Back Update

Getting measured

 For the last couple of months Kate has been all too happy to take her back brace off any chance she could. It is supposed to be worn 20 hours a day. There's always an excuse, it's too hot being the most popular. I noticed that it isn't fitting like it used to and took her into to checked. Sure enough she has grown almost 6 inches and her back brace isn't sitting on her hips like it should be.

On the bright side, because that's what we look for, the technician who measured her back thinks that the curvature of her spine hasn't changed for the worse and possibly is even improved. Only x-rays will be able to determine if he is correct.

The plan is to get a new brace, which takes about three weeks to make, then wear it for a few weeks. After that we go back into see her doctor at Rady Children's and get more x-rays. End of plan there. Everything hinges on that.

Getting fitted for a new brace is quite the party. First she gets two "dresses" made from stretchy material. They then stick a long rubber looking ruler between the two "dresses" so after the cast is made it can be cut off and leave a dress on Kate afterwards. Then he measured and drew lines all over Kate's outer dress and proceeded to apply casting material, the same used when you break a bone. Lots of experience with this stuff. Kate is a giggly girl and had a hard time holding still during the casting process. This girl makes me laugh. When he was cutting off the cast, the sound off the cast getting cut off sobered her up pretty quickly. She looked at me and declared that we are stopping and getting a treat on the way home. Something tangy, which we did. Now we wait.

One other thing, Kate just started middle school and we are all in a mess trying to get her out of going to PE. She can do a few things, but so very few it is not worth her dressing. Personal opinion. Also, she is a stubborn thing. She knows she shouldn't do certain activities, but she's still a kid and likes to prove that she can still do things even if she shouldn't. I cannot imagine the peer pressure in middle school to fit in, and how is she to do that in a PE class where she will be automatically singled out? Several emails and phone calls between the school and a district representative and we are still waiting.

Knowing that Kate cannot do some of the activities that other kids participate in, we gave her a week of golf lessons that she quite enjoyed. She is also taking regular archery classes. Of course the classes are sometimes held in a shop that is plastered with pictures of all the dead animals the people there have shot with arrows. Kate is very much not a fan. The first time we went, she gestured with her head to a wall of photo's and rolled her eyes. Man I love that kid.  

On goes the casting material

Casting

Life Update

 A few weeks ago I took the kids to Utah for South Weber Days, it's a family tradition. On the plane Kate was sitting next to me, she was tired and had her head on my shoulder and her arm draped over my lap. It was chilly, it always is on airplanes, and Kate was sharing my jacket as a blanket. I looked down at her long, graceful arm, letting my eyes follow to her hand. Longest fingers ever. Her wrists are even long. I don't know if others see it, if they notice her long limbs. I know they notice her height, people comment on it all of the time. Especially when they find out she is only 11. She will be 12 in October. But still. It used to break my heart a little when someone commented on how tall she is, but she is so happy to be tall at the moment, I try to take it in stride. I pray her growing with slow down, even stop. I don't tell her that I pray for this, but I do. Constantly. Not only so she doesn't have these things that might set her apart from others, but so her heart and back can remain steady, no more enlarging, no more scoliosis questions. 

I have this little thing for books, some people might know this about me. One thing I like to do in Utah is take my kids to a bunch of second hand book stores and see what treasures we will find. This trip I took my two nieces with me. The blond is the same grade in school as Kate. The brunette is a couple years younger. But the difference in height is staggering. Granted, my side of the family was not gifted with height in any way, shape, or form. I try to convince myself that the difference is really because I come from a family who is vertically challenged.

Kate is as enthusiastic as ever with life. She has been over a year not eating any meat other than fish. She did go full vegetarian for about 6 months, but the call of fish was too strong and she went back to being a fish girl.  She and Noah have had some animated conversations about animal cruelty and the health benefits of not eating meat. She darn near went total vegan, but I told her if she wanted to do that I would take her shopping, but she would be in charge of all of her meals and would have to chart how she was meeting her nutritional standards. Not sure if that felt like too much work, but she decided against it. I have to give her props, she makes up her mind about something and sticks to it. Amazing little kiddo.

Beautiful Teeth, Tall Girl

I am completely and totally biased when I ask this, but have you ever seen such a beautiful smile?  This is actually from December of last year, 2014.  On the bright side, I haven't had a lot to post the last six or so months. That is usually a good sign. For the most part things have been remaining steady. But, it's now entering the fall and that is the time of year we go back to all of her doctors to make sure we are doing well.

Along with braces coming off, Kate has also surpassed both Abby and I and height. She is absolutely thrilled about this, and Abby cannot stand it. Haha. So, currently in order of height we are Noah, Kate, Marci, and then Abby. I guess you can see why she hates it.

Spring Break at Universal Studios CA

Passing Up Mom