An Independence Day....independent of hospitals

Jeremy, Avery and I have spent almost every major holiday in the hospital in the past 18 months...so we were bound and determined to not spend the 4th of July in one this year.  We managed to succeed, although Sloan Kettering threatened that possibility for a while.  Thanks to the 3 day weekend, we managed to make it up to MN and spent some much needed time visiting Team Avery North.  We didn't get to see all those that we had hoped to see, but it was great to see the ones we did. 

Avery spent lots of time in Nana's pool and she absolutely adores the water!  Poor Jersey even had a dip or two thanks to Avery.  The rest of the time she spent chasing the other puppies while they danced around her and barked.  Annoying to mom and Nana, but Avery loved every minute of it.

It was a short trip, but long over due and it was nice to spend a few days out of the heat and humidity that seem to have settled on the Kansas City area.  Monday's drive home left us just enough time to sneak out to Corporate Woods for a fireworks display.  Avery oohed and aaahhed with the rest of us and pointed at every firework.  Needless to say it was a hit for her. 

The C Diff seems to be on its way out....lucky for us the new Nanny Taylor is a nurse and knows all too well the fun that can be had with the C Diff bacteria.  We also experienced our first "Time Out" this past week.  Avery is generally a very good little girl and so far has not required the threat of time out.  However, last Wednesday she was just a bear.  So we put her in time out for a minute....she did not like that one bit.  Stopped her crying though and she was a perfect angel the rest of the evening.  Hoping this doesn't become a regular occurrence, but lets face it - she's a 2 1/2 year old....

Avery is working tremendously hard at her therapy sessions each week.  She is really moving quickly in the speech area and the therapist is really pleased with her progress in such a short time.  She has become much more vocal over the last 3 weeks which is crazy to us.  NO -- she has not yet said MOMMY....but it's coming I swear.  We are now looking to add Aquatic Therapy to her routine as the PT therapist believes this would allow her to let go of some of the fears she has developed of falling due to not walking.  Apparently the farther up from the ground you get, the more fearful you become. 

I know it's hard to believe, but it's that time again....Scanxiety has arrived....
Sunday afternoon Jeremy and Avery leave for NYC for an MRI/LP and visit with Dr Kramer.  As the expense of flying and out of network procedures has started to add up, I will not be joining them.  Monday are the tests and Monday night they will fly back to Kansas City.  We most likely will not get results until Tuesday anyway, so I am not as nervous about not being there.  Still, the fear and anxiety that accompany the looming date with the MRI machine are very real.  Say an extra prayer for us this week as approach this date.  And maybe throw an extra one in there for me, as I can no longer be held accountable for my hormonal responses to daily tasks, let alone emotional stressors like this one.

On that note, we find out on Friday whether Avery will be hosting a Baby Brother or Sister for Christmas this year.  Jeremy will also be getting older on Saturday.  Feel free to harass him about this as his plans include getting up early to work, attending my company picnic, a 3 year old's birthday party and installing a new dishwasher.  Birthdays really aren't what they used to be once you hit 30 and have kids...