It's Surgery Day!

The big day is here and we are ready!



First....

We made a whole bunch of sock monkey pins for our family and friends to wear in honor of Elisabeth today. Because what represents Elisabeth better than a sock monkey? (They are her passion in life, that and binkies!).


[Lorelai, modeling a sock monkey pin.]

And then....

My sister did the most amazing thing in the world. Amazing, I tell you! You see, I was incredibly disappointed because I wanted Elisabeth to have a pretty hospital gown for her shunt surgery, but seeing as it's only been scheduled since last week there simply wasn't enough time to order one.

That's when I got a text that said, "I can SO do this" along with a picture of the fabric she was purchasing.

I could not believe it! First of all, I didn't even know that Jennifer knew how to sew. Hello?! How is she the most talented person on the planet? And second of all, I was incredibly touched. Her devotion and love for our family seems never ending. I am so, so, so grateful that she is my sister.

Here are some pictures of her making one of Elisabeth's hospital gowns (I say 'one' because she made two coordinating gowns!):


[That's my sister!]





And then Jennifer put us to work sewing buttons on the pockets, because she said that the more love that goes into it the better.


[Alexandra, my budding seamstress.]


[Me. This is as far as my sewing skills go.]



And now for the finished product:


[Front...........................................Back.]


[Notice Alexandra's buttons? A fine job indeed!]



And the second one is just as darling - I'll be sure to show you pictures of her wearing both of them in the hospital.

Surgery is at 1:00 Pacific Time.

So send a thought or two Elisabeth's way if you have a chance!

In Honor of the Original Shunt

Tomorrow, Elisabeth will go in for surgery and we will say goodbye to her original shunt. It was placed the day after she was born - just a few days shy of four and a half years ago. And carefully - for four and a half years - it has drained cerebral spinal fluid from Elisabeth's brain down to her peritoneal cavity - essentially allowing her to live. Needless to say, we are extremely grateful for that little shunt and all it has done for our child.

Now, a few pictures of Elisabeth's first week of life - and her first week with the original shunt:



Just after shunt surgery - what an absolute chub she was! (9lbs 5 0z - at two weeks early!)


[September 25, 2007]

Her shunt sure was prominent on her head at the beginning - but now she has all those curls to cover it up.






Meeting her sisters for the first time:


The plan for today: Pack for Spokane.

For Elisabeth:
Formula
Meds
G-Tube supplies
Sock Monkeys
Binkies

For Me:
Comfy clothes
Camera
Kindle
Snacks


Tootles!

Around Our House...

Laundry















No guessing what I did yesterday.



Also in the Around Our House series:

• Musical Instruments
• Rainbows
• Sock Monkeys
  

Perfect

When I look at Elisabeth,
all I see is perfection.

Shunt Revision Next Week!

You know how we just love Dr. G around our house. And you also know that it's been nearly 6 months since he performed surgery on one of us Sorenson's....so I would say it's time to hit the operating table again, don't you?

This time it's Elisabeth's turn.

You see, she has been having trouble with her shunt...and when you depend on a shunt to keep you alive, shunt problems are not good. More specifically, her shunt is having trouble staying at the right setting. So one of two things is happening: a) her shunt is resetting itself or b) Elisabeth is changing the setting with all her head banging. Either way, her current programmable shunt has got to go.

So Dr. G is going to perform brain surgery (doesn't that sound dramatic!) and place a new shunt. This one will be a fixed pressure shunt meaning that there are no settings to worry about. Surgery is scheduled for next Tuesday, the 20th, in Spokane, WA. And of course, I'll keep you all posted.

Ciao for now!

A Successful Fusion

Yesterday, Elisabeth and I had appointments with our neurosurgeon in Spokane. I love these dual appointments...there's nothing better than killing two birds with one stone.

First we talked about my spine.

Dr. G said, "So how do you feel? Any numbness, tingling, sharp pains?"

"I feel perfect," I replied.

"Well, your spine looks perfect too, come take a look," he said.

So we went into his office and he showed me the x-ray they had just done of my back. We compared it to the x-ray from October and he showed me how beautifully my spine has filled in.

"This is a successful fusion," Dr. G told me.

Then we chatted a bit more about yoga, and about the fact that when I sit on the floor with my legs out in front of me I can't bend forward, my back just stops (a fusion will do that to you). We also talked about the level underneath my fusion and how I need to be careful so that it doesn't succumb to the same fate as my L-4 - L-5.

But Dr. G thinks I'll be okay, "If you were 72 I'd be worried", he said, "but you're still young, I think you'll be fine."

And in case you are fascinated by spines like I am these days, here's my x-ray:



Doesn't my fusion look fabuloso!?!


Then we moved on to Elisabeth's half of the appointment. She has big news. Huge news.

I'll tell you about it tomorrow...

Spring Cleanse

Be it known to all that I have gone two full weeks without eating chocolate.


This has taken my powers of self-discipline to a whole new level. Me, with no chocolate? I never would have thought it possible. (I have been known to finish off an entire jar of Nutella in two days flat. Frequently.)

(And thank you to to Yoga Hut for putting forth the Spring Cleanse Challenge - which got this whole thing started.)

More Specs

Alexandra finally got herself a pair of non-prescription glasses (all in the good name of fashion, of course). This is pretty much a dream come true for a nine-year-old.




Elisabeth says, "They're all the rage, you know."

And if you're interested I'll be performing with the Mid-Columbia Symphony tomorrow night at 8:00. Ticket info here.

Around Our House...

Musical
Instruments

















***Other posts in the Around Our House series:

• Rainbows

Super-Jenn: Part III

Why my little sister is amazing.

A two part story.


a) She makes me lunches that look like this:



and

b) Watch the video. It speaks for itself.



So here's the question: Have you been to Yoga Hut yet? The studio is doing amazing!! Donald and I have become regulars (Donald is pretty much obsessed with yoga at the moment).

Anyways, a few times a month Jennifer has live music yoga sessions featuring certified music therapist Bill Dluhosh. I went to one a few weeks back and it was an incredible experience! So here's the exciting news: there's another live music session tomorrow morning! Yes, that's right, tomorrow morning at 9:00. So be there or be square.

[Super-Jenn: Part I]
[Super-Jenn: Part II]

Ciao!

Scoliosis

Elisabeth's back has been getting extremely hunched these days - due to the fact that her scoliosis is getting so severe.

We spent yesterday in the ER due to some unexplained problems (Elisabeth likes to stump doctors). All is well now, but we did get a nice x-ray showing her spine. I was especially interested in seeing it - I wanted to see what the inside view of her spine looked like since all I ever get to see is the outside. (Obviously)

Unfortunately, the inside view looked just as curvy as the outside:



Elisabeth's scoliosis:




Elisabeth's x-ray:



There's a lot going on in there!

Lizzy Long-Legs: Part II

Have I mentioned lately how loooooong Elisabeth's legs are?



[Click here to visit Lizzy Long-Legs: Part I]

Elisabeth's New Specs

Okay, so it only took me something like four months to order Elisabeth's new glasses, but at long last they are here!!

(And I think she looks simply smashing in them):



She seemed a bit puzzled the first time I put them on her...

...but then she started examining toys...



...and...



"I can see!!!!"

Growing: Part III

Here we are at March 1st - time to check in with the great hair-growing experiment of 2012 (refer to New Years Post).

Here is picture number three of this twelve part series:


[March]


A look back:


[February]



[January]

p.s. My hair grows fast.