Monday, May 28, 2012

What is in a year

I got to go running, by myself and my ipod, for the first time in about a month. It was the highlight of the last many weeks. I love being outside, in the sunshine and in the woods, running. It is truly one of my favorite things in the world to do and renews me in a way nothing else does.
I thought about last year on Memorial day, I also went running at Lincoln Park. The trail 1/2 marathon was coming up in June. I was pregnant but didn't even know it yet. I could run mile after mile and was in the best shape since having Luca. Today I couldn't run super long, but I enjoyed every moment. Crazy to think of what this last year has held, finding out about our pregnancy, carrying and delivering a beautiful, healthy baby girl, and now recovered from the delivery and our whole Philly trip. I am so grateful for Juliette and so glad she is here! I love having her in our family and can't imagine it without her now. And I am glad I have been able to get back to running so quickly after her birth. Now...to get back in shape so I can run longer than 15 mins;)

Friday, May 25, 2012

HOME

We made it home! We could not be happier. We got on the first flight we tried, 3:20 pm. It was a 6 hour flight. wow. Luca didn't sleep and Juliette fought it but did sleep a bit. We are so very happy to be home. I have a huge headache and am thrilled to sleep in my own bed tonight!
 Luca tickling daddy while waiting to get OFF the airplane. "Why are there so many people?" Luca asks
"Hey guys...are we there yet?"

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Luca running around the house

New day

Luca feel asleep at 9 pm last night. He woke me up at 8 am by standing by bed saying, "good morning mommy"
He said, "my foot doesn't hurt anymore" and has been zooming around the house ever since. This kid bounces back fast! And has not had any medicine since last night.
We worked on a little chocolate project this morning. We bought a chocolate mold at Kirsten's store and the melted the chocolate to put in it. There was some extra chocolate so we dipped in strawberries and pretzels. yum! He is one happy boy today!


This is the airplane that Luca would like to take back to West Seattle!

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

The rest of the day

Luca fell asleep at 12 pm in the car on the way home and woke up at 6 pm tonight. He woke up feeling much better, still a little touchy but much more himself.
He asked, "Where is mom?" (to John) and John said, "She is making dinner" Luca said, "I want dinner!" He was finally hungry after not eating all day.
He requested some noodles and is now watching an episode of Clifford on the big TV. Hopefully he will be able to fall back to sleep in a little while. He seems sleepy even after his big nap this afternoon, I guess surgery will do that to you. John and I are tired after a short night last night and hope the kids sleep so we can too! What a long day.


 I get the remote control!

Post Surgery

Luca had a successful surgery this AM, he is still in the recovery room with Katie. He is quite upset and confused from the anesthesia at this time. He has a purple, short leg, cast on that will stay on for the next 4 weeks until we come back to pick up his new AFO's. Luca will have his WREX fitting on Thursday and hopefully we can fly home on Friday.

Monday, May 21, 2012

Surgery scheduled

Luca is going to have surgery at 7 am tomorrow (tues.) morning at Shriner's hosptial- tendon release- on the left foot only.

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Luca playing soccer

Visit with Heather

Heather and Amelie came out from Chicago to visit for the weekend. Here are a few pictures of the visit.





We are waiting to hear back about when the WREX appointment can be rescheduled. Luca has been asking to go home to West Seattle. We are all ready to go home.

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Zoo

We went to the Zoo today. It was about a 45 min. drive and also was reciprocal to our Seattle Zoo membership, so free for us! There was a train ride, lots of animals and sunshine, but since we got there at 11:30 am Luca only lasted about an hour. His favorite part was, of course, the train, never mind that we were at a zoo with exotic animals. 
 On the train






Family




We were able to have pizza last night with Grandma Walker, Cindy, the Hicks and Aunt Heather and Amelie came to visit for the weekend from Chicago.
I think we are going to go to the zoo today with Amelie and Heather. Luca will enjoy that a lot. He is very excited to have his cousin here!
He also seems to be getting a cold, pray that he can have surgery on Tues. and that we don't have to post pone it because of him being congested.

Friday, May 18, 2012

Luca at the farm

Surgery schduled

We found out today that Luca will need the heel cord release surgery on Tues. We will need to come back one time in a month to pick up the new AFO's.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Low key day

Luca got out of bed this morning singing loudly, "I can walk, I can talk, I can get up all by myself" over and over again! So glad to have his mobility back with the short cast.
Today was a great down day, no appointments, and no driving. Luca and I went to the little park just across the street. Luca had rest time for two hours this afternoon. We also made some new friends with the neighbor boys (5,2) two doors down. Luca really liked playing with them and their cool toys. (I asked Luca if he was glad not to be in the car today, he said, "yes, and I am going to walk a really long way back to the aquarium too!")

Juliette was smiling away this evening. We sure needed today to be low stress. Tomorrow we sleep in Philly as Luca has a early morning appointment on Friday. We will find out about the surgery or not Friday am.
We are going to be so happy to go home soon. Thank you Josh, Meg, Molly, Annie and Owen for the cute outfit for Juliette! Luca also loves his Lighting McQueen shirt and band aids!


 Aunt Trisha and Stephen


Aunt Trisha and Juliette

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Aquarium

We got to do something FUN today (esp. fun for Luca) and went to the Camden NJ aquarium. My brother, Josh was up in Philly for a training so we got to spend the day with him! Luca LOVED all the sharks at the aquarium. He is a big shark fan. He also walked for the first time since we left Seattle with his short leg cast. He refused to walk on it this morning around the house but as soon as we hit the aquarium he was determined to walk! Great motivational therapy.








Monday, May 14, 2012

New casts

I just talked with John who is with Luca at the appointments today. Luca screamed through the whole casting this morning. And  he said it hurt. John said it was heart breaking, I am sure I would have been in tears if I had been there. The good news was that Luca got a short leg cast this time in attempts to stretch out the achillies tendon (to avoid the tendon release surgery). We will find out on Friday if Luca is going to have the surgery or not. The next cast on Friday will be long leg again.
We should be able to go home around May 24 or 25th! But we will need to come back to Philly in a month to have the cast we go home with taken off and his new AFO's adjusted for his feet. It should be a short trip just a few days.
John and Luca are at the WREX appointment right now. I will let you know how it goes when they get home.
The boys are home. Luca is asleep with his new cast on. The WREX appointment went well, no tears and they got home at 6 pm for supper. Luca watched a movie on the ipad in the car and ate goldfish all the way back to the Hicks. He can't walk yet, as his leg is stiff from being in a bent position. I am sure he will be able to walk soon as the leg get stronger again.
This Friday another casting appointment and next Monday casting and down to DuPont again. Maybe we will get to take the Luca WREX home with us that day? Not sure yet.

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Fun post on another blog

It is always fun to see your pictures and life through another's eyes. Kristin Melli took some great pictures and wrote a super post about our time hanging out last Friday. I thought you would enjoy.
http://mellidelphia.blogspot.com

Mother's Day

Today was a nice low-key day. Luca and I went to church with the Hicks and Grandma Walker and Cindy. Luca loved the nursery that Grandma, Cindy and Ryan were all serving in during the service. I found a mattress to borrow for Luca from church so he and John don't have to share a bed.(no fun getting kicked in bed with a cast)
This afternoon Kirsten, John and I made dinner and brought it to Grandma Walker's house and we all ate together. It was such a treat to get to be with one of our Grandmothers on Mother's Day.
I also got a few pictures of Juliette and I, while Luca was in rest time.
John gave me the best present ever, he is going to take Luca by himself to both appointments tomorrow. New casts at Shriner's and then molds made at DePont for the WREX arm thing. It is a 12 hour day (including the driving) and I was not looking forward to it. Luca has already told us that he is going to pick another blue cast. I will be so happy to see the boys tomorrow night after their long day and hearing all about it! I will try to get a good picture of Luca's blue cast tomorrow. (and maybe a picture with both my kids to add to this post)

Juliette looking serious
And silly

Mother's Day, 2011

 Mother's Day, 2010


Here is Luca on my First Mother's Day May, 2009


Monster Truck

Luca and John got to ride a four wheeler at Grandma Walker's house yesterday! Luca LOVED it and I think John did too! I took the picture with the ipad. I am not sure how to make it bigger. sorry, I will try to take another picture with the camera next time they ride it.

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Big day

Yesterday was a long day with some fun parts thrown in there.
The highlights included, stopping at a little farm on the way to Shriner's (Luca needed to check on the animals and make sure they were not fighting- is what he said), and Juliette needed to eat. We had stopped there once before on the way home from Shriner's and I am sure it will become our regular pit stop for the duration of our time here.
Then we got Luca's pink cast off and he got a new one that is blue (purplely blue as Luca calls it, some might call it periwinkle)
Then we went over to our good friends from high school, the Melli's house. They are living in Philly right now for graduate school. They welcomed our weariness with open arms and lots of chips and salsa. Then we walked to a park where Luca got to ride in a big swing and go down the slides. After that we walked to a local brewery/pizzeria. There are street trolleys that went by the brewery so of course Luca, Kristin and I took the train home (just like Basel). This phil and ted double stroller we got has been SO helpful for this trip!
Luca feel asleep in Ben and Kristin's bed and the rest of us had homemade frozen yogurt with strawberries.
It was so good to see our friends and walk around in the city. I have to admit to myself, maybe I am a city girl, at least a little bit.
We left the Melli's pretty late and Luca was up in the night 3-5 am with a foot that hurt in his new cast, but he got pain killers and went back to sleep, eventually. John and Luca are sharing a bed so needless to say John was up too. They are both waking up now at 10:30 am.
 Luca waiting to get his pink cast off. (We hoped the headphones would cancel out the sound of the cast saw. I think it helped a little.