"Normal"

We have enjoyed living as "normal" a life as we can. We are enjoying the summer by doing summer-like things. Since it is recommended that we keep Maggie away from crowds that are indoors, we have visited with our family and friends outside as much as possible. Thank goodness that it is summer or else we might be feeling like caged animals.

Last weekend Maggie enjoyed helping us pick strawberries at a strawberry farm. We then made 2 flats of strawberry jam, a strawberry-rhubarb pie, strawberry shortcake, strawberry soup (Maggie enjoyed this one as she is a fan of soups), and had lots and lots of strawberries. Andy may just be tired of strawberries now.

Last Monday we all got to see a picture of our new addition coming in October. I had my 20 week ultrasound and Maggie and Andy were there to watch the baby. Maggie had a hard time at first with me laying down on the bed and having the procedure done. She is very sensitive to this as she also has had many ultrasounds (more than me). We decided not to find out the sex this time around so we will all be surprised. The baby was also measuring at 4 days larger than my due date. So it looks like there's a possibility we could have another big one (Maggie was 10 lbs.).

Last week Maggie and I got to go to Columbus to shop at the outdoor mall with the ladies of my family. Maggie and I didn't do any shopping, but we did enjoy blowing bubbles outside, walking in the stroller, and eating some good food.

This weekend we enjoyed celebrating the birthdays of Maggie's cousins, Ian and Mira. The pictures below are of this event. It's nice to finally feel like we can do things that other people don't even think twice about. Often we feel quite isolated, in part because we have done that to ourselves to protect Maggie. So it is very nice to be able to see our family on these types of occasions.

I'll be honest and say that worry doesn't sometimes cross my mind. With every little bump, bruise, rash (and there have been many given Maggie's crawling and being outside)... a feeling of worry comes, but thankfully Andy has been able to erase it quickly. I just wonder how long this worry will last with the littlest of things. Like I said in previous posts, it would be nice to worry about the normal things in life that are associated with children.

Maggie is beginning to put weight on her leg once again. She has done some walking, cruising and standing. I try to slow her down as I don't want her to overdo it like the last time. She has been prescribed over-the-counter vitamin D and calcium chewies. She has to take 5 a day. I laughed at the dietitian when she said that as sometimes I'm happy if Maggie takes 5 bites of something in a day.

Maggie tube-feeds have decreased to 18 hours, so she is given 6 hours off. It is so nice to have Maggie free to play and not chasing her from behind with the bag because it is "tight." We go to both doctors (GI and oncologist) tomorrow to check her electrolytes and weight, as well as follow-up with the changes that have been made to Maggie's feeds so far. I look forward to the day that we don't have a tube in the nose and Maggie is eating on her own.

Maggie with her cousins, Ian, Mira & Stella.

Maggie is still in love with the sand box (as is Ian). For some of the party, Maggie was over at the sandbox playing by herself. Though she might have enjoyed sitting in the sand like Ian, this mommy isn't quite ready for the mess.

Uncle Jeff was brave enough to hold the pinata for all the children to hit. Maggie was quite timid to hit it, but with Daddy's help she participated with the rest of them. Once it was on the ground, she used the stick to beat it like a drum.