Gracie update...

We took Gracie to the metobolic specialist at WA State University yesterday and that went well.  First off we had tickets to Wild Waves and were unable to use them because (even though the tickets said they were good until November 1st) they were closed for the season.  More on that later...

Gracie's Dr. said she was doing well and he was encouraged that she was getting more time in between cycles.  He felt that she would eventually grow out of this but that it would not be until she was 8 or 9 or even 10.  I think she is going to grow out of it sooner than that.  At least I'm hopeful. 

She has gained all the weight back that she lost on her last cycle and then some.  She was 27.5 lbs.!  Which is a miracle!  She is growing and thriving in spite of her illness and the doctor was amazed at her ability to talk in full sentences.  She communicates beautifully.  Sometimes I think she is older than (almost) 3, because she seems to be so far ahead intellectually, but she is doing all the same behaivoral things that most 2.75 - 3 yr. old children are doing. 

He set us up with a metoblic nutritionist that came in and talked to us a little bit about her diet.  We will be working closely with the nutritionist to manage her diet and see if we can get some of the protien out of it and still allow her to grow and thrive.  Since she has trouble processing protien, we are thinking that we will try and limit the kinds that cause her trouble and see if that helps.  I'm feeling confident that she is going to be okay.  This has sure been a long road.  But God is good and we are getting thru.

Our trip to Seattle with our family was wonderful.  We had some disappointment with Wild Waves being closed and then went through three hotels before we found one with a pool and hot-tub, but we completely enjoyed spending some time together and celebrating Devin and Michael's 16th birthday!  Very big day for them. 

Then we stopped in to see my mom and dad on our way thru Chehalis and even got the special treat of seeing the twins (Logan and Charlie).  They are so cute!  I might be able to post a picture of them here.  Stay tuned...

Michael has his driver's permit and Devin will be hopefully getting his this week.  It will cost us almost $400 for each kid to take the drivers ed class, so we aren't so sure how we will be working that.  But they are anxious to be able to drive.  They can do so many things now.  They can sit in the hottub at the Firstenburg, they can get their own checking acct., and they can work out in the weight room.  They are pretty much adults now.  sniff.

Okay here's some pics of the twins...