Sunday, August 29, 2010

Summer Fun

I have been neglecting the blog for too long, but the good news is that we have been busy with fun things and Carly has been doing well this last month.  After  making it through another extended recovery period from her shunt surgery in July, Carly has been making great strides. She was able to travel to Douglas lake in Northern Michigan where we spent almost two weeks relaxing on the lake. Carly got to visit with all of her midwest family including her grandparents (Tutu and Papa), aunts, uncles, cousins of all ages, great aunts and uncles and close friends that have been like family to me since I was a kid.  It was a welcome trip for all of the family.

Carly is smiling and laughing more than ever, lighting up with the cutest smiles you have ever seen whenever we sing to her or give her kisses on her cheeks and chin. She is also eating a LOT more than she has in the last year.  She will now eat a jar of food in one sitting that would have taken her over a day just a month ago.  She is starting to learn how to drink from a cup, with thick liquids like a fruit smoothie coming first and thinner fluids like milk and juice as the next step. All of this new found hunger means the growth hormone is starting to kick in, and Carly has shot up over 1.5 inches in the last month. Her doctors and therapists have been encouraged by how she is looking lately, and we hope to keep this momentum up!

Love, Brad

20 comments:

Paige said...

You guys have been on my mind. So happy to read all this good news and to see your big girl and her absolutely gorgeous grin!

Anonymous said...

Cute smile, cute hair (like Brad's), cute dress! Thank you for the wonderful update.
Greg and Gail

JerseyGirl said...

She looks beautiful! I have been checking the blog often hoping that no news was good news. SO wonderful that you got to go to MI to visit w/so many loved ones and very encouraging news about carly's eating, drinking, and growth spurt. Go Carly Go! Much love to you three. ((HUGS))

Anonymous said...

Yay!! Adorable photo. Love her hair and her smile. So glad things are going well. xoxo, Penny and Jason

Anonymous said...

Wooohooo!! This pic and news made my day. She looks amazing :)

Carrie

Bob said...

Sounds and looks like great progress!

sheila said...

she looks SO beautiful. wonderful to hear about this amazing progress. and so glad you guys got such solid family time this summer. this made my day! there's nothing like positive momentum! lots of love to you three!

Tooley said...

What a great picture! Such great progress. :) Go Carly - Keep it up!

Tooley

The Hunts said...

Awesome!!!

Anonymous said...

So sorry to have missed you on your recent trip to Douglas Lake, but hope to see you sometime during the holidays. The picture of Carly is beautiful. Many thanks.
Joan and Bill

Gal said...

Yay! Such great news. I've been thinking that no news meant good news, and it sounds like I was right. This is wonderful. What a beautiful girl she is, and look at that hair!! You made my day with this post, Brad. HUGE LOVE to the three of you, especially a big smooch for beautiful Carly.

TylerP said...

So great to know Carly is doing so well...:-)...What a great heartwarming smile on her face...-Jack*

savannah said...

Woo Hoo! - great news - we can't wait to see her, April and Evan want to show her all their favorite things...
Savannah

savannah said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Maya said...

I have been thinking about you guys a lot, and I am so happy to hear the news that Carly is thriving! How happy you must be to see her smiles and hear her laughs. What a welcome break from the stresses of the hospital, doctors, surgeries, etc.
Keep it up Carly!
Love, Maya, Paulo & Marco

Mindy, Drew, Layla and Chloe said...

Oooooh! This is my favorite blog entry ever! [tears!] I could not be happier for you guys. Carly looks great in this photo. So happy. And I love her hair! Thanks for that guys. What a great way to start my day! Love to you all!

Layla and Mindy said...

(Layla was just so smitten with this photo. The two of us were giving Carly fake nibbles in her neck, right under the meaty cheeks. It felt good.)

Jen L said...

What great news and what a GREAT picture! What a fantastic head of blonde hair, lucky girl.

Heather and Seth said...

That is fabulous news...she looks BEAUTIFUL! Great news indeed and really glad that you had a nice, relaxing time at the lake!

Katy Leigh said...

i know i'm a little late with this but so happy to read the positive news! love seeing her big, beautiful smile! xoxo Katy Leigh