My sweet girl!

swim lessons

Izabell had her first swim lesson today and she did great! She started with earplugs but pulled those out halfway though the class. Urgh! She did all her teacher asked her to do and was very brave and happy in the water. She is the smallest possibly the youngest and the only girl in her class this week. I did not take photos but hope to later this week. She has class this entire week them I will sign her up for more if everything fits well:) She is very excited and happy so I think we will be signing up for next week as well.

I got Izabell ready for Ballet and went to put her in the car and my car was dead! We are getting a new battery this weekend but sadly Izzy missed her first ballet class. She was not very happy about it but we did go over to our neighbors who have three adorable girls and they played dress up for a couple hours and Izzy did not complain about missing ballet during that time:) So next Thursday will be Izzy's first class..... but I did take and up load a couple pictures:) We had a great time at the neighbors the girls are 5 years 3 years and 2 weeks old. They are all really cute and Izzy had a lot of fun playing with them!

some changes

Izabell's scoliosis has been changing and though we have not seen that Dr for a while (we go in July) I was thinking that it was looking better. But I have noticed changes....

Lately when putting her brace on after the break I have noticed that it is fitting a little different and would check to see if it was on right. Almost seemed upside down though it was not. It just does not feel like it is fitting her back the way it used to. It feels like it is not fitting her upper back on one side. When I look at hr back the major curve looks so much better and is less noticeable. A year ago I could see her curves kink back and forth and now I just see that she has a curve not the sharp kinks. But today while trying on leotards for ballet (she stars tomorrow and wanted all black attire, my sweet punk ballerina:) Her back has changed!! I noticed that her shoulder on one side protrudes more than the other side! The sales person noticed as well! The straps fit one side and would slide, twist dig in on the other side. It is like her shoulder blade and ribs have turned with her curves which is possible. Ahh I hope this is not a major change but will be calling the Dr in the morning. I know we won't get in any to see him any sooner then or scheduled apt since it is a couple weeks anyways but I want them to be aware of the change.


Izzy's eyes have been changing as well. I know I have posted about this already but now I see it more and more. I hope that maybe I am just more aware and that it is not getting even worse. Though I have a feeling that it is worse and progressing still. Her Dr said that she will most likely need surgery soon and even though I hoped that she might not need it. She has an apt with the assistant in July and then with Dr Cadrea six weeks after that. At the last apt he said he would give her this time but that we would most likely have to discuss surgery at that apt. Now that I am seeing her eyes working separately more and more I have to admit that eye surgery is looming in her future. I will keep everyone updated when I find out the details. This is not new info to me I still hoped that she would not need the surgery.

I have had people suggest though the years that it must get easier to see Izzy go to the OR since she has had so many surgeries. I am sure most of our friends and family now that this far from true. It is not easier to send your child into the OR even for smaller procedures, for some reason eye surgery freaks me out, OK the only one that did not freak me out was ear tubes! She is my baby! I take info in all the time about possibilities as since they are possibilities and not set in stone I try not to worry. I also have days when I see the changes and hear the reminders that she will need to more procedures and it is a heavy realty. So I guess this is just me accepting the eye surgery. So now the next step is preparing myself with knowledge and getting the right people (child life specialist) involved to help us plan and help Izzy though the process of another surgery. It i s not easier to send her to the OR but I do have more knowledge now than I did a few years ago about how to help her and try to make it as positive and comfortable a possible. After my surgery last week I was given anti nausea meds when waking up which helped me alot and I am going to talk with Izzy's Drs about this since she has thrown up after surgery the last few times waking up uncomfortable is bad enough but being nauseous on top of it is not something she needs to deal with if she doesn't have to. OK I am rambling and it is not even set in stone yet but I see the chisel and that means it is time to educate myself on this next step..



She is very excited about her first ballet class tomorrow and looks very cute in her dance cloths! I will take and post pictures and will try to post them tomorrow night. i am very behind on posting pictures, sorry. She also starts swim lessons on Monday!! We are looking into a couple 1/2 day summer camps that are a week long. There is a cooking one I think she would love and a hip hop dance one that her friend Crystal is going to take. Izzy would love to go to a dance camp with Crystal. Hopefully they still have an opening!

We are doing good! Izabell's preschool breaks for summer this week so Tuesday is her last day. She will miss it! She starts again at both schools in the fall. She starts ballet class this week and is very excited! She is happy that the required wardrobe is a leotard (pink or black) with pink tights and pink ballet slippers and optional pink or black shear skirt. She is of course told me she wants a black leotard since her favorite color is black! She is too cute. When I took her to sign up for the class she tired on the shoes and the moment they where tied she started twirling in circles! (she might have fallen in the mist of a turn and knocked things off shelves or she might have been an image of grace and control... hard to remember the details now) She is captivating either way:) She is very excited about starting a dance class and walked around the house singing "I'm a ballerina" this afternoon.

I am feeling much better and plan to hit the gym tomorrow morning:) My friend Mimi is coming up to spend some time with us we hope to go for a bike ride while she is here. More fun news...Izzy can now peddle her tricycle around on her own!!! Go Izzy go!!! Steven plans on getting her a better bike soon. Steven also got his bike tuned up and we are researching good bike seat and trailers for Izzy so we can go for family rides.

sorry I have not posted in a while. I had the outpatient surgery for my kidney stone on Monday and have been doing well. I am sore and tired. Ina is here helping with Izabel. I am very thankful to have her here. Izzy is doing well. I will try to post the AZ pictures in a few days.

Home from Tucson

We had a wonderful time in Az. Izzy was good on the flight to Tucson but she was amazing on the way home! Really she was polite listened well and very calm and happy the entire flight! She had so much fun with her cousins Max and Ben! We loved seeing everyone and celebrating with Max and family! Go Max! You are a rock star! We have been busy here catching up on all things Dr's apts laundry phone calls ect and I am still behind. I will share our photos soon...

Busy weekend and Cardiology Update

Izzy and her wonderful teacher Elise!

We had a good weekend. Saturday we took Izabell to the park where her teachers had set up a play time for the classes at her school. She loved playing with her friends and her teacher! Sunday we took her to the Zoo in the morning then went to a meeting at the hospital about pain management which was informative. After the meeting Izzy napped and woke from her nap very cranky upset and tired. She was not sick. She was just tired and fussy. I was exhausted by the time Steven got home. Both Izzy and I where very happy to have him walk in and suddenly she was clam and in a much better mod. She has been easy to tire moody and hard to please the last couple of weeks.

Fun at the Zoo!

Izabell's cardiology apt went well. She was very well behaved for the entire apt! She sat still for her x-rays, EKG, blood pressures, physical and for the pacemaker check! Way to go! She has also grown in the last couple weeks!Her weight is 27lbs!!! Her height is a smidgen below 35 inches tall! She did not have an echo at this apt and will not get one for six months unless otherwise needed. I did have concerns about this because of her growth and because she has been a little off the last couple weeks (lower energy, choosing to sit rather than play with friends, face looks a little puffy ect) I expressed my concerns and feel her Dr did listen and address them. He told me if she continues with this trend then I can bring her in and have her checked. Her xrays did not show any signs of trouble (her heart looked good smooth and small) nor did her EKG. Her pulses where very strong and her coloring is good. She has good blood pressure (low for average child but where it needs to be for her) She did need to have her pacemaker program adjusted a little today which she again behaved and held very still for! Her pacemaker battery is doing well and has an estimated 2 years of battery time left. So... Izzy is stable and will return in 6 months for an echo EKG xray pressure check and pacemaker check.

I was very impressed with how calm behaved and happy she was though the apt today. She is normally this was at doctor apts but she has her three year old attitude on full blast this week so I was unsure and am very proud/relived by how well she did today.


Before we headed to her apt we took my car in for a tune up. We found out that the last placed that changed the oil had broken and then poorly fixed my oil pan and we had to have it fixed today. We where not told about this at that last oil change grrr!!! Also my timing belt was due for a change and after the cardiology apt we picked my car up and now it sounds a lot healthier:)

We also took Izzy shopping for some summer shoes and she choose a cute pair of Nike water sandals. She has long slender feet size 7 1/7 long but the width of shoes make most of them look and fit like they are much too big. We where happy to find a pair of shoes that we could all agree on. Izzy is becoming very opinionated about what she likes and does not like to wear!


Showing off her new shoes:)

Tomorrow she has a genetics apt after preschool.