Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

Sorry for the long overdue update but you can imagine how busy our life is now.

Connor continues to stay strong. He try's and stays as happy as he can but he still has many difficult moments of not just pain but the whys. It's hard to get a 6 year old to understand and even harder for him to control his emotions when the pain is just excruciating.

We saw the drs Wednesday and had X-rays done. He's got about 2" of new bone growth! And had another 3/4" taken off his lift. The bonus break is healing but it will need to be fixed after the Fixator is off, there is nothing that can be done now. We should be done turning Wednesday May 28th, we have another dr appointment that day so we will see if turning will be officially over. They have some concern with the lower half of the break closer to the knee in that it is being pulled down and they may have to try and align it better, but that will be addressed next visit. 

Physical Therapy...well it plain sucks. We are going to talk to the dr about having Connor talk to a therapist and maybe discuss if there is something he can take for the anxiety he gets during PT. We are running out of ideas to keep him calm but his PT sessions are screaming to the point where he has been moved to a private PT room during the stretches as to not scare or distract the other patients. He hates it. His behavior during this time is something we have never seen and I can't stand seeing him like that. The good is that once PT is over by the time we are outside he has calmed down but is very tired(I would be too the way he gets all worked up and screams. I'm surprised he hasn't lost his voice.). 

Connor graduates Kindergarten this Tuesday!! Seems like he just started school yesterday. 

As for this weekend. We are going to try and relax and enjoy it. We have been invited places but he haven't committed to anything yet. 

Thank you to all who have served and are currently serving our country and who lost their lives protecting our country! Happy Memorial Day!

Busy Busy Busy

Our updates will be more along the lines of once a week for now. Things are busy around here:)

Connor has had quite the busy week. Since his awesome baseball game last Wednesday, his week wasn't done yet. Connor went back to school for 2 hours a day on Thursday!! He was SO EXCITED!! I drove him Thursday and Friday and then Monday he got to ride the bus to school!! He is thrilled to be back at school with his friends!!

Saturday he got to go to a friends birthday party and he had a great time! Then Sunday we went to the Spirit of St. Louis Air Show and saw all kinds of cool airplanes and helicopters and then watched the air show which featured the AMAZING Blue Angels!! It was spectacular!! He has not stopped talking about how cool the airplanes were but the coolest part for him was that he and Brenden and Dad got to take a ride in a Huey Helicopter!!! The smile on their faces brought tears to my eyes. To see my kids enjoy the ride and experience with their daddy!! That day, to me, was my Mother's Day!! We spent all day there and even though it was very hot during the show and we all got a little crabby it was still a day I know I will never forget! Then yesterday (Tuesday 5-6) I took the kids to go swimming at Aunt Laurie's!! Once again another day that was fun and helped take the stress away and see the kids being kids and the Fixator not being this thing keeping him from doing things he loves. I see us at Aunt Laurie's quite often over the summer, get ready Aunt Laurie the Maine's will invade your pool, but we will always ask and make sure we take great care of everything! Blessed to have such a great support group and family:) 

Onto the lengthening news. We did more X-rays today and spoke with Dr Miller, Dr Gordon's associate, and we were told that the new bone growth looks great. That we only have 21 more days of the distraction phase(turning the struts) and that the "bonus" break is doing what was pretty much expected. We will NOT have to have another pin placed at the moment and our next follow up is in 2 weeks. They are pretty confident that the bonus break is more set now and is just healing. The nerve pain in Connors foot is still present but no where near as bad as it was a few weeks ago, he is still on the Neurontin and it seems to be keeping it well controlled. He still has some pain in his foot but he can tolerate it now. The stretches are the same, very hard very painful and very emotionally draining for both Connor and myself. After stretches and PT there is just no comforting him and his physical therapist, Andy and I have all just agreed that for the 30 mins post PT and stretches to just leave him be, don't talk or try and comfort because he just won't listen get angry and yell. So as bad as it sounds we all ignore each other and after about 30 mins he's out of his mood and back to that sweet little boy we all know! Today at PT Connor took steps without his walker or holding onto anyone!!!! This is something he has been working so hard to accomplish and once again, this very proud momma had tears in her eyes!! I will take video of him taking these steps all by himself!! 

Brenden came down with strep throat again Monday evening:( he also had an amazing time on the helicopter. He is growing up so fast and is doing so well in school! He and Connor really are best friends and I love seeing them play and have fun together.

Macie is still adjusting to everything. Not only is she having to share mommy with Connor more she hit the terrible 2s and hit it hard. When she's with GiGi or Mawmaw she is very good(at least I'm told) but when she's with me she is definetly testing my patience. But she always gives me loves. Quick story, We got home today from PT after picking up Macie and I told Macie "go inside and sit down for lunch" she said "hold on mommy I need to help 'Connie' (how she says Connors name)" and proceded to go to him and try and help him out of the car. She loves her big brothers so much.

Connor really is the bravest boy I know. People asking him if it hurts and he says "no not really, you just have to be strong and brave like me!" I am so proud of him! 

One moment, One step, One day at a time!!