Thursday, August 31st, 2006: Tracy had another good night's sleep last night. She did a good job wearing all of her splinting devices. This morning, Felicia and Tania bathed Tracy and got her ready for the day. (It was too windy on the balcony to brave the shower.) After her bath, Tania stretched Tracy while Mom moved all of the outside furniture, plants, etc. from inside where it was during the storm back out on the balcony. This took some time, since some of our little ant friends had taken up rent in the plants. Tania also had a surprise visitor: a gecko! It was quite an adventure! Tracy rested in her bed for a while this morning to catch up on some zzzz's after such a long day yesterday. This afternoon, Mom had to meet Dad in Ft. Lauderdale to close on their house in Lighthouse Point. This was quite a surprise due to some question whether everything would be ready (insurance), esepecially after Tropical Storm Ernesto! An angel must have been behind the scenes making everything work, because they were able to close around 4:30 PM. What a relief! Mom had to cancel Tracy's Speech Therapy session with Marissa and Lisa at FAU due to the closing. We plan to resume her sessions next Tuesday at 4 PM. This evening, Tiffany and Rick arrived around 10:30 PM from DC/NOVA! We are so glad they are going to be here for the long Labor Day weekend. Tracy was really happy to see Tiffany and surprised her with a pretty stone ring for her birthday! Tomorrow, the movers will be at the house with all of our furniture from Virginia. It will be so nice to get settled in a house and a lot of fun making it our home. Tracy is demonstrating improved head control since she received BoTox injections in her sternocleidomastoid. She has been turning her head right and left on command and is trying hard to shake her head No and nodding Yes! We are going to begin working with Tracy's switches and computer again to get her more consistent with turning her head to the left to activate the Yes switch and to the right to activate the No switch. She returns to FAU on August 29th with Marissa and Lisa and will continue her Speech Therapy for one hour sessions twice a week. We are all very hopeful that 2006 will bring great improvements and many miracles to Tracy and our family. Many thanks to all of you who continue to pray for Tracy's recovery! Please keep those prayers and powerful wishes coming Tracy's way! Take a look at today's daily OM. It talks about affirming an abundant future by nurturing our souls, surrounding ourselves with love and spiritual energy. "Knowing that change is part of life, we can create a safe space, both spiritually and physically, that will support us in the present and sustain us in the future. This means not filling our space with things, or thoughts, that don't serve us. Without hoarding more than we need, we keep ourselves in the cyclical flow of life when we donate our unwanted items to someone who can use them best. This allows for more abundance to enter our lives, because even squirrels know a life of abundance involves more than just survival." Lesson of the Day: Affirming An Abundant Future: Squirrel Medicine!

Wednesday, August 30th, 2006 ~ Tracy slept like a baby all night in the hotel bed at Embassy Suites in Boca Raton. Dad gave her a break from all of her splinting paraphanaglia! This morning, Tania and Mom packed up all of the stuff and loaded the van in time for check out at 12 noon. It took several hours to pack everything up. Tracy does not travel lightly anymore. We were lucky to fit everything inside the van. At least we were able to enjoy the complimentary breakfast! If nothing else, out trip to the hotel was a practice drill for a serious hurricane evacuation in the future. We are grateful that Ernesto was not a bigger threat to south Florida!We arrived home by 1:00 PM. Nana and Uncle Johnny came by to open all the shutters. It was too windy to put the plants and patio furniture back on the balcony. In fact the rain started coming down around 2 PM and continued until around midnight. We experienced wind gusts of up to 40 mph until late in the night. This evening, everyone took baths and relaxed a little after such a hectic several days. We were all pretty wiped out after the adrenalin stopped pumping. One can only imagine how exhausted Tracy feels if we are all feeling the aftermath of such a hectic few days! Tomorrow, we are hoping that Tracy will have Speech Therapy as scheduled. It is at 4 PM at FAU with Marissa and Lisa. Hopefully there won't be much residual flooding from the storm.Tracy is doing a good job tolerating three doses of the new supplement system by Mannatech. These supplements are filled with antioxidants, vitamins, and polyglycosides. The supplements contain natural ingredients from food such as broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, grapefruit, pineapple, and carrots. She is doing much better with the slow and gradual approach. Her complexion is actually looking better. Hmmm... Not sure if it is due to the supplements, her facials, or her topical antibiotic! Guess whatever we are doing seems to be working. Tracy is demonstrating improved head control since she received BoTox injections in her sternocleidomastoid. She has been turning her head right and left on command and is trying hard to shake her head No and nodding Yes! We are going to begin working with Tracy's switches and computer again to get her more consistent with turning her head to the left to activate the Yes switch and to the right to activate the No switch. She returns to FAU on August 29th with Marissa and Lisa and will continue her Speech Therapy for one hour sessions twice a week. Tiffany and Rick are planning to visit us for the long Labor Day weekend. We are really looking forward to their visit. We haven't seen Tiffany and Rick since Amanda's wedding in mid-June in Key West. Tiffany hasn't been here in Palm Beach since mid-March! We are all very hopeful that 2006 will bring great improvements and many miracles to Tracy and our family. Many thanks to all of you who continue to pray for Tracy's recovery! Please keep those prayers and powerful wishes coming Tracy's way! Take a look at today's daily OM. It talks about exploring your passion until you discover your life's purpose. "Since life's journey is one of evolution, you may need to redefine your direction on multiple occasions throughout your lifetime. For instance, being an amazing parent can be your life's work strongly for 18 years, then perhaps you have different work to do. Your life's work may not be something you are recognized or financially compensated for, such as parenting, a beloved hobby, or a variety of other activities typically deemed inconsequential. Your love for a pursuit, however, gives it meaning. You'll know you have discovered your life's work when you wake eager to face each day and you feel good about not only what you do but also who you are." Lesson of the Day: Blessed With A Purpose: Your Life's Work!

Monday, August 28th, 2006 ~ Tracy enjoyed another good night's sleep last night. She wore her dynasplint all night set on tension level two on her right leg to stretch her hamstring. Tracy is still having pain from her right hip. Despite all of that, she is hanging in there and doing a good job wearing her bilateral dynasplints to keep her wrists in alignment after her BoTox treatments. This morning, Tania and Mom bathed Tracy and got her ready for the day. Mom and Tania stretched Tracy and let her rest in her bed. Mom and Tania spent the day getting things ready to go to the hotel in Boca Raton that Dad reserved for tomorrow evening. They are planning to stay at a hotel inland in case Ernesto upgrades to a hurricane as predicted. This afternoon, Uncle Johnny came to take in all of the patio furniture and plants on the balcony in preparation for Ernesto. They are now in the middle of the living room floor. Along with the furniture came a few hitch hikers such as some little snails, lizards, and a few ants. Looks like they will be in good company as they weather out the storm. Mom went to Publix and Walgreens to pick up water, ice and Tracy's medicines in preparation for Ernesto. Please say a prayer that it fizzles out in the Gulf and misses Palm Beach. This evening, Dad cooked rib eyes and hamburgers in an effort to clean out the refrigerator, Everything was really good. Tomorrow, we plan to pack up our things and head to the Embassy Suites near the Town Center Mall in Boca Raton. We'll keep you posted on the whereabouts of Ernesto! Tracy's Speech Therapy at FAU has been canceled for tomorrow due to the approaching storm. If all goes well, we should have Speech Therapy on Thursday. It will be nice to be back at Speech Therapy after the summer break. Tracy is doing a good job tolerating three doses of the new supplement system by Mannatech. These supplements are filled with antioxidants, vitamins, and polyglycosides. The supplements contain natural ingredients from food such as broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, grapefruit, pineapple, and carrots. She is doing much better with the slow and gradual approach. Her complexion is actually looking better. Hmmm... Not sure if it is due to the supplements, her facials, or her topical antibiotic! Guess whatever we are doing seems to be working. Tracy is demonstrating improved head control since she received BoTox injections in her sternocleidomastoid. She has been turning her head right and left on command and is trying hard to shake her head No and nodding Yes! We are going to begin working with Tracy's switches and computer again to get her more consistent with turning her head to the left to activate the Yes switch and to the right to activate the No switch. She returns to FAU on August 31st with Marissa and Lisa and will continue her Speech Therapy for one hour sessions twice a week. Tiffany and Rick are planning to visit us for the long Labor Day weekend. Keep your fingers crossed that Tiffany is able to come for Labor Day. In response to Tropical Storm Ernesto, the Red Cross has been activated and this may mean that Tiffany is not going to be able to take the long weekend off! We are all very hopeful that 2006 will bring great improvements and many miracles to Tracy and our family. Many thanks to all of you who continue to pray for Tracy's recovery! Please keep those prayers and powerful wishes coming Tracy's way! Take a look at today's daily OM. It talks about working through hard days and the strength that one endures in such difficult times. (How appropriate!) "We may feel like we're standing in the ocean getting hit by wave after wave, never able to get a full breath. Sometimes it's necessary or worth it to stay in the fray and work our way through. Other times, the best idea is to go home and take the breath we need in order to carry on. If the only choice is to get through it, a hard day can be a great teacher. It will eventually end and we can look back on it, taking pride in the stamina, courage, and ingenuity it took to hold our ground. We may also look back and see how we could have done things differently." Lesson of the Day: Working Through: Hard Days!

Sunday, August 27th, 2006 ~ Tracy slept well last night. She wore her dynasplint all night set on tension level two on her right leg to stretch her hamstring. Tracy is still having pain from her right hip. Despite all of that, she is hanging in there and doing a good job wearing her bilateral dynasplints to keep her wrists in alignment after her BoTox treatments. This morning, Mom and Wilmene showered Tracy and got her ready for 12 noon Mass at St. Edward's Catholic Church in Palm Beach. Nana, Uncle Johnny, Aunt Diane, and Tim came over to go to Mass with us. This was a first for Uncle Johnny since he is usually at his own parish saying Mass on Sundays. He has four more days left on his vacation. The sermon was about "making choices". This a good lesson for us at this time, especially when there will be choices to be made this week regarding Tracy's orthopedic issues, surgery, etc. After Mass, Mom, Dad, Wilmene and Tracy stopped off at Starbucks for lattes and muffins. (They were all out of scones!) Aunt Diane and the rest of the gang went to Publix to buy hamburger meat for lunch. When we returned home, Tim cooked the best hamburgers with potato salad and cole slaw! It was delicious. Aunt Diane's home made carrot cake was really good too. This afternoon, Aunt Diane and Nana showed Tracy all the latest fashions from the various fall catalogues. Tracy was a little sleepy and was not very attentive. Then Aunt Diane read Tracy the latest news on the tennis champions, Andy Roddick, Andre Agassi, etc. This evening, Uncle Johnny and Dad went for a walk on the beach, while Mom, Nana and Tracy watched golf. Tiger Woods is an enigma! Tracy is doing a good job tolerating three doses of the new supplement system by Mannatech. These supplements are filled with antioxidants, vitamins, and polyglycosides. The supplements contain natural ingredients from food such as broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, grapefruit, pineapple, and carrots. She is doing much better with the slow and gradual approach. Her complexion is actually looking better. Hmmm... Not sure if it is due to the supplements, her facials, or her topical antibiotic! Guess whatever we are doing seems to be working. Tracy is demonstrating improved head control since she received BoTox injections in her sternocleidomastoid. She has been turning her head right and left on command and is trying hard to shake her head No and nodding Yes! We are going to begin working with Tracy's switches and computer again to get her more consistent with turning her head to the left to activate the Yes switch and to the right to activate the No switch. She returns to FAU on August 29th with Marissa and Lisa and will continue her Speech Therapy for one hour sessions twice a week. Tiffany and Rick are planning to visit us for the long Labor Day weekend. Keep your fingers crossed that Tiffany is able to come for Labor Day. In response to Tropical Storm Ernesto, the Red Cross has been activated and this may mean that Tiffany is not going to be able to take the long weekend off! Tomorrow, Tracy does not have an official therapy so Tania and Mom will do their best to keep Tracy's muscles in tip-top shape. Tiffany and Rick are planning to visit us for the long Labor Day weekend. Keep your fingers crossed that Tiffany is able to come for Labor Day. In response to Tropical Storm Ernesto, the Red Cross has been activated and this may mean that Tiffany is not going to be able to take the long weekend off! We are all very hopeful that 2006 will bring great improvements and many miracles to Tracy and our family. Many thanks to all of you who continue to pray for Tracy's recovery! Please keep those prayers and powerful wishes coming Tracy's way! Take a look at today's daily OM. It talks about feeling insecure in our decision making, often second guessing our choices. "There is an innate awkwardness to being human. With each decision we make, there is the potential for self-doubt and it is this-self doubt that forms the root of insecurity-a complex emotion that is a mix of equal parts inadequacy, isolation, fear, and hopelessness. Yet these feelings of insecurity that prevent us from fulfilling our potential by inducing us to abide by arbitrary self-limitations are nothing more than erroneous perceptions. We feel unconfident and unsure of ourselves because we judge ourselves to be so. Banishing insecurity is often simply a matter of challenging ourselves in order to prove that we are indeed intelligent and able." Lesson of the Day: Reclaiming Your Power: Insecurity!

Saturday, August 26th, 2006 ~ Tracy had another good night's sleep last night. She wore her dynasplint all night set on tension level two on her right leg to stretch her hamstring. Tracy is still having pain from her right hip. Despite all of that, she is hanging in there and doing a good job wearing her bilateral dynasplints to keep her wrists in alignment after her BoTox treatments. This morning, Wilmene and Mom bathed Tracy and got her ready for the day. Wilmene gave Tracy a pedicure and a manicure. The polish color of the week is Antique Bronze! Her nails look really pretty with her beautiful Florida tan. This afternoon, Dad stretched Tracy's upper extremities and her hips, being real careful to not hurt her right hip. Dad gave her a break from wearing all of her daily splinting devices! She definitely earned it! This evening, Mom and Dad had Chinese Food and watched Pearl Harbor! Mom was surprised that it had the same ending it had the last time she saw it! It is such a good movie! Tracy is doing a good job tolerating three doses of the new supplement system by Mannatech. These supplements are filled with antioxidants, vitamins, and polyglycosides. The supplements contain natural ingredients from food such as broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, grapefruit, pineapple, and carrots. She is doing much better with the slow and gradual approach. Her complexion is actually looking better. Hmmm... Not sure if it is due to the supplements, her facials, or her topical antibiotic! Guess whatever we are doing seems to be working. Tracy is demonstrating improved head control since she received BoTox injections in her sternocleidomastoid. She has been turning her head right and left on command and is trying hard to shake her head No and nodding Yes! We are going to begin working with Tracy's switches and computer again to get her more consistent with turning her head to the left to activate the Yes switch and to the right to activate the No switch. She returns to FAU on August 29th with Marissa and Lisa and will continue her Speech Therapy for one hour sessions twice a week. Tomorrow, Nana, Uncle Johnny, Aunt Diane and Tim are coming to Palm Beach to go to church with us at St. Edward's Catholic Church. Then Aunt Diane and Tim are going to cook lunch for everyone. Hamburgers! Aunt Diane is going to bake her famous carrot cake with cream cheese frosting! Tiffany and Rick are planning to visit us for the long Labor Day weekend. Keep your fingers crossed that Tiffany is able to come for Labor Day. In response to Tropical Storm Ernesto, the Red Cross has been activated and this may mean that Tiffany is not going to be able to take the long weekend off! We are all very hopeful that 2006 will bring great improvements and many miracles to Tracy and our family. Many thanks to all of you who continue to pray for Tracy's recovery! Please keep those prayers and powerful wishes coming Tracy's way! Take a look at today's daily OM. It talks about going with the flow of the universe instead of fighting it. "Many people live their lives struggling against this current. They try to use force or resistance to will their lives into happening the way they think it should. Others move with this flow like a sailor using the wind, trusting that the universe is taking them exactly where they need to be at all times. This flow is accessible to everyone because it moves through and around us. We are always riding this flow. It's just a matter of whether we are willing to go with it or resist it. Choosing to go with the flow is often a matter of letting go of the notion that we need to be in control at all times. The flow is always taking you where you need to go. It's just a matter of deciding whether you plan on taking the ride or having it take you there with you dragging your feet." Lesson of the Day: Let Yourself Be Carried: The Flow Of The Universe!

Friday, August 25th, 2006 ~ Tracy slept well again last night. She wore her dynasplint on her right leg to stretch her right hamstring. Tracy is still having pain from her right hip. Despite all of that, she is hanging in there and doing a good job wearing her bilateral dynasplints to keep her wrists in alignment. Her right hip seems to be giving her some pain, especially when Tania and Dad range it. They have been going easy on her until we see the orthopedic surgeon. Yesterday, Tracy had an appointment today with Dr. Theresa Rattey, pediatric orthopedic surgeon in Boynton Beach. She examined Tracy and also evaluated her previous and current hip x-rays. Dr. Rattey's recommendation is that Tracy needs major orthopedic surgery and she needs it soon. Her right hip continues to dislocate and this is not healthy for her hip. It is also very painful for Tracy. Dr. Rattey was kind enough to see Tracy, since her practice is limited to children younger than thirteen years of age. We plan to get a second opinion before making any decisions, since this is major surgery. This morning, Felicia and Tania showered Tracy bright and early before the condo turned off the water for some repairs. They got her ready for the day. Nana and Uncle Johnny came over to visit Tracy and to spend the day with us. Uncle Johnny is on vacation for one more week. He seems to be enjoying every minute of it too! Mom had a hair appointment with Hair by Kerri in Lake Worth at 9:30 AM. Kerri does such a good job with Mom's hair. It came out really nice. This morning, Tracy had a Cranial Sacral Massage session at 11:30 AM with Melanie. She really relaxed and enjoyed her session, vocalizing quite a bit to Melanie. After Tracy's massage, Mom had her turn. She was way overdue and Melanie had her work cut out for her. Her right hip has been pretty tight. It must be sympathy pain for Tracy! This afternoon, Mom hung out with Uncle Johnny and Nana. Tracy rested in her bed to keep pressure off her right hip. Tracy is doing a good job tolerating three doses of the new supplement system by Mannatech. These supplements are filled with antioxidants, vitamins, and polyglycosides. The supplements contain natural ingredients from food such as broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, grapefruit, pineapple, and carrots. She is doing much better with the slow and gradual approach. Her complexion is actually looking better. Hmmm... Not sure if it is due to the supplements, her facials, or her topical antibiotic! Guess whatever we are doing seems to be working. Tracy is demonstrating improved head control since she received BoTox injections in her sternocleidomastoid. She has been turning her head right and left on command and is trying hard to shake her head No and nodding Yes! We are going to begin working with Tracy's switches and computer again to get her more consistent with turning her head to the left to activate the Yes switch and to the right to activate the No switch. She returns to FAU on August 29th with Marissa and Lisa and will continue her Speech Therapy for one hour sessions twice a week. Tiffany and Rick are planning to visit us for the long Labor Day weekend. Keep your fingers crossed that Tiffany is able to come for Labor Day. In response to Tropical Storm Ernesto, the Red Cross has been activated and this may mean that Tiffany is not going to be able to take the long weekend off! We are all very hopeful that 2006 will bring great improvements and many miracles to Tracy and our family. Many thanks to all of you who continue to pray for Tracy's recovery! Please keep those prayers and powerful wishes coming Tracy's way! Take a look at today's daily OM. It talks about loving yourself each and every day! "Each morning, when you have cast off the fog of sleep, take several deep, grounding breaths and reaffirm the love you have for yourself. Speaking a loving, self-directed blessing aloud enables you to access and awaken the reservoir of tenderness in your soul. Before you leave the comfortable warmth of your bed, be sure to tell the universe that you are eager and ready to receive the blessings it has set aside for you. Then as you prepare to meet the day, visualize yourself first saturated by and then surrounded with a warm and soft loving light." Lesson of the Day: Days Of Affirmation: Sending Love Ahead To Your Day!

Thursday, August 24th, 2006 ~ Tracy had another good night's sleep last night. Dad gave Tracy a well-deserved break from all of her splinting devices. Her right hip seems to be giving her some pain, especially when Tania and Dad range it. They have been going easy on her until we see the orthopedic surgeon. Tracy had an appointment today with Dr. Theresa Rattey, pediatric orthopedic surgeon in Boynton Beach. She examined Tracy and also evaluated her previous and current hip x-rays. Dr. Rattey's recommendation is that Tracy needs major orthopedic surgery and she needs it soon. Her right hip continues to dislocate and this is not healthy for her hip. It is also very painful for Tracy. This morning, Felicia and Tania bathed Tracy and got her ready for the day. Tracy seemed to be feeling much better today than she felt yesterday, Thank God. This morning, Tracy had a 10:30 AM appointment with Dr. Lochner in Palm Beach. He refilled Tracy's intrathecal Baclofen and also decreased her daily dosage to 1002 from 1067 micrograms a day. We will continue to monitor her spasticity to see if this makes any difference. We are hoping that this reduction will help Tracy stay awake more during the day so that she can have more effective therapy sessions. This afternoon, Mom, Tania, Felicia took Tracy to her 2 PM appointment with Dr. Rattey in Boynton Beach. Dad met us there. Dr. Rattey was kind enough to see Tracy, since her practice is limited to children younger than thirteen years of age. We plan to get a second opinion before making any decisions, since this is major surgery. Tomorrow, Tracy has a Cranial Sacral Massage session at 11:00 AM with Melanie. She is looking forward to her massage more than ever this week. It's Mom's turn to have a massage and she is way overdue! (Read between the lines!) Tracy is doing a good job tolerating three doses of the new supplement system by Mannatech. These supplements are filled with antioxidants, vitamins, and polyglycosides. The supplements contain natural ingredients from food such as broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, grapefruit, pineapple, and carrots. She is doing much better with the slow and gradual approach. Her complexion is actually looking better. Hmmm... Not sure if it is due to the supplements, her facials, or her topical antibiotic! Guess whatever we are doing seems to be working. Tracy is demonstrating improved head control since she received BoTox injections in her sternocleidomastoid. She has been turning her head right and left on command and is trying hard to shake her head No and nodding Yes! We are going to begin working with Tracy's switches and computer again to get her more consistent with turning her head to the left to activate the Yes switch and to the right to activate the No switch. She returns to FAU on August 29th with Marissa and Lisa and will continue her Speech Therapy for one hour sessions twice a week. Tiffany and Rick are planning to visit us for the long Labor Day weekend. Tiffany, Rick and a group of friends went tubing in West Virginia for Tiffany's birthday. It sounded like a lot of fun and we wish we were there! We are all very hopeful that 2006 will bring great improvements and many miracles to Tracy and our family. Many thanks to all of you who continue to pray for Tracy's recovery! Please keep those prayers and powerful wishes coming Tracy's way! Take a look at today's daily OM. It talks about meditating with the angels. "The angels stationed at your side are both powerful and knowledgeable-they possess a limitless understanding of your needs and desires, your strengths and weaknesses, and your purpose. However, angels take an active part in our lives only when invited to do so. Meditation allows you to make contact with your angels and lovingly request that they participate actively in your day-to-day life. Don't be surprised if you start to see signs throughout the day that your angels are near, perhaps a feather at your doorstep. As you practice this meditation, you will become increasingly adept at recognizing when your angels are near and sensing their presence." Lesson of the Day: An Invitation To Love: Angel Meditation!

Wednesday, August 23rd, 2006 ~ Tracy slept well again last night. She continues to successfully wear her dynasplint on her right leg for nine hours. She has also been wearing her new bilateral dynasplints on her wrists for nine hours a night. Her right hip seems to be giving her some pain, especially when Tania and Dad range it. They have been going easy on her until we see the orthopedic surgeon. Tracy has an appointment tomorrow at 2 PM, with Dr. Theresa Rattey, pediatric orthopedic surgeon in Boynton Beach. She will evaluate Tracy's orthopedic issues such as her hip, her ankles and feet and her right knee. We'll keep you posted. This morning, Felicia and Tania showered Tracy and got her ready for the day. Tracy was not feeling very well today, so Mom decided to let her rest in her bed on her side without any of her splinting devices. She seemed to be in a lot of pain. Mom gave her two extra strength Tylenol and she finally fell off to sleep. We let her rest all day today. This afternoon, Mom swam her laps (35 today) while Tracy rested and Tania ran some errands. Then Mom caught up on some computer work. This evening, Dad and Mom went on a date to The Grill 234 in Palm Beach. They had a jazz quartet and the food was really good. Tania hung out with Tracy while she rested and she seemed to be feeling a little better. Tracy is doing a good job tolerating three doses of the new supplement system by Mannatech. These supplements are filled with antioxidants, vitamins, and polyglycosides. The supplements contain natural ingredients from food such as broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, grapefruit, pineapple, and carrots. She is doing much better with the slow and gradual approach. Her complexion is actually looking better. Hmmm... Not sure if it is due to the supplements, her facials, or her topical antibiotic! Guess whatever we are doing seems to be working. Tracy is demonstrating improved head control since she received BoTox injections in her sternocleidomastoid. She has been turning her head right and left on command and is trying hard to shake her head No and nodding Yes! We are going to begin working with Tracy's switches and computer again to get her more consistent with turning her head to the left to activate the Yes switch and to the right to activate the No switch. She returns to FAU on August 29th with Marissa and Lisa and will continue her Speech Therapy for one hour sessions twice a week. Tomorrow, Tracy has an appointment with Dr. Lochner in Palm Beach to get her Baclofen pump refilled and adjusted. We plan to decrease her Baclofen dosage at this time. Then she has a 2 PM appointment with Dr. Rattey in Boynton Beach. Tiffany and Rick are planning to visit us for the long Labor Day weekend. Tiffany, Rick and a group of friends went tubing in West Virginia for Tiffany's birthday. It sounded like a lot of fun and we wish we were there! We are all very hopeful that 2006 will bring great improvements and many miracles to Tracy and our family. Many thanks to all of you who continue to pray for Tracy's recovery! Please keep those prayers and powerful wishes coming Tracy's way!Take a look at today's daily OM. It talks about meditating with the angels. "The angels stationed at your side are both powerful and knowledgeable-they possess a limitless understanding of your needs and desires, your strengths and weaknesses, and your purpose. However, angels take an active part in our lives only when invited to do so. Meditation allows you to make contact with your angels and lovingly request that they participate actively in your day-to-day life. Don't be surprised if you start to see signs throughout the day that your angels are near, perhaps a feather at your doorstep. As you practice this meditation, you will become increasingly adept at recognizing when your angels are near and sensing their presence." Lesson of the Day: An Invitation To Love: Angel Meditation!

Monday, August 21st, 2006 ~ Tracy slept well again last night. She continues to successfully wear her dynasplint on her right leg for nine hours. She has also been wearing her new bilateral dynasplints on her wrists for nine hours a night. They are adjustable which is the beauty of dynamic splints! Her right hip seems to be giving her some pain, especially when Tania and Dad range it. Tracy has an appointment on Thursday at 2 PM, with Dr. Theresa Rattey, pediatric orthopedic surgeon in Boynton Beach. She will evaluate Tracy's orthopedic issues such as her hip, her ankles and feet and her right knee. We'll keep you posted. This morning, Mom and Tania showered Tracy and got her ready for the day. Then Tania did Tracy's range of motion, paying particular attention to her hips. This afternoon, Mom, Tania and Tracy met Nana, Uncle Johnny, and their friend Betty for lunch at Cafe Sapori. It is a very nice Italian restaurant with paintings of the five fishing villages, Cinque Terre, on the walls. Mom and Tracy felt right at home. The food was delicious too! Everyone had a really nice time! After lunch, Nana and Uncle Johnny came over to the condo to visit with us. Uncle Johnny and Mom went for a long bike ride to the North side of the island, Mom's favorite place. It has to be twenty five miles at the least! Tracy is doing a good job tolerating three doses of the new supplement system by Mannatech. These supplements are filled with antioxidants, vitamins, and polyglycosides. The supplements contain natural ingredients from food such as broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, grapefruit, pineapple, and carrots. She is doing much better with the slow and gradual approach. Her complexion is actually looking better. Hmmm... Not sure if it is due to the supplements, her facials, or her topical antibiotic! Guess whatever we are doing seems to be working. Tracy is demonstrating improved head control since she received BoTox injections in her sternocleidomastoid. She has been turning her head right and left on command and is trying hard to shake her head No and nodding Yes! We are going to begin working with Tracy's switches and computer again to get her more consistent with turning her head to the left to activate the Yes switch and to the right to activate the No switch. She returns to FAU on August 29th with Marissa and Lisa and will continue her Speech Therapy for one hour sessions twice a week. Tomorrow, Tracy has Speech Therapy with Emily at 4:30 PM. She plans to work with Tracy's oral motor skills such as swallowing, tongue movement and lip closure. Thursday, Tracy has an appointment with Dr. Lochner in Palm Beach to get her Baclofen pump refilled and adjusted. We plan to decrease her Baclofen dosage at this time. Tiffany and Rick are planning to visit us for the long Labor Day weekend. Tiffany, Rick and a group of friends went tubing in West Virginia for Tiffany's birthday. It sounded like a lot of fun and we wish we were there! We are all very hopeful that 2006 will bring great improvements and many miracles to Tracy and our family. Many thanks to all of you who continue to pray for Tracy's recovery! Please keep those prayers and powerful wishes coming Tracy's way! Take a look at today's daily OM. It is one of Mom's favorites and talks about being mindful of the moment in our daily lives. "Each moment of our lives is imbued with richness and magic. The passage from one second to the next is a miracle in its own right and worthy of being savored. Yet our minds tend to wander away from the present, preferring the unchangeable nature of the past or the nebulous character of the future. There is nothing inherently wrong with revisiting our personal histories or dreaming about what we hope will occur with the passage of time. To live a truly balanced life is to simultaneously embody a past, present, and future self. It is only when our ability to exist purely in the moment is lost and the joys immediately in front of us are overshadowed by the joys of the past and future that we must reestablish our connection to the present. Living in the moment empowers you to discover and appreciate what is beautiful about this unique moment in time." Lesson of the Day: Fully Present In Time: Living For The Moment!

Sunday, August 20th, 2006: Tracy slept well again last night. She continues to successfully wear her dynasplint on her right leg for nine hours. She has also been wearing her new bilateral dynasplints on her wrists for nine hours a night. They are adjustable which is the beauty of dynamic splints! Her right hip continues to be giving her some pain, especially when Tania and Dad range it. It seems to be out of the joint more than in alignment. We are still looking for a pediatric orthopedic surgeon who is familiar with treating multiple spasticity issues. This morning, Mom and Wilmene bathed Tracy and got her ready for the day. Then Mom and Dad finished their filing project! It took several more hours to complete. Mom is ecstatic that it is all done. This afternoon, Mom and Dad met Uncle Johnny and Nana in Boca Raton to look at furniture. They went to several stores, and found some things that they liked. It was a fun adventure and everyone had a good time. This evening, Mom cooked hot dogs and baked beans for everyone! Then Mom, Dad, Uncle Johnny, Nana and Tracy went to an evening with Pastor Billy Burke from the Billy Burke World Outreach at the Marriott Hotel in Palm Beach Gardens. Pastor Burke is a spiritual healer. It was an evening filled with inspirational singing, teaching, praying, and healing. There were many people there sharing their experiences. The pastor told Mom and Dad that Tracy will heal, walk, talk, eat, etc. He said that it is a long journey and that we have to continue to pray for Tracy's recovery. He also said that God is preparing for a miracle, and that he is focusing on Tracy to teach everyone she has touched about His teachings. It was a truly inspirational night filled with hope! Tracy is demonstrating improved head control since she received BoTox injections in her sternocleidomastoid. She has been turning her head right and left on command and is trying hard to shake her head No and nodding Yes! We are going to begin working with Tracy's switches and computer again to get her more consistent with turning her head to the left to activate the Yes switch and to the right to activate the No switch. She returns to FAU on August 29th with Marissa and Lisa and will continue her Speech Therapy for one hour sessions twice a week. Tiffany and Rick are planning to visit us for the long Labor Day weekend. Tiffany, Rick and a group of friends went tubing in West Virginia for Tiffany's birthday. It sounded like a lot of fun and we wish we were there! We are all very hopeful that 2006 will bring great improvements and many miracles to Tracy and our family. Many thanks to all of you who continue to pray for Tracy's recovery! Please keep those prayers and powerful wishes coming Tracy's way! Take a look at today's daily OM. It talks about our journey through life and our experiences with life's lessons! Papa John used to call this earth school the "school of hard knocks." "Earth school provides us with an education of the heart and the soul, as well as the intellect. The scope of our instruction is dependent on our ability and readiness to accept the lesson laid out before us in the circumstances we face. When we find ourselves blindsided by life, we are free to choose to close our minds or to view the inbuilt lesson in a narrow-minded way. The notion that existence is a never-ending lesson can be dismaying at times. The courses we undertake in earth school can be painful as well as pleasurable, and as taxing as they are eventually rewarding. However, in every situation, relationship, or encounter, a range of lessons can be unearthed. When we choose to consciously take advantage of each of the lessons we are confronted with, we gradually discover that our previous ideas about love, compassion, resilience, grief, fear, trust, and generosity could have been half-formed." Lesson of the Day: A Life Of Learning: Earth School!

Saturday, August 19th, 2006 ~ Happy Birthday Tiffany! ~ Tracy had another good night's sleep last night. She continues to successfully wear her dynasplint on her right leg for nine hours. She has also been wearing her new bilateral dynasplints on her wrists for nine hours a night. They are adjustable which is the beauty of dynamic splints! Her right hip seems to be giving her some pain, especially when Tania and Dad range it. We are still looking for a pediatric orthopedic surgeon who is familiar with treating multiple spasticity issues. This morning, Mom and Wilmene showered Tracy and got her ready for the day. Tania has the weekend off. Wilmene braided Tracy's hair in little braids, just like in the picture! Mom played Tracy's new "Best of Sublime" CD! Tracy really likes it. Melanie came over to give Tracy and Dad a Cranial Sacral Therapy session. racy got her session outside on the balcony under the awning. It was a beautiful natural spot with the fountains flowing and the comfortable breezes off the ocean! They both were overdue and seemed to relax and enjoy their sessions. Nana and Uncle Johnny came over to spend the day with us. Nana and Tracy watched the men's tennis National Championships from Michigan. Mom and Tracy were pulling for Andy Roddick, a local from Boca Raton! This afternoon, Mom and Dad were on a major mission to organize all of their papers into a filing system. They spent several hours, and they still were not finished! Tomorrow they will tackle it again. This evening, Mom and Dad grilled some Omaha steaks for the four of them. They were really good. We can't wait until Tracy can join us for dinner with real food. After dinner, Uncle Johnny said Mass for everyone. It was really nice. Tracy is doing a good job tolerating three doses of the new supplement system by Mannatech. These supplements are filled with antioxidants, vitamins, and polyglycosides. The supplements contain natural ingredients from food such as broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, grapefruit, pineapple, and carrots. She is doing much better with the slow and gradual approach. Her complexion is actually looking better. Hmmm... Not sure if it is due to the supplements, her facials, or her topical antibiotic! Guess whatever we are doing seems to be working. Tracy is demonstrating improved head control since she received BoTox injections in her sternocleidomastoid. She has been turning her head right and left on command and is trying hard to shake her head No and nodding Yes! We are going to begin working with Tracy's switches and computer again to get her more consistent with turning her head to the left to activate the Yes switch and to the right to activate the No switch. She returns to FAU on August 29th with Marissa and Lisa and will continue her Speech Therapy for one hour sessions twice a week. Tiffany and Rick are planning to visit us for the long Labor Day weekend. Tiffany, Rick and a group of friends went tubing in West Virginia for Tiffany's birthday. It sounded like a lot of fun! We are all very hopeful that 2006 will bring great improvements and many miracles to Tracy and our family. Many thanks to all of you who continue to pray for Tracy's recovery! Please keep those prayers and powerful wishes coming Tracy's way! Take a look at today's daily OM. It talks about a metaphorical wive's tale that addresses the beauty of sharing our God-given talents with others, when human nature often tells us to hoard them. "This story addresses the human tendency to hoard in times of deprivation. When resources are scarce, we pull back and put all of our energy into self-preservation. We isolate ourselves and shut out others. As the story of stone soup reveals, in doing so, we often deprive ourselves and everyone else of a feast. This metaphor plays out beyond the realm of food. We hoard ideas, love, and energy, thinking we will be richer if we keep to them to ourselves, when in truth we make the world, and ourselves, poorer whenever we greedily stockpile our reserves." Lesson of the Day: The Wisdom of Sharing: Stone Soup!

Friday, August 18th, 2006 ~ Tracy slept well again last night. She continues to successfully wear her dynasplint on her right leg for nine hours. She has also been wearing her new bilateral dynasplints on her wrists for nine hours a night. They are adjustable which is the beauty of dynamic splints! Her right hip seems to be giving her some pain, especially when Tania and Dad range it. We are still looking for a pediatric orthopedic surgeon who is familiar with treating multiple spasticity issues. This morning, Mom and Felicia bathed Tracy and got her ready for the day. Tania had the day off to attend to some personal business. Mom swam her laps this morning. It was sooooo hot! The pool is the only place to stay cool other than inside. She rode her Spin bike for 1 hour in the air conditioning. We are looking forward to cooler weather in September! This afternoon, Tracy and Mom hung out and listened to Tracy's Sublime CD. Tracy sure does like Sublime! Mom burned her their greatest hits CD. This evening, Mom and Dad watched Dad's favorite programs on the SciFi channel: Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis. Tracy tolerated another three doses of the new supplement system by Mannatech today. These supplements are filled with antioxidants, vitamins, and polyglycosides. The supplements contain natural ingredients from food such as broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, and carrots. We are going slow with introducing them to Tracy and she is tolerating this approach much better. Her complexion is actually looking better. Hmmm... Not sure if it is due to the supplements, her facials, or her topical antibiotic! Guess whatever we are doing seems to be working. Tomorrow, Tracy has a Cranial Sacral Therapy session with Melanie around 11:30 AM. Nana and Uncle Johnny are coming over to spend the day with us. Tracy is demonstrating improved head control since she received BoTox injections in her sternocleidomastoid. She has been turning her head right and left on command and is trying hard to shake her head No and nodding Yes! We are going to begin working with Tracy's switches and computer again to get her more consistent with turning her head to the left to activate the Yes switch and to the right to activate the No switch. Tiffany and Rick are planning to visit us for the long Labor Day weekend. Rick had a nice birthday and Tiffany's is tomorrow, Saturday, August 19th! We are really looking forward to their visit! We are all very hopeful that 2006 will bring great improvements and many miracles to Tracy and our family. Many thanks to all of you who continue to pray for Tracy's recovery! Please keep those prayers and powerful wishes coming Tracy's way! Take a look at today's daily OM. It talks about metaphorical wive's tale that addresses the beauty of sharing our God-given talents with others, when human nature often tells us to hoard them. "This story addresses the human tendency to hoard in times of deprivation. When resources are scarce, we pull back and put all of our energy into self-preservation. We isolate ourselves and shut out others. As the story of stone soup reveals, in doing so, we often deprive ourselves and everyone else of a feast. This metaphor plays out beyond the realm of food. We hoard ideas, love, and energy, thinking we will be richer if we keep to them to ourselves, when in truth we make the world, and ourselves, poorer whenever we greedily stockpile our reserves." Lesson of the Day: The Wisdom of Sharing: Stone Soup!

Thursday, August 17th, 2006 ~ 43 Months Since Tracy's Anoxic Brain Injury: Tracy had another good night's sleep last night. She continues to successfully wear her dynasplint on her right leg for nine hours. She has also been wearing her new bilateral dynasplints on her wrists for nine hours a night. They are adjustable which is the beauty of dynamic splints! Her right hip seems to be giving her some pain, especially when Tania and Dad range it. We are still looking for a pediatric orthopedic surgeon who is familiar with treating multiple spasticity issues. This morning, Tania and Felicia showered Tracy and got her ready for the day. Tania spent thirty minutes stretching and ranging Tracy, paying additional attention to her right hip. Then they got her in her chair, and Felicia braided Tracy's hair in tiny braids. It really looks cute! This afternoon, Mom had to go to the dentist to get her loose crown fixed. She went to Dr. Cappuccino in Lighthouse Point. Cousin Eileen works there as a dental assistant. They took very good care of Mom and she was very happy with her dental experience! After her dental appointment, Mom stopped to get a pedicure and a manicure at Tiffany Nails! She was way overdue! This evening, Mom made chicken cutlets for dinner. They were good. Tania has tomorrow off to get some things done at her house in Ft. Lauderdale. She'll be back Monday morning. Tracy tolerated another three doses of the new supplement system by Mannatech today. These supplements are filled with antioxidants, vitamins, and polyglycosides. The supplements contain natural ingredients from food such as broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, and carrots. We are going slow with introducing them to Tracy and she is tolerating this approach much better. Her complexion is actually looking better. Hmmm... Not sure if it is due to the supplements, her facials, or her topical antibiotic! Guess whatever we are doing seems to be working. Tomorrow, Tracy has a Cranial Sacral Therapy session with Melanie around 5:30 PM. We may take Tracy to the Boca Raton museum with Uncle Johnny and Nana in the early afternoon. Tracy is demonstrating improved head control since she received BoTox injections in her sternocleidomastoid. She has been turning her head right and left on command and is trying hard to shake her head No and nodding Yes! We are going to begin working with Tracy's switches and computer again to get her more consistent with turning her head to the left to activate the Yes switch and to the right to activate the No switch. Tiffany and Rick are planning to visit us for the long Labor Day weekend. Rick had a nice birthday and Tiffany's is this Saturday, August 19th! We are really looking forward to their visit! We are all very hopeful that 2006 will bring great improvements and many miracles to Tracy and our family. Many thanks to all of you who continue to pray for Tracy's recovery! Please keep those prayers and powerful wishes coming Tracy's way! Take a look at today's daily OM. It talks about working with a Shaman to enhance healing. "The word shaman literally means "he or she who knows." Shamanism is an art that has not changed in any quantifiable way for millennia and is not bound to any particular form of spirituality. It is grounded on the principle that the visible world is saturated with unseen forces that influence the lives of human beings. Shamanism is powerful in part because its practitioners tailor healing to the individual needs of those who seek them out. A shaman manipulates energy, giving you power where you have lost it and removing misplaced energy lurking within you. When you seek out a shaman, they will endeavor to know and understand you before treating you. In this way, they can provide you with therapies that act on your whole being, positively influencing your body as well as your soul." Lesson of the Day: A Soulful Cure: Working With A Shaman!

Wednesday, August 16th, 2006: Happy Birthday Rick! ~ Tracy enjoyed another good night's sleep last night. She continues to successfully wear her dynasplint on her right leg for nine hours. She has also been wearing her new bilateral dynasplints on her wrists for nine hours a night. They are adjustable which is the beauty of dynamic splints! Today, we gave her a break from her AFOs (ankle-foot orthoses) and her daily dynasplints for her wrists. This morning, Mom and Tania bathed Tracy and got her ready for the long ride down to Miami for her 1 PM neuro-medical evaluation. Dr. Parilla spent an hour and a half examining Tracy and interviewing Mom and Dad. Tracy was a bit sleepy. When we returned from Miami, Tracy rested in her bed while Mom and Tania caught up on household chores. She was pretty tired from the long trip, which takes three hours round trip. How does Dad do this ride every day, Monday through Friday! Whew! This evening, Mom contacted a very spiritual man named Ray Skop, who is President and founder of the Ray of Hope foundation. Ray received the gift of Stigmata on Good Friday 1999. He has a miraculous weeping icon of Mary and St. Anne, which continuously weeps holy oil. Numerous people can attest to the healing power of the rosary recitations. Ray said a prayer with Mom and Tracy over speaker phone and promised to remember Tracy in his rosary this evening. Mom put some of the holy oil on Tracy that Nana's friend, Rose Marie sent Tracy. For more information, click on the Ray of Hope Foundation web site. This evening, Tracy and Tania watched "So You Think You Can Dance!" They were pretty happy that Bengie won! Tomorrow, Tracy does not have any "official" therapy. Mom and Tania will work on Tracy's hip stretching and range of motion. If it's not too hot and doesn't rain, maybe we will take Tracy for a walk in her jogger. Tracy is demonstrating improved head control since she received BoTox injections in her sternocleidomastoid. She has been turning her head right and left on command and is trying hard to shake her head No and nodding Yes! We are going to begin working with Tracy's switches and computer again to get her more consistent with turning her head to the left to activate the Yes switch and to the right to activate the No switch. Tiffany and Rick are planning to visit us for the long Labor Day weekend. Rick's birthday is tomorrow and Tiffany's is this Saturday, August 19th! We are really looking forward to their visit! We are all very hopeful that 2006 will bring great improvements and many miracles to Tracy and our family. Many thanks to all of you who continue to pray for Tracy's recovery! Please keep those prayers and powerful wishes coming Tracy's way! Take a look at today's daily OM. It talks about the many ways one finds inspiration in their life. "There are as many ways to find inspiration as there are people looking for it. If you already know what inspires you, find a way to incorporate it into your life on a regular basis. If you aren't sure what inspires you, or if it has changed, take some time to think about it. When was the last time you felt the spark of your imagination? When was the last time you acted on an impulse that felt totally right? When we are in the presence of what inspires us, we hear our inner guidance more clearly and we have the energy to follow its cues." Lesson of the Day: An Enlivening Force: Cultivating Inspiration

Tuesday, August 15th, 2006 ~ Holy Day: Feast of the Assumption (Feragosto!) ~ Tracy slept well again last night. She continues to successfully wear her dynasplint on her right leg for nine hours. She has also been wearing her new bilateral dynasplints on her wrists for nine hours a night. They are adjustable which is the beauty of dynamic splints! Tracy is doing a good job wearing her AFOs (ankle foot orthoses) between 4 to 7 hours a day. They seem to be helping to maintain her current range of motion in her ankles. We will explore Tracy's readiness for orthopedic surgery once we get settled in the new house in Lighthouse Point. She needs achilles and hamstring tendon lengthening as well as adductor releases. This will straighten Tracy's feet and allow her to bear weight via a tilt or standing table. This morning, Mom and Tania bathed Tracy and got her ready for the day. Tania spent thirty minutes stretching and ranging Tracy, paying additional attention to her right hip. Then Tania gave Tracy a spa day: a facial, eye brow tweezing, etc. She sure does love her spa days! Tracy relaxed in her bed with her AFOs on her legs and new dynasplints on her wrists. It is important that Tracy get her down time, especially when she is getting her hips stretched for thirty minutes, two to three times a day. It takes a lot out of her! While Tracy rested, Tania went to Publix and Mom rode her Spin bike for one hour on the balcony. It sure felt good to sweat. It had been over a week since Mom rode her Spin bike. This afternoon, Uncle Johnny and Nana came over to visit. It was too hot and humid to sit on the balcony, so everyone hung out and watched the tennis tournament on television. This evening, Tracy had Speech Therapy with Emily. She was awake and alert and demonstrated good head control for most of the session. Emily worked on oral motor skills, with Tracy letting Emily work in her mouth. She put cream cheese frosting on her tongue which Tracy seemed to enjoy. She exhibited several good swallows during the session, moving her tongue. Emily was pleased with Tracy's lip closure as a result of tactile and verbal cues. Tracy tolerated three doses of the new supplement system by Mannatech today. These supplements are filled with antioxidants, vitamins, and polyglycosides. The supplements contain natural ingredients from food such as broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, and carrots. We are going slow with introducing them to Tracy and she is tolerating this approach much better. This evening, Uncle Johnny said Mass in honor of Feragosto, the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Mother. After Mass, Mom and Tania cooked a delicious spaghetti, meatballs and sausage dinner with Nana's supervision. It was really good and everyone really enjoyed it. Tracy even enjoyed all of the good garlic smells! Tomorrow, Tracy has an appointment at the University of Miami Rehab Center for a neurological evaluation. Tracy is demonstrating improved head control since she received BoTox injections in her sternocleidomastoid. She has been turning her head right and left on command and is trying hard to shake her head No and nodding Yes! We are going to begin working with Tracy's switches and computer again to get her more consistent with turning her head to the left to activate the Yes switch and to the right to activate the No switch. Tiffany and Rick are planning to visit us for the long Labor Day weekend. Rick's birthday is tomorrow and Tiffany's is this Saturday, August 19th! We are really looking forward to their visit! We are all very hopeful that 2006 will bring great improvements and many miracles to Tracy and our family. Many thanks to all of you who continue to pray for Tracy's recovery! Please keep those prayers and powerful wishes coming Tracy's way! Take a look at today's daily OM. It talks about times when we choose to be isolated from the outside world and how challenging it can be as we reenter our social world. "When you've been in a pattern of secluding yourself, it can begin to seem impossible that you could reenter the world of friendships, conversations, and group activities, but with time, you will. Most people will understand if you take the time to explain that you've fallen out of touch and would like to reconnect. Take your time and be gentle with yourself, starting with one person and building from there. Try to reach out to one new person every week. Before you know it, you will find yourself back in the company of friends." Lesson of the Day: Coming Out Of Hiding: Isolation!

Monday, August 14th, 2006: Tracy had another good night's sleep last night. She continues to successfully wear her dynasplint on her right leg for nine hours. She has also been wearing her new bilateral dynasplints on her wrists for nine hours a night. They are adjustable which is the beauty of dynamic splints! Tracy is doing a good job wearing her AFOs (ankle foot orthoses) between 4 to 7 hours a day. They seem to be helping to maintain her current range of motion in her ankles. We will explore Tracy's readiness for orthopedic surgery once we get settled in the new house in Lighthouse Point. She needs achilles and hamstring tendon lengthening as well as adductor releases. This will straighten Tracy's feet and allow her to bear weight via a tilt or standing table. This morning, Mom and Tania showered Tracy and got her ready for the day. It was a typical Manic Monday! Tania spent 30 minutes stretching and ranging Tracy, paying close attention to her right hip. Tracy does not seem to enjoy her hip stretches. It seems as though her right hip continues to sublux. Mom is consulting with Drs. Nedd and Rubin, Tracy's neurologists from the University of Miami, to find an orthopedic surgeon in our area. We'll keep you posted. Tracy tolerated two doses of the new supplement system by Mannatech today. These supplements are filled with antioxidants, vitamins, and polyglycosides. The supplements contain natural ingredients from food such as broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, and carrots. We are going slow with introducing them to Tracy and she is tolerating this approach much better. This afternoon, Mark Selleck, Tracy's orthotist, came by to check on Tracy's new splints and to make orthotics for Dad's feet. He was pleased with the way Tracy's new wrist dynasplints were fitting her. This evening, Tania cooked a delicious Puerto Rican meal for us. She is a really good cook! Tomorrow, Emily, Tracy's Speech Therapist, is planning on coming to do Speech Therapy with Tracy. She will continue working on Tracy's oral motor skills and swallowing. Wednesday, Tracy has an appointment at the University of Miami Rehab Center for a neurological evaluation and an updated MRI. Tracy is demonstrating improved head control since she received BoTox injections in her sternocleidomastoid. She has been turning her head right and left on command and is trying hard to shake her head No and nodding Yes! We are going to begin working with Tracy's switches and computer again to get her more consistent with turning her head to the left to activate the Yes switch and to the right to activate the No switch. Tiffany and Rick are planning to visit us for the long Labor Day weekend. Rick's birthday is tomorrow and Tiffany's is this Saturday, August 19th! We are really looking forward to their visit! We are all very hopeful that 2006 will bring great improvements and many miracles to Tracy and our family. Many thanks to all of you who continue to pray for Tracy's recovery! Please keep those prayers and powerful wishes coming Tracy's way! Take a look at today's daily OM. It talks about the many ways that we navigate through life's challenges. "We're all in the same boat. We just have different paddles, and perhaps we find ourselves on different rivers. We all live in human bodies. These are the vehicles in which we move through our world. We are all made of flesh, blood, and bone, with brains, hearts, and lungs to power us. Our paddles-the tools we use to move through the world-vary, as do the bodies of water-the environments-in which we find ourselves." Lesson of the Day: Different Ways Of Navigating: We Are All In The Same Boat!

Sunday, August 13th, 2006: Tracy was up all last night! We think she was wired from all the excitement from the concert. This morning, Mom and Wilmene bathed Tracy and got her ready for the day. She was pretty sleepy most of the day. Nana and Uncle Johnny came over. We let Tracy rest in the air conditioning. It was pretty hot and humid. Uncle Johnny said Mass for us so we didn't have to go to Mass this morning. Yesterday, Dad tried a new supplement system by Mannatech, filled with antioxidants, vitamins, and polyglycosides. The supplements contain natural ingredients from food such as broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, and carrots. The frequency is four times a day. We think it was too much too fast for Tracy. She tolerated them well Saturday but then threw them up Sunday morning right after her early morning dose. Mom recommended that we start slow and increase gradually. It has been three and a half years since Tracy has had any real food in her stomach. We have been feeding her via G-tube with Jevity 1.2 enteral feeding, 5 cans a day, so this is all new for her. We'll see how she does this week and let you know. Mom and Dad went to the pool with Nana and Uncle Johnny this afternoon. Wilmene stayed with Tracy while she rested. It was a nice day with no wind and the intracoastal was very calm. There were a lot of boats out enjoying the day. This evening, Mom and Dad grilled boneless pork chops, with rice pilaf and baked potatoes. They were really tender. Everyone enjoyed dinner and hung out watching the lightning show. There was a very large thunder storm moving through. It lasted about two hours. Pretty scary! Tomorrow, Mom and Tania plan to catch up on organizing, since there are no official appointments. Mom wants to tackle a new filing project. She also has a Cranial Sacral Therapy session scheduled with Melanie. Tracy and Dad have appointments with Melanie on Friday. Tuesday, Emily is planning on coming to do Speech Therapy with Tracy. She will continue working on Tracy's oral motor skills and swallowing. Wednesday, Tracy has an appointment at the University of Miami Rehab Center for a neurological evaluation and an updated MRI. Tracy is demonstrating improved head control since she received BoTox injections in her sternocleidomastoid. She has been turning her head right and left on command and is trying hard to shake her head No and nodding Yes! We are going to begin working with Tracy's switches and computer again to get her more consistent with turning her head to the left to activate the Yes switch and to the right to activate the No switch. We are all very hopeful that 2006 will bring great improvements and many miracles to Tracy and our family. Many thanks to all of you who continue to pray for Tracy's recovery! Please keep those prayers and powerful wishes coming Tracy's way! Take a look at today's daily OM, another of Mom's favorites! It talks about managing mental stress through surrendering control to the universe. "We can ease our mental stress by prioritizing what we truly want to accomplish, and then delegating the rest to someone who has more enthusiasm for those things. When we relax and let life's energy flow through our minds, bodies, spirits, and lives, we will find that we can accomplish more with less effort and feel good doing it. We don't have to tie ourselves in knots. Instead, we can let the ribbons of our energy unfurl to gracefully direct us through life's abundant flow." Lesson of the Day: The Journey Of Release: Tied In Knots!

Saturday, August 12th, 2006: Tracy had another good night's sleep last night. She continues to successfully wear her dynasplint on her right leg for nine hours. She has also been wearing her new bilateral dynasplints on her wrists for nine hours a night. They are adjustable which is the beauty of dynamic splints! Tracy is doing a good job wearing her AFOs (ankle foot orthoses) between 4 to 7 hours a day. They seem to be helping to maintain her current range of motion in her ankles. We will explore Tracy's readiness for orthopedic surgery once we get settled in the new house in Lighthouse Point. She needs achilles and hamstring tendon lengthening as well as adductor releases. This will straighten Tracy's feet and allow her to bear weight via a tilt or standing table. This morning, Mom and Wilmene showered Tracy and got her ready for the day. This evening is the Dave Matthews Band concert in West Palm Beach. Tiffany gave Mom four tickets for her birthday. Mom, Dad. Tania and Tracy are planning to go. After her range of motion and hip stretches, they let Tracy rest in her chair so that she would be wide awake for the concert. It is going to be a late night. Mom swam 50 laps today while Dad did his usual Saturday errands. Then it was time to get ready for the concert. Sound Advice Amphitheater is conveniently located about fifteen minutes from the condo. The venue is smaller than the Nissan Pavilion where we saw Dave Matthews every summer for the past three years. The traffic flow in an out of the park was also much more efficient in West Palm. We parked in the handicap parking lot which was located right by the main gate. Sound Advice sure does cater to the disabled! They have ramps everywhere, and ushers to make sure that everyone is safe and comfortable. It was a pretty night, and it seemed funny to see the stage surrounded by palm trees! We are so used to being in Virginia and not used to seeing Palm Trees around the stage! The warm up band was Pat Green, and they were featuring their new album Cannonball! They were really good. Then it was time for Dave Matthews! Mom worked the crowd, asking what song they thought Dave would open with.. It was really funny! Many thought Crash but Mom replied that Dave never opens with Crash! Then she added that he opened with Don't Drink The Water at last night's concert. He opened with One Sweet World! (For a complete set list click here). Tracy really seemed to enjoy the concert and was wide awake and looking around the entire evening. She did a great job with head control too. Who wouldn't hold their head up for DAVE MATTHEWS! Mom was happy when they played her favorite song Grey Street and Tracy was pleased when Dave's finale was the extended version of Two Step! Thanks Tiffany for a great concert. Everyone, especially Mom and Tracy, had a fantastic time! The only thing missing was YOU! (To watch Saturday night's concert you can click here: Dave Matthews Band Live On AOL). Tracy is demonstrating improved head control since she received BoTox injections in her sternocleidomastoid. She has been turning her head right and left on command and is trying hard to shake her head No and nodding Yes! We are going to begin working with Tracy's switches and computer again to get her more consistent with turning her head to the left to activate the Yes switch and to the right to activate the No switch. We are all very hopeful that 2006 will bring great improvements and many miracles to Tracy and our family. Many thanks to all of you who continue to pray for Tracy's recovery! Please keep those prayers and powerful wishes coming Tracy's way! Take a look at today's daily OM, another of Mom's favorites! It talks about human angels that we encounter in our lives. "During each of our journeys, there are those inevitable moments when someone comes into our life at precisely the right time and says or does precisely the right thing. Their words or actions may help us perceive ourselves more clearly, remind us that everything will turn out for the best, help us cope, or see us through difficult situations. These people are human angels - individuals designated by the universe to be of service to those in need at specific points in time." Lesson of the Day: Beings Of Light: Human Angels!

Friday, August 11th, 2006: Happy Birthday to Cousin Caroline! ~ Tracy slept well again last night. She continues to successfully wear her dynasplint on her right leg for nine hours. Today we pick up Tracy's new dynasplints for her wrists. We are looking forward to Tracy wearing these. She is supposed to be able to wear them during the day and at night. They are adjustable which is the beauty of dynamic splints! Tracy is doing a good job wearing her AFOs (ankle foot orthoses) between 4 to 7 hours a day. They seem to be helping to maintain her current range of motion in her ankles. We will explore Tracy's readiness for orthopedic surgery once we get settled in the new house in Lighthouse Point. She needs achilles and hamstring tendon lengthening as well as adductor releases. This will straighten Tracy's feet and allow her to bear weight via a tilt or standing table. This morning, Felicia and Tania bathed Tracy and got her ready for the day. Tracy has an appointment at 2:30 PM in Lighthouse Point with Dr. Samuels. He is a neurologist who maintains Baclofen pumps. We want to meet Dr. Samuels and have him meet Tracy so that he will be familiar with her medical needs. This will facilitate a smooth transition when we move to Lighthouse Point. Mom swam 30 laps today. She is still feeling a little weak from whatever was ailing her yesterday. She will increase it to 50 laps Saturday! Mom and Tania brought Tracy to her appointment with Dr. Samuels in Lighthouse Point at 2:30 PM. During the appointment, Mom gave Dr. Samuels Tracy's complicated medical history. He seemed very willing to take over management of her Baclofen pump, and recommended coordinating this with Drs. Lochner, Rubin and Nedd. He suggested that Mom bring him all of Tracy's MRIs and CT scans for review as well. Next Tania and Mom went to Mark Selleck's, Tracy's orthotist's office in Boca Raton. They picked up Tracy's new bilateral dynasplints and plan to try them out tonight. They are so much more high tech than the last pair we tried on her several years ago! Tracy is demonstrating improved head control since she received BoTox injections in her sternocleidomastoid. She has been turning her head right and left on command and is trying hard to shake her head No and nodding Yes! We are going to begin working with Tracy's switches and computer again to get her more consistent with turning her head to the left to activate the Yes switch and to the right to activate the No switch. We are all very hopeful that 2006 will bring great improvements and many miracles to Tracy and our family. Many thanks to all of you who continue to pray for Tracy's recovery! Please keep those prayers and powerful wishes coming Tracy's way! Take a look at today's daily OM, another of Mom's favorites! It talks about managing mental stress through surrendering control to the universe. "We can ease our mental stress by prioritizing what we truly want to accomplish, and then delegating the rest to someone who has more enthusiasm for those things. When we relax and let life's energy flow through our minds, bodies, spirits, and lives, we will find that we can accomplish more with less effort and feel good doing it. We don't have to tie ourselves in knots. Instead, we can let the ribbons of our energy unfurl to gracefully direct us through life's abundant flow." Lesson of the Day: The Journey Of Release: Tied In Knots!

Thursday, August 10th, 2006: Tracy slept well again last night. She continues to successfully wear her dynasplint on her right leg for nine hours. Her blister on her right hand is healing well. She continues to wear her resting hand splint on her left hand. She is also wearing her AFOs (ankle foot orthoses) between 4 to 7 hours a day. They seem to be helping to maintain her current range of motion in her ankles. We are waiting for her new bilateral dynasplints for her wrists to arrive. Since Medicare refused to pay for them, we are paying for them out of pocket! They cost $500 a piece! This morning, Felicia and Tania showered Tracy and got her ready for the day. Tania has been stretching and ranging Tracy's hips for thirty minutes, twice a day to maintain her range of motion and alignment. This afternoon, Melanie came to give Tracy a Cranial Sacral Therapy session. Tracy always seems to relax and enjoy her sessions. She is very vocal when Melanie is working with her. Melanie commented on how hard Tracy works during her sessions. She senses that there is a lot of healing going on inside Tracy at a very deep level. After Tracy's session, Melanie gave Mom a massage. It was perfect timing, because Mom was feeling a little under the weather today with a very bad headache, sinus congestion, and muscular aches and pains. She felt better after her massage. Felicia started getting a headache this afternoon. We hope she isn't getting it too. This evening, Mom and Tania got Tracy on the therapy mat on the balcony under the awning. Tania stretched Tracy's hips while Mom gave Tracy a facial. Tracy really seemed to like being outside in the sunshine. It was a beautiful evening, with a nice breeze and low humidity. Tania made a delicious dinner of sausage and peppers. She is a good cook! Tomorrow, Tracy has a 2:30 PM appointment with Dr. Samuels, physical medicine and rehab physician in Pompano Beach. The plan is for him to get to know Tracy so that when we move to Lighthouse Point we will have a doctor close by to manage Tracy's Baclofen and BoTox therapy. This Saturday, Mom, Dad, Tania and Tracy are going to the Dave Matthews Concert in West Palm Beach. Tiffany sent Mom the tickets for her birthday. We sure do miss Tiff and wish she could be here to go with us! Tracy is demonstrating improved head control since she received BoTox injections in her sternocleidomastoid. She has been turning her head right and left on command and is trying hard to shake her head No and nodding Yes! We are going to begin working with Tracy's switches and computer again to get her more consistent with turning her head to the left to activate the Yes switch and to the right to activate the No switch. We are all very hopeful that 2006 will bring great improvements and many miracles to Tracy and our family. Many thanks to all of you who continue to pray for Tracy's recovery! Please keep those prayers and powerful wishes coming Tracy's way! Take a look at today's daily OM. It talks about deciding whether to marry. "Marriage has no power to permanently fill any emotional or spiritual gaps in your life. Before you choose to marry, ask yourself whether you and your partner are adept at resolving conflict, can speak openly to one another, and fully respect one another. Your attitudes regarding the nature of marital commitment, children and child rearing, and marital roles may be the same or they may differ. It is your shared responsibility to discuss your similarities and come to agreements regarding your differences that will predict how successful your future marriage will be." Lesson of the Day: Thoughtful Conclusions: Deciding Whether To Marry!

Wednesday, August 9th, 2006: Happy Birthday to Mom! ~ Tracy had another good night's sleep last night. She continues to successfully wear her dynasplint on her right leg for nine hours. Her blister on her right hand is healing well. She continues to wear her resting hand splint on her left hand. She is also wearing her AFOs (ankle foot orthoses) between 4 to 7 hours a day. They seem to be helping to maintain her current range of motion in her ankles. We are waiting for her new bilateral dynasplints for her wrists to arrive. Since Medicare refused to pay for them, we are paying for them out of pocket! They cost $500 a piece! Felicia and Tania bathed Tracy and got her ready for the day. Since today is Mom's birthday, Uncle Johnny and Nana took Mom, Tracy, Tania and Felicia to the Norton Museum of Art in Palm Beach. They had a great lunch and then toured through the gallery. One of Mom's and Tracy's favorite rooms was the Chululy Room where visitors can lie down on comfortable lounge chairs and gaze at the glass ceiling that is filled with colorful Murano glass and assorted crystal-like treasures from the sea. It glittered in the sunshine with multiple colors like a giant kaleidoscope. After our gallery tour, Mom and Uncle Johnny took a ten mile bike ride along the intracoastal in Lake Worth. It was a beautiful sunny day. While they were gone, Tracy rested in her bed. Nana took a little siesta too. This evening, Uncle Johnny said Mass for Aunt Diane, Tim, Mom, Tania, and Tracy in honor of Mom's birthday! Dad was still on his way back from a business meeting in New York City. He left at the crack of dawn this morning, and was delayed in Raleigh-Durham, N. C. After Mass, everyone went to dinner at the Old Key Lime House in Lantana; Mom's new favorite restaurant. It has an awesome Chickee Hut, a thatched roof hut made by the Seminole Indians. We got to eat outside under the hut, with the full moon coming up over the water. There was a lovely breeze and everyone had a great time! Thank you to family and friends who sent Happy Birthday, cards, wishes and gifts to Mom! She had a great day! What would have made it a perfect day would have been having TIFFANY and Rick and Aunt Candy, Tanya and the boys there to share it with her. The icing on the cake was when Tracy started laughing very loudly before everyone went to sleep. Mom asked Tracy if she looked older. Tracy started laughing so hard! It was priceless! Tracy is demonstrating improved head control since she received BoTox injections in her sternocleidomastoid. She has been turning her head right and left on command and is trying hard to shake her head No and nodding Yes! We are going to begin working with Tracy's switches and computer again to get her more consistent with turning her head to the left to activate the Yes switch and to the right to activate the No switch. We are all very hopeful that 2006 will bring great improvements and many miracles to Tracy and our family. Many thanks to all of you who continue to pray for Tracy's recovery! Please keep those prayers and powerful wishes coming Tracy's way! Take a look at today's daily OM. It talks about developing one's spiritual entity and this effect on the planet. "Some of us have devoted our lives to deepening our understanding of the truth. All these people are on the path of ascension, but they will ascend at different rates. Each soul chooses its own path. The more devoted a person is to remembering and being guided by spirit, the more quickly the soul will ascend. It shouldn't be forgotten that the earth too is on her own ascension path as she is sentient. The best way to support this process in yourself and in the world is simply to relax and be open to its unfolding. Listen to your inner guidance, and let it guide you to the path that brings your heart the most joy." Lesson of the Day: Spiritualizing The Planet: Ascension!

Tuesday, August 8th, 2006: Tracy slept well again last night. She wore her dynasplint on her right leg for nine hours last night. She wore her left resting hand splint only because Tracy still has a blister on her right hand. She is also wearing her AFOs (ankle foot orthoses) between 4 to 7 hours a day. They seem to be helping to maintain her current range of motion. Mark Selleck, Tracy's orthotist, is ordering Tracy bilateral dynasplints for her wrists, however, Medicare refuses to pay for them. They cost $500 a piece and we will pay for them out of pocket! Felicia and Tania showered Tracy and got her ready for the day. Tracy had no "outside" appointments today, so she could take it easy and relax for a change. This morning, Tania stretched Tracy's hips to make sure she is getting sufficient range of motion. She is performing two to three twenty minute sessions a day to ensure her hips stay in the best shape possible. She should receive her new dynasplints for her wrists on Thursday or Friday. This morning, Felicia gave Tracy a manicure and a pedicure. She does such a good job! This week's color is pink lemonade! Tania gave Tracy a facial. She really enjoys her spa days! What girl wouldn't! Mom swam her laps this afternoon. She continues to hold fast at a mile (50 laps). She is still Spinning and Cycling and plans to resume running when the temperature cools down. This evening, everyone relaxed and ordered Chinese for dinner. Tomorrow is Mom's Birthday! Uncle Johnny, Nana, Tania, Felicia, Mom and Tracy plan to go to the Norton Gallery in Palm Beach! Then everyone is going to dinner at Mom's new favorite place: The Old Key Lime House on the Intracoastal in Lantana. It should be fun! Tracy is demonstrating improved head control since she received BoTox injections in her sternocleidomastoid. She has been turning her head right and left on command and is trying hard to shake her head No and nodding Yes! We are going to begin working with Tracy's switches and computer again to get her more consistent with turning her head to the left to activate the Yes switch and to the right to activate the No switch. We are all very hopeful that 2006 will bring great improvements and many miracles to Tracy and our family. Many thanks to all of you who continue to pray for Tracy's recovery! Please keep those prayers and powerful wishes coming Tracy's way! Take a look at today's daily OM. It talks about tedious pursuits that can lead us to boredom. "When we are troubled by boredom, it is not that there is nothing to do but rather that we are not stimulated by the options before us. A bored mind can be the canvas upon which innovation is painted and the womb in which novelty is nourished. When you identify boredom as a signal that you need to test your boundaries, it can be the force that presses you to strive for opportunities you thought were beyond your reach and to indulge your desire for adventure." Lesson of the Day: Tedious Pursuits: Boredom!

Monday, August 7th, 2006: Tracy had another great night's sleep last night. She wore her dynasplint on her right leg for nine hours last night. She wore her left resting hand splint only because Tracy still has a blister on her right hand. She is also wearing her AFOs (ankle foot orthoses) between 4 to 7 hours a day. They seem to be helping to maintain her current range of motion. Mark Selleck, Tracy's orthotist, is ordering Tracy bilateral dynasplints for her wrists, however, Medicare refuses to pay for them. They cost $500 a piece and we will pay for them out of pocket! Mom and Tania bathed Tracy and got her ready for the day. Tracy had no "outside" appointments today, so she could take it easy and relax for a change. This morning, Tania stretched Tracy's hips to make sure she is getting sufficient range of motion. The BoTox has definitely made a difference in her upper extremities, especially her hands, wrist, and arms. Tracy's jaw is much more relaxed and she is not grinding her teeth any more since Dr. Rubin injected her massiters. BoTox sure is a wonder drug! Mom swam her laps this morning. She really enjoys swimming and is up to a mile (50 laps). She will resume running when the temperature cools down. This afternoon, Nana and Uncle Johnny came over to visit us. It was good to see them. They enjoyed their vacation in the White Mountains visiting Aunt Candy and the boys. Mom and Uncle Johnny went for a bike ride to Point Manalapan and Hypoluxo Island. It was really hot and they got rained on! The rain sure felt good. It was a passing shower and didn't last very long. This evening, Emily came over to do Speech Therapy with Tracy. She is working on oral motor skills such as swallowing, mouth and lip closure. Tracy did a great job opening and closing her mouth on command for Emily. She held her head up the entire session and was able to turn her head to the right and left on command. It seems that Dad's wheel chair adjustments are really making a difference. Emily gave Tracy some vanilla frosting on her tongue and she had several good swallows. Tracy seems to really like the vanilla frosting. Who wouldn't like frosting! Next we will try chocolate! MMM! Tania made dinner for everyone and it was really good. She is a good cook! We really appreciate everything she does for Tracy and our family! Tracy is demonstrating improved head control since she received BoTox injections in her sternocleidomastoid. She has been turning her head right and left on command and is trying hard to shake her head No and nodding Yes! We are going to begin working with Tracy's switches and computer again to get her more consistent with turning her head to the left to activate the Yes switch and to the right to activate the No switch. This afternoon, Dad, Mom and Wilmene took Tracy down to the pool. Mom and Dad swam laps while Tracy and Wilmene sat in the shade. It was a beautiful, sunny day. Then Dad worked with Tracy to turn her head to the left to look at the intracoastal and the right to look at him. We will continue to practice this every day. We are all very hopeful that 2006 will bring great improvements and many miracles to Tracy and our family. Many thanks to all of you who continue to pray for Tracy's recovery! Please keep those prayers and powerful wishes coming Tracy's way! Take a look at today's daily OM. It talks about meditating as a means of stress reduction and increased mindfulness. "Navel meditation, a creation of the Taoist tradition and the oldest form of meditation recognized in China and India, is a simple practice suitable for those experienced in the art of mediation, yet it is also a wonderful introductory meditation for novices. It utilizes the natural rhythms of the breath and the regular movement of the abdomen as a means to focus awareness and rid oneself of extraneous thoughts. As you concentrate on the breath, the chaos within reveals itself, allowing you to gently train your mind to accept stillness as its natural state." Lesson of the Day: Simple Serenity: Navel Meditations!

Sunday, August 6th, 2006: Tracy had another good night's sleep last night. She wore her dynasplint on her right leg for nine hours again last night. Dad gave her a break on her resting hand splints because Tracy had a blister on her right hand. We gave her a break from her AFOs (ankle foot orthoses) today. Mark Selleck, Tracy's orthotist, is ordering Tracy bilateral dynasplints for her wrists, however, Medicare refuses to pay for them. They cost $500 a piece and we will pay for them out of pocket! This morning, Mom, Dad, Tracy and Wilmene went to the 11:00 AM Mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Lake Worth. It was a beautiful Mass. After Mass, we stopped at Starbucks for lattes and then headed to Town Center Mall in Boca Raton. Wilmene found some cute long skirts and a cute top for Tracy. We also found some cute sandals, which seem to fit Tracy's feet. Because Tracy's feet turn inward, it is difficult to find shoes that fit. We are so glad to find cute sandals that our girl can wear. She LOVES shoes. This afternoon, Aunt Diane and Tim came over to visit us. Aunt Diane read I Can Do It! by Louise Hay to Tracy. It is a good book about positive affirmations. Then Mom and Aunt Diane made chicken caesar salads for dinner. This evening, Mom and Dad finished their weekend chores and got ready for their busy week. Tomorrow, Uncle Johnny and Nana will come over to see us. Tomorrow evening, Emily, Tracy's Speech Therapist, plans to come over to work on Tracy's Speech Therapy. Marissa and Lisa, Tracy's speech students from the Communication Disorders Center at FAU, may come over to spend some time with Tracy too. Tiffany made it safely home from NYC where she was visiting some of her room mates from Boston College for the weekend. She had a good time. We miss her a lot and can't wait for her to visit us in Palm Beach. We are all very hopeful that 2006 will bring great improvements and many miracles to Tracy and our family. Many thanks to all of you who continue to pray for Tracy's recovery! Please keep those prayers and powerful wishes coming Tracy's way! Take a look at today's daily OM. It talks about living for the moment. "Living in the moment means immersing yourself fully in every experience, whether positive or negative. As you learn to embrace the present in an all-encompassing way, you will come to realize that life's magnificence is a product of its moments."
Lesson of the Day: Fully Present In Time: Living For The Moment!

Saturday, August 5th, 2006: Tracy slept well again last night. Tracy wore her dynasplint on her right leg for nine hours last night. Dad gave her a break on her resting hand splints because Tracy had a blister on her right hand. She is also wearing her AFOs (ankle foot orthoses) between 4 to 7 hours a day. They seem to be helping to maintain her current range of motion. Mark Selleck, Tracy's orthotist, is ordering Tracy bilateral dynasplints for her wrists, however, Medicare refuses to pay for them. They cost $500 a piece and we will pay for them out of pocket! Mom and Wilmene bathed Tracy and got her ready for the day. Dad spent some time stretching and ranging Tracy's extremities, spending extra time on her hips. She seems to be having pain in her right hip, especially when she flexes and crosses her right leg over midline. Mom plans to contact Dr. Rattey, pediatric orthopedic surgeon, Monday morning to make an appointment. Dad spent some time adjusting Tracy's wheel chair, putting her padded foot rests on, and moving her backrest forward for a better fit. Dad does such a good job as Tracy's wheel chair technician. Tracy is demonstrating improved head control since she received BoTox injections in her sternocleidomastoid. She has been turning her head right and left on command and is trying hard to shake her head No and nodding Yes! We are going to begin working with Tracy's switches and computer again to get her more consistent with turning her head to the left to activate the Yes switch and to the right to activate the No switch. This afternoon, Dad, Mom and Wilmene took Tracy down to the pool. Mom and Dad swam laps while Tracy and Wilmene sat in the shade. It was a beautiful, sunny day. Then Dad worked with Tracy to turn her head to the left to look at the intracoastal and the right to look at him. We will continue to practice this every day. This evening, Mom, Dad and Tracy watched Legally Blonde and relaxed. It is such a cute movie! Tomorrow is Sunday, and Mom, Dad, Tracy and Wilmene plan to go to the 11:00 AM Mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Lake Worth. After Mass, they plan to stop at Starbucks for lattes and then head to the Town Center Mall in Boca Raton. Nana and Uncle Johnny are having a good time at Candy's in Merrimack, New Hampshire. They return to Palm Beach Sunday evening. Tiffany is in NYC visiting some of her room mates from Boston College for the weekend. She returns Sunday evening. We miss her a lot and can't wait for her to visit us in Palm Beach. We are all very hopeful that 2006 will bring great improvements and many miracles to Tracy and our family. Many thanks to all of you who continue to pray for Tracy's recovery! Please keep those prayers and powerful wishes coming Tracy's way! Take a look at today's daily OM. It talks about becoming a citizen of the world while traveling on vacation. "Traveling presents a wonderful opportunity to practice being open-minded and grounded. The voyages you make help cultivate a worldwide community in which we as humans can acknowledge and appreciate our differences as much as we recognize and appreciate our similarities. Though you will eventually return home, the positive impression you leave behind will remain as a testament to the respect and amicability that marked your intercultural interactions." Lesson of the Day: A Citizen Of The World: Vacations!

Friday, August 4th, 2006: Tracy had another good night's sleep last night. Tracy wore her dynasplint on her right leg for eight hours again last night. She wore her resting hand splints for more than eight hours too. She is also wearing her AFOs (ankle foot orthoses) between 4 to 7 hours a day. They seem to be helping to maintain her current range of motion. Mark Selleck, Tracy's orthotist, is ordering Tracy bilateral dynasplints for her wrists, however, Medicare refuses to pay for them. They cost $500 a piece and we will pay for them out of pocket! Tania and Felicia showered Tracy and got her ready for the day. Dad, Mom, and Felicia left for a 10:00 AM appointment in North Palm Beach with Dr. Andrew Schneider, a trauma orthopedic surgeon who specializes in hips. Tania headed to Publix to do the grocery shopping. She is a huge help and Mom really appreciates everything she does. During Tracy's appointment at 10:00 AM, Dr. Schneider reviewed Tracy's recent and past bilateral hip x-rays. He confirmed Drs. Rubin's and Nedd's diagnosis that Tracy's right hip is subluxing. This means that Tracy's hip is not permanently dislocated but continues to slip in and out of the socket, causing pain. Dr. Schneider recommended several pediatric orthopedic surgeons for us to consult because Tracy's condition is complicated by her spasticity and quadraparesis. We will make arrangements to see a pediatric orthopedic surgeon who has extensive experience in treating this condition. Tracy has already had BoTox to her lower extremities several times and also has had several phenol blocks to her obturator nerves to help relax her adductor muscles. These are temporary measures to help reduce Tracy's tone. With her right hip now subluxing in and out of the joint, it seems as though the only resolution will be surgical intervention to help relieve Tracy's chronic pain and to reduce the need for a total hip replacement in the future. This afternoon, Tania spent time stretching Tracy's hips in an effort to preserve her range of motion. Lisa and Marissa, Tracy's student speech therapists from the Communication Disorders Clinic at FAU, came over to visit Tracy. They are on their semester break and finished their last exam this morning. Tracy really seemed happy to see them. While they were visiting, Melanie came to give Tracy a Cranial Sacral Therapy session. They were amazed at the way Tracy relaxes during her CST session. At one point, Tracy laughed really hard when Mom and Melanie were talking about Italian olive oil. It was very appropriate and timely! Everyone was so happy to hear her laugh. Tracy is demonstrating improved head control since she received BoTox injections in her sternocleidomastoid. She has been turning her head right and left on command and is trying hard to shake her head No and nodding Yes! We are going to begin working with Tracy's switches and computer again to get her more consistent with turning her head to the left to activate the Yes switch and to the right to activate the No switch. Tomorrow is Saturday and Dad and Mom will spend the day catching up on their chores. Wilmene will come and help Mom with Tracy since Tania has the weekend off and will be spending it at her house in Ft. Lauderdale. Nana and Uncle Johnny are having a good time at Candy's in Merrimack, New Hampshire. They return to Palm Beach Sunday afternoon. Tiffany is in NYC visiting some of her room mates from Boston College for the weekend. We miss her a lot and can't wait for her to visit us in Palm Beach. We are all very hopeful that 2006 will bring great improvements and many miracles to Tracy and our family. Many thanks to all of you who continue to pray for Tracy's recovery! Please keep those prayers and powerful wishes coming Tracy's way! Take a look at today's daily OM. It talks about becoming a citizen of the world while traveling on vacation. "Traveling presents a wonderful opportunity to practice being open-minded and grounded. The voyages you make help cultivate a worldwide community in which we as humans can acknowledge and appreciate our differences as much as we recognize and appreciate our similarities. Though you will eventually return home, the positive impression you leave behind will remain as a testament to the respect and amicability that marked your intercultural interactions." Lesson of the Day: A Citizen Of The World: Vacations!

Thursday, August 3rd, 2006: Tracy had another good night's sleep last night. Dad gave Tracy a break from her night resting hand splints and she wore her dynasplint for 8 hours! She wore her day wrist cock up splints with the new straps for 7 hours today and her AFOs for 5 hours. She is doing a good job tolerating all of these splinting devices! This morning, Felicia and Tania bathed Tracy and got her ready to leave the condo by 8:40 AM to be in Palm Beach for her 9 AM appointment with Dr. Lochner to get her Baclofen pump refilled. Dr. Lochner decided to keep her current dosage schedule, especially with the newly diagnosed hip subluxation. He also referred Tracy to an orthopedic trauma surgeon who specializes in hips. Mom made an appointment to see Dr. Schneider Friday morning at 10 AM in North Palm Beach. We will bring her x-rays for him to look at. When we returned, Nicole and Aubrey spent some time with Tracy on the balcony under the awning. They had a good visit and reminisced about some of the great times they shared while at UM. They missed Sasha! Hopefully she will be able to visit Tracy soon. Tracy really seems to love it when her friends come to see her. The girls took the 2 PM Trirail back to Miami. We hated to see them go and miss them already! This evening, Dad showed Mom and Tania some new stretches to do with Tracy to help keep her hip in alignment. Tania gave Tracy a facial and read some of Marley and Me while Mom swam her 50 laps and prayed her rosary in the pool. It is amazing how much easier it is getting to pray while you swim. This evening, Mom and Tania made tilapia and black beans and rice for dinner. Tomorrow, Tracy has a 10 AM appointment with Dr. Andrew Schneider, orthopedic trauma surgeon in North Palm Beach. After her appointment, we are looking forward to Lisa's and Marissa's visit. We hope the weather is nice so that we can enjoy the pool. Tomorrow evening, Tracy has a Cranial Sacral Therapy session with Melanie. Mom and Tania continue to spend some time getting organized. They are working on getting all of Tracy's therapy, daily routines, and supply inventories standardized. Mom is in heaven! She loves getting things organized! This will be especially timely in preparation for a move to a house whenever that happens! Mom and Tania are busy looking for alternative therapy programs such as the Dolphin Care Program in Islamorada and exciting field trips to take Tracy on until therapeutic horseback riding resumes in the fall. The theme of the outings is FUN! We are all very hopeful that 2006 will bring great improvements and many miracles to Tracy and our family. Many thanks to all of you who continue to pray for Tracy's recovery! Please keep those prayers and powerful wishes coming Tracy's way! Take a look at today's daily OM. It talks about reclaiming your power to overcome insecurity. "Remember that insecurity is not objective. Rather, it is an emotional interpretation of your value unconsciously based on doubt, shame, and fear. As you overcome those underlying emotions through courageous action and copious self-love, you'll discover that you are capable of achieving more than you ever thought possible." Lesson of the Day: Reclaiming Your Power: Insecurity!

Wednesday, August 2nd, 2006: Tracy slept well again last night. She is no longer grinding her teeth which makes Mom and Dad very happy. Tracy wore her dynasplint on her right leg for eight hours last night. She wore her resting hand splints for more than eight hours too. She is also wearing her AFOs (ankle foot orthoses) between 4 to 7 hours a day. They seem to be helping to maintain her current range of motion. Tania and Felicia showered Tracy and got her ready for the day. Mom, Tania, Felicia and Tracy left around 11:00 AM for Tracy's 1:00 PM appointment at the Spasticity Clinic at the University of Miami Rehabilitation Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. The clinic is located next to the West Wing where Tracy was a patient for 10 weeks in 2004. It brought back many memories, some that Mom and Dad would rather forget! During Tracy's appointment at 1:00 PM, she was seen by Paola, the Occupational Therapist who examined Tracy's tone in her upper body. She was very pleased with Tracy's range of motion in her arms, hands, and shoulders. She then looked at Tracy's splints and felt that they were still fitting well. She gave Mom some new strapping material to replace her worn straps. She also recommended that Tracy get some dynasplints for her wrists to wear during the day. Mom contacted Mark Selleck, Tracy's Orthotist, to ask him to order these for her. Next, Eileen, Tracy's Physical Therapist from two years ago checked out Tracy. Mom showed her Tracy's dynasplint for her right leg. She seemed pleased with Tracy's lower extremity range. Dr. Rubin examined Tracy next. He was also pleased with Tracy's improved range after her 880 units of Botox almost three weeks ago. Next, Tracy's hips were x-rayed. Tracy has been pulling in her right leg crossing it across midline. Dad has been very concerned that her right hip may be subluxing. The x-ray confirmed that Tracy's right hip has been subluxing out of joint. This must be causing a lot of pain for Tracy. Drs. Nedd and Rubin checked Tracy's x-ray and also brought it to a trauma orthopedic surgeon for his review. They all concurred that Tracy seems to be subluxing her right hip. Bottom line, this must be causing a lot of pain for Tracy. Mom will bring the x-rays to Dr. Lochner to look at tomorrow when Tracy gets her Balcofen pump refilled at 9:00 AM. This evening, Tracy's good friends from UM, Nicole from "the Bronx" (she's really from Brooklyn) and Aubrey for NJ came to spend some time with Tracy. We always love when Tracy's friends come to visit us! They rode back to Palm Beach from Miami with Dad and then we all went to the Old Key Lime House for dinner. This is a Key West style restaurant right on the water in Lantana! It is Mom's new favorite hangout! Everyone enjoyed the sea breeze off the water and the live Island music. Tracy seemed to enjoy the company too. The food was really good too! Thank you Liz for sending Tracy the special tongue brushes! Mom really appreciates it, since she has hunted high and low for them in Florida and couldn't find them! Thank you to the Crozier family for the postcard from Anacapri and the San Gennaro prayer card! We really appreciate it! Tomorrow, Tracy has a 9 AM appointment to get her Baclofen pump refilled at Dr. Lochner's office in Palm Beach. Nana and Uncle Johnny are having a good time at Candy's in Merrimack, New Hampshire. Today, they are staying in Loon Mountain which should be a lot cooler than most of the US. Tiffany is having a good summer in Virginia and enjoying her cousin Kathryn Jean's visit. Kathryn Jean will return to Louisiana this weekend. Thursday evening, Tiffany, Kathryn Jean and Sasha are going to the Jimmy Buffett concert. Mom and Tania continue to spend some time getting organized. They are working on getting all of Tracy's therapy, daily routines, and supply inventories standardized. Mom is in heaven! She loves getting things organized! This will be especially timely in preparation for a move to a house whenever that happens! Mom and Tania are busy looking for alternative therapy programs such as the Dolphin Care Program in Islamorada and exciting field trips to take Tracy on until therapeutic horseback riding resumes in the fall. The theme of the outings is FUN! We are all very hopeful that 2006 will bring great improvements and many miracles to Tracy and our family. Many thanks to all of you who continue to pray for Tracy's recovery! Please keep those prayers and powerful wishes coming Tracy's way! Take a look at today's daily OM. It talks about getting in touch with our angels. "Angels take an active part in our lives only when invited to do so. Meditation allows you to make contact with your angels and lovingly request that they participate actively in your day-to-day life. Once again, ask your angels to be with you. Let the stillness surrounding you enter your soul, and open your heart to your angel guides. If they wish to communicate a message, they will do so now. Don't be surprised if you start to see signs throughout the day that your angels are near, perhaps a feather at your doorstep. As you practice this meditation, you will become increasingly adept at recognizing when your angels are near and sensing their presence." Lesson of the Day: An Invitation To Love: Angel Meditation!

Tuesday, August 1st, 2006: Tracy had another great night's sleep last night. We are so relieved that she is no longer grinding her teeth! Tracy wore her dynasplint on her right leg for eight hours last night. She wore her resting hand splints for more than eight hours too. We are excited that she will get a brand new set of resting hand splints tomorrow when we go to the Spasticity Clinic at the University of Miami. Tania and Felicia showered Tracy and got her ready for the day. This morning, Mom swam her laps in the pool (she is holding at 50) while Tracy rested in her chair. Then it was time for Tracy's Physical Therapy on the therapy mat on the balcony under the awning. It was another scorcher, with a nice breeze on the balcony. Felicia, Mom and Tania got Tracy prone on her knees over the peanut ball so that she could weight bear through her hips. Tracy did a great job and tolerated a little over an hour in this position. Tomorrow, we will get an x-ray of Tracy's hips and knees to check on her Heterotrophic Ossification of her right hip. We'll let you know how that goes. This evening, Mom, Dad, Tania and Tracy went down to the pool for a while. Dad and Tania swam while Mom and Tracy watched the fish jump in the intracoastal! It was a nice night. Then everyone had dinner on the balcony and watched the moon rise. Thank goodness there was a nice breeze! Thank you Liz for sending Tracy the special tongue brushes! Mom really appreciates it, since she has hunted high and low for them in Florida and couldn't find them! Thank you to the Crozier family for the postcard from Anacapri and the San Gennaro prayer card! We really appreciate it! Tomorrow, Tracy has a 1 PM appointment at the University of Miami Spasticity Clinic with Drs. Nedd and Rubin. Nicole, Samantha, and Aubrey are going to meet us at the Rehab Center so that they can visit with Tracy. They will ride back to Palm Beach with us and spend some time with Tracy. They are Tracy's good friends from the University of Miami! We miss them and can't wait for them to visit! Thursday, Tracy has a 9 AM appointment with Dr. Lochner in Palm Beach to get her Baclofen pump refilled. Nana and Uncle Johnny are having a good time at Candy's in Merrimack, New Hampshire. Today is cousin Jonathon's birthday and they all went out to dinner to celebrate! He is 17 years old! Wow! Where does the time go? Tiffany is having a good summer in Virginia and enjoying her cousin Kathryn Jean's visit. Kathryn Jean will return to Louisiana this weekend. Where has the summer gone? Tiffany is staying busy with her job at the American Red Cross. Rick's brother and step dad are enjoying their visit. Mom and Tania continue to spend some time getting organized. They are working on getting all of Tracy's therapy, daily routines, and supply inventories standardized. Mom is in heaven! She loves getting things organized! This will be especially timely in preparation for a move to a house whenever that happens! Mom and Tania are busy looking for alternative therapy programs such as the Dolphin Care Program in Islamorada and exciting field trips to take Tracy on until therapeutic horseback riding resumes in the fall. The theme of the outings is FUN! We are all very hopeful that 2006 will bring great improvements and many miracles to Tracy and our family. Many thanks to all of you who continue to pray for Tracy's recovery! Please keep those prayers and powerful wishes coming Tracy's way! Take a look at today's daily OM. It talks about this time of year as a time of transition. "Lughnasa is primarily a festival of transition and thus presents a wonderful opportunity to consider how our lives have changed in the recent past. If you choose to celebrate the harvest by baking bread, adding ingredients you have reaped from your own garden will reinforce your connection to the earth. Consume your bread with loved ones while openly sharing stories of the new beginnings you are currently celebrating and the endings you are mourning. As you honor the cyclical nature of existence, reflect upon the fact that just as there is joy to be found in the sowing and reaping, each of life's phases is worthy of celebration too." Lesson of the Day: A Festival Of Transition : Lughnasa And Lammas!