Lyla's Check-up!

Lyla's One year Check-up at Dupont Children's Hospital

     Hello Everone! I just wanted to give everyone an update on Lyla's health. We traveled to Dupont Children's Hospital in Delaware on October 13. She had appointments with her geneticist (Dr. Bober), her orthopedic surgeon (Dr. Mackenzie) and her ENT (Dr. Schmidt). We never got to see Dr. Schmidt because he canceled his appointment with us so we just saw the other two Dr.'s. As far as her ears go, we did take her to an ENT on Long Island that has been following her since around 7 months and her said the tubes that were put in on Aug. 4th looked great and she had no more fluid! Thank goodness! With that being said we got some more great news from Delaware too! We were told that Lyla's head circumference was slightly above average (nothing to be alarmed about). Her height was slightly below average and her weight was average. Her height to weight ratio was all average and Dr. Bober was very happy! He told us that he does not see any major medical problems with Lyla and it looks like she is progressing nicely. I was a little concerned with her speech because she only says "dada" but Dr. Bober said she just turned a year old and if she only says "dada" at her next 6 month check-up then we will proceed with Speech therapy but he saw no need to be concerned at this point. Then we saw Dr. Mackenzie and he told us that Lyla's legs looked really good and pretty straight, which he seemed pleased with. He said he doesn't think she will walk until approx. 20-24 months which is average for Achons. He also said no cause for concern at this time! So with that being said Eddie and I are very happy!!!!I do feel bad traveling in the car with Lyla for 3 1/2 hours but it's for her well being and we must do it. I also feel bad when everyone is poking her and moving her and holding her down (like the x-ray techs) but this is what needs to be done.

   As far as her personality she is just the happiest girl ever! I know I always say that but it is true! The girl wakes up happy and goes to bed happy! She is just AMAZING! She zips all around the house doing her army crawl. She loves to dance to music and will rock back anf forth. She can climb up objects and pull herself up to stand. She gives kisses and just recently I taught her to wave which is the cutest thing ever!

Here are some updated pic of my girls! They are from another farm weekend out on Long Island! The Fall really is beautiful here!

The girl hates bows and refuses to wear one! She just pulls them out and throws them on the ground!

My sweetie Emma loves her ice cream!

This is an actual bird that landed in Emma's hands because she had a feeding stick

Uncle Brucie and my goddaughter Katie

Aunt Michelle and Emma

This pic Lyla is mad and just pulled the bow out of her hair!

Me and my girls at the pumpkin field!

I know this pic doesn't go with the farm theme but I just love it! Emma and I have matching robes!!!

Korpai Home Reveal

In August an LPA family got chosen to have a house built by Extreme Home Makeover! They were one of the very first families from the LPA that reached out to us when we first found out about Lyla. They are an AMAZING family and are definite advocates on Dwarfism Awareness! They are our good friends and they live in Upstate NY. The airing of their episode is this Sunday (October 16). Check your local listing to find out when it will air where you live. It is definitely worth watching because the entire world will see what Dwarfism is all about! Their daughter Hailey was born with Achondroplasia just like Lyla and the entire house has several modifications for "Little People". I can't wait to see it! The Korpai's also have a website that they started which I have posted on top of my blog. Eddie, Lyla and I are featured on their website so check it out if you haven't already. Seven years ago Eddie and I had our dream house built and we feel very fortunate to have done this. Eddie says after the airing of this episode we can always change things in our house to make it perfect for Lyla! I can't wait to see their new house!!!!!It is well deserved!!!

Some Fall Updates!

Dwarfism Awareness Month
Well FALL is here and believe it or not I love this season! It is so beautiful here on Long Island this time of year! It is sad to see summer go but I look forward to the Fall. Anyway I thought I would start the post off by saying OCTOBER is DWARFISM AWARENESS month! Please check out understandingdwarfism.org to learn more about dwarfism. For now I will update my followers on some important information about dwarfism:

• There are over 200 distinct forms of dwarfism and skeletal dysplasias.
• People with dwarfism are generally not taller than 4' 10" at adult height. The typical height range is 2'8" to 4'5".
• Eighty percent of people with dwarfism have average-height parents and siblings.
• There are an estimated 30,000 people in the United States and 651,000 internationally with a type of dwarfism.
• In July 2009 the word "midget" was declared inappropriate and offensive. Preferable terms are: having dwarfism, short stature, little person, lp, and the medical terminology use of dwarf. A person's name is always the most preferred.
• Skeletal Dysplasias affect bone growth, but generally do not affect cognitive abilities.
• Don't treat people with dwarfism according to their height, instead of their age or ability.  Little people are attorneys, teachers, engineers and doctors. 

Here is an updated photo of our precious LP Lyla Rose. She turned one year old on September 21st. (If you want to see pics from her huge birthday bash look at my previous post).

The girl will not keep her bows in!!!!! She is the happiest baby in the world! So sweet and lovable! She can now pull her self up to stand! She gives kisses. Lyla also loves to dance and will bop up and down to music. She crawls all over our house and she loves to watch her big sister Emma play around the house. Where ever Emma is Lyla will crawl around to find her! When the girls see each other it is instant LOVE all smiles and laughter, It is the sweetest thing to see! She is finally trying to sit up but will fall forward and will catch herself with her hands. We finally can put her in a high chair but it is reclined a little bit for her back. Other than that she is a regular baby. We go to Delaware to visit her doctors on October 16, 2011. She is doing really well!

Here are some updates of what our family has been up to for September: 

Emma Started Pre-School

Our beautiful Emma started Pre-K on September 6th. The girl absolutely loves school. She goes 5 days a week 8:15 to 3:15 and trust me if she could go weekends she would gladly do that too. Our Emma is the friendliest, most outgoing girl ever. The best quality about her is she is constantly giving kisses and hugs to Eddie, Lyla and me. This girl is definitely a daddy's girl! Whatever Emma wants.....daddy gets it for her no questions asked! She is so sweet to her family members and loves being a big sister! Here are a few pics from her first day of Pre-K. It was raining out that day! :(

I wanted to get her this fancy school bag at this girl boutique but my girl wanted a plastic Barbie school bag and I was like.......AWESOME!

She had her raincoat on!

She told Eddie and I the other day that she wanted to marry a boy named Christopher in her class when she is an adult and I said.........don't worry honey, mommy and daddy will throw you the biggest, best wedding ever! Woohoo! I love planning parties for the people I love!

Emma is a soccer player!

Emma wanted to join soccer and Eddie is her coach! He loves coaching his daughter's team. He is such a great daddy! Her team is called the "Cosmos".  She started on September 10th and she is having lots of fun kicking that ball! She hasn't scored a goal yet but hopefully she will do it soon! Here are some pics from their first game!:

She chose the number 3 cause she said she just likes that number! Coach Eddie let all the kids pick whatever number they wanted!

Emma's godmother came to cheer her on! So did her cousin Katie and Uncle Brucie!

Coach Eddie handing out uniforms!

Bethpage Fair

I cannot even begin to tell you how many farms we've visited so far in September! We went apple picking, did a bunch of farm festivals but my favorite is the Bethpage Fair! I used to go there as a kid with my family and we make it a point to go every year! Here are some pics from this awesome time!:

Look at Lyla's juicy legs!!!!

daddy and one of his girls

This was one of Emma's favorite rides!

Group shot in front of these dedication signs in honor of our family members...Aunt Weezie and My grandparents! We've been going to this fair for approx. 30 years!

Sign in honor of my grandparents!

My last and final tradition!

Well I have been doing this blog for a year now and I have shared with you my traditions that I started in my neighborhood (Easter Egg Hunt, Movie Night) and my last and final tradition is....."You've Been Boo'd". It is a fun Halloween surprise. What I do is start the "Boo" by choosing 3 houses. I make goody baskets for the kids in that household. We ring and run at night and leave a "spooky treat" at their door. You can never tell who you boo'd. It is a secret! The kids get such a kick out of this cause they get to ring and run and not get in trouble! Emma got so into it this year! Now she is dying to get boo'd herself! She will have to wait and see!!!! Here are some pics of my goody basket treats I made for the 3 houses! It is all about the kids and my neighborhood is so wonderful! They enjoy it just as much as we do!

I know this was a very long post but I thought what the heck! I hope you enjoyed reading it!