Today we went to the pediatrician to check on all of Brie's bruising and cuts. We all came to the conclusion that she very likely has something called Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. We will see a genetist to confirm it. It involves having very loose joints and easy bruising. I very likely have it as well although she is likely more affected. There are really no long term problems with it, just the easy bruising and sometimes dislocations of joints. There is really no treatment for the easy bruising. We discussed trying some soccer shin guards for the winter to see if it allows them to heal.

Last pool day in PA?

On Friday we enjoyed what may be our last 90 degree day of the year in PA. The girls played with the hose and jumped in their little pool.

Brie filled the pool with water and Sophie added a few bubbles.

I was a wonderful way spend a warm afternoon. I am sure we will not have too many more 90 degree days here in PA. Good thing we are on our way to Puerto Rico in two weeks to enjoy the beach and pool.

Apple picking!

This weekend the weather was beautiful so we decided to take a little drive up to Troy to do some apple picking. The girls took a nice nap on the way and were eager to get picking.

We started the afternoon with a horse drawn wagon ride through the orchard. The girls enjoyed the ride.

We then headed off to the orchard to pick the apples. Unlike last year the apples were few and far between. There was a late frost that destroyed many of the apples and the kinds we were looking for had been pretty much picked through. We did manage to get 4 bags of apples so there will be lots of yummy pies and applesauce in our future. In fact we ate our first pie tonight!

Not again!

After a wonderful day of picking apples and going out to dinner we came home to another medical fiasco. Marcus was holding Sophie and stepped back onto Brie. Somehow his shoe must have scrapped Brie's already bruised shin and of course it lead to a gaping wound. This one bigger then all of the previous. Brie of course wanted a big bandaid and no stitches, but it needed stitches. Luckily I had some at home and our brave little girl got six more stitches in her leg. She did wonderfully and only cried a little while I put the numbing medicine in.
This leads us wondering how these falls, with very little trauma have lead to so many bruises and lacerations. She does not seem to bleed alot when she gets cut, but she does form large bruises that seem to take forever to heal. Her shins are constantly bruised and she really does not fall that often anymore. I think we will be calling the doctor to discuss seeing the hematologist to make sure there is no skin or blood problem.

What . . .

What

will

It be a butterfly or a moth?

Hopefully we will get to see in a few weeks.

To dance or not to dance

Yesterday Jenna took Sophie to her first dance class. She loved the mommy and me class that she attended on occasion with Brie last year so we thought it would be a hit. I found a 2 year old class that Jenna was able to take her to. She loves to dance at home, but would not even go into the dance room with the other kids. Brie, Jenna and the teacher all tried to get her to go into the room, but she refused. Hopefully next week she will be more willing to give it a try. Unfortunately we cannot do the mommy and me class that Brie did last year because of the timing. We have to go to a completely different dance studio so it is all new. Maybe watching Brie again this week at her class will also help.

Nannie comes to visit

This weekend the girls got to meet their Nannie for the first time. They had a great time.

We went for a bike ride, out to dinner, and spent some time just relaxing and getting to know each other.