Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Playtime Miscellania

She spread the blanket out all by herself without getting frustrated (a big deal for us!)
Hanging out in the castle tent that Helen gave to her. Rody lives in it until Mia kicks him out.

Mia and one of our sweet little neighbors, Brian

It doesn't listen.
Always watching those feet!



Backyard fun is soooo tiring!





We're finally weaning Mia off of steroids. She has been on them for nearly two months and has had zero improvement. She complained that she felt sick or tired all the time and her personality took quite a slide. We're down to half doses until Friday and then we can completely take her off. After this, we're trying 6 MP (6 Mercaptopurine). The docs feel that it's time to try immunosuppression since diet adjustments, leaving it alone and steroids don't work. We're not completely in the dark since we did talk about this route with Dr. Pratt lasts year. She'll have to have frequent blood draws since that is the way they monitor toxicity. If things don't look good they take her off, easy. That is why the chose this drug, the ease of monitoring the functions that it can adversely affect.
The school recently had a pumpkin incident that started off sour and ended in a great coming together of the community. This past Spring, the kids planted pumpkin seeds and cared for them until they were ripe. Last week, some twit came in during the night and stole about 20-30 pumpkins, all but a few green stragglers. The directors were livid and called in the newspapers which led to a spot on the evening news and before long most of COS had heard about the pumpkin heist The following days, truckloads of pumpkins arrived at the school. I mean TONS. One older gentleman in his early 70's was so shocked that someone would steal from kids that "worked their butts off" growing little pumpkins that he brought in a flatbed loaded down with new replacements. There were so many donations (and still) that the school is hosting a fall pumpkin festival to thank everyone for the support. It's on Saturday, so hopefully I'll have some super fun pictures to post!








Mia Ballerina

We have Helen to thank for the ballet bar and lovely DVD that goes with it. The DVD music sticks in your head, whether you're actively paying attention or not, but Mia LOVES it!













Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Mia's First Day of Preschool

They make their own placemats for snacktime




Making smushed flower pictures








Checking out the monarch caterpillar and the wolf spider found in the school's gardens






Tennis balls, buckets and a big plastic tube!






Cleanup

Taking a closer look at the caterpillar













In the cabin on the playground



































Sunday, September 21, 2008

Our trip to Georgia and Virginia

Here is the batch of pictures that turned out okay, the rest were blurry, fuzzy or under/over exposed. I don't get it, it's a point and shoot camera that was fine until about three months ago. Mom and Chris probably have better shots!

Mia hauled Aunt Jessie around the playground in Hull


Mia and Aidan with their star balloons



Rebecca smiled for Gary!
Handsome guy!
Feedin time!
Sleepy little lady
I think this was the most cooperative shot on the swing!



Ringing the doorbell was a lot of fun for the kids, not sure about Angie (who was cooking!)
This might be one of two pictures that have Chris in them!
They are hugging, not wrestling.
Aidan opens his birthday present from Mia



Airplanes!

Mia dancing to Nicoles violin music
Daniel, Yvonne, Nicole, Jenn and Mia
Gary's early birthday cake. Mia helped the old man with the candles :)
Family picture
























This is a video of Mia dancing to Nicole's music