Pictures From This Summer and Fall!

Whitnee started pool therapy last week and wow it was so exciting. To finally see your child do something for the first time in there life is an amazing experience. It is even more exciting when they recognize it too.

Whitnee lifting her legs out of the water all by herself.

Whitnee kicking her legs and arms (catching the alligator).

Whitnee Swimming :)

Whitnee standing :)

The SMA clinic at Primary Children's Medical Center had an event with the Real Soccer Team. Real is trying to help get the word out about SMA and we sure appreciate their help!

Here are pictures from that event.

Whitnee and Dr. Kathy Swoboda who is Whitnee's Specialist at PCMC. Dr. Kathy is our Angel. I believe Dr. Kathy is one of the reasons Whitnee is still alive today, we love her so much!

Kortnee and Nic playing soccer with one of the Real players.

Nic one on one.

Kortnee and Nic with a few of the players.

Whitnee with a few of the players.

Group shot of everyone.

Whitnee with Aubrey her OT from Kids on the Move. Today was graduation day! She is now in the School District for all her OT and PT help a long with preschool.

Whitnee with Gary her OT/PT

Sad to not have their help any more.

First day of School pictures. Kortnee 6th grade :( I can't believe she is that old. Nic 3rd grade They grow up way to fast!!!

Nic got his tonsils out in August, everything went well, here are just a few pictures of that day.

Before Surgery (notice the smile)

Looks like we had a busy summer and fall. More Pictues to come as I organize my computer and find them all.

Thank to everyone and their support and prayers it really makes a difference.

Update

I guess it has been a while since my last post. A lot has happened too. I took Whitnee to Shriner's in October for a check up on her feet from surgery in September. They removed her casts and everything looked great. I then talked with them about some concerns I had about her hips. Anyways long story short, yes she does have major hip problems. And at the appointment I was informed that there was nothing that could be done other then positioning her better. So we are in the process of getting a better manual wheelchair to help in that situation.

I left Shriner's rather upset and frustrated. Isn't that what Shriner's hospital is there for to help children like Whitnee with problems like this. To me "there is nothing we can do" is a very poor answer and I was not about to accept it.

So I contacted Whitnee's specialist and told her the situation, she referred me to a rehab specialist at Primary Children's Hospital where the specialist agreed with me, we can do something. So she put Whitnee in a knee immobilizer, and gave me some exercises to do with her. I then asked about Pool Therapy, which she said Whitnee would benifit a great deal from and sent me to another PT for an evaluation.

So Whitnee starts pool therapy on December 4th. I am so excited, I have been looking for pool therapy for 2 years now and about feel over when the specialist told me where to go. The therapist is also looking into foundations to see if we can get some assistance in purchasing an enclosed hot tub so she can continue her therapy at home.

Whitnee is doing great with the knee immobilizer and the stretching. Her PT who comes to the house is putting together a exercise program for her that we will start after Thanksgiving.

Halloween was so nice, we were able to go trick or treating as a family this year it was so warm for the trunk or treat and only a little rain on Halloween but no the less it was great! I will post pictures when Nate gets back from his trip to Moab (4 wheeling).

Whitnee came down with a cold on Tuesday of this week and managed to kick it rather fast. She is still coughing but not in bed and running a high fever anymore. The nice thing out of the cold was we needed to transport her to the Dr. So Home health dropped off portable oxygen tanks for us. So the next time I have to take her to the hospital when she is sick I might be able to do it with out and ambulance.

Report cards came home today!!!! I am so PROUD of my children they work so hard to keep there grades up. Good work Kortnee and Nic. Kortnee managed to make student council this year and is working really hard with that and all her school work. She is so amazing and smart.
And Nic was just excited to finally bring home a report card that we all understood. Letter grades not the stupid ones they get from kindergarten to 2nd grade. They are both in school choir this year too and it is so fun to hear them sing there songs around the home and get excited to go each week (Nic more then Kortnee-she was in it last year so the excitement is not like it was last year).

Well other then that, I am sorry there aren't any pictures this time but I will post them when Nate gets back.

Thanks for all your prayers and support. Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!!!!

Happy Birthday Whitnee!!!!!

We celebrated Whitnee's 3rd Birthday today:) It is hard to believe that she is that old. With her SMA it is yet another mile stone and we are so greatful we have had the chance to celebrate such a fun day with her. We hope and pray that we have many more to come!

Whitnee opening her presents

I think she was Surprised

Daddy picked out the balloons.

Got Ya Dad!!!

Nothing says party like Silly String

Whitnee getting chased

Mom starting the fight and winning :)

Happy Birthday Whitnee

We love you!

Surgery Pictures!

Okay, I finally found time to update the blog! Here are the pictures I promised. Here Nate is trying to keep Whitnee intertained before surgery. They just gave her some sleepy meds so we were waiting for them to kick in.

This is the hardest walk-on our way to surgery

the medicine kicked in and a fun wagon ride to surgery

not sure she remembers this.

Whitnee after surgery TRYING to sleep.

not possible in a hospital!


Whitnee's purple casts, she picked out!

She is doing really well, we got 10 min in the stander today, slowly we will get up to an hour!