Four Days

Ivy's improvement over the past four days has been the most dramatic we've seen yet! I'm not exaggerating, I'm stating this objective truth. I think there is finally a good balance on all her meds, and she's starting to get comfortable here. She's settled into daily routine, which allows her to sleep through the night, and be more alert during the day. Her vocabulary is coming back, she's forming more of her own ideas in conversation. She plays uno (with help holding the cards). In the physical therapy gym a string hangs from the ceiling. Ivy has been reaching for it everyday since she got here. It wasn't an exercise or anything, she just started doing it on her own. Yesterday, after two weeks of trying, she was able to reach high enough to touch it! Little accomplishments like these really boost Ivy's confidence. The last four days we've seen a lot more laughing than crying.

YOU GO GIRL!

I'm checking on you every day, and your just amazing! Keep up all the good work, and of course your wonderful "sprite"....Love from Nipomo...Paula

Ivy Rocks!

Ivy, I've been checking your blog every day to see how well you're progressing.
Can I just say that you never cease to amaze me? You are so strong! You hang on to that determination (not willfulness, Mom, but determination!) and remember that I told you being mad at all of this is good. Just remember to focus your frustrations on getting better and beating this! I would *love* to see you walk into the peds unit at Huntington and show off to all of us how very mighty you are!

I talked to my friend Heather about you. She's the one that plays with Tigers all day at the Wildlife Waystation. She said to let her know whenever you're ready to visit and she'll make sure you get the best tour!

I am still praying for you daily, that God will continue to give you the strength to overcome.

Rebuilding

It's taken two months, but now that she's medically stable and in the right place Ivy is able to focus on rebuilding.  She is working hard in therapy. We've seen a real change in her attitude toward working on relearning how to move. Everyday she wants to exercise! She is definitely favoring her right side. Her left leg is in really good shape, she is able to scan her eyes to the left sometimes, but her left arm is problematic. Contracture is the concern. She is able to relax her muscles but can't really purposefully move it. We're working with it, but how much movement she'll regain is still unknown. 

She's been standing up lately! She wears a pair of braces that lock her knees into place as she's lifted up by a special table. She get a huge smile everyday when she does it.

She's also in the process of fighting off a staph infection found in her blood and in a lung culture. They're having a hard time locating the origin of the infection.  The concern is that it may be related to her heart surgery, though as of yet they haven't found any such evidence. 

We had a meeting yesterday with all the departments assigned to Ivy's rehab. It went really well, the various therapy departments have observed progress over the 2 1/2 weeks she's been here. When we came back from the meeting she was doing this:

We've never seen her lift her upper torso this high!  She is almost sitting up on her own!

Thanks to Marco, Jessica, Kira, Paul and Fayhe for visiting Ivy over the weekend. And thanks to everyone who contributed to the quilt! Here it is at the old room:

...and in the new room:

Look for your balloon

Hi Ivy,
Just had to share a little story from Aubrie with you. The other day she and Janet were shopping at Trader Joe's and Aubrie was leaving the store with her TJs balloon in her hand. Janet said they needed to tie it around her wrist so it would not fly away. But being the 2 year old she is, she refused to give it up and in the argument, let it go....
As she burst into tears about her balloon flying away, Janet thought quick and responded, "It's ok Aubrie. We will just send that one to Ivy and she can get it." Tears stopped and a big smile came over her face. "We can send the red balloon to Ivy."
And now, every night since, as we put Aubrie to bed and she says her little prayers, she prays for Ivy and hopes she gets the red balloon. So watch for that red balloon, Ivy, cause it's filled with a whole lotta hope and love for you from Aubrie.
love ya Stargirl,
clint

Wolves back on the endangered list

My dear Ivy,

I just wanted to let you know that the Wolves are back on the endanged list!
The Center for Biological Diversity, EarthJustice, NRDC, Defenders of Wildlife and several other groups brought law suits against the Bush adminstration and won! The Bush adminstration announced today it will abandon it's defense of the decision to remove them from the endangered list.

I know you would be so happy to hear this since at least 100 wolves have been killed by hunters since the Bush administration stripped them of the protection of being on the endangered Species list. But the killing will have to stop now, thank goodness!

Ivy, you're looking fantastic and your progress amazes me. We can't wait until we can come see you and Melinda. We miss you both so much!

All my love,
Karen Moreno

Hi everyone! 

Last weekend, Jeff Nicklas and I got lucky enough to go down to LA and visit Ivy! It was such an awesome experience and so, so much fun. We were able to talk to Ivy, hug her, and share lots of laughs with her. We also got to go outside and enjoy some time in the hospital's beautiful court yard. Below is a picture from our trip of Ivy with Jeff and I. It was a beautiful weekend, and so so awesome. I want to thank Melinda again for letting us come down and hang out in the hospital with your family. 

Also, for those of you who didn't get to see the completed quilt, here it is! Thank you to everyone who went out of their way to help make it. It turned out amazing and Ivy loved it. 

Ivy, we love you so much! There are lots of things going on at school for you and I know everyone is super stoked to see you! 

Love, 

Lauren R.