Time to Breathe
February 25, 2007 4:00 PM

Life has finally slowed down for a minute and a half for me to write an update. Juliana is still doing quite well with her distraction hardware (piercings as I call them). She is just finishing up a week of two pretty strong anitbiotics for an infection in the left side of her face. We have completed all of the turning of the screws and now we are just waiting.

We will be going to Miami in about three weeks to have them removed. What an amazing difference they have made. She has really discovered her voice now. She is constantly yelling—at me, at Kendra and through the grocery store just to let everyone know that she is there. Kendra calls her a tattle tale now because she can't get away with anything anymore.

She tries to put everyone in their place. We were at the nursery yesterday buying flowers to plant (sorry to rub it in for everyone who is still getting snow). We were chatting with the lady behind us in line and she tried to help Juliana hold a pot. Juliana grabbed hold of it tight and shook her finger at the lady and then signed "mommy". She is such a sassy little monkey. It is hard sometimes to know how much to let her get away with. Signing is her mode of communication, but sometimes she takes the attitude too far.

We don't have anything too special planned for her birthday this year. It seems like just last week we celebrated her third birthday. My mom (a.k.a. Nana) is going to be here visiting for the week of her birthday so that will be fun for the girls—oh yeah, and me too!

—Tami

Can't Stop Juliana
February 03, 2007 1:15 PM

We are back to our crazy never-slowing-down lives now. Juliana spent the first week at home with me after we came back from Miami. After the first week I sent her back to school! She is of course doing awesome.

We have already finished turning the screw on the right side and hopefully the left one will not be too far behind. Once we are completly finished turning them we just have to leave them in for 3 to 4 weeks to let the new bone that has developed completly solidify.

We are more than pleased with the results from this procedure. She is actually able to get air in through her mouth now. This in combination with her very dedicated and determined speech therapist will have her talking in no time.

I don't really have any funny stories to tell from the past few weeks. At the moment though Juliana is laying on the floor with a Swiffer between her legs trying to see how far she can spread her legs before she gets hit in the head with the handle. I wish she would get up and use it instead!

—Tami