Elbow Cast OFF!!

Today Ava had her cast removed. After her last cast removal she was in a lot of pain. That was her only experience so of course it made her extremely nervous this time. After arriving at the doctors office the nurse came in to cut the cast off, Ava immediately started to cry. We kept reassuring her it would be fine but she was anxious. As the nurse began Ava realized we were right, it didn't hurt at all. She said "It tickles!" After the cast was completely off she was a little scared to move her arm but thankfully she was not in pain. Next was x-ray time, three were taken. Dr. A came in for her exam. To our (and I think his) surprise Ava had three fractures not two as he originally thought. She is 95% healed but thankfully another cast was not needed. He wants her to start using her arm but to be very careful. For the next 3 weeks she is not allowed to participate in gym, play soccer or go on playgrounds. After the 3 weeks Ava will have another x-ray to make sure it is 100% healed, if so she can return to all activities.

I really wish for the next 3 weeks Ava could live in a bubble. Do you know how hard it is to keep a 5 year old from being too active?!? I know I am going to be a nervous wreck until we get the doctor's clearance. This could possibly be worse then after her hip surgery! At least then I was with her 24/7, now she will be out of my sight for 7 1/2 hours a day, 5 days a week. Fingers crossed she follows to Dr. A's instructions until our next visit. I look forward to 3 weeks from now when she is playing soccer on her first soccer team and once again free to be 5! Always an adventure with this girl!

Kindergarten!

I'm happy to say Ava had an awesome first day of Kindergarten! She was up bright and early, couldn't wait to put on her new dress and asked every 5 minutes "Can we go out to the bus yet?" After the required first day of school pictures we headed to the bus stop. When the bus arrived she had a moment of panic, "Where do I sit?" she asked. Luckily Jack was there to help her out. The look on her face as she entered the bus made me nervous and as the bus pulled away I cried as expected (but not as hard as I thought I would.) After coming inside I realized Ava's name tag was still sitting on the counter, I felt horrible! How could I forget?!

I had to go to Ava's school today to make copies and as I entered the first thing I saw was Ava's class coming down the hall on their way to Music. She was the line leader and had a huge smile on her face. Relief! Then in the office I ran into the gym teacher and it turns out that she was helping at the bus arrivals this morning. All my guilt of forgetting her name tag was now gone, thanks to Jack Mrs. hart knows Ava and she greeted her by name. David and I anxiously waited for the bus this afternoon. We could not wait to hear how both Jack and Ava's day was. As Ava was getting out of her seat her back pack got stuck. Big Brother Jack to the rescue! He carried it off for her. He's the best!! Turns out both kids had a great day. Our little butterfly did great on her own. I am so proud of Ava and I look forward to watching her grow in the year ahead!

1st Day of School Eve

When Ava's 'hip journey' began our number one goal was to heal her 100% before she started Kindergarten. At the time it seemed so far away but fast forward 18 months and here we are! For the last few weeks all Ava could talk about is starting. This was her first year to go back to school shopping (my little fashionista loved it!) and to pick out a back pack and lunch bag. You can only imagine her excitement when the letter with her teacher assignment came, she got the same teacher Jack had. This is huge, Ava adores Jack and all she has been saying since is "When I'm is Mrs. Ciniewtz's class I'll do......" (That sentence has a hundred different endings.) In preparation for the first day, each kindergarten student was given a paper camera to decorate with things they did over the summer. They are to bring it in the first day to share with their class. A few days ago we began collecting things to put on it. I was a little worried we would not have enough to fill it since we were home most of our summer, but sure enough we filled it up in no time. Ava include our only trip to the beach, a picture of her new baby cousin Emory, her Taylor Swift ticket, her visit to the ER, her cast, a few things from Boston and a her favorite picture from her 'hip walk.' She glued everything on and sprinkled it with glitter, then we practiced what she would would say to her class. My girl is ready to go!

Back to School Collage

I have been going through a million emotions this week. I am so excited for Ava! She is so ready for school (hopefully they can teach her to follow directions!) and having structure is what she needs. This last year has been "spoil Ava" because EVERYONE feels so bad for what she has been through. (Even a stranger gave her a dollar when we were out school shopping because of her current cast!)  I'm also a little nervous to have her out of my sight for so many hours. I'm so use to my little side kick, it's going to weird not to have her around. I'm sure these first few weeks will be quite an adjustment for her (and me), she hardly went to Pre-K last year and is not use to so many hours.  I'm sad to see my baby go but a little thrilled too. This last year we have had a lot of 'togetherness', so quite frankly she is on my last nerve! (I'm sure many Moms can relate!)

So here we are the night before First Day of School Eve. Ava has her new dress laid out and her sparkly shoes (Aunt Susan will be proud) ready to go. We quizzed her a hundred times on what to say if a teacher asks why she is not sitting with her legs crossed (due to her right hip not having full rotation she, is unable to sit 'criss cross applesauce') and reminded her over and over to give her teacher the doctors note for the nurse. Tomorrow morning I will put my baby on the bus and I expect lots of tears (from me not her.)  But I know it is her day! All her hard work has paid off, she is 100% ready. Tomorrow we will set our little butterfly free!! (I'm already crying writing this!) I wish my strong brave girl lots of luck and I know she will do great. All that Ava has been through makes her who she is. Look out world here she comes!!