We have had wonderful weather here. This past weekend Christina and I spent a lot of time outside. Now if only I can get everything done in the house.

Christina and I went to the Children's Museum for the first time on Sunday. We met Dan, Sheri, and Dylan there. It was fun, going to definately go again.

The family breakfast is coming up and I am looking forward to seeing everyone again.

For those of you who check out the pictures online, I am working on them to make it more user friendly and efficient. Slowly I should add.

It's been a long time since I updated the blog. There has been a lot going on. Let's work backwards...

Yesterday, Feb 13th, we met dad/grandpa for breakfast. We got to see James also. Christina ate very well and shared her smiles with everyone. That afternoon we went to the Wissota Winter Classic. It is a benefit for UCP. We stayed for a few hours and had fun.

Christina had a doctor appointment this past Thursday. The appointment went well. We talked about the next round of Phenol and Botox. Also about casting. We also met the orthopedist who will be following Christina.

The UCP Telethon on Jan 30th went well also. It was an experience and Christina did wonderful. We went late morning and then took a nap and went back late afternoon. Unfortunately we did not make it to Snowbiz. Christina needed her nap in the afternoon and was beat by evening.

Life has been hectic and tough on many levels covering several topics I will not go into. I will sum it up by saying life sucks, and I am not happy.

That's enough of an update. If you would like to know more details send me an email.

Derek

Well the procedure went well, of course holding Christina down in the OR is one of the worst things in the world. But she made it through with no complications. We did decide that next time to use versed, heavy sedation drug, to help make the going to sleep easier and she will forget most of everything that occurs.  After the OR we all went swimming to make part of the day fun.

The trip up there went very well not one tear. I even got pulled over and she did not cry with flashing lights in the back. THe journey home was not so great but at least there was one good way. 

Today we filmed the UCP commercial for the Wissota winter classic. Of course Christina wanted Daddy. She is anti mommy since the OR episode and will be for a few days.  Her and Daddy looked very cute.

So we are back to getting back on schedule. Yes I know that is redundant but oh well.  Jan 21 we will find out if Christina will go to school more days during the week.

Well we are off to the cities for another round of phenol botox. I am sure all will go just fine but it still is an uneasy feeling. I am sure that the trip up there will be the most painful part of the journey.

Well, lately Christina has been a chatter box and it is so wonderful to hear her voice. She has made huge leaps lately as well as growing. She is 3 feet and 24 lbs. I remember when she was just 2.2 lbs. It seems like yesterday she was just a wee baby. Now she is a big princess. She gets on the  upset side if you call her a baby.

She is doing very well in school and looks forward to going. This year she made Derek and I the best Christmas present ever. A cookie jar with her picture on it and all in her paint job. It is the most beautiful cookie jar ever.

Christina had a great Christmas and of course Santa made a long visit. Speaking of Santa we went again this year to see him at the mall and  he remembered Christina by name from last year. She waved and pulled on his beard.  We now have a whole princess town with tunnels and balls and a tinker bell tent too. She just loves to be in there. All the other toys are just better when they are in the tents.

Christina had more pictures done for the UCP event coming up and on Wednesday we will be filming a commercial for the Wissota Winter classic. UCP is going to have her running all year, but very excited about it. We all feel so blessed that Christina was chosen.

I will keep everyone up to date after the surgery or I will have Daddy post something.

We wish everyone a very merry Christmas. We are getting ready to open presents. Yippy yippy... more later.

Last night we opened a gift from Christina and it was the most wonderful gift ever. Both of us were in tears.

On a different note phenol botox is scheduled for Jan 5 at 7 am. Thank you UCP for helping out with the hotel stay.

Christina did not sleep well last night. Angela got up with her and managed to get her back down quite some time later by laying in bed with her.

I woke up before the alarm, oh joy. So after I get some coffee in me, I get a message to check out Facebook. And what do my wondering eyes see, nothing. I woke Angela to see if she wanted to get up and if she would get up to talk to me. We are having issues for lack of a better of describing. It seems there are things going on I am only partially aware of. So I asked Angela to fill in some of the details and we argued.

The day was stressful for both of us. I am still sick and my voice is going and Angela is still sick too. Neither of us showing signs of getting better.

Angela and Christina went to the mall to see Santa. They had their pictures taken and Christina enjoyed tugging at Santa's beard and playing with Rudolph. The picture looks very nice.

After work was tense. I am ready for my night smoke and to head to bed.

Today Christina had another good day at school, she told me all about it. Angela had a doctor appointment and I met them at the clinic.

Angela and I planned to go have a drink after I got home from work. All you parents know, sometimes things do not go as planned. All three of us did get to spend the evening together shopping. We walked through the whole store and found lots of cute things for Christina and Angela. And found a cool toy for Christina, santa may have gotten it for her.

I'm not a huge fan of shopping and clothes shopping may be towards the bottom of that list, but I enjoyed very much spending the evening with my girls. I'd do it again.

Dishes are done, coffee is ready, time for a smoke, and bed. Still could use that drink.

There could be a song floating around out there. Really though, if I'm gonna mention a reference to a song with Monday in the title it better be Blue Monday, good tune.

Today was a typical Monday plus my still being sick and my cough getting worse, Angela still has pneumonia and has to go back tomorrow so they can take a better look(never a good sign). Along with the usual stresses as of late.

Christina had a good day at school. She was undecided who to hang with when I got home. She was walking in her gait trainer while holding mommy's hand. Christina was doing an excellent job. They were heading for the Christmas tree with Christina's hat. Great job Christina, and cheers to mommy for pushing and giving Christina the confidence she needs.

Supper time did not go well with Christina, a time out was in order. We did come to a compromise and she ate. We played on the floor tonight cutting wooden vegetables and then more laps.

Time to back up more photos.

All of us slept in this morning. I woke up at 09:00, Angela and Christina woke up at 09:30. Woo hoo!!!

I had my time out of the house; went for coffee, hit the store, and then the gym. I'm still sick so the gym was short.

Christina and I put decorations on the Christmas tree. We had a blast. She enjoyed grabbing the silver balls and putting them on the tree. We tried some colored ones, but took them off. The tree looks nice. Angela put some holiday decorations around the house and it looks festive.

Tonight, Christina and I had supper and played on the floor for a little while. Then she wanted to walk. Christina took wonderful steps and did her little hop and giggled. She was doing very well and with some coaxing, she hopped quite a bit.

Angela went to do homework at her mom's. After I put Christina down and checked outside, I thought I would check on Angela also. As it turns out she was sitting in the car with a friend. He opted to take off, not sure why. Gotta admit, that doesn't look good. I'm thinking something is going on. Why else would they take off. Must not be that much homework.

Off to have another smoke(I'm stressed) then bed.

Christina was up at 04:30 today. Again she was tolerant of me getting her meds together and making coffee. Not to mention plopping our butts on the couch so Christina could tell me about her dreams and could get a few more minutes to wake up.

We walked a lot today. By late morning Christina was ready for a break before a full lap was done. Her breaks; however, are a couple of minutes and then it is time to go again.

Christina took a long nap today. I went to get a Christmas tree and Angela did laundry. Angela needed to get out of the house so she went for a drive.

We put the tree up tonight and have the lights on. It was very enjoyable to watch Christina with the lights, she helped. We started late and I want to go to bed rather than putting the rest of the decorations on.

Christina is in bed, Angela is wrapping presents, and I am ready to finish up and go to bed.