Oliver's First Year

Our first year we learned to adapt to our "new normal.” I remember thinking when I was pregnant. How am I going to do this… you just do. You find strength you never thought existed within you and you fight for your child. I know there is the chance Oliver will need more surgeries in he future, but worrying about the future does me no good. I rather enjoy every step of our journey with my three kids and create fun lasting memories.

Over this past year we have had so many lessons, so many trials, so many blessings and wonderful memories. Oliver has been the perfect addition to our family. Our family was blessed with a sweet little boy.  Lincoln and Lacey adore him. Oliver steals your heart the moment you lay eyes on him.  Oliver gives us more smiles and giggles then anybody could have ever dreamed of.  He is smart, funny, loving, kind and stubborn. We wouldn't change anything about him. Given his challenges it is hard some days but it has made us appreciate life more and cherish the little moments. It is part of who he is but it is not who he is. He has shown us what life is truly all about. To never give up and to smile through all things. You are a well loved little boy. Happy First Birthday Oliver!!!!

January Birthdays

Celebrating all the January birthdays. This year we got together for all the January birthday and had cake.

January 2017

Life seems to be so busy these days. I've have come to the understanding that life is always going to be busy and I just have to get use to it as thats life. There are a few things that have changed for our family. Josh is back at school ( I'll explain in a later posts), so he's been studying like crazy again. I've been married to a student for 7 plus year out of the 9 we have been married. You would think that I'd be use to it by now, which I am, well kinda, but life just busier with the more kids you have (me being a stay at home mom) and I'm still working 50 hours a week (I have my own day home). So lives busy for our family and we make the best out of it. I feel very blessed that I have the job that I do, where I can work from home to support our family and still be with my kids all day. Some days I don't know how I do it, but I just do. Lincoln, Lacey and Oliver love all of our Day Home friends that come each day.

One Year Myelo Clinic

 Lincoln and Lacey having fun at Nana & Papa-moto's house while we take Oliver to Myelo Clinic. Thankful to have family so close to help.

Oliver was able to meet one of Spina Bifida friends Brooklyn while we were at the Myelo Clinic. We love meeting other Spina Bifida families that are on this same journey. 

Oliver - 1 yr, Brooklyn 7 months.

For Oliver's 1 year checkup he had an MRI done and it showed that his ventrals have gone down. Meaning the shunt is doing what it's supposed to be doing. Yay! Nureosuregeon is happy, so I'm happy. Oliver's bulge also went down at 9 months meaning his skull has fused to his shunt tubing.

Here's Oliver's MRI results. Right - 6 month MRI. Left - 1 yr MRI. The left picture shows how Oliver's ventrals have been able to go down due to the help of his shunt.

He got X-rays of his spine and hips. His hips aren't dislocated which is common, so that's a big happy moment for him and us. Spine has no scoliosis but there is slight kyphosis of the lower back. Which should correct itself with more sitting. With physiotherapy we are going to be working with a standing frame in the next few months to see if we can get him standing or bearing some weight. To do that he will be getting some fitted foot splints (AFOs... still not sure what that stands for). We will be also working on getting him rolling more on his own too.

He also got an Ultrasound of his bladder and kidneys. All seems well and good. 

Was a very positive trip this time around, he's progressing in the areas he needs and getting stronger in a lot of the areas he was weak in. We are all happy with his progress and look forward to continuing his change and growth.

Cousins

My cousin Nicole ( from the Thomas side) came down to visit. It was great to visit and have a chance for our childs to play together.

Fun fact: Children of your cousin are actually called your “first cousins once removed.” Your cousin's child is NOT your second cousin as is commonly believed. The appropriate name for addressing your cousin's child is niece or nephew, even though they are actually first cousins once removed.

Painting Snow

We've had some cold days lately. Too cold to play out side for any length of time. So we brought snow in to have some fun. Lacey loved painting the snow and mixing colouring to see what new colors we could create.