Another Visit to Children's, and More..

Wow, November has really flown by!
Let me fill you in on all of the wonderful adventures that I've had these past few weeks...

Happy Birthday Daddy!
My Daddy had his birthday on the 19th.  My Mama and I walked up to a cute little cafe and bakery called Bittersweet and spent way too much on cute little tarts and cakes for him, but it was well worth it for that special guy.  Then Nana and Papa came to visit and we all went to one of my Daddy's favorite places...A Scottish Pub!  My Mama and Daddy say that they just want me to be cultured, so they like to take me to all different places.  I guess they were teaching me about Scottish tradition.  One thing I learned: those Scots sure do enjoy their beverages!
Later on I went to Nana and Papa's house while Mama and Daddy went out to celebrate with friends.  I had a great time that night!  It was a great birthday..and I hope my Daddy had fun too ;)

Thanksgiving
It was my first Thanksgiving, and this is what I learned: Thanksgiving rocks!  Play, stuff your face and have a dance party with your family? Awesome!
Mama, Daddy and I made the road trip to Gramma's house and I did a great job in the car.  I was so excited to see Gramma!  The next day we cooked (well, let's be real here, Gramma cooked) all that delicious food and then everyone came over.  I had so much fun watching my cousins..they are so crazy!  We played and played and it was a very fun time.  Then finally we ate.  All that time spent cooking the food and it didn't take us very long to eat it!  Before I knew it we were all done, and then the real party started!  We moved the coffee table and played a funny dancing game.  Everyone got into it.  Well, everyone but Daddy..what a pooper!  I don't know what he was so afraid of, everyone knows that Mama, Aunt Brandy and Gramma don't have a problem making fools out of themselves!  But I guess Daddy needed a little warming up because at the end everyone was dancing!
Anyhow, my first Thanksgiving was a real hoot.

A Special Visitor                                                                                                                                A special visitor came to see us.  It was Melissa from the OI Foundation.  She was in town and met us for dinner at a very special place called Mrs. Murphy and Sons Irish Bistro.  It is one of Mama and Daddy's favorite places because it's where they got married, back when I was just a glimmer in their eye...as they like to say.It was so nice for us all to meet Melissa, and Mama and Daddy were very excited about it.  The OI Foundation has really helped us learn more about OI, and they help support us as we continue to raise funds and awareness for programs and research to one day find a cure.  Melissa and everyone she works with are so helpful and encouraging while we learn how to do all of these new things.  It feels very special to know that there are many people out there helping us along the way, and we were glad she took time out to spend it with us.  Thanks Melissa!  

A Visit to Children's

I had a check-up at Children's.  I go see the Genetics and Ortho teams at the Skeletal Dysplasia clinic there every few months.  Mama and I took a train ride downtown and then we walked along the busy street to get to the new hospital.  We used to go to the one closer to home and we would drive or walk, but they built a brand new hospital right smack in the middle of The Magnificent Mile, so we met Daddy there for our appointment.  And it sure was magnificent!  I couldn't get enough of all that was going on around me as we walked there.  And when we arrived I was real excited to see Daddy!

We see two very good doctors there, and they sat with us and answered all of Mama and Daddy's questions....every. single. one. of. them!

Mama and Daddy told me that at one time they weren't sure if they liked going to this hospital because some pretty scary things happened to me, and them, when they first brought me there.  But I think they have changed their minds because each time they meet with the doctors they seem to like it more and more. 

(I think it helps that each time we go we seem to get better and better news!)

And here it is:

They say I look great!  (And I could've told you that!)

They say that my ribs don't look thin, as was told to Mama and Daddy in the beginning when this all started.  They also said that there is no compression fracture in my spine as well (or any issues with my spine to be exact), as was originally told to us in the beginning. Which gave my Mama and Daddy a great big sigh of relief!  What great news!! 

The doctors said that because I seem to be meeting my developmental milestones and growing and getting stronger that this is a very good sign for my future.  We thought that, but it's always good to get reassurance about these kinds of things!  Especially from 'the professionals'!
You see, OI is not black and white.  It is very, very, very gray.  The spectrum of characteristics is very, very broad, even in people with the same "type".  The good thing is that they say I seem to be much more intermediate than severe (which is what they originally thought I was) and they continue to say that they don't think I need treatment, for now.  And that's good for me because I get enough needle pokes as it is at the pediatrician..hmpf!!  Also, they said they don't need to see me again for 6 months (instead of 3, as they were seeing me before) since I seem to be doing so good - yay me!

I still need to be treated with care because the likelihood of me breaking something at some point in my life is greater than most, but all-in-all they were very pleased with how I'm doing.  And so are we!  

I also think it may have something to do with my special Guardian Grampa watching over me. 

What a great way to end a great month...

December, here I come!

And here are some pictures from Thanksgiving:

   

I miss my Michigan family and hope to see you soon!

                                      

7 Months!

Happy Birthday to me! 

I am 7 months old now, can you believe it?!

That silly Elephant just seems to be getting smaller and smaller...

And something else special happened on my birthday.   After I went to bed it snowed!  The first snow of the season.

 I didn't get to see it because I was dreaming away, but Mama and Daddy said that there will be plenty more of it to come in the next few months.

I'm so excited for my very first Thanksgiving to come!

I hope you have a very happy thanksgiving too.

Lots of hugs, 

Maggie Shae

See? I'm 7 months old!

Too Happy Today

There are so many things to be thankful for today, and everyday, aren't there?

I am learning very quickly about all of the things I have to be thankful for, and what better time to share  all of them?  It is, after all, the month of giving thanks.

Sometimes I see tears in my Mama's eyes, but she is smiling and happy.  She says that sometimes one little good thing happens in her life that can completely change the way she looks at things altogether.  She says a lot of these little things have been happening in her life lately.
Mama says that sometimes people are so busy that they look right past all of these little things, and then it becomes easy to look past all of the little things all of the time.  She says that because of all of the things that have happened in our lives over the past few months, good and bad, she has really gotten to thinking about all of the 'little things' and she says that she'll just never be the same.
She says sometimes her heart feels so big that she's afraid it will burst right out of her chest.  I get concerned because that sounds painful, but she tells me that it is just the opposite of painful, it's lovely and beautiful and the most wonderful feeling you could ever have.  She says she feels like crying because she is so happy and thankful.
Now, often times I understand what my Mama is telling me, but sometimes she just plain confuses me!
Crying because you're happy?!  I cry for just about anything I need these days (since my language skills have not yet caught up to my writing skills) but being happy isn't one of 'em!  I guess it's another one of those things I will learn as I get bigger...

I thought about all of the things that I'm thankful for, and here's my list (in no particular order!)

I'm thankful that I have a wonderful life, and here's why...

Daddy! He works so hard and is so kind and loving to me and Mama
My family (my whole, big family!) is so helpful, supportive and understanding and love us unconditionally
Grandpa Tom and his whistles and happy smiles - I know I will learn so much from you
Grandma Corinne for always holding me and cuddling me so good
Nana for always singing to me
Papa for always letting me listen to The Who, The Beatles, Elmo, Hall and Oates (the list goes on and on!) and always talking to me and keeping me company
All of my aunts and uncles who love me so much
All of my cousins - Tommy, Carter, Carolyn, Erin & Adrienne- who will teach me so much and are so gentle to me and so happy to see me always!
Our friends, co-workers, acquaintances, and even strangers (who now aren't strangers anymore!) who check up on us and have opened their hearts to us, supported us and kept us in their thoughts and prayers
I have a nice place to live, I have good doctors and I will have good teachers one day
I will have lots of opportunities to do whatever I set my heart on, and Mama and Daddy have jobs
I live in a country where we are able to believe what we want to believe and make our own choices regarding this and, better yet, we can fight for those who are less fortunate or in need
I am growing and thriving and I'm such a happy and (from what people tell me) smart little girl

Mama, Daddy and I couldn't be more thankful for it all

Lots of hugs!

 Maggie Shae

 

I'm 6 Months/Halloween!

October 12, 2012 - I'm 6 Months Old!

I know I say this every month, but so much has happened this month!
I can't believe how much I am growing and changing, and neither can my Mama and Daddy.
My two teeth have come in and are getting bigger and bigger.  I like to use them to chomp on things like my socks and toys..and sometimes stray adult-sized fingers!  I am really interested in all of the things that other people put in their mouths too, and I can't wait to get my hands on all of that tasty looking food!  For now it's just oatmeal, fruits and vegetables and I really love them all...except peas (ew!).  My Mama and Daddy tell me that I will try some new stuff when it's Thanksgiving time (I hear mashed potatoes are delicious!).
I am practicing sitting up and have even tried it once or twice with out anyone holding on.  I need to keep practicing and getting stronger so that I can sit up on my own soon.
I am still a very smiley and happy girl.  I love to read, hear the ABCs, and take baths (I get so excited about baths!).  I love being tickled and I give a big belly laugh.  I love, love, love to play peek-a-boo and I even try to do it myself!  I also like to lay on my tummy and put my head down and when someone says "peek-a-boo!" I lift up my head and smile.  I love to touch people's faces and pull on their noses, and I also show people that I love them by touching their faces very gently. I love to hum and 'sing' and I do this all the time now.  I'm just warming up my voice for when I can really sing!  I also love to look out our front window.  I get propped up on a pillow and I watch all the cars and people and dogs go by below.  It's very exciting!
I have started to become more aware of my surroundings and sometimes I can get a little scared if Mama or Daddy go away or I'm not used to where I am, but I warm up quickly.
I also have become much more comfortable grabbing things..everything really!  Any chance I get I try and pull and grab.  Usually it's when I'm on my changing table.  I try to grab my pink tutu hanging on my cowgirl hook because it's so colorful, and the wipes because they make a fun noise!  I know how to get people's attention by play coughing or talking really loud.  My Mama and Daddy tell me that my personality just keeps coming out!

October sure had a lot of fun times!  I went to my first pumpkin patch and I got dressed up and went trick-or-treating three times! I got to visit my cousins in Michigan and trick-or-treat with them, Mama and Daddy took me near our house in Chicago, and I also went to a block party with my friend Sadie.   It all sure was fun, and I can't even walk or say "trick-or-treat" yet.  I can't wait for next year and the years to come!
Here are some pictures of my Halloween adventures 2012:

costume #1: Hoot! Hoot!

My 1st time trick-or-treating!

 costume #2, Quack!           

  

  costume #3, Roar!                  

My new favorite pastime

                                      

My Mama and Daddy just keep saying that they can't believe the time has gone by so quickly.  So much has happened in these first 6 months, and I am so thankful for all of the people in my life who care about me and my family.  I know that my Mama and Daddy feel very lucky to be surrounded by so many positive people who constantly shower us with love and happy thoughts too!  We love you all so much.  Now, onto Happy Adventuring in November...