Shots Again

Callie has started her next round of immunizations.  She had her second shot today.  When we went in for Callie's first shot the nurse was concerned about the amount of petechia Callie had on her face and body and the doctor suggested we go get a platelet count just to be safe.  So, we went all the way downtown to the hospital (it's not really that far, about 20 min. but still kind of a pain) to get a count.  We went to the lab instead of the Hemo clinic so I had to wait for the doctor to call me at home with the results.  It was a little nerve racking, but all turned out to be fine because Callie's platelets were at 45,000!!!  That's up 8,000 from a week and a half ago.  She is so amazing!

We have also been doing "Mommy and Me Yoga" from a video I have.  It's great!  Callie really seems to like it too.  I think she has a crush on the 6 month old little boy that is in the video.  Every time we are supposed to be playing she is craning her neck to watch the little boy on the video, it's so cute :)  I'm not sure if the yoga is doing anything for Callie, but I am definately feeling the results!  My legs and arms are pretty sore, but it's okay.  It's a neat way for us to play together while I also get a workout.

Everything else is going well, except for poor Ozzie.  I think he felt really ignored the other day because he escaped from the backyard!  I got a call from our next door neighbor saying that Ozzie was visiting them and had been for awhile.  He got out while I was feeding Callie and trying to put her down for a nap, so I was pretty distracted.  Good thing our neighbors are great and have a little dog that Ozzie loves to play with.  

Scott is doing well also.  He got to move into our apartment today so that is good, and they start Spring Training games soon, so that will keep him busy.  We got to do a video call on the computer today and that was exciting!!  He was so excited to "see" Callie and how much she has changed.  It really confused Ozzie though, he could hear Scott talking and was going all over the house looking for him and barking :)

We have a busy two weeks ahead of us with doctors appointments and then my parents are coming to visit for a week.  They are so excited to see Callie again.

Too Cute!!

Here are just a couple of new pictures from the last couple of days.  Enjoy!

Physical Therapist

Callie had her visit with her Physical Therapist today.  We havethis great program that Callie qualifies for called Early Childhood Intervention (ECI).  They have PTs, Occupational Therapists, Nutritionists, etc. and they come to your home.  It's great, because that means one less doctor's office we have to visit.  They also work with your child until they are three years old.  Right now Callie sees the PT three times a month, and before we leave for Japan the OT is going to start coming out.

  

Her visit today went really well.  The PT was impressed with all the progress Callie has made with holding her head up and her increased trunk strength.  She gave us some things to work on like playing on her side to start her rolling over and trying to get her toes and feet up to her face.

 

Not too much else going on.  The weather has been really nice and sunny so we are still going for walks.  Ozzie really appreciates it.  The poor guy gets pretty jealous.  He still tries to sit in my lap when I am holding Callie, but she is so big now there just isn't any room :)

Below is a picture of Callie in her baseball t-shirt.  She is practicing cheering for Daddy :)

 

Hematologist

Callie had an appointment at the Hematologist today.  Her count was 38,000 down from 43,000 two weeks ago.  It's not a big drop so that is good.  The other good news is that we get to go three weeks until her next appointment!  It's so nice to not have to go to the hospital as often, but it's also a little nerve racking.  We were getting so used to going so often, it's taking awhile to adjust.  Now our appointments seem to take a little longer because all the nurses want to visit and see Callie.  

Callie is also starting to lift her head a lot when she is on her tummy.  I've started putting her little elbows under her and she bears weight on them now and looks around, it's so cute.  I also think she is trying really hard to roll over.  When she gets mad because she is on her tummy she kicks her legs up and throws her head and her arms back.  All she needs is a little push from me and she rolls over.  So hopefully that milestone will come soon.  The Physical Therapist comes tomorrow afternoon, so we'll see what she thinks of Callie's improvement.

resting on my elbows (mom's hands are covering them up) and looking around

Update

Not too much has happened since last Monday, which I guess is good.  Today Callie had a follow up appointment with her Cardiologist.  The doctors found a couple of things in her heart while she was in the hospital.  I can't quite remember what they are all called, and I don't know where the sheet of paper is that the doctor gave me today.  Needless to say, everything checked out fine and we will go back in September for another follow up appointment.

Callie has been working really hard on her "tummy time".  It's been kind of a struggle, but the last couple of days have kind of been a breakthrough.  On Saturday I found out that she really enjoyed watching Ozzie chew his bone and she stayed on her tummy for 20 minutes!!  A record amount of time!  She also enjoys looking at herself in the mirror while on her tummy.  This evening she even started lifting her head a little, so that was really exciting.  She is definately making progress.  Below are a couple of pictures . . .

watching Ozzie

looking at myself

I guess I should give a Scott update too.  He has been doing really well.  His bullpens have been going well and he is still enjoying himself.  He says it gets a little boring because there is not much to do in the city where they are staying, but he gets to golf on every off day they have, so at least that keeps him occupied.  His picture is on the home page of the Hanshin Tigers, it pretty good.  Just click on the link to the right and you will be able to see it.

Platelet girl again!!

This child is totally amazing.  Every time I think her platelets are going to be low, she completely surprises me and makes more of her own.  Callie's platelet count was 43,000 today, up 8,000 from two weeks ago!!!!!  I mean, we knew she would eventually grow out of needing platelet transfusions and eventually start producing her own, but I had no idea she would start this quickly :)  There is always the chance that her platelets can go back down again, but hopefully she is on an upward trend that will last for a long time.

Callie has also successfully survived her two month shots.  I think I now know the name of every nurse at the pediatrician's office, since we were there four times last week.  She didn't cry too much when she got each shot, and fell asleep on me while we waited for the nurse to come back after 15 min. and check on us.  She has one more shot tomorrow and then hopefully we won't have to go back to the pediatrician's until her four month check up.

Callie is still laughing a ton.  I discovered that she is very much her father's daughter because she gets the biggest kick out of me making fart noises with my mouth :)  She's been talking pretty much all day today and even started squealing.

Scott is still surviving Japan.  He says the workouts are a little long, but he is adjusting.  He threw his first bullpen the other day and it went well, so that is good.  They had an off day today so he went golfing with the other American players.  Callie and I are still surviving without him, but I can't wait until we get to go over there.  Scott got to visit our apartment and he says it is really nice.  They even had a crib in Callie's room already, so it looks like we will be taken care of pretty well.

Funny stuff

Today was kind of a crazy day.  On Sunday I was chasing Ozzie in the yard and managed to step on a rusty wire that punctured my foot.  I am doing okay, just walking a little slower.  So Callie and I went to the doctor today so I could get a tetanus shot, yeah :)  While we were in the waiting room I was playing peek-a-boo with Callie and at first she started smiling real big, and then she laughed!!!!!!  I did peek-a-boo about five or six more times and she laughed, then she got tired of the game and started fussing.  I was so excited I almost cried, I have been waiting for her to laugh for so long.  And for those of you that are familiar with my signature laugh you will be happy to know that Callie has inherited it :)

Today was also our second day without Scott.  I've been pretty busy, not too much down time, but Callie and I are doing great.  I'm sure you will all be happy to know that he is already a "SuperStar" in Japan.  He flew in with another American player and after they landed and got off the plane there were TV cameras waiting and then they did a press conference.  I'll see if I can find some pictures online and post the link.