There was a time in life that I was obsessed with shoes. The funkiest, most beautiful, most unique shoes filled my closet.
Some of them I would wear with only one outfit, but they were so amazing I had to have them...some of them I would buy first, then find an outfit to wear with the shoes.
Sometimes I would spend nearly my whole paycheck on. One pair in particular that comes to mind are the shoes I wore to my senior prom. These shoes were AMAZING! They were silver, with an iridescent sheen to them. As soon as I saw them, I knew they must be mine.
Because Daddy was paying for everything, I had to convince him that these shoes needed to be had. I painted a pretty picture. Told him they were the only ones out there that matched my dress perfectly, and the cheaper ones I bought were ruined when taken in to be dyed. I haaaaaaad to have these shoes!
So he forked over the money and I ran to the store to buy my perfect shoes. And they sat in their box until the big night. I got fully dressed and then went to put on my amazing shoes. It was like Cinderella had found her glass slipper. I remember my friends gasping at the sight of them. Begging to know where I had found them, if they could borrow them, etc. etc..
I knew I had something special. Something no one else was wearing...but in the back of my mind I also knew...that these shoes were AWFUL! Oh the pain. Pain I could hardly endure. They were the most uncomfortable shoes I have ever owned. I couldn't wait until I could take them off. Who would invent such a horrible torture device for feet?!?!?!?
I never wore the shoes again. To this day...they were the most amazing shoes I've ever owned. I still love the idea of those shoes. How they looked, how they looked on my feet. But the fact was...they didn't fit.
From that point, I have never bought a shoe based only on the look. I wear them around the store for a while, sometimes looking like a fool, but I know from experience not to waste money on shoes that don't fit, or won't last in the long-run.
And reaching back to that experience, I see no matter how glamorous, and beautiful, and shiny, and fabulous England has looked to me, until I "put it on" to try out, I couldn't see that it just wasn't a right fit.
There are many reasons why, and maybe we'll line them out, right now I'm still just processing this decision we've made. But it isn't a right fit. Even though we still dearly love London. We know we must go home.
We changed our return flight, we will be going home next Wednesday. And I'm sure there will be people questioning what in the world have we done...but we don't question our intentions at all. We had to try it on for size. We had to know before we committed, and it wasn't the one for us, and we never ever would have known unless we tried. And there is a peace about it all that I can't explain. But I know that we will always have friends here, and always have a special place in our hearts for England, and will come back for years to come to visit.
The journey continues. We don't feel like we're being led blindly, but rather, going with the wind. And it's a wonderful feeling.
Thanks for being on the journey with us.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Beautiful...
There are moments when the camera is right where I want it to be to capture a look that takes my breath away.
I got to capture one of those moments yesterday.
I got to capture one of those moments yesterday.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Saturday, February 23, 2008
We have received the package...
Such wonderful things are coming to you. Joy, Peace, Laughter. The difficult way is nearly over.
--Two Listeners
Still feeling a bit under the weather. Mostly just coughing now. And having to blow my nose. The coughing I hate the most. It hurts everything, my ribs, and my head, and my throat. But I am still on the meds and doing much better. We found the z-pack we brought with us from Denver. Didn't think we'd have to use it so quickly, but it is doing the job. I just knew I didn't want to be much worse on my birthday and mom's birthday.
Speaking of mom, she has arrived safely. Tired, but safe. She's resting for a bit now, then I will wake her up in a few hours and we'll do something for the day. Not sure of what yet. Max was sure happy to see her. When he woke up I asked him if he knew who was coming to see him. We've been working on saying "Nonni", but he's said something between Nanny and Non, this morning he was just doing the "n" sound. Then he would say nnnnngllaaaa! so, Nonni was coming to England, and he was excited!
Once she got here Olive about came out of her skin trying to get to her to say hello. She is such a funny dog, I think when Ang and Dan finally make it over for a visit she may die from excitement!
Well, off I go to get myself around and ready for the day.
--Two Listeners
Still feeling a bit under the weather. Mostly just coughing now. And having to blow my nose. The coughing I hate the most. It hurts everything, my ribs, and my head, and my throat. But I am still on the meds and doing much better. We found the z-pack we brought with us from Denver. Didn't think we'd have to use it so quickly, but it is doing the job. I just knew I didn't want to be much worse on my birthday and mom's birthday.
Speaking of mom, she has arrived safely. Tired, but safe. She's resting for a bit now, then I will wake her up in a few hours and we'll do something for the day. Not sure of what yet. Max was sure happy to see her. When he woke up I asked him if he knew who was coming to see him. We've been working on saying "Nonni", but he's said something between Nanny and Non, this morning he was just doing the "n" sound. Then he would say nnnnngllaaaa! so, Nonni was coming to England, and he was excited!
Once she got here Olive about came out of her skin trying to get to her to say hello. She is such a funny dog, I think when Ang and Dan finally make it over for a visit she may die from excitement!
Well, off I go to get myself around and ready for the day.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Boo for being sick...
I've been feeling puny this past couple of days. I learned yesterday that means skinny here...so if you say you're feeling puny it just sounds like you're saying you're weak and skinny. Haha!
I am feeling tons better, but still tired of blowing my nose! And now the cough has set in! I wish I had some of my magical cough medicine from home. It was delicious flavored...and coated with codeine. I liked to think of it as the special syrup Mary Poppins gave those kids in the movie!
Please think of Max in your prayers, that he does not come down with whatever this is I have. He seems to be doing well, and Steve doesn't have anything either. I just don't want them to!
Something that has come of all this not feeling well business...I have had an overwhelming sense of missing my house. We've not had our own space now since November. And while I am extremely thankful and grateful for the support of friends and family while we transitioned here, I just am so ready for my own space. And I really liked our house. Especially in the spring. I guess I'm just feeling nostalgic or something. I guess it is starting to hit...in trickles.
Well off to drug myself up some more...and drink more water, so I can go to the toilet 876 times in the middle of the night!
I am feeling tons better, but still tired of blowing my nose! And now the cough has set in! I wish I had some of my magical cough medicine from home. It was delicious flavored...and coated with codeine. I liked to think of it as the special syrup Mary Poppins gave those kids in the movie!
Please think of Max in your prayers, that he does not come down with whatever this is I have. He seems to be doing well, and Steve doesn't have anything either. I just don't want them to!
Something that has come of all this not feeling well business...I have had an overwhelming sense of missing my house. We've not had our own space now since November. And while I am extremely thankful and grateful for the support of friends and family while we transitioned here, I just am so ready for my own space. And I really liked our house. Especially in the spring. I guess I'm just feeling nostalgic or something. I guess it is starting to hit...in trickles.
Well off to drug myself up some more...and drink more water, so I can go to the toilet 876 times in the middle of the night!
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Things and stuff...
I've let myself get behind in my postings. Mostly because I have been in a daze. It seems like each day is really like 2 days. I wake up and have a half of a day, doing morning things for Max, then after lunch, and getting into the afternoon, everyone at home starts waking up. I talk to my mom and sister, and friends, and do business in the states. By the time I'm ready to go to bed I feel like I've been living two days straight!
But I wanted to catch up on some of my this and that's.
When we were on the plane here, Steve gave me a surprise. He told me not to get into his bag because there was a surprise in there. I thought it was a birthday gift, or a valentine gift, but it was a moving gift.
It is from my favorite jewelry artist,Jeanine Payer.
It is a quote from Shakespeare, saying, "You must take your chance". I love it!
Olive is in love...with Max's piggy. I don't know why she snuggles up to this thing like she does, but it makes me laugh every time. It's not at all snuggly, maybe because it is Max's.
I wonder, if you stick your nose up to the screen, could you smell these?
They greeted us in our room when we arrived. I just threw them out yesterday because they were starting to go, but they were so so so pretty!
And a few more pictures from our day out the other day. The little monster you see in the pictures is Toodee, it's the little thing Abbey chose at the toy store before we left Denver to represent her on our travels. I told her I would carry it around with me everywhere we went so it was like she got to come along for the ride.
This was on the front page of the Sunday paper. I just love the kids' faces!
And here we are walking down a steep alleyway after going to the grocery the other day.
Mommy Poo arrives on Saturday. She'll spend her birthday, and my birthday, and one special surprise day with us here. She'll be here a week, and I think it will be much fun! We've got some things lined up, and hoping it will be a mighty fun time for her, and the weather is nice.
Now it is time for bed my pretties! I'm not feeling great, and I think this must be why Max had such an awful day and night yesterday. He is feeling better, so hopefully it is short lived!
But I wanted to catch up on some of my this and that's.
When we were on the plane here, Steve gave me a surprise. He told me not to get into his bag because there was a surprise in there. I thought it was a birthday gift, or a valentine gift, but it was a moving gift.
It is from my favorite jewelry artist,Jeanine Payer.
It is a quote from Shakespeare, saying, "You must take your chance". I love it!
Olive is in love...with Max's piggy. I don't know why she snuggles up to this thing like she does, but it makes me laugh every time. It's not at all snuggly, maybe because it is Max's.
I wonder, if you stick your nose up to the screen, could you smell these?
They greeted us in our room when we arrived. I just threw them out yesterday because they were starting to go, but they were so so so pretty!
And a few more pictures from our day out the other day. The little monster you see in the pictures is Toodee, it's the little thing Abbey chose at the toy store before we left Denver to represent her on our travels. I told her I would carry it around with me everywhere we went so it was like she got to come along for the ride.
This was on the front page of the Sunday paper. I just love the kids' faces!
And here we are walking down a steep alleyway after going to the grocery the other day.
Mommy Poo arrives on Saturday. She'll spend her birthday, and my birthday, and one special surprise day with us here. She'll be here a week, and I think it will be much fun! We've got some things lined up, and hoping it will be a mighty fun time for her, and the weather is nice.
Now it is time for bed my pretties! I'm not feeling great, and I think this must be why Max had such an awful day and night yesterday. He is feeling better, so hopefully it is short lived!
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
One week on...
We've been here one week. It already seems like ages since we left Colorado. I'm missing it some. Mostly just the routine of life there.
Today we would have had therapy. And tomorrow, more therapy. Max hasn't been to therapy now in a month. I have to work extra hard to make sure he is keeping up with it, and know that once we get settled, he will get back into it.
He's not feeling great today. He was up most of the night pretty upset. If I am seeing correctly, I think he has part of a tooth poking through his gums. I know it might seem strange to be 4 and still teething, but Max doesn't use his teeth for much of anything. He will bite my finger occasionally, but really there is no way for his teeth to work their way through in the back. He had several seizures in the night, and as he's trying to go to sleep tonight is having more. They are brief, so they are not damaging, but a seizure is a seizure...and I hate them every single one.
I hope he is feeling more his normal self soon. I would like to play with him, and teach him to count to 10, how to spell his name, and see how many of his colors and abc's he knows. I figure since we are wanting him to go to school in the future, I will try to teach him the basics now.
We're also working on standing up more. And sitting up with little support. It is going well, and he loves it, but it is a lot of work to hold him up, so his full cooperation is needed. We just put on his music and let him dance!
Off to sleep now. I sure hope he finds a sleep spot tonight. That will mean that we do too!
Today we would have had therapy. And tomorrow, more therapy. Max hasn't been to therapy now in a month. I have to work extra hard to make sure he is keeping up with it, and know that once we get settled, he will get back into it.
He's not feeling great today. He was up most of the night pretty upset. If I am seeing correctly, I think he has part of a tooth poking through his gums. I know it might seem strange to be 4 and still teething, but Max doesn't use his teeth for much of anything. He will bite my finger occasionally, but really there is no way for his teeth to work their way through in the back. He had several seizures in the night, and as he's trying to go to sleep tonight is having more. They are brief, so they are not damaging, but a seizure is a seizure...and I hate them every single one.
I hope he is feeling more his normal self soon. I would like to play with him, and teach him to count to 10, how to spell his name, and see how many of his colors and abc's he knows. I figure since we are wanting him to go to school in the future, I will try to teach him the basics now.
We're also working on standing up more. And sitting up with little support. It is going well, and he loves it, but it is a lot of work to hold him up, so his full cooperation is needed. We just put on his music and let him dance!
Off to sleep now. I sure hope he finds a sleep spot tonight. That will mean that we do too!
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Has it hit?
I made you to accomplish something specific that no one else can accomplish.
--Two Listeners
I do feel like we've accomplished something big...but it still has not completely sunk in yet. It's like we're going through the day and Steve's working, and Max is eating, and we eat dinner with our friends and watch tv, but really it hasn't hit me yet. I wonder if it will?
Next week we are working on getting all of the doctor stuff settled so we can get Max's formula. Please pray each step along the way is smooth. We want the doctors he has to be up to par with the ones we left.
This week we've mostly just been trying to readjust our sleeping schedules. Max is the best at it, because he doesn't really have to be awake at any certain times. If he wants to go to sleep in the car, or in the middle of dinner, or while we're watching tv, that's perfectly acceptable! Oh to be Max! ;)
Today we went to IKEA...if you've read for any amount of time...you know I have an unnatural love for IKEA. I was swept away by it's loveliness again today. I want to walk in there some day to one of those fabulous already made up small living spaces and say, "yes, I'll take that...all of it please!".
After IKEA we went to Costco...hello Costco in England!!!...and bought Max's diapers. They call them nappies here, but I just can't quite get myself to say it. I giggle when I do. That and the rubbish bin! It's trash to me...but they don't call it that. I'm trying on that one...and I'm sure I'll pick it up.
Tomorrow will start at Starbucks with more new friends we've yet to meet. Then not sure, maybe continue unpacking. Just to make some walking space!
But now it is 1:00am...and I am just starting to feel sleepy...argh jet-lag!
Nighty night!
--Two Listeners
I do feel like we've accomplished something big...but it still has not completely sunk in yet. It's like we're going through the day and Steve's working, and Max is eating, and we eat dinner with our friends and watch tv, but really it hasn't hit me yet. I wonder if it will?
Next week we are working on getting all of the doctor stuff settled so we can get Max's formula. Please pray each step along the way is smooth. We want the doctors he has to be up to par with the ones we left.
This week we've mostly just been trying to readjust our sleeping schedules. Max is the best at it, because he doesn't really have to be awake at any certain times. If he wants to go to sleep in the car, or in the middle of dinner, or while we're watching tv, that's perfectly acceptable! Oh to be Max! ;)
Today we went to IKEA...if you've read for any amount of time...you know I have an unnatural love for IKEA. I was swept away by it's loveliness again today. I want to walk in there some day to one of those fabulous already made up small living spaces and say, "yes, I'll take that...all of it please!".
After IKEA we went to Costco...hello Costco in England!!!...and bought Max's diapers. They call them nappies here, but I just can't quite get myself to say it. I giggle when I do. That and the rubbish bin! It's trash to me...but they don't call it that. I'm trying on that one...and I'm sure I'll pick it up.
Tomorrow will start at Starbucks with more new friends we've yet to meet. Then not sure, maybe continue unpacking. Just to make some walking space!
But now it is 1:00am...and I am just starting to feel sleepy...argh jet-lag!
Nighty night!
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Return to Sender...
Yesterday I sent the same post below to family and friends letting them know we had arrived. In my tiredness I forgot to BCC: everyone and instead CC: 'd everyone. Something that annoys me to no end.
When I was talking with my mom last night, she told me she had read my email, and noticed I sent it to Grandmama, and then asked if I knew I did that. That's when it hit me again how annoyed I was that I sent it cc instead of bcc, because I send most "news" emails to Grandmama. If Max is sick, or did something amazing, or news on our house selling, or coming to the UK. I always send it to her too. No one has ever caught it until mom said that.
I told her of course I knew I sent it to her, and that I send her lots of emails. She always responds right away, with "no longer here". :D I like to think she got it and sent back a reminder that she's not with me here anymore but was glad to get the news.
Delusional, I know, but I still like to do it.
And now you know.
In other news...
It is Valentine's Day here too. I don't know how big of a deal it is here. I'm guessing a pretty big deal. Yesterday at ASDA there were people buying flowers and cards and "bedtime clothes", just right there by the shampoo, racks and racks of women's lingerie! Turn the corner from buying your tea tree shampoo, and oh by the way, did you need a nighty to go with that? So weird.
Steve got back with Olive yesterday afternoon. She was happy to see us. I think she is jet-lagged too. Either that or just worn out from all of the travel. But she is fine, and doesn't hold too much of a grudge, especially since I bought a box of treats at ASDA yesterday and went crazy feeding them to her trying to convince her to love me again.
We went to dinner with some of Sam and Rachel's friends from their church Mosaic last night. It was nice, and Max was mostly good. He was tired, but pushed through it and we had a pleasant time.
We've just been putting clothes and things away too, so it all looks like a tornado came through our space here. We'll go to Ikea this weekend to get some more storage space for the clothes we brought.
I guess that's all for now. On to more unpacking, and then start calling people in the states to wake them up!
When I was talking with my mom last night, she told me she had read my email, and noticed I sent it to Grandmama, and then asked if I knew I did that. That's when it hit me again how annoyed I was that I sent it cc instead of bcc, because I send most "news" emails to Grandmama. If Max is sick, or did something amazing, or news on our house selling, or coming to the UK. I always send it to her too. No one has ever caught it until mom said that.
I told her of course I knew I sent it to her, and that I send her lots of emails. She always responds right away, with "no longer here". :D I like to think she got it and sent back a reminder that she's not with me here anymore but was glad to get the news.
Delusional, I know, but I still like to do it.
And now you know.
In other news...
It is Valentine's Day here too. I don't know how big of a deal it is here. I'm guessing a pretty big deal. Yesterday at ASDA there were people buying flowers and cards and "bedtime clothes", just right there by the shampoo, racks and racks of women's lingerie! Turn the corner from buying your tea tree shampoo, and oh by the way, did you need a nighty to go with that? So weird.
Steve got back with Olive yesterday afternoon. She was happy to see us. I think she is jet-lagged too. Either that or just worn out from all of the travel. But she is fine, and doesn't hold too much of a grudge, especially since I bought a box of treats at ASDA yesterday and went crazy feeding them to her trying to convince her to love me again.
We went to dinner with some of Sam and Rachel's friends from their church Mosaic last night. It was nice, and Max was mostly good. He was tired, but pushed through it and we had a pleasant time.
We've just been putting clothes and things away too, so it all looks like a tornado came through our space here. We'll go to Ikea this weekend to get some more storage space for the clothes we brought.
I guess that's all for now. On to more unpacking, and then start calling people in the states to wake them up!
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
double posting today...
if you read this at our other blog or on an email...just bare with me while i cope with jet-lag!!!
My fellow Americans...(and other friends around the world),
We made it to England!
For those of you who have not been following our journey up to this
point, we left Denver the last week of January and went to Maryland
for Max to be entered into a study for his metabolic disorder. That
was an amazing experience, and they will have him back every year to
follow up on him. They said all of his organs are healthy and
undamaged, his eyes are not deteriorated, and that the medical
treatment he gets now, and the therapy he has been receiving along
with our persistence is obviously doing wonders for him. His b12
levels in his blood were the highest they've ever seen in a child with
this condition, at 1.7 million(compared to about 400!). The eye
doctor prescribed glasses, because he is farsighted. And the dentist
said he has NO CAVITIES! I was most worried about the dental exam,
but I think he actually liked it, he must be mine, I used to beg to go
to the dentist when I was little! All in all it was a great week, and
we're so glad to be a part of the study there!
After the NIH, we went to visit Steve's family in Roanoke, VA. We
played lots of games around the table, and took care of last minute
things before heading here on Monday. We loaded our rental van and
drove to Fairfax, VA on Sunday, and stayed in a hotel. It was like a
little apartment, so it was nice to have our "own place" one night
before we left. We had a going away meal of pizza and salad and
fruit, and then rested well that night for our journey.
We had to have our little dog Olive to the airport 2 hours earlier
than we had to be there, because she was riding cargo. I was sad to
see her go, because I was so scared she would hate it! As soon as
Steve took her in, Max started saying , O-iiii, O-iiiii, for Olive. I
told him we'd see her in England, but that didn't help, he just kept
asking. From there we went to Chipotle for a big fat burrito! They
didn't have Dr. Pepper to finish my perfect last meal, so I went with
ice tea instead, something I don't think we'll find a lot of here! ;)
We headed to the airport with all of our bags, 5 expidition duffel
bags, with Max's stroller bag, plus 3 carry-ons! Once we got there we
got a porter to help with all the bags and went to check in. They
measured 3 of the bags over-weight, but didn't charge us, hip hooray!
And they marked Max's stroller as a wheelchair, so that was free to go
too!
We sailed through security and arrived at our gate with an hour to
go. We put Max on a pallet on the floor, and he slept for that hour.
They let us on first, and even let us stow his wheelchair in the
cabin, something that isn't usually allowed so they can go through
customs. Our flight was really uneventful. Max slept through most of
it, maybe he was awake an hour. Steve and I hardly slept a wink.
There was a family behind us with two autistic children traveling to
India. The little girl was having an awful time, and kicked a lot. I
felt so so sorry for the parents, I know how that is! I was glad when
we landed though!
We landed straight where they had to pull stairs up to the plane, so
we got to ride on the little lift thingy and they drove us to the
terminal. We didn't have to walk very far at all through the
airport! As we were loading on the lift. they told us it was cold and
Max needed a blanket, so they got one out of first class for him..hee
heeee! We saw them unloading Olive as we were pulling away. Once we
got inside, we walked to get our passports and visas checked, they
opened up a line for us to go through with Max, averting the long
lines. We were through that in no time at all. Then we headed to
get all of our bags, and it was like the porter was just waiting for
us. They got all the nags and we walked through a long hallway out
to the exit...wait...where was customs? We have to go through
customs! Seems that long hallway WAS customs, and because we had
nothing to declare, and weren't moving here on any of the other visas
we didn't have to be stopped. On every other visa, you have to go
through a medical exam before they pass you through. Can you EVEN
imagine them looking at Max!!!!!???
Once past the non-existent customs, we got our rental car (another
mini-van), and loaded it up...did I mention Max slept through ALL of
this? From the airplane to car he slept through it all! We got the
directions to go get Olive puut into the gps and called to see if she
was ready to be picked up yet. She had to clear customs too, It is
much harder to get a pet in here than a human! That's where we hit
our snag in our perfect journey. They weren't letting her go. They
said the order of tests was done incorrectly, so she wasn't clear to
leave, and we would either have to put her on a flight back to the
states, or quarantine her for 6 more months here. It was only about 2
am in Denver, so we couldn't call our vet to straighten it out, but
had 48 hours to do that. I was so sick about it. We had done
everything to the letter of what they asked! And it appeared that
dates were written incorrectly on the paper! So we drove on to
London. Max whined and slept a lot of it, and I whined ad cried most
of it. And Steve was just frustrated and tired!
We arrived to our friends' house in Sheffield in record time, and made
our way up to our room, where we passed out for a couple of hours
before our vet called us back. We told him of our problem and he set
straight to work to fix it for us Within a couple of hours we got it
all sorted out, and Olive was free to go! But it was too late to go
get her, so we had to wait until morning. The problem there was Steve
had arranged to deliver the rental car this morning, so we had to
change that up a bit so he could get a different (much smaller) car
to pick her up in. We had dinner with our friends, fish and chips,
and then headed to bed. All in all, yesterday was a rough day. There
was a lot of confusion going on, but today is a new day, and Steve has
our dog!
I think we're going to try to make a run to ASDA today (that's Wal-
Mart's company here), and get a few things...like diapers for one!
They call them nappies here. I would have to agree...they can be
pretty nappy! we really hope that the rest of the week plays out
smoother than yesterday did, so we can get to feeling excited about
our journey here! Up to this point we've just been hoping that what
we were doing was right. BUt th ebottom line is, we all got here
safely, we're all healthy, we're getting rested up, and our dog is now
out of guantanamo for dogs! hahaha!
Thank you all for your support up to this point. We'll keep you all
informed as more of our journey unfolds. Or you can read about it at
http://www.witwatw.com
(that's where in the world are the watsons?) Please feel free to
forward this email on to anyone you think would like to read it, as
well as our webpage.
Much love,
Steve, Deana, Max, and Olive (oh and Abbey's in my pocket...she rode
with me in the form of a monster keychain, and that's where she still
is until she gets over here too!)
My fellow Americans...(and other friends around the world),
We made it to England!
For those of you who have not been following our journey up to this
point, we left Denver the last week of January and went to Maryland
for Max to be entered into a study for his metabolic disorder. That
was an amazing experience, and they will have him back every year to
follow up on him. They said all of his organs are healthy and
undamaged, his eyes are not deteriorated, and that the medical
treatment he gets now, and the therapy he has been receiving along
with our persistence is obviously doing wonders for him. His b12
levels in his blood were the highest they've ever seen in a child with
this condition, at 1.7 million(compared to about 400!). The eye
doctor prescribed glasses, because he is farsighted. And the dentist
said he has NO CAVITIES! I was most worried about the dental exam,
but I think he actually liked it, he must be mine, I used to beg to go
to the dentist when I was little! All in all it was a great week, and
we're so glad to be a part of the study there!
After the NIH, we went to visit Steve's family in Roanoke, VA. We
played lots of games around the table, and took care of last minute
things before heading here on Monday. We loaded our rental van and
drove to Fairfax, VA on Sunday, and stayed in a hotel. It was like a
little apartment, so it was nice to have our "own place" one night
before we left. We had a going away meal of pizza and salad and
fruit, and then rested well that night for our journey.
We had to have our little dog Olive to the airport 2 hours earlier
than we had to be there, because she was riding cargo. I was sad to
see her go, because I was so scared she would hate it! As soon as
Steve took her in, Max started saying , O-iiii, O-iiiii, for Olive. I
told him we'd see her in England, but that didn't help, he just kept
asking. From there we went to Chipotle for a big fat burrito! They
didn't have Dr. Pepper to finish my perfect last meal, so I went with
ice tea instead, something I don't think we'll find a lot of here! ;)
We headed to the airport with all of our bags, 5 expidition duffel
bags, with Max's stroller bag, plus 3 carry-ons! Once we got there we
got a porter to help with all the bags and went to check in. They
measured 3 of the bags over-weight, but didn't charge us, hip hooray!
And they marked Max's stroller as a wheelchair, so that was free to go
too!
We sailed through security and arrived at our gate with an hour to
go. We put Max on a pallet on the floor, and he slept for that hour.
They let us on first, and even let us stow his wheelchair in the
cabin, something that isn't usually allowed so they can go through
customs. Our flight was really uneventful. Max slept through most of
it, maybe he was awake an hour. Steve and I hardly slept a wink.
There was a family behind us with two autistic children traveling to
India. The little girl was having an awful time, and kicked a lot. I
felt so so sorry for the parents, I know how that is! I was glad when
we landed though!
We landed straight where they had to pull stairs up to the plane, so
we got to ride on the little lift thingy and they drove us to the
terminal. We didn't have to walk very far at all through the
airport! As we were loading on the lift. they told us it was cold and
Max needed a blanket, so they got one out of first class for him..hee
heeee! We saw them unloading Olive as we were pulling away. Once we
got inside, we walked to get our passports and visas checked, they
opened up a line for us to go through with Max, averting the long
lines. We were through that in no time at all. Then we headed to
get all of our bags, and it was like the porter was just waiting for
us. They got all the nags and we walked through a long hallway out
to the exit...wait...where was customs? We have to go through
customs! Seems that long hallway WAS customs, and because we had
nothing to declare, and weren't moving here on any of the other visas
we didn't have to be stopped. On every other visa, you have to go
through a medical exam before they pass you through. Can you EVEN
imagine them looking at Max!!!!!???
Once past the non-existent customs, we got our rental car (another
mini-van), and loaded it up...did I mention Max slept through ALL of
this? From the airplane to car he slept through it all! We got the
directions to go get Olive puut into the gps and called to see if she
was ready to be picked up yet. She had to clear customs too, It is
much harder to get a pet in here than a human! That's where we hit
our snag in our perfect journey. They weren't letting her go. They
said the order of tests was done incorrectly, so she wasn't clear to
leave, and we would either have to put her on a flight back to the
states, or quarantine her for 6 more months here. It was only about 2
am in Denver, so we couldn't call our vet to straighten it out, but
had 48 hours to do that. I was so sick about it. We had done
everything to the letter of what they asked! And it appeared that
dates were written incorrectly on the paper! So we drove on to
London. Max whined and slept a lot of it, and I whined ad cried most
of it. And Steve was just frustrated and tired!
We arrived to our friends' house in Sheffield in record time, and made
our way up to our room, where we passed out for a couple of hours
before our vet called us back. We told him of our problem and he set
straight to work to fix it for us Within a couple of hours we got it
all sorted out, and Olive was free to go! But it was too late to go
get her, so we had to wait until morning. The problem there was Steve
had arranged to deliver the rental car this morning, so we had to
change that up a bit so he could get a different (much smaller) car
to pick her up in. We had dinner with our friends, fish and chips,
and then headed to bed. All in all, yesterday was a rough day. There
was a lot of confusion going on, but today is a new day, and Steve has
our dog!
I think we're going to try to make a run to ASDA today (that's Wal-
Mart's company here), and get a few things...like diapers for one!
They call them nappies here. I would have to agree...they can be
pretty nappy! we really hope that the rest of the week plays out
smoother than yesterday did, so we can get to feeling excited about
our journey here! Up to this point we've just been hoping that what
we were doing was right. BUt th ebottom line is, we all got here
safely, we're all healthy, we're getting rested up, and our dog is now
out of guantanamo for dogs! hahaha!
Thank you all for your support up to this point. We'll keep you all
informed as more of our journey unfolds. Or you can read about it at
http://www.witwatw.com
(that's where in the world are the watsons?) Please feel free to
forward this email on to anyone you think would like to read it, as
well as our webpage.
Much love,
Steve, Deana, Max, and Olive (oh and Abbey's in my pocket...she rode
with me in the form of a monster keychain, and that's where she still
is until she gets over here too!)
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Monday, February 11, 2008
This is it...
Today is finally here. The day we've been working towards for a year. I can't believe it's finally here!!!!
We're at a hotel in Fairfax, where we stayed last night. We had an awesome meal from Whole Foods last night...maybe I was just hungry, it was after-all, just cheese pizza, salad, and fruit. But to me it was delicious!
Maybe it was the pizza that made me dream the dreams I did last night. One was that my dad had received a check from Donald Trump to go start his own business in England, and we only found out at the airport when he had met us there! What a weird dream!
The other was so nice. I dreamed that Max was blabbering, and then in the middle, words would come out very clearly. At one point he told me, come, have a sit! His little voice was a British accent, and I laughed and laughed!
I woke up and there he was beside me smiling from ear to ear. I asked him if he knew what today was. He said "yeeeeah", and I said we are getting on an airplane, and he responded, "gla, gla, gla" which of course means England.
We're all checked in, Olive will go 4 hours before our flight to her area to be checked in. I know some people are not into praying for pets, but if you are into it, please remember that she is on the flight too, and that she means an awful lot to me and Max, and Steve too if he will admit it.
After we take her, we'll go get our bags checked in and make our way to the plane. When we checked in online last night there were many many seats still open. I sure hope they stay that way! That would be just wonderful!
I'm sure I'll post next when we arrive at Sam and Rachel's. Family, I will let Momma know we've arrived, so you can ask her. :) We'll have our Denver number set up once we get there, and we'll add a Tulsa to that so those without long distance can call too.
Love to all...think of us tonight as we fly over. That Max has a pleasant flight...all the rest is details if Max has a pleasant flight!
We're at a hotel in Fairfax, where we stayed last night. We had an awesome meal from Whole Foods last night...maybe I was just hungry, it was after-all, just cheese pizza, salad, and fruit. But to me it was delicious!
Maybe it was the pizza that made me dream the dreams I did last night. One was that my dad had received a check from Donald Trump to go start his own business in England, and we only found out at the airport when he had met us there! What a weird dream!
The other was so nice. I dreamed that Max was blabbering, and then in the middle, words would come out very clearly. At one point he told me, come, have a sit! His little voice was a British accent, and I laughed and laughed!
I woke up and there he was beside me smiling from ear to ear. I asked him if he knew what today was. He said "yeeeeah", and I said we are getting on an airplane, and he responded, "gla, gla, gla" which of course means England.
We're all checked in, Olive will go 4 hours before our flight to her area to be checked in. I know some people are not into praying for pets, but if you are into it, please remember that she is on the flight too, and that she means an awful lot to me and Max, and Steve too if he will admit it.
After we take her, we'll go get our bags checked in and make our way to the plane. When we checked in online last night there were many many seats still open. I sure hope they stay that way! That would be just wonderful!
I'm sure I'll post next when we arrive at Sam and Rachel's. Family, I will let Momma know we've arrived, so you can ask her. :) We'll have our Denver number set up once we get there, and we'll add a Tulsa to that so those without long distance can call too.
Love to all...think of us tonight as we fly over. That Max has a pleasant flight...all the rest is details if Max has a pleasant flight!
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Nervous Nelly...
Nelly has settled in today...Nervous Nelly that is.
See, my gizzards get all quivery before a big trip...and this is like the biggest of all big trips. And my gizzards are all aflutter with nervous nellyness!
I'm anxious to get there, and nervous about how Max might act on the plane, and excited to be at this point, and hoping that everything fits in all our bags, and feeling crazy for bringing all these bags because how are we going to get them all through customs while I'm taking care of a hopefully very cooperative Max, and nervous about Olive's ride in the belly of the plane, and will she hate me when it's all done, and afraid the airlines is going to misplace our wheelchair and send it on through to baggage claim and then we'll have to carry Max through the airport...which is where he gets all freaked out and mean...and then once we get there, we have to get Max to visits the right doctors and get his medicine re-ordered...and just really really ready to be in a car...on the way to Sheffield!
Wheeeeeew! That's a whole lot in my gizzards isn't it? No wonder they're doing flips!
Mostly though...I am just really really really excited, and want everything to work out. So if you're wondering what you could pray about...there's your list above!
See, my gizzards get all quivery before a big trip...and this is like the biggest of all big trips. And my gizzards are all aflutter with nervous nellyness!
I'm anxious to get there, and nervous about how Max might act on the plane, and excited to be at this point, and hoping that everything fits in all our bags, and feeling crazy for bringing all these bags because how are we going to get them all through customs while I'm taking care of a hopefully very cooperative Max, and nervous about Olive's ride in the belly of the plane, and will she hate me when it's all done, and afraid the airlines is going to misplace our wheelchair and send it on through to baggage claim and then we'll have to carry Max through the airport...which is where he gets all freaked out and mean...and then once we get there, we have to get Max to visits the right doctors and get his medicine re-ordered...and just really really ready to be in a car...on the way to Sheffield!
Wheeeeeew! That's a whole lot in my gizzards isn't it? No wonder they're doing flips!
Mostly though...I am just really really really excited, and want everything to work out. So if you're wondering what you could pray about...there's your list above!
Friday, February 8, 2008
All about Max...
In the mix of the move and NIH, I think I've neglected to talk about our little guy. So here are a few tidbits happening with Max.
Someone asked me what stroller we got for Max last week. We got him a Baby Jogger City Series Elite.
He's had his baby jogger stroller now for almost 3 years, and it's had a whole lot of miles put on it and is finally tearing apart. So we decided before we got over to England to get him a new one. We had to see first that the strap between the legs was longer, and that the height on the length on his back wasn't too short for him. It passed with flying colors, so we got him some new wheels! We haven't opened it up yet, we want to keep it all together for the plane ride over, but once we do we will take some pictures! For now you can see what it looks like sans Max.
Max has been doing some pretty funny things the past couple of days. Yesterday morning I woke up to him straddled across my back. He had rolled until he found me, then swung his leg over my back and was laying on top of me. I said to Steve, "Look at your son right now...then please get him off of me!". It was so hilarious!
Today, while we were playing a game with the family, Max was playing on the floor, and checking himself out in the big mirror beside him. He saw Olive walking his way and turned his head and said his first sentence, "Hi Olive (ah-ah)", then reached out for her with his foot! It was so cool! We let him pet her with his foot and he got so tickled!
He was playing "sneak up on mommy" this morning, meaning I would be somewhere and Steve would bring him sneaking up on me in another room. But he couldn't contain himself, he would get almost to me and start squealing at his sneaking up skills. It was so funny!
He has finally found out there are fingers attached to his hands. He has been putting them in his mouth, and then becoming a bit apprehensive about the wiggly things being there. He just looks around like, who put these in here...please get them out now!
A fun trick we learned at the NIH, was that he will give "hi-five" with his foot, and then we tell him do hit our hand with his other foot, and he does!
And one more Max story, and you should be about caught up. Grammy's big grandfather clock plays the ding dong ding dong chimes from Big Ben. When Max first heard it the other day he said his word for England...which is pretty garbled, but has the "ng" and "l", followed by YEAH!. This kid is just amazing!
I think he's excited to go, we keep telling him we are going on the airplane and going to England. I just hope he wants to sleep on the airplane and be very excited to be there while we have to go through customs...and not scream on the plane...and that he is a good boy! Because that last trip to the UK with him screaming and crying was so so so so so so so difficult!
Okay...so you are caught up on Max. And surely your day is better for it!
Someone asked me what stroller we got for Max last week. We got him a Baby Jogger City Series Elite.
He's had his baby jogger stroller now for almost 3 years, and it's had a whole lot of miles put on it and is finally tearing apart. So we decided before we got over to England to get him a new one. We had to see first that the strap between the legs was longer, and that the height on the length on his back wasn't too short for him. It passed with flying colors, so we got him some new wheels! We haven't opened it up yet, we want to keep it all together for the plane ride over, but once we do we will take some pictures! For now you can see what it looks like sans Max.
Max has been doing some pretty funny things the past couple of days. Yesterday morning I woke up to him straddled across my back. He had rolled until he found me, then swung his leg over my back and was laying on top of me. I said to Steve, "Look at your son right now...then please get him off of me!". It was so hilarious!
Today, while we were playing a game with the family, Max was playing on the floor, and checking himself out in the big mirror beside him. He saw Olive walking his way and turned his head and said his first sentence, "Hi Olive (ah-ah)", then reached out for her with his foot! It was so cool! We let him pet her with his foot and he got so tickled!
He was playing "sneak up on mommy" this morning, meaning I would be somewhere and Steve would bring him sneaking up on me in another room. But he couldn't contain himself, he would get almost to me and start squealing at his sneaking up skills. It was so funny!
He has finally found out there are fingers attached to his hands. He has been putting them in his mouth, and then becoming a bit apprehensive about the wiggly things being there. He just looks around like, who put these in here...please get them out now!
A fun trick we learned at the NIH, was that he will give "hi-five" with his foot, and then we tell him do hit our hand with his other foot, and he does!
And one more Max story, and you should be about caught up. Grammy's big grandfather clock plays the ding dong ding dong chimes from Big Ben. When Max first heard it the other day he said his word for England...which is pretty garbled, but has the "ng" and "l", followed by YEAH!. This kid is just amazing!
I think he's excited to go, we keep telling him we are going on the airplane and going to England. I just hope he wants to sleep on the airplane and be very excited to be there while we have to go through customs...and not scream on the plane...and that he is a good boy! Because that last trip to the UK with him screaming and crying was so so so so so so so difficult!
Okay...so you are caught up on Max. And surely your day is better for it!
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Today...
All I want is a room somewhere,
Far away from the cold night air,
With one enormous chair.
Oh, wouldn't it be loverly?
Lots of chocolate for me to eat.
Lots of coal makin' lots of 'eat.
Warm face, warm 'ands, warm feet.
Oh, wouldn't it be loverly?
Oh, so loverly sittin' absobloominlutely still.
I would never budge 'till spring
Crept over the windowsill.
Someone's 'ead restin' on my knee,
Warm an' tender as 'e can be,
Who takes good care of me.
Oh, wouldn't it be loverly?
Loverly, loverly, loverly, loverly.
Far away from the cold night air,
With one enormous chair.
Oh, wouldn't it be loverly?
Lots of chocolate for me to eat.
Lots of coal makin' lots of 'eat.
Warm face, warm 'ands, warm feet.
Oh, wouldn't it be loverly?
Oh, so loverly sittin' absobloominlutely still.
I would never budge 'till spring
Crept over the windowsill.
Someone's 'ead restin' on my knee,
Warm an' tender as 'e can be,
Who takes good care of me.
Oh, wouldn't it be loverly?
Loverly, loverly, loverly, loverly.
Monday, February 4, 2008
3 posts in one day...
I must be bored! Not really, just on the computer more than usual today. It is really quiet here in the sticks of Virginia, so the internet is my friend!
I saw this tonight and thought it was maybe one of the coolest things I've ever seen! Over 200 people froze in place for 5 minutes in NYC!
I saw this tonight and thought it was maybe one of the coolest things I've ever seen! Over 200 people froze in place for 5 minutes in NYC!
Cool Parents...
AJ on
Thingamababy
asks:
"Then answer the question: What's the coolest thing your mom or dad did for you when you were a kid? It doesn't need to be unique, or arsty or anything... just something special you recall from your childhood."
In my childhood I think I would have said they take us to the lake on the weekends, or we eat chinese food on Sunday together.
But now being an adult, one thing sticks out to me. A gift my parents gave me that can never be taken back, and I'm sure came about by complete accident. Because when you're raising 4 kids all within 5 years of age, how can anything be planned out!?! They let me be me.
I was a weird kid I think. Looking back, I always felt like a weird kid at least. I didn't like to play like the rest of the kids, or watch cartoons as much. My perfect day was to wake up early, watch a little Bob Ross and Frugal Cook, eat some raisin bran, draw or paint, sit on the side of the yard and pretend to be teaching school in a tent in africa, all while dressed in a plaid skirt, polka dot shirt, and cowboy boots. And do you know what...they let me. All the time they let me.
I hated playing sports, so they put me in ballet. Ballet was much more work than softball! But I loved it so much more too! And I know they probably couldn't afford it, and I only went to one set of classes, but I will always remember it, and I really did love it. And when I did play softball because that's where everyone else was for the season, I never got in trouble for sitting down in outfield and picking flowers or four leaf clovers instead of waiting for the ball. And I was never pushed to be in the advanced classes in school. I made good grades, and was good at what I knew, and I think that was enough. And I think they each knew that I preferred to have one on one time with people, because it seemed like I got to do that more than the others did. At least, that's how I remember it.
I don't think growing up I would have been an independent child, at least I didn't feel very independent. But I know now I must have had some sort of independence to be where I am today. They've always told me they were proud of me, when I got married first, and moved three states away, and had a baby that was not what any of us had expected. And now moving across the world. To start something new. They never say, you can't do that...or make me feel like I live in a dream world. I think they know that whatever they did, they must have done it right. And I haven't disappointed them yet, so why not go for it.
And the security in knowing that, is one of the best gifts my parents have given me...and I think that is way cool.
Thingamababy
asks:
"Then answer the question: What's the coolest thing your mom or dad did for you when you were a kid? It doesn't need to be unique, or arsty or anything... just something special you recall from your childhood."
In my childhood I think I would have said they take us to the lake on the weekends, or we eat chinese food on Sunday together.
But now being an adult, one thing sticks out to me. A gift my parents gave me that can never be taken back, and I'm sure came about by complete accident. Because when you're raising 4 kids all within 5 years of age, how can anything be planned out!?! They let me be me.
I was a weird kid I think. Looking back, I always felt like a weird kid at least. I didn't like to play like the rest of the kids, or watch cartoons as much. My perfect day was to wake up early, watch a little Bob Ross and Frugal Cook, eat some raisin bran, draw or paint, sit on the side of the yard and pretend to be teaching school in a tent in africa, all while dressed in a plaid skirt, polka dot shirt, and cowboy boots. And do you know what...they let me. All the time they let me.
I hated playing sports, so they put me in ballet. Ballet was much more work than softball! But I loved it so much more too! And I know they probably couldn't afford it, and I only went to one set of classes, but I will always remember it, and I really did love it. And when I did play softball because that's where everyone else was for the season, I never got in trouble for sitting down in outfield and picking flowers or four leaf clovers instead of waiting for the ball. And I was never pushed to be in the advanced classes in school. I made good grades, and was good at what I knew, and I think that was enough. And I think they each knew that I preferred to have one on one time with people, because it seemed like I got to do that more than the others did. At least, that's how I remember it.
I don't think growing up I would have been an independent child, at least I didn't feel very independent. But I know now I must have had some sort of independence to be where I am today. They've always told me they were proud of me, when I got married first, and moved three states away, and had a baby that was not what any of us had expected. And now moving across the world. To start something new. They never say, you can't do that...or make me feel like I live in a dream world. I think they know that whatever they did, they must have done it right. And I haven't disappointed them yet, so why not go for it.
And the security in knowing that, is one of the best gifts my parents have given me...and I think that is way cool.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
NIH Days 3,4, and 5
The end of our week really flew by. It was such a good experience, baring the one awful encounter with the speech therapist we met with. Short of that...she was an idiot who thought she knew everything, and thought that everything we've done for the past four years was wrong. Stupid woman!
We started day 3 with photos...Max wouldn't open his eyes. But they mostly just wanted pictures for their files and for research. They got him up against a grid to measure his height too. He is so tall!
Next was genetic counseling, where they go over both of our family history info. That's always a joy. It's really enough to remember all about Max's condition to not have to keep track of every ailment of every family member! In this appointment we did find out that they have created fish in the lab which have Cbl-C. The genetic counselor showed us pictures of them. It was totally weird! They were certainly developing differently. Just was kind of weird, and cool, and strange.
After that appointment, we met with the nutritionist who was surprised at the amount of calories he takes in. She also took note of how much he moves, and said he must burn a lot of calories. No one else has said that to us. We've thought it, so it was nice to get confirmation about it.
Our last appointment was with the neurologist. She was really nice, and interested in his treatment and story. She had nothing to add, so we felt pleased tat he was getting all he should from Dr. L.. But we didn't ever think that he wasn't. Again, this was mostly for research.
Thursday morning we started bright and earlier with the stupid speech woman. I really get too mouthy with it all so we'll let it pass on the blog...but believe me...they all heard about it...and more will this week when I write up a report on it. Stupid woman.
After her, we went to the dentist. What a turn around to the crummy start to the day. He was a pleasure. An old man...very kind with Max. He spoke French, and was from Belgium, so his English was funny. But he was so nice, and said Max had very good dental health. No cavities no gum issues!!! And Max was a champ with all of the picture taking of his mouth and xrays. The doctor also said Max won't lose that gap between his teeth, because his mouth didn't develop fully, just like his brain, as they form at the same time. They all thought this was very interesting!
From the dentist we saw an occupational therapist. She was very helpful, and mostly just wanted to hear our story, Max's story, and about opera with Max. She gave us some pointers, and Max showed off a lot with his switch to talk to her. In the end she gave Max one if her opera cd's for him to take on his journey to the UK.
That evening we went and got Max a new stroller, and took a little drive around DC. It was pretty...and cold, so we stayed in the car!
Don't know if W was home that day, but here's as close as we could get to his house.
Our last day we met with rehab therapy and physio therapy. They also gave us some pointers for moving Max, which for me needs some help! He's getting so big, and I'm not!
We rounded off our appointment meeting with the head metabolic doctor. He went over all of Max's lab results, and over each appointment we had met with. He had interesting things to say. They are really intrigued with Max. He is more affected than a lot of the kids they see, yet, his eyes are healthy, his organs are healthy, his b12 levels are through the roof. They just don't get him! We of course we pleased to hear all of that. I'm glad he's a part of their research, but even more happy to hear good reports back from everyone! I'm so proud of our little monster!
We started day 3 with photos...Max wouldn't open his eyes. But they mostly just wanted pictures for their files and for research. They got him up against a grid to measure his height too. He is so tall!
Next was genetic counseling, where they go over both of our family history info. That's always a joy. It's really enough to remember all about Max's condition to not have to keep track of every ailment of every family member! In this appointment we did find out that they have created fish in the lab which have Cbl-C. The genetic counselor showed us pictures of them. It was totally weird! They were certainly developing differently. Just was kind of weird, and cool, and strange.
After that appointment, we met with the nutritionist who was surprised at the amount of calories he takes in. She also took note of how much he moves, and said he must burn a lot of calories. No one else has said that to us. We've thought it, so it was nice to get confirmation about it.
Our last appointment was with the neurologist. She was really nice, and interested in his treatment and story. She had nothing to add, so we felt pleased tat he was getting all he should from Dr. L.. But we didn't ever think that he wasn't. Again, this was mostly for research.
Thursday morning we started bright and earlier with the stupid speech woman. I really get too mouthy with it all so we'll let it pass on the blog...but believe me...they all heard about it...and more will this week when I write up a report on it. Stupid woman.
After her, we went to the dentist. What a turn around to the crummy start to the day. He was a pleasure. An old man...very kind with Max. He spoke French, and was from Belgium, so his English was funny. But he was so nice, and said Max had very good dental health. No cavities no gum issues!!! And Max was a champ with all of the picture taking of his mouth and xrays. The doctor also said Max won't lose that gap between his teeth, because his mouth didn't develop fully, just like his brain, as they form at the same time. They all thought this was very interesting!
From the dentist we saw an occupational therapist. She was very helpful, and mostly just wanted to hear our story, Max's story, and about opera with Max. She gave us some pointers, and Max showed off a lot with his switch to talk to her. In the end she gave Max one if her opera cd's for him to take on his journey to the UK.
That evening we went and got Max a new stroller, and took a little drive around DC. It was pretty...and cold, so we stayed in the car!
Don't know if W was home that day, but here's as close as we could get to his house.
Our last day we met with rehab therapy and physio therapy. They also gave us some pointers for moving Max, which for me needs some help! He's getting so big, and I'm not!
We rounded off our appointment meeting with the head metabolic doctor. He went over all of Max's lab results, and over each appointment we had met with. He had interesting things to say. They are really intrigued with Max. He is more affected than a lot of the kids they see, yet, his eyes are healthy, his organs are healthy, his b12 levels are through the roof. They just don't get him! We of course we pleased to hear all of that. I'm glad he's a part of their research, but even more happy to hear good reports back from everyone! I'm so proud of our little monster!
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