Recently in Josie Category

Today we had a bunch of friends over to celebrate Josie's birthday. It was cold and raining when we woke up, but the sun started piercing through while we were getting ready and by the time everyone arrived it was a gorgeous morning.

After months of deliberation, Josie had finally settled on a Hello Kitty theme for her party. Brandie & I decided to try making Hello Kitty-themed cake pops after seeing them on Bakerella (amazing stuff on there, if you've never been!) They turned out to be really easy and as usual fun to do a project like that together - plus they seemed to be a hit with all the kids today (click on the picture of the birthday girl above to see them).

We also had a dance-party theme to the party, inspired by the dance parties we had with our cousins during their visit. On today's playlist:

Jack Rabbit Slims Twist Contest - Various (Pulp Fiction)
Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It) - Beyonce
So What - Pink
Don't Stop Believin' - Glee Cast

It was really a fun day, thanks all who made it out (and to everyone we wish were there!)

The Juice turned 4 today.  She got all dolled up in a new outfit from Uncle Jesse and carried her new Hello Kitty backpack in to school today, proud as a peacock.  As soon as I walked out the door I wanted to run back and stay with her, as if that would keep her from getting older.  I can't help myself.  She's my baby.  

Now that she's 4 she's started in the 4 year old Kindy (preschool) class on Monday.  This means she'll be attending 5 mornings a week.  She was very excited and proud to see her teachers that morning.  Giving her best smile to each of them as they greeted her.  I picked her up from school, happy as a clam at high tide.  We came home, had a nice snack and a nap.  Then headed off to her new swimming lessons.  I was concerned as her last lessons consisted mostly of her waiting her turn and during the waiting time she would cry for me.  This time she hopped right in, her swim cap and goggles accentuating her cheeks, and did everything the teacher asked her.  Smiling all along.  We stopped to get fish and chips on the way home to celebrate our first day back at school and Josie's first day at 4 year old kindy.  As we drove up the hill she exclaimed at the top of her lungs, "My name is J-O-S-I-E Josie and I'm a big girl now!!"  She was so proud.

We're proud of you too Josie.  Keep growing up even if mommy tells you not to.

I am super stoked to announce that Josephine took her last dose of Clobazam yesterday!!  After 16 weeks of weaning her 1 mg per day with no negative side effects or break through seizures, she is now on two medications rather than three.

To celebrate, we took the girls down to Frank Kitts Park for a bungy jump and gelato!  Josie loved going high and at the very end of her time, the attendant asked if she'd like to go "Really high?", she agreed without hesitation.  As she soared 20 feet in the air, I broke into a cold sweat.  All I could hear was her delighted laughter ringing through the park.  The child has no fear.

Thanks to everyone for supporting us through this.  We are so lucky to have good news to share and hope the trend continues.

We are super happy to spread the good news that Josie is continuing with her seizure freedom!  

She had an EEG to monitor her brain waves and the neurologist has decided she is ready to start weaning off one of her medications!  Yay!  It's a long process and will take at least 16 weeks to get her off of the medicine completely but we are just so happy that she is stable enough for this to even be a consideration.

She's doing great and developing normally.  We love her heaps!

I escaped last weekend with two wonderful friends to a spa in Martinborough, the wine region near Wellington. It was wonderful, relaxing, healing and full of laughter. All made even better by the fact that Jake had an entire weekend off (GASP!) and spent it with the girls so I could get away, anxiety free.

Everyone had a great time free of separation anxiety and full of Star Wars! I came back to a Star Wars focused family. Many discussions were being had about "RDD2", "the guy in the tree with the pointy ears", "the two guys fighting with flashlights", and "the walking guys getting closer and CLOSER AND CLOSER!".

Jake had apparently been searching around town to get the girls some action figures that would work for the girls. R2D2 was specifically being sought. Sadly, we couldn't find him anywhere. Josie picked out a Clone Wars cell phone which I think is totally lame. Not one authentic Star Wars sound effect included! Josie however, is in love with it! Sophie scored a C3PO figure and instantly made a bed for him in a paua shell, complete with tissue pillow and blanket. She took him to nap with her, happy as a clam, er, paua. ;) When she woke up, she staggered out, forgetting, I think, that she only had her pull up on. This is what was written on her leg.

 

In case you can't make it out it says "Sophie loves C3PO". I called Jake and we both had a good chuckle about it.  

We've been sick and stuck inside these school holidays so among other things, we've been crafting. Here's some of our handy work.


This owl was from Kids Craft Weekly. Sophie had a great time putting him all together.

  The bags for our owls were a little too long so we hacked it off and decided to make a crown.  Josie enjoyed gluing the jewels on.


I tried to tie a little letter lesson in to our crafts. I asked Sophie if she knew any other words that started with O. I love the two she came up with. One is our dear friend, the other a veggie she's never tasted. 

And, um, that's my handwriting and art skills.


Here's the crown being modeled. PS. I got this smile by telling her NOT to smile.

  We repeated the system again the next day with stellar results.


A little princess.

Again, my favorite part are the words Sophie came up with. Sadly, I had to coax her into the last "M" word.

We've been nervous to post this news because we fear the bad news so much that we don't want to share the good news.  We're screwed up.

We are very, very happy to announce that Josie has been seizure free for over two months now!!!!!!  There aren't enough exclamation marks to convey our excitement!!!!!  In further detail, she has only had 5 seizures in the last three months.  It's such a huge change from the days of 50+ per day. This wonderful improvement happened after we added a third medication, Lamictal and tweaked the dosages of her first two meds.  She is clear and has been developing in enormous leaps.  She still has some side effects from the medications like shakiness, aggravation, and possible small twitches at night while she sleeps.  

We see the neurologist at the end of August and will see what the plan is with her current medications.  Last time we spoke, she wanted to try to wean her off the first medication, Clobazam, as it is usually only good for short term treatment.  We're nervous about changing the "magic formula" in fear that her seizures will return.  We'll see.  

Thanks to everyone for your constant support.  Josie is a very loved little girl.

Today was Josie's first day of Kindy (preschool for those of you in the States). Due to a wonderful arrangement at Sophie's new Kindy, they allow younger siblings to come two mornings a week to the session with their older sibling rather than making them take the afternoon class.

Josie was excited and a little anxious it seemed. Sophie was bouncing off the walls. She couldn't wait to have her sister at her Kindy!
 


Jake stayed home so we could all go in together. Josie settled right in as she's been to the school before when we were helping Sophie settle in. We observed her from near by and were amazed at how much we can let go now that her seizures are under control. She hung out in the play kitchen for a bit then decided to do some painting. Then she was off to the outdoors and straight to the woodworking bench. This is something I cannot believe I've become accustomed to here. It's a full on workbench with nails, hammers, drills, vices etc. that the kids are allowed to make things at. Josie's teacher Mavis sensed we were nervous Nellies and stepped in to assist Josie with the hammering.  Here's and action shot and a finished product shot.  And yes, that is a power drill that Josie operated all by herself. 

 
 
After that, Jake and I decided to head out and test the waters to see how Josie did without us there. We had to round both of them up to say goodbye. Josie just said "Bye" and turned around to go find something else to do. I dragged her back and made her give me a hug. I know she might not, but I need it!
 
Then, I got to experience this.

 

Back off ladies! I've been waiting 4 years to have a quiet coffee out with my hubby.

I headed back to get Josie 45 minutes early. She was an absolute mess. I mean, this kid had obviously been into every single dirty thing she could find. Her hair was falling out, she had new, dirty pants on, paint on her coat, snot on her face, dirt pressed into her forehead, I-don't-know-what on her shirt sleeves. And she was absolutely confident and sure of herself. She was happy I was there but kept right on doing what she was doing.

It's our beautiful little girl's 3rd birthday today. She's never really had a shell to come out of but her personality has blossomed this year. She's continued with her severe independence but has started to develop a bit of patience. She loves music and will sing, dance and play instruments like there's no one watching.  She has a flair for drama and talking about how "wonuful" everything is.

We think so too. Happy Birthday Josie Grace, we love you!