Another one...

Another tonic-clonic seizure today. Same scenario: in her sleep, wakes her up, makes her very cranky and she's whipped for the rest of the day. We're seeing the neuro in about a week and a half, so we'll see where we go from here. That's 2 in about a one month stretch. I'm not particularly happy about them getting closer together. One of her neurologists always said that seizures have a way of training the brain to have more seizures: like they find a path to make the bad connection, and they keep going there, and creating more ways to get there. That's what I'm nervous about. This coming appointment should be very interesting.

Special Olympics Passion Plunge

My husband was one of a couple hundred nuts who jumped into the Atlantic at Revere Beach today, to support the Special Olympics. His team, the "r'EMARC'ables", (Eastern Middlesex ARC), raised over $12,000. There were kids from Revere High School, Tufts Women's Rugby, Worcester Polytechnic Institute and many other groups. It was 25 degrees today, with a water temp of 38 degrees. Damien's response after he came out of the water was, "It was fine until my head went under; I think I drank a gallon of Revere Beach water", from the shock. There was enough snow and ice on the beach that they actually had to truck sand onto the beach so folks wouldn't slip. It's been a tough winter!

Growing out phase

We're working with the hair growing out phase. Hollis only had one side of her head shaved for her surgery, so it has been growing in unevenly, but we've been cutting the unshaved side to make for some kind of style since the summer. I've decided it's easier to have her hair longer, one, because she hates having her hair cut, and two, she has cowlicks that are impossible to tame. She used to be fine wearing ponytails and barrettes when her hair was long, but now she's decided she can't stand them. Witness the attempt of a putting a headband on her, and the subsequent goofiness that followed.

Second seizure since surgery

I guess it isn't too bad to have only had 2 seizures since the surgery on July 11th, but I was really hoping that first one back in September was just a little "rewiring" in the healing process. Hollis had a tonic-clonic in her sleep today, during a nap, and of course, it really upset her, and made her even more tired. She is probably getting a cold, since I've had a pretty bad one for a week, and she also (how do I say this delicately?) has a "backup in her plumbing". I guess it's "reasonable" to have a seizure once every 3-4 months, considering we were at 10-12 a day before the surgery, but still, any seizures really stink.

Caramel Apple Yum

Just a quick post of Hollis enjoying a treat of Caramel Apple Spiced cider from Starbucks. She's looking so grown up these days!

Joining in the toast

Hollis really enjoyed Christmas this year, and was even able to sit at the table to eat Christmas dinner. She toasted the holiday with us, using her own champagne flute. This, of course, was hilarious. We went to celebrate with Grandma and Grandpa, and had a lot of fun, and she loved opening gifts (a new thing). It really was a remarkable Christmas in many ways, and we have certainly been given the biggest gift we could ever hope for!

Santa's Little Helper

Hollis helped Santa pick out her gifts today, once we were able to escape the house after our little snowstorm (a foot isn't so bad, is it?). We let her play with the ones she picked herself, and Santa has a couple more waiting under the tree for her for Christmas Day. Funny enough, most of the things she chose were toys we had already had at some point, and were dead from years of love. The kid knows what she likes.