Saturday Christina and daddy took a trip to meet the family for breakfast. Unfortunately, we were the only ones that made it. We made the best of it and enjoyed a big breakfast.

The alarm was set early, but Christina did not wait; she was up at 04:30. We did our morning routine, played a little and left. It was disappointing not able to see everyone. Christina looked like she was going to fall asleep on the way home.

The morning activities caught up to Christina and she took a three hour nap. Daddy enjoyed a nap also.

Sunday Christina made reindeer cookies with grandma and daddy. She took part in every step of making the dough and decorating the cookies. She especially liked rolling out the dough.

Rolling out the cookie dough.

I learned yesterday that my uncle Dale passed away. Dale we will miss you.

Prayers to Spring and all of the family.

I have been enjoying cooking lately. Made some beef vegetable soup for the first time in a very long time. Also have turkey soup in the crock pot now. Of course with the turkey leftovers. And the thanksgiving meal turned out beautiful. Even got a compliment saying the turkey looked like a picture in a magazine. Yea me.

The beef ribs turned out better in the crock pot than the ones in the oven so the next round will be in the crock pot. Hmmm, yum.

And of course it is the time of year for that friendship bread. I have a couple loafs in the freezer and one half gone on the counter. I am going to try different flavors, the banana has turned out well, so I'm getting the courage to try chocolate. Chocolate bread seems a little different for me.

Thanksgiving weekend is done. Lots and lots of food. Yum.

Christina ate like she had two hollow legs. She is a fan of turkey leftovers. And to my surprise she ate stuffing as well as she does mashed potatoes.

I am still concerned about the weakness in her legs and how quickly the Botox took effect in her arms. Her physiologist said that is normal, but I worry.

Christina and I have enjoyed telling stories to each other. I like to start with "Once upon a time there was a beautiful princess name Christina...". Christina gives me a smile and once in awhile she can't hold back a giggle.

Bath time has been hilarious with Christina laughing so hard she turns red. Christina also finds it amusing when she messes the towels up and I need to grab fresh ones. I can't help but to laugh with her.

The Thanksgiving holiday winds down. Lots of turkey, potatoes, stuffing were enjoyed. We finished the weekend going to grandma's and seeing James, Robyn, Sheri, Dan, and Dylan. Christina showed her flash card skills and played with grandma and Dylan. "C is for cookie".

Christina has been slowly, but surely relearning how to walk after surgery. The little princess has shots in new places and it has taken its toll adding to the work load of taking a step.

I keep saying it, although it seems repetitive, Christina really is vocalizing more and more each day. It is wonderful to listen to her stories.

Sunday was an early to rise day. I wish it would have been a little sunnier for us to watch the sunrise.

It has been chilly and windy so we have not played outside like we used to. The next calm sunny day we are going to catch up on outside play.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

It was a wonderful Thanksgiving. I made turkey, mashed potatoes, dressing, yams, carrots, and lots of gravy. Dinner turned out well. Everyone ate a lot.

Christina looked beautiful, Angela had Christina in a pretty dress and her hair was done nice.

Happy Thanksgiving

Christina was lots of help making our Thanksgiving dinner. Christina was up early and took a long nap after a big lunch.

Christina was also talkative giving lots of holiday wishes.

Angela dressed Christina in a pretty dress and her hair was done up to match.

Helping cook


Looking pretty

Christina enjoyed breakfast at grandmas on Sunday. Eggs, toast, milk, orange juice, and applesauce were enjoyed.

Christina's incoming teeth have been bothering her. Thank goodness for Anbesol. That has not kept her from being a chatter box. Christina likes to sing along to some of her favorite songs.

The Botox shots in Christina's arms have loosened the tone already. Christina has been reaching in and out wonderfully. This has also increased Christina's hand opening. Whether it is a bonus ability or desire I do not know, but it gives me a smile to watch.

I am a little concerned how quickly the Botox took affect. Generally it takes some time, not a lot, to have an affect on the muscles.

On another good note, Christina has avoided getting sick with the bugs going around.

The Phenol blocks in the legs have made walking a learning again for Christina. She seems to have the routine down pat and several of the times we walked she takes little purposeful steps. I can't explain it well, but if you could see a before and after you would be as proud as me.

With Thanksgiving coming up Christina accompanied me to the grocery store to pick out a turkey. This year Christina can say she is bigger than the turkey.

Surgery went well. Waiting for Christina to get out of recovery.

Christina is out of recovery. She looks more out of it than normal. It is so hard to see her like this.

Will update more when I can.

The next round of Phenol blocks and Botox injections is creeping upon us. The doctor visits are popular these weeks. Christina went to see the physiologist, optometrist, pediatrician, and was fitted for AFOs. Christina is 27.7 pounds and is 36 inches tall.

We took it easy this past weekend with surgery coming up and to avoid getting sick. Christina has a couple of molars coming in and Anbesol is her friend. Christina also had booster shots on Friday which throws things out of whack for a couple days.

Christina has been super talkative still and I think it keeps increasing. It is beautiful to listen to her. Grandma had the chance to listen to her tell a story to a friend on the phone.

Christina has also become very fond of playing with the flash cards. We always had fun going through the letters and words, but now Christina grabs them off the shelf to go through them. I am so proud of her as she takes each card from me, says the letter/word, and then hands the card back.

The new AFOs fit well and Christina does not mind wearing them. The AFOs still play havoc with Christina's tone and make it more difficult for the princess to take her steps, but stand back the lil' firecracker is exploding. Christina has the determination you think you would only see in the movies. As Christina took her steps I thought she would stop after just a few. The struggle was tough to watch and the faces she made led me to believe that should wouldn't go far; I was wrong. The smiles lightened everything when Christina reached her destination. I am not sure who had the bigger proud smile, Christina was very proud of herself.

I will try to post an update soon after the surgery appointment.