Thursday, August 26, 2010

HPEKid's first day of school was yesterday. Went fairly well, although we got no communication letter home at the end of the day. For the first time, neither HPEmom nor I went in to school on the first day. Claire really lit up getting on the bus, but was totally exhausted upon getting home.

Summer went pretty well. She did 5 weeks of CYO Daycamp and 4 weeks of ESY (extended school program). We traveled to Maryland for a week to visit family and hang out at Aunt Sarah's pool.

HPEkid also got a ceiling lift and track system installed in her bed room. The track carries her straight into the bathtub. For the most part HPEkid enjoys the ride, although bathing her is still not an 'easy' thing. Haven't got the nurses used to using the lift regularly, and in truth, we don't use it for all transfers to her chair and bed. Pretty much it is just used for bath time. Still, it is there if we need it.

Following a nutritional analysis in June, HPEKid is now on a more appropriate diet, switching from Pediasure to Jevity. Her endocrinologist was concerned about lack of weight gain over the last year.

The other medical development this summer is that HPEkid's scoliosis has progressed significantly in the past several months. We think it may be the cause of much of her discomfort and refusal to sit up in her chair. Her X-ray from last week is here. So she has been fitted for a back brace which should arrive in Spetemeber. The goal at this point is to prevent the curve of her back (currently at 39 degrees) from getting worse. No surgery at this point, thankfully.