Happy summer ...

Here I am at Ollie Koala's ... having FUN!

I hope that everyone is having a good summer!

Love & Laughs,
-Sydney

Happy 4th of July!!!

We hope everyone has a FUN and SAFE 4th of July weekend!

Take care,
-A4

I'm doing "good" ...

When we ask Sydney how she's doing, she says "good". She seems to be doing okay ... it has been about 11 days since her surgery and she continues to heal and recover. She still has some of the steri-strips on her back, although one or two of them have come off because she can take baths and showers again.

Sydney is actually in a summer session of school ... which just absolutely amazes us. She started last week (about 5 days post-op) and seems to have a great loving and caring teacher. Since she has missed a good bit of school last year (because of her other surgeries, doctor's appointments, etc.), this will hopefully help her be better prepared for next year.

Thank you to ALL that are checking her blog. Please remember that we read the "comments" to Sydney, so all are appreciated.

Take care of yourselves and the ones you love!
-A4

X-ray of Sydney's back (before) ...

Here is a copy of Sydney's x-ray from her pre-op appointment last week. They have gone "digital" ... so now we get a paper print out of her x-rays. The picture is not as clear as the past ones ... they used to put her x-rays on the BIG "light box" in the exam rooms and WE would take photos with our digital camera. Oh well, we hope to get some better quality ones next time.

Sydney continues to get better and better each day. We just took all of her "dressings" and "gauze" off of her back the other night .. she just has about 10-12 steri-strips (kind of like band-aids) over the incision area on her back. She itches like crazy ... one - she has really sensitive skin (i.e., eczema, allergies, etc.) AND two - I can't imagine her body is just trying to 'heal' itself again.

Again, thanks to all for your thoughts, prayers and comments.

Hugs and Kisses to ALL,
-A4

Back home ...

Sydney is back home recovering. She was actually discharged yesterday afternoon after doing so well in the hospital. Her surgeon said that everything went as expected -- they were able to go in and lengthen the device. He was also trying to "bend" the bottom piece of the device (where it is screwed into two vertebrae in her low back) ... he initially had to bend it because he had to use the screws versus the typical anchors that the bar usually uses. Instead of bending the bar straighter like he wanted, he replaced the entire bottom piece of the device (*we don't have a copy of the newest x-rays, but will update once we get it).

All in all, the procedure went fairly quickly ... it was blocked for two hours, but a lot of that time is for prep before and after and not necessarily for the actual surgery. Sydney has recovered quite well. She does complain of the pain in her back (which is to be expected), but the good thing we are so thankful for is that she has not had the normal side-effects of coming off of the anesthesia (i.e., vomiting, dizziness, etc.).

We're still taking it pretty easy ... it's deceiving because she "looks" so good and seems to be recovering very well, but we know that Sydney needs to take it easy and use the next couple of days to continue to recover.

Thanks again to ALL for your thoughts and prayers!
-A4

I love blueberries ...

Thank you "auntie" Tricia for my very OWN blueberry plant! I just absolutely LOVE it. I go out every day and check for "ripe" ones that I can pick off and eat right then and there.

um-um yummy ... for my tummy

Hugs and Kisses,
-Syd

One more day ...

Hey everyone!

We've done some "pre-op" appointments this week to get ready for Sydney's surgery this Friday. Her pediatrician said that Sydney looks really good and healthy and hasn't seen her look this "well" in awhile. Her surgeon said yesterday that he will be going to lengthen the device and also straighten the bar ... when he initially placed the device in Sydney's back, he had to bend the bar a little because he had to use screws to "anchor" the bottom part of the bar to two lumbar vertebrae.

We may have to stay the night in the children's hospital depending on how well Sydney is recovering. Last time, we ended up going home late in the evening. I think it is just easier for her (and us) to be in the comforts of HOME. No beeping machines going off, no flashing lights, and no nurses coming in to check her blood pressure and temperature in the middle of the night.

We're hoping for the best and a quick and speedy recovery.

Thank you ALL for your thoughts and prayers!
- A4

"My back hurts ..."

Our immediate thought is "Oh no!" ... there have been a couple of these moments since Sydney has been home from her last surgery. She may twist or torque her back while she's trying to get comfortable in her sleep OR just playing around the house she'll move wrong and have some pain.

Sydney is a strong, strong girl. We constantly say that "kids are sooooo resilient", on top of that, Sydney just has such a high pain tolerance. We are AMAZED daily of what she goes through -- thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers.

Love & Laughs,
-A4

Back at Home ...

Sydney is back at home recovering. She is in some pain, so please keep her in your thoughts.

Sydney's surgeon said that everything went pretty well. He originally thought that he could use an existing scar for the surgery, but ended up having to make a new incision. He lengthened the bar by three holes he held up his forefinger and thumb - looked like about an inch or so in length). The surgeon also tried to straighten the bar, but was unsuccessful - maybe within the next one or two surgeries.

We don't know to what extent the "degree" of her back has changed - the flouro machine that they used does not provide a big enough "picture" for him to take those measurements. We'll have to wait for her follow up appointment in about a month when she gets some new x-rays taken.

Thanks for everyone's prayers. We're hoping for a speedy recovery.

-A4