Fiesty & Fun

That says it all about the Valle sisters right now. Natalia has gotten very spoiled by having her sister around all the time. First Pia was sick and out of pre-school for a week then when Talia got sick Pia was at her side constantly, even spending 1 night in the hospital with her. Sophia started back to school last week and by Wednesday was so guilt ridden about leaving her sister alone at home she didn't go on Friday.

Talia has been perfecting her one liners lately and truly keeping us in stitches. She is trying to do more with her hands and body while sitting. Standing and walking still scare her a lot. The good news to us is that other then the headaches and nausea we don't see a difference between the steroid she is on now and when she tapered off of it. We talked to her about getting a wheelchair this afternoon. We have the all-terrain stroller but it is hard to get it into restaurants and through stores and other enclosed spaces that we may want to go. The stroller was perfect when she was still walking a little and we only needed it to go long distances but now there is no way we would be able to get her to walk in a crowd. It is hard enough to get her to walk with assistance through the house. She is also getting that puffy steroid look again. It has to be water retention because her appetite has tapered down. We are going to talk to our nurse-advocate about getting a chair on Monday. (Note:we love Carolyn, she has been with us since April. She has wonderful ideas on things to try with Natalia and we feel like we can ask her anything and if she doesn't know the answer she will find out for us.)

Pia...Pia...Pia...I want to bottle her energy and take huge sips throughout the day. We have discovered the key to channeling all that energy in a way that we don't feel the need to strangle her. Sophia loves to help. Give her any task to do and it is done with all her attention and drive. When she cleans her room and the playroom, there are complete stories going on with all the toys...and it looks incredible. Need something dusted...need the kitchen swept...need something out of the fridge. Her current goals in life (in order) are to be a skateboarder(she does not even own one) a hip hop dancer, a singer and an apartment manager like Mama. She has her blue moments but she has so much happiness flowing through her that they don't last for long.

Natalia's birthday is coming up on the 24th. She has decided that she wants to go to the Elbow Room for dinner. She loves their food and has always been made to feel at home there. She also wants a Tinkerbell chocolate ice cream cake. We are just so happy she has made it to 7 years old that she can do whatever she wants for her birthday it is going to be incredible.

Much love to you all,
Roni