Merry Christmas!

Well Emma's 1st Christmas was a smash! It was so much fun! Santa visited our house and Gigi's and Emma was truly spoiled rotten! She got dolls and clothes and blocks and a ball pit and a Radio Flyer Grow with me Trike! She is so blessed! I don't think she'll lack for anything to play with. We hope you all had a great time filled with family, laughter and blessings.

Since I last wrote Emma began aquatic therapy! It was a HIT! She is beginning to become weary of strangers but not while in the pool. Apparently that fear stops at the water! LOL! She did great. The therapist name is Patti, she was quite pleased. She said she was able to define some clear goals for Emma so that makes me sooooooooooo happy to hear! Peter and I were racking our brain trying to figure out a way that we can get Emma access to a warm therapy pool. We have a Mercy Healthplex about 5 minutes door to door. I called over there and they have what they call a "Junior Membership" they have an arbitrary age of 8 but I explained Emma's circumstances and the need for her to have access to their therapy pool and the club manager lifted the age restriction and now Emma is a member! I have privalages wherever she goes. So as long as she brings me along I can join her in the pool. LOL! I can't wait to get her in there on a regular basis and watch her thrive!

We also attended the Spina Bifida Coalition of Cincy's Annual Christmas party! It was so very cool to be able to get together with families who have something in common with Emma. This was also Emma's first oppurtunity to meet Santa. She was ok with him while Peter and I were standing behind her but the second we walked out it was ALL over. Luckily though he didn't put her on his naughty list.

We baked cookies as well. My mom and her friend began this tradition even before I was born and I am so excited that I can now share it with my daughter.

Emma also had her first fine dining experience. We took advantage of a holiday special at a local eatery and Emma, my mom, Matt and myself decided it was our office party.

Emma's Grandma and Grandpa Ring (Peter's parents) came into town to celebrate the holidays with us as well. We took Emma to see Santa again. This time went much smoother. She wasn't overly excited but didn't cry either! She even got snowed on.

We've had a busy season! It's been wonderful to get to experience it all with my precious baby girl.

Please pray for her, she is dealing with some illness right now. We believe it is all stemming from her being congested, but its led to lots of throwing up (at least 1x a day). We've been to the doctor several times for a persistent cough, but they are reassuring us that she is ok and that it is typical. I always worry about things being SB related that I have a hard time just accepting that this is a "normal" head cold. She is scheduled for a sedated MRI on Jan 2. Please pray that she heals before this so there are no problems, and pray that she sails through the sedation without any issues. Thank you all so much for your love and support of our sweet baby girl! It means the world to us!!!

Now onto the pics (please pay no attention, they are a little out of order)!!!!!

Snuggles from my babe! 

Celebrating Daddy! 

"Here dad let me do it"

At the SBCC Christmas Party

In her ball pit! 

"Mom are you sure about this"?

Beautiful eyes! 

She liked him... 

On second thought! 

Starting traditions! 

Reading Rudolph! 

She decided to give Santa another shot! 

At the aquarium! 

We ran into Santa at the aquarium of all places! 

Can you find Emma? (please note: she did this to herself ;))

My precious baby girl! 

The candy cane forest at the fesitval of lights! 

LOVE LOVE LOVE my family! 

Her daddy won her quite the loot at Dave and Buster's for his office Christmas party! 

Her first fine dining experience! 

This'll be fun to snap a picture here each year and watch her grow!!! 

She helped with each one! 

She was the project manager! 

Stir, stir stir! 

Holiday Happenings!!

Hello all!!! We hope you all had a great Thanksgiving. We sure did! We are now getting into the Christmas spirit!!! I love this time of year and am so excited to start new traditions with Emma! We put our Christmas tree up the other day and she LOVES the lights!! It was fun hanging the ornaments and showing them to her and explaining the meaning behind them. Granted to her I probably sound like the teacher from Charlie Brown. Wah wah wah wah wah wah. Lol!!

We had clinic since I last posted. It all went well! We finally got the referral from one of her doctors for aquatic therapy. She will begin this on Tuesday and I cant wait.

Also she got fitted for a stander on Wednesday. She got the biggest smile on her face when we put her in it. So now we begin the insurance game and hope they see the necessity in it that we do.

Thank you all for your continued love and support for our family. We ask that your prayers continue. That good will protect Emma and continue to bless her with good health!!