Hi! It has been a while. Since our last post, spring turned to summer and summer turned to fall (and I have been working on this post for weeks but had technical difficulties). Any ways, school ended, we had a two month summer holiday and now school has started again. Also, Evie is now 19 months post op! So, a lot has gone on. Time to share some highlights!

After a very busy school year (Evie had a great first year of kindergarten!), it was time to enjoy some quality time as a family and be outside! In July we went camping twice, one weekend with extended family and the other with friends. It was so nice to be out in the sun and fresh air, playing games, roasting marshmallows, having dance parties, unplugging and swimming! It was great that both places we camped at had both beaches and pools to enjoy as well as playgrounds. The kids LOVE camping and we are already looking forward to going again several times next summer!

We also spent a week at a cottage with Evie’s Oma, Opa, Aunt and Uncle. It was a wonderful week! Evie’s swimming really came along as she spent hours in the lake each day. She learned to glide and float and insisted on not wearing her floaties after she became more confident. I think this week really helped her with her swimming lessons as she earned her second badge a few weeks after we went (yay). Evie and Wes also loved fishing, putting on concerts and playing games with the family.

This summer we were guests of our friends who won tickets to be VIPs at the cirucs! We had a backstage tour, pony rides, cotton candy and the kids introduced the second part of the show in the centre ring! Evie was amazed at all the performers, especially the trapeze!

This summer we also attended the annual SDR picnic. As soon as we learned the date, we saved it! This event is so important to our family for so many reasons. It is a time to re-connect with old pals, make new ones, celebrate accomplishments and have fun! This year was extra special because Dr. Park was the special guest!! He wasn’t even in town for 24 hours and spoke to many families. So appreciated!

We were able to have some time with Dr. Park. He said Evelyn is doing great! She doesn’t need PERCS at this time as she has range of motion in her ankle but the key is to try and get her to activate it. His advice was to keep stretching, massage and use a vibration machine (We recently purchased a Hypervibe and use it often). Dr. Park also thinks Evie should be out of her AFOs and into inserts. Of course Evie did her “clinic walk” for Dr. Park so heels were down the whole time. We expressed we are still concerned about her toe walking so we will progress to the goal of only inserts and have an appointment to try out some things with her braces coming up.

The picnic was a success!! We always love seeing everyone and can’t wait till next year’s event!

A few other exciting things we did this summer included attending a Family Fun Day at the Ajax Downs. The kids were able to run on the track and had a blast (check out Evie’s running below in the pink, so awesome!)! We also went on a Pirate Ship cruise, played in splash pads, visited zoos, had soccer and Sportball, a mini-physio intensive, swimming lessons, and lots of fun with family and friends (celebrated a lot of birthdays!)! It was such a wonderful summer full of great memories!

Now that school has started we are in a new routine! Last Fall was very busy as Evie had physio four to five times a week after school. Currently she goes one time a week. She is also taking skating and swimming lessons which she loves! Dr. Park encouraged us to find a sport she enjoys and to decrease physio to once a week, so we are seeing how this goes! Some of her goals this fall with physio is to practice balancing and jumping on one leg. Evie is also in Sparks (first program of Girl Guides)! She loves it and has already made friends and is a cookie selling machine!

We hope you are all doing well and thank you for continuing to follow Evie’s journey and for cheering her on!

To our fellow Canadians, Happy Thanksgiving!