The next month was her birthday and we were ready! The day of her birthday, we went out to dinner with my step-mom, just us girls. We had a wonderful time and were looking forward to her party that coming Saturday. She was a bit apprehensive about her outfit for the day, but she was still the cutest little munchkin I've ever seen! But Emma surprised us all when she got her bilateral AFOs and stood for the first time ever!!!
March was not as busy as February, but she did see her Pediatric Neurosurgeon again to check on her shunt and see how she has progressed. He gave her the "all clear" for another year which was wonderful news! She had a few other doctors appointments and had some pictures taken for Easter with Mommy that turned out really well.
In April, our lives began to change as I began the process of moving us to our new house. There was lots of packing to get the house ready to put on the market so that it looked like a house and not Emma's toy room. But despite a month full of therapies and doctor appointments, we got it done and put on the market. And much to our surprise, it sold in less than twenty-four hours of being listed. Good thing too, because we needed it to move quickly since our new home would be ready soon. I also started the Dallas Hydrocephalus Support Group and held the first meeting.
May was a hard month for a multitude of reasons, but it didn't slow us down much. We said goodbye to the house Emma came home to from the NICU and she had her first seizure while with my ex for visitation. But she also got to start riding Peter Pan again at SpiritHorse (they close for the winter months) and set several new records of how many steps he could take with her riding without assistance before she needed a break. For everything she went through that month and continued to smile, tell me she loved me, and sing to me every morning; I could not ask for anything more.
June was a busy month as well. Emma had her therapies and doctor appointments and we moved into our new house!!! July followed with much of the same, but Emma got to see her first fireworks show on Independence Day! There were lots of people and so much to look at, so it was a bit overwhelming at first. But once the show started and the crowd settled down, she happily looked up at the beautiful pyrotechnics. Emma also visited the SEA LIFE Grapevine Aquarium and enjoyed looking at the pretty fish and big sharks. I love seeing her face so filled with curiosity!
August was a month of doctor appointments and painting (so glad that project is over). And yes, she still had all her therapies too. By this time, her progress really impressed all of the doctors she saw and she was loaded up with stickers. Emma was referred to be checked for scoliosis when she went in for her epilepsy check as the neurologist noticed a slight curve developing in her spine. Scottish Rite stated it wasn't to a point where they felt she needed their assistance, but her doctors are actively monitoring it due to her fast vertical growth rate. We also held the second Dallas HA Support Group meeting and met many new people that were very nice. Emma was featured in her first article in a newsletter for my dentist. I was so proud of her!
September was Hydrocephalus Awareness month and a busy one at that. Emma started up her hippotherapy again at SpiritHorse riding Peter Pan (they stop during the hot summer months for the health and safety of both the children and horses). She was also featured in the local paper in an effort to raise awareness in our community. We participated in the Houston HA WALK for the first time and raised $1355 which exceeded the goal of $957 (the number of days old Emma was on the day of the walk). I was overwhelmed by the support and will be looking forward to it again next year!
November started off a little nerve wracking, but I knew that Emma would do well with her eye surgery and her doctor was amazing. The procedure went well and she recovered very quickly after a nice relaxing day of snuggle time once she was discharged. Her vision was noticeably better almost instantly. I knew she would have six weeks of healing before we would see the full effect of her surgery. However, she got to use her newly aligned eyes for an incredible experience only a couple weeks later when she attended her first Formula 1 event at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin. Much to my delight, she seemed to be just as giddy as I was to hear the cars start their engines!
December has been a wonderful way to end a great year. Emma had a fun night out at her very first Stars game - and they won! At her six week follow-up to her eye surgery, her doctor was only disappointed to say that he had no medical reason to see her for the next year. He admitted she had become one of his favorites and would not mind a visit if we were in the area between now and then. Emma got to see Santa again this year, but is still a bit unsure about his beard. This year she sang Jingle Bells to him while sitting on his lap so he promised to bring her something special when he came. And he did! Such a lucky little munchkin!!!
Happy Holidays from Emma Lee and Me and we hope 2014 is a great year for everyone!
