Miracles on Madison Street

We were finally able to get family pictures done with LaRae. I think it's been 6 years since the last family portrait was done. So it was well over due. They must of took 60 pictures. That was really hard picking our favorites. So here are a few. I'll post more at later time.

FRIENDSHIPS

Friendship is a promise spoken

only by the heart.

It isn't given by any pledge.

It isn't writen on any paper.

But friendship is a promise

that is renewed every time

we meet and smile and enjoy

the good times that come from simply

being together.

It's a promise to share

both glad and sad times....

a promise to think of each other fondly,

whether near or far apart.

Friendship is a promise

spoken only by the heart.

A promise that I feel

you and I will always keep.

D. Walley

Kim Jenny, Dr. Powell-Hamilton, Becky, McKayla, and LaRae

Another visit to duPont.

Quintin was able to go with LaRae and I for her genetic counseling appt at duPont. They are running some blood test to see if her Arthrogryposis is genetic or not. We will not have those tests back for a few months. We also were able to get the results from the ultra sound of her elbows. Dr. J told us that none of the bones are out of alignmant and the joints look good as far as the bone are concern. Therefore, it looks like everything is tendon and soft tissue issues. We were really hoping that she was not going to need surgeries. However, surgery is our only option now.

We see her surgeon Dr. Kozin at Shriner's in August. At that time, we will know how soon they will release the tendons in both elbows. We will keep everyone update, as we know things.

McKayla had her dance recital on Sunday.

We went to a World War II Air Show in Reading a few weeks back. Quintin thought the kids would enjoy it. I am not sure that was the case. I know Quintin enjoyed it. The only thing that the kids wanted was the food. Adrian and Q thought the planes were neat. McKayla said, "it was too hot." Thank goodness for the sprinkler tent. I am not sure LaRae liked going threw it or not

Happy Memorial Day

In my family, I have two generations of veterans. My father, brother, and my husband have all served our country to keep us safe and to protect our freedom. I am very proud of them. We have a very close friend Patty that thanked Quintin for his Military service at church this Sunday. I am grateful that she remembered that Quintin served his country . Because so many of us have forgot about our veterans that have come home 20 years ago after fighting a war that has been forgotten. Therefore, to those that are serving now and did serve. My family is proud of you. You are the reason why we are a Free Country!!!

It has been a great privilege having missionaries living in our home. it brings me to remembering that might not be possible if I did not live here in the USA.

LaRae trying to walk!!! I'm in trouble!!!

My mom gave LaRae her first taste of real food. The picture explains what LaRae really thinks of that. If the meaning a picture is worth a thousands words. Then these pictures speak for themselves. I will let you be the judge of that.

LaRae is teething. She is putting everything into her mouth.

LaRae is fighting the battle of Arthrogryposis at 6 months old.

LaRae is learning to sit in a high chair and is doing therapy while in it also not so happy about. She also was refitted for her splints not happy at about that. She's our champ. Keep up the good work.
We love you Baby Girl!!!

This is Marnie LaRae's P/T and Dr. J. LaRae's Doctor for the Arthrogryposis at duPont.

Marnie and Renie are the two P/T and O/T Therapist at duPont. We always see Marnie. Renie always comes along because she thinks LaRae is so dang cute. Renie deals more with the lower limbs. But LaRae seems to attrack everyone. We always seems to hear that she has such great thighs.

LaRae went back down to duPont on May 8, 2009. It was a very long day. We got really great news about her wrists because they are responding to therapy really well. They didn't change the degree of the angle in the splint. They added padding which puts her wrist a little past the neutral position which is really a good thing. Her nickname is Houdini. She gets out of everything, even splints. She figured out a way to get out of her night resting splints, so Marnie, her P/T, fixed her night resting splints. So far she can't get out of them. That's the good news.

We weren't so lucky on her elbows or shoulders. I thought I was getting range of motion in LaRae's elbow only to find out it might be the wrong movement, which could in the long term damage her cartilage in the elbow. So now we have to have the elbow ultrasound to see which way the elbows are bending and if the tendons are going to release at all. They are leaning more towards tendon releases. Her shoulders are showing real problems for her too. They rotate inward so much the back muscles are stretching over the shoulder blade. The upper body is mincing a spinal cord injury even though she does not have one. But that's how the shoulders are presenting at this time. Hopefully with some new P/T exercises we can get her shoulders to start going in the right directions. We have 6 more doctor appts over the next month to go to. LaRae has major GI problems, so we have to see a GI doctor at duPont. They think maybe she has a milk allergy. She is going for genetic counseling, she has to have an ultrasound and refitting for splints. She will be seeing Dr. J again for the Arthrogryposis. We are going to CHOP on May 22 to see Dr Finkel for her muscles.

QUINTIN and the KIDS HIKING

Quintin decided to take the kids and LaRae for a hike around the field. It was LaRae's 1st big day outside. We had to try out the new backpack. She loved it. I can't wait until she can grab Quintin's hair and pull it. Q and McKayla aways did that when he would put them on his shoulders. LaRae is such a stinker in every other way so far. I'm sure she is going to pull all kinds of stunts that none of the rest thought of. She's always getting into trouble, at least as much as a five month old can get into.

Here are just some cute pictures of her in her bumbo chair. Sorry I couldn't turn them. I still think they are cute.



















EASTER
Sorry it's taken me so long to get my Easter pictures on here. My batteries went dead on Easter of course. We spent Easter at Quintin's brother Jesse and wife Sue's house. Quintin's whole family was there and we had a great time. There was 4 generations of Quintin's family there and 8 out of 25 them were very loud kids in a small house.