. (Sorry, I don't have a picture of it yet!) The old swing washed away with the flood.  :*(  Here is Grandma Lori and her granddaughters, Meredith and Natalie.

Grandma & Papa Miller are getting her a new twin size bed for her new room--they also found a pretty picture to hang on her wall.  Wowee, she's spoiled!  :)  

There were many other presents...here's a picture of them.  Thank you for all of the great stuff!  I can't wait to find a place for all of it in her new room.

Then it was time to blow out the candles.

Natalie always gets help with that, as well.  Doesn't Cousin Stella look so cute?!?

It was a fun day to celebrate one special little girl, who couldn't care less about cake and presents and parties.  She got her favorite present...snuggled in on Daddy's chest.

Finally...BACK TO SCHOOL!

It's been seven weeks now since Natalie had surgery on her hips, and she's finally able to join other kids in her preschool class!  Today was DAY ONE of getting things back to normal for Natalie...and it went well.  The original plan was to get her back into school the day after her cast was removed, but of course I had not anticipated Natalie's level of discomfort following the removal of the cast.  Her legs have little to no muscle tone and moving them around is quite painful for Nat.  Each day gets better, but she is required to wear the brace for most of the day and all night for another few weeks.  Physical therapy will be important in getting her back to her old self--and that means we are taking her to PT at the hospital in addition to her school PT time.  Hopefully, we can get those legs moving again soon!!

(L to R) Terri, Linda & Jeanne
Linda is Natalie's teacher; Jeanne and Terri are aides 

Because she needs to wear her brace most of the day, Natalie doesn't fit in her wheelchair.  Until then, we're improvising with this bean bag!  :)

Natalie is back in her wheelchair...sometimes

Smiles are returning, slowly but surely!

Cast-Free is the Way to BE!!!

It's Dr. Haasbeek!  

Well, it's been over a day since Natalie's cast was removed, and I can report that Natalie is much happier than yesterday!  Yesterday started out really well, and Natalie was a happy girl on the way to Devils Lake.  When we got to the clinic, she was a little upset about getting the cast taken off---mainly due to the vibration from the saw and the pulling as the cast was taken off.  Whew, was it nice to throw that thing in the trash can!  :)

What I hadn't anticipated was just how sore her muscles would be following the removal of the cast.  Her legs are SUPER floppy and have no muscle tone.  Moving these muscles in ways Natalie hasn't done in six weeks was a little frustrating for Nat.

Dr. Haasbeek was very pleased with Natalie's x-rays and said everything has turned out just as planned.  Now it's important to get her into lots of physical therapy in the months to come to get that muscle tone back.  On a side note, we've met many doctors over the years with Natalie, and I have to say that Dr. Haasbeek is one of the top doctors we've had the pleasure of meeting.  On one of our visits, we learned that he goes to Ecuador to do orthopedic surgery on kids there---it doesn't surprise me in the least as he was very caring and kind to Natalie and the rest of us.  During Natalie's 2-week post op visit, he complimented me on how well I took care of her cast.  I say this not to brag, but to note that many doctors don't take the time to encourage parents and show them support, and this meant a lot to me.  Anyway, I highly recommend him.  He's a fantastic doctor.

So, back to yesterday---the ride home was pretty good, but eventually, the pain caught up with Nat and she had a rough evening.  The good thing is, she fell asleep easily and didn't wake up all night last night.  Today was supposed to be her first week of school, but I think we're putting that off until Monday---or Friday if I feel she can do it.  I really want her getting back into the swing of things.  She's missed out on a lot of school, as her whole summer school session was canceled this year as well thanks to the ol' Mouse River.

Today has been much better for Nat.  She's still in a brace for most of the day (for the next three weeks), as well as overnight (for a few months), but it's much less cumbersome than that big, pink monstrosity of a cast.

Here's to hoping things get back to normal as soon as possible!

Big Changes!

It seems our lives are all about big changes these days.  Natalie has one MAJOR change quickly approaching.  It's the day we've waited for for five and a half weeks:  THE CAST COMES OFF!  What a relief it will be for all involved.  

On Tuesday, we will travel to Devils Lake to see Dr. Haasbeek one more time (until the semi-annual visits begin).  This time, he'll take another x-ray and remove the cast, which will be replaced at night with a brace of some sort.  I'm really anxious to see what she's like under that big ol' cast.  The first few weeks, I had no problems with cast care, but as soon as Natalie really started to eat more, keeping it dry became nearly impossible.  The way the diapering works, it's inevitable that urine seeps up the back each night while she sleeps.  Every morning, I dry out Natalie's cast with a hair dryer so it doesn't become too stinky.  It does the trick, but it's certainly not fun for either of us!

Of course, as soon as the cast comes off, Natalie can return to school!  We're so excited for her; she's had to put up with a lot over the past six weeks, so this will be quite the treat for her to be back with her classmates and teachers doing all the things she loves to do in school.  This is all possible because of the kindness and generosity of my relatives, Dave & Marsha DesLauriers.  We are currently occupying the top floor of their home in northwest Minot, while they are living downstairs.  It's been wonderful to be back together again as a family.

The biggest change of all will come in maybe a month or so when we will finally move back into our home on Fairway.  Work continues on the house, but most things now are up to the professionals, like plumbing, flooring, HVAC & sheetrockers.  Natalie will have an all new room that has grown by a few feet and will now have a door set on an angle for easy access.  She'll also have a new bathroom suited for her, complete with a roll-in shower, flooring that will be wheelchair-friendly, a whirlpool tub which we know she will LOVE, and a desk area in the family room that will be just for her.  What a lucky girl!!

There's much more to come...stay tuned!

The Pink Cast

It's less than three weeks until the cast comes off!  Wait a minute, she has to wear it for another two weeks and five days?  Ugh.  Poor girl.  Last week we traveled to Devils Lake to see Dr. Haasbeek at his satellite clinic.  There's good news and bad news.

 

First, let's start with the really good news...Natalie's bones are healing really well and everything looks perfect on the x-ray.  Her cast is also in good shape, so that was encouraging. 

You can see it now has some beautiful autographs adorning it these days.

 Cousin Rhett did a great job of writing his name on Nat's cast!

 Okay, okay...Cal didn't write his own name...but he DID do the beautiful scribble marks below it!

 Much more smiling these days!

Okay, now for the bad news...which you already know.  In total, Natalie will have her cast on for just a day under six weeks.  I was really hopeful that it would be something more along the lines of five weeks, but I'm not the doctor.  Nat's doing much better sleeping these days and she's happier during the day, too.  She has her moments, especially late in the day, where she gets frustrated, and I have to admit that I do as well.  Needless to say, we'll all be happy when it comes off!

So, as many of you know, we've been living in Sherwood while Perry rebuilds the house.  As of tomorrow, we'll be Minot residents again!  Some very gracious family members have offered their home to us until we can get back in OUR home.  It will be so nice to be reunited with Daddy---who misses his kids very much.  this also means Natalie will be returning to school!  I'm not sure of the details yet, since Natalie is still in a cast, but we'll know soon.  I'm just glad we're on the road home now.  We'll get there soon.