Thursday, June 30th, 2011 ~ Mom Goes To Morning Hot Yoga With Kate At Awaken ~Mom had a great Hot Yoga session with Kate this morning. It is so great to be back to morning Hot Yoga! Tracy Has Speech Therapy This Afternoon With Teresa ~ Tracy refused Alaskan King Crab and Corn Chowder and chewed on frozen cantaloupe and honey dew melon in the safe feeder. She is doing a good job chewing and swallowing the melon. Michelle Feeds Tracy Some Apple Cream & Oatmeal This Evening ~ Tracy ate about 4 ounces of Quaker Oatmeal mixed with Dole Apple Cream this afternoon. She ate it in about 40 minutes Michelle Massages Tracy's Hands & Feet With Forever Sunshine Lotion This Afternoon ~ Michelle massaged Tracy's hands and feet with Forever Sunshine lotion this afternoon and then donned her Yogi Toes on her feet for some stretching. Daily OM: Focused Value: Quality Vs. Quantity ~

Wednesday, June 29th, 2011 ~ Mom Goes To Morning Hot Yoga With Keri At Awaken ~ Mom had a great Hot Yoga practice this morning with Keri! She is such a challenging insturctor! Tracy Did Not Feel Like Eating Anything Today ~ Tracy refused oatmeal and grits today! She may have an upset stomach! We'll try again tomorrow! Michelle Massages Tracy's Hands & Feet With Forever Sunshine Lotion This Afternoon ~ Michelle massaged Tracy's hands and feet with Forever Sunshine lotion this afternoon and then donned her Yogi Toes on her feet for some stretching. Michelle Rubs Biofreeze On Tracy's Shoulders & Massages Her Shoulders & Neck This Evening ~ Michelle rubbed Biofreeze on Tracy's shoulders and neck this afternoon. She then massaged Tracy's neck and shoulders. Tracy loves her massages. Marcus Comes To Do Physical Therapy This Afternoon ~ Marcus came this afternoon to do Physical Therapy with Tracy this afternoon. He and Michelle transferred Tracy to the peanut ball for trunk and neck strengthening exercises in front of the mirror. He used the Theraband on Tracy's forehead to increase resistance. Tracy worked very hard today and did a great job controlling her head. He worked with her for the entire hour and a half! Daily OM : Reflections Of Self : We Are All Mirrors Of Each Other ~

Tuesday, June 28th, 2011 ~ Mom Goes To Morning Hot Yoga With Emily At Awaken ~ Mom had a great Hot Yoga practice this morning with Emily. She is such a good instructor, she got Mom to do a headstand without the wall. It was a lot of fun! Tracy Has Speech Therapy This Afternoon ~ Tracy was not into eating grits this afternoon during Speech Therapy. She gagged a little on them; must be too gritty! Teresa offered Tracy some frozen honey dew melon and cantaloupe in the Safe Feeder and Tracy seemed to enjoy it. Teresa told Mom that Tracy has great chewing potential. Teresa Feeds Tracy 6 Ounces Of Acorn Squash This Afternoon ~ Tracy ate about 6 ounces of acorn squash in about 25 minutes during Speech Therapy this afternoon. She really seemed to enjoy it! Michelle Feeds Tracy 6 Ounces Of Crab & Corn Soup (Pureed) This Afternoon ~ Tracy ate 6 ounces of pureed crab and corn soup this afternoon. She really seems to enjoy this delicious rich soup from Costco. Dee Comes To Do Physical Therapy With Tracy This Evening ~ Dee came and gave Tracy a massage on the therapy mat. He spent the entire session massaging all of Tracy's major muscle groups. She really enjoys Dee's massages! He sure has magic fingers! Daily OM : Let It Flow: Tears

Monday, June 27th, 2011 ~ Mom & Tracy Welcome Wilmene Back From Her Trip To Haiti ~ Mom and Tracy were so happy to have Wilmene back from her long trip to Haiti. She was so surprised to see Tracy eating so many different foods! She will be very surprised when she comes with us tomorrow to Speech Therapy. Marie Does Not Show Up For Work This Morning ~ Mary did not show up for work this morning. When Mom spoke to the agency, they said that she has quit. We will begin interviewing for her replacement next week. Wilmene Feeds Tracy 5 - 6 Ounces Of Mango Papaya Smoothie This Morning ~ Wilmene did Tracy's Beckman exercises and then fed her 5 - 6 ounces of Mango Papaya Smoothie in less than an hour (about 50 minutes). She did such a good job swallowing and closing her mouth with assistance. Kerri Comes To Do Tracy, Mom, & Nana's Hair This Morning ~ Kerri came to the house to do Tracy's, Mom's, and Nana's hair this morning. She highlighted and trimmed Tracy's hair and does such a good job! Michelle Feeds Tracy 4 Ounces Of Acorn Butternut Squash This Afternoon ~ Michelle fed Tracy 4 ounces of Acorn Butternut Squash in 40 minutes this afternoon. She is doing amazing with her eating! Marcus Comes To Do Physical Therapy This Afternoon ~ Marcus came this afternoon to do Physical Therapy with Tracy this afternoon. He and Michelle transferred Tracy to the peanut ball for trunk and neck strengthening exercises in front of the mirror. He used the Theraband on Tracy's forehead to increase resistance. Tracy worked very hard today and did a great job controlling her head. He worked with her for the entire hour and a half! Aunt Diane Comes To Stay With Us This Evening ~ Aunt Diane came to stay with us this evening, since Dad is in Dallas for a meeting. Daily OM: Vibrational Imprints: Psychometry ~

Sunday, June 26th, 2011 ~ Mom, Dad, Marie & Tracy Go To Hippotherapy This Morning ~ Tracy had the BEST Hippotherapy session to date this morning at Bit-By-Bit Therapeutic Riding Center in Parkland. She demonstrated very excellent trunk and head control and was working the entire thirty minute session. She is so strong! Marie Gives Tracy A Facial This Morning ~ Marie gave Tracy a facial this morning. She loves her spa days! Mom Feeds Tracy 3 To 4 Ounces Of Mashed Potatoes This Afternoon ~ Mom fed Tracy 3 to 4 ounces of mashed potatoes this afternoon. She finished them all in about 40 minutes. Mom Goes To Hot Yoga This Afternoon ~ Mom went to Hot Yoga this evening with Allan at Awaken Hot Yoga in Lighthouse Point. The room was not hot, but Allan was very good. Tracy & Dad Watch Inception This Evening ~ While Mom was at Hot Yoga, Dad and Tracy watched Inception with Leonardo DiCaprio. Daily OM: Beings Of Light: Human Energy ~

Saturday, June 25th, 2011 ~ Marie Gives Tracy A Manicure & Predicure This Morning ~ Marie gave Tracy a manicure and pedicure this morning. She picked a pretty color pink! They look really nice! Mom Makes Fresh Acorn Squash & Mashed Potatoes In The Magic Bullet This Morning ~ Mom made really yummy fresh acorn squash and mashed potatoes with the Magic Bullet this afternoon. Mom Feeds Tracy 4 Ounces Of Acorn Butternut Squash This Afternoon ~ Tracy ate 4 ounces of fresh Acorn Butternut Squash this afternoon. She ate it all in about 45 minutes, closing her mouth with assistance and swallowing right away. Mom, Dad, Tracy, Marie & Marcus Get Tracy In The Pool For Aquatherapy This Afternoon ~ Marcus worked with Tracy in the pool this afternoon. It had been nearly two years since Tracy was in the pool for aquatherapy. It was a toasty 90 degrees, and Tracy appeared to really enjoy it. Marcus was rotating Tracy in the water for about ten or fifteen minutes when she got dizzy and threw up. Looks like it was too much movement for her vestibular system. We had to cut her session short about 30 minutes. Dad monitored Tracy's oxygen saturation and heart rate for the rest of the night. Her Pulse Oximetry was 97-99 percent but her heart rate was elevated over 100. Her lungs were clear when Fanancy auscultated them. Daily OM: Restorative Energy: Everyone Can Heal ~

Friday, June 24th, 2011 ~ Michelle Feeds Tracy 4 Ounces Of Mango Papaya Smoothie This Afternoon ~ Michelle fed Tracy 4 ounces of Mango Papaya Smoothie with a spoon over 45 minutes this afternoon. She really liked it a lot. Mom, Tracy, Michelle, & Marie Go To The Movies To See Bad Teacher This Afternoon ~ Mom, Tracy, Michelle, and Mary went to Muvico in Pompano Beach to see Bad Teacher this afternoon. Tracy slept through the entire movie but everyone else really enjoyed it. It was really funny! Mom, Tracy & Michelle Go To Fresh Market This Evening ~ Mom, Tracy and Michelle went to Fresh Market this evening to buy fresh produce for Tracy's meals. They bought some yummy looking fruit and vegetables to make puree in the Magic Bullet that Dad bought. Daily OM: Warning Signs: Paying Attention To Red Flags ~

Thursday, June 23rd, 2011 ~ Michelle Feeds Tracy A Few Bites Of Maple Brown Sugar Oatmeal This Morning ~ After performing Tracy's Beckman exercises this morning, Michelle fed Tracy 3 or 4 teaspoons of Maple Brown Sugar Oatmeal. She did a good job moving it back with her tongue and swallowing. She is still tongue thrusting, and we are working on suppressing this. She is really working hard to relearn how to eat. Tracy Has Speech Therapy With Teresa This Afternoon ~ Tracy had her Speech Therapy session with Teresa this afternoon. She did not want oatmeal or grits, when offered to her. Teresa tried a Berry Smoothie, but Tracy kept spitting it out. So Teresa tried some Vanilla Ensure. Tracy swallowed four ounces of UNTHICKENED Ensure in about 30 minutes. It took her two swallows to clear the bolus, with some jaw stabilization. She is really trying to close her mouth without assistance. She succeeds more on the first swallow, but then has more difficulty on the second swallow. Teresa asked us to bring the Safe Feeder and some frozen melon with us next Tuesday. Mom, Marie, Michelle, & Tracy Go Shopping At Bath & Body Works This Afternoon ~ Tracy enjoyed shopping the huge summer sale at Bath and Body Works this afternoon. She got a lot of things on sale. Michelle Feeds Tracy A Fresh Mango Smoothie This Afternoon ~ Tracy enjoyed a delicious fresh Mango Smoothie this afternoon. Michelle pureed fresh mango, with almond milk, papaya yogurt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. It was a nectar consistency, and Michelle fed it to Tracy on a spoon. She ate four ounces in about 40 minutes. It was really yummy. Mom Goes To Hot Yoga This Evening With Emily ~ Mom had a great Hot Yoga practice with Emily this evening. It was just what she needed after a pretty stressful day. She slept like a rock. Daily OM : Gut Response: In Touch With True Emotion ~

Wednesday, June 22nd, 2011 ~ Michelle Feeds Tracy An Ounce And A Half Of Vanilla Yogurt After Doing Her Facial Exercises ~ Michelle fed Tracy an ounce and a half of vanilla yogurt after performing her facial exercises this morning. She is doing a good job swallowing immediately and closing her lips. Michelle Massages Tracy's Hands & Feet With Forever Sunshine Lotion This Afternoon ~ Michelle massaged Tracy's hands and feet with Forever Sunshine lotion this afternoon and then donned her Yogi Toes on her feet for some stretching. Michelle Reads To Tracy From Her Angel Book ~ Michelle read to Tracy from her Angel Book this afternoon. It is such a sweet inspirational book about guardian angels. Tracy Has Her First Speech Therapy With Teresa At Imperial Point This Afternoon ~ Tracy had her first Speech Therapy session with Teresa this afternoon at Imperial Point Medical Center in Ft. Lauderdale. It has been months since she has had Speech Therapy, and Teresa did an evaluation. She was very pleased with Tracy's potential: her face showed very good symmetry, she had excellent range of motion of her jaw, she listened and responed to verbal commands, close mouth, close lips around the spoon. Teresa fed Tracy some vanilla Activia yogurt, and she ate about two ounces during the session, and the remaining two ounces later. The goal is to speed up the feeding time by increments of 15 minutes, and to broaden the variety to include other purees. We have another session Friday at 1:30 PM and then three times next week. Daily OM : Reversed Perceptions : Being Projected Upon ~

Tuesday, June 21st, 2011 ~ Mom, Michelle, & Marie Take Tracy To Speech Therapy At Imperial Point This Afternoon ~ Tracy had Speech Therapy this afternoon with Teresa at Imperial Point Medical Center. She did an awesome job, drinking about three ounces of thickened Chai Tea Latte! Teresa thickened it to in between a nectar and a honey consistency. Teresa was so pleased with Tracy's progress over the past couple of weeks. She wants us to start feeding Tracy some different things such as sweet potatoes and mashed potatoes. She wants us to use lots of different flavors to engage the limbic system. Michelle Massages Tracy's Feet & Hands With Lotion & Applies Her Yogitoes ~ Michelle massaged Tracy's feet and hands with lotion and applied her Yogitoes for twenty minutes. Dee Cancels Tracy's Physical Therapy This Evening ~ Dee had a work conflict and had to cancel his Physical Therapy session with Tracy this evening. Tracy loves Dee's massages and sure does miss him when he can't come. Michelle Feeds Tracy Grits This Evening ~ Tracy had about 1/3 of a packet of Instant Grits with butter and black pepper this evening. She really enjoyed them. Mom Goes To Hot Yoga This Evening With Veronica At Awaken Hot Yoga ~ Mom had a great Hot Yoga class this evening with Veronica. It is really fun to change the routine and take some evening classes! Looks like Mom's schedule change was just what she needed! Daily OM : In The Open Air: Spending Time With Nature ~

Monday, June 20th, 2011 ~ Michelle Feeds Tracy Six Ounces Of Banana Yogurt For Lunch This Afternoon ~ Michelle fed Tracy 6 ounces of banana yogurt for lunch this afternoon, after she performed her Beckman facial exercises. She finished the six ounces in 35 minutes. She is doing such a good job moving her tongue and swallowing, with some tactile stabilization under her chin to help her close her mouth and lips. Mom, Marie, Michelle, & Tracy Watch A Video Of The Dave Matthews Band Concert: Listeners Supported This Afternoon ~ Mom, Marie, Michelle, and Tracy watch the video of the Dave Matthews Band: Listeners Supported, this afternoon. Tracy was really enjoying it, espeically True Reflections with the lovely ladies. Tracy & Michelle Listen To Shopaholic & Sister Audiobook This Afternoon ~ Everyone is enjoying listening to the Shopaholic & Sister audiobook this afternoon. It is such a funny series. Marcus Comes To Do Physical Therapy This Afternoon ~ Marcus is back and working hard with Tracy on her Physical Therapy. Marcus Comes To Do Physical Therapy This Afternoon ~ Marcus came this afternoon to do Physical Therapy with Tracy this afternoon. He and Michelle transferred Tracy to the peanut ball for trunk and neck strengthening exercises in front of the mirror. He used the Theraband on Tracy's forehead to increase resistance. Tracy worked very hard today and did a great job controlling her head. After her strengthening session, Michelle and Marcus transferred Tracy to her chair for Passive Range Of Motion and stretching exercises. Emily Comes To Give Mom & Dad A Massage This Evening ~ Emily came and gave Mom and Dad a much needed massage this evening. She has magic fingers! Tracy Has Been Eating Yogurt & Moving Her Tongue Alot Lately ~ Tracy has been moving her tongue, and Wilmene and Tania have been feeding her 2 to 4 ounces of Activia yogurt about 3 to 4 times a week. She has been a lot more alert, and is sticking out her tongue on command as well. Tracy has also been laughing appropriately, especially at Mom's corny jokes. This is a very slow rocess, and is very inconsistent! Please pray that she continues to progress and that she can get her G-tube out some day in the future! Daily OM: Staying Afloat Amidst The Spin: Taking Things Personally ~

Sunday, June 19th, 2011 ~ Happy Father's Day ~ Mom, Dad, Marie & Tracy Go To Hippotherapy This Morning ~ Tracy had a great Hippotherapy session this morning at Bit-By-Bit Therapeutic Riding Center in Parkland. She demonstrated very good trunk control and was working the entire thirty minute session. She is so strong! Mom, Dad, Tracy, Aunt Diane & Jeff Go On The Boat This Afternoon ~ Everyone went on the boat this afternoon for Father's Day! The weather was variable with isolated thunder showers, but we managed to navigate between the raindrops for the most part. Aunt Diane and Jeff brought deli sandwiches from Publix for lunch! They were really good. Mom was doing karaoke to the radio and Tracy was laughing at her! She was really enjoying Mom's entertainment, to say the least. Mom Feeds Tracy The Entire Package Of High Fiber Maple & Brown Sugar Oatmeal This Evening ~ Mom fed Tracy the entire packet of High Fiber Maple and Brown Sugar instant oatmeal this evening. She ate in in less than an hour! She really enjoyed it too! She is doing such a good job moving it with her tongue and swallowing. Incredible. Mom & Tracy Watch The Miss USA Beauty Pageant This Evening ~ Mom and Tracy watched the Miss USA Beauty Pagent this evening. Miss California won! She had auburn hair, was tall, with long legs. Daily OM: Letting Your Voice Be Heard: Writing Your Story ~

Saturday, June 18th, 2011 ~ Mom & Dad Do Tracy's Beckman Exercises This Morning ~ Mom and Dad did Tracy's Beckman Facial Exercises this morning. Dad is such a teacher! He did a really good job with her exercises. Then Mom fed Tracy about an ounce of mango yogurt! Marie Gives Tracy A Facial This Morning ~ Marie gave Tracy a Facial this morning. She does such a good job! Mom Goes To Hot Yoga With Jessica This Morning ~ Mom really enjoyed Jessica's Hot Flow this morning! It was really hot and humid in the studio, which spells = HOT! HOT! HOT! Marie Braids Tracy's Hair ~ Marie braided Tracy's hair in little bitty hair braids this afternoon. It really looks adorable! Mom Tries Some Cheese Grits This Afternoon ~ Mom tried to give Tracy some cheese grits this afternoon. Tracy was having a hard time getting them back with her tongue. Mom gave Tracy some thickened coffee frappacino to wash it down. Mom thinks that Dad's anxiety was getting in the way of Tracy's eating. Just sayin! Mom, Dad, & Tracy Go Shopping At The Town Center Mall In Boca ~ Mom, Dad, and Tracy went shopping at the Town Center Mall in Boca this afternoon. They found some pretty dress shirts for Dad for Father's Day! They also found him a mask, booties, and a snorkel to use on the boat. Mom & Dad Watch The Hobbit: Return Of The Kings This Evening ~ Mom and Dad watched one of the Hobbit Trilogy movies this evening, since there is absolutely nothing but reruns on the television for the summer. Tiffany Leaves Hawaii For The DC Area For Her New Adventure ~ Tiffany very reluctantly left Hawaii for her new job in the DC area with Booz Allen. She really loved living in Hawaii, and I am sure will move back in a few! At least she will be closer to friends and family on the mainland. Daily OM: A Warm Refuge: Best Friends ~

Friday, June 17th, 2011 ~ Mom Misses Pilates & Yoga This Morning ~ Mom missed her Pilates and Hot Yoga this morning. She is staying close to home since Wilmene is in Haiti, and Marie and Michelle are working with Tracy. They did a really good job with Tracy's morning routine. Tracy really seems to enjoy watching and listening to the music on MTV/VH1! Michelle plays the music during Tracy's morning stretching and range of motion. Michelle Does Tracy's Beckman Exercises & Feeds Her One Ounce Of Strawberry Activia Yogurt This Morning ~ Michelle did Tracy's Beckman exercises and then fed her one ounce of Strawberry Activia this morning. She is doing a good job swallowing and moving her tongue. Tracy Has Her Fifth Speech Therapy Session With Teresa At Imperial Point This Afternoon ~ Tracy had her fifth Speech Therapy session with Teresa this afternoon at Imperial Point Medical Center in Ft. Lauderdale. Today, Teresa fed Tracy some thickened Starbucks coffee frappacino and she swallowed about two and a half to three ounces during the session. She tried using some focused electrical stimulation on both sides of her mouth, to stimulate the muscles to encourage lip closure. This is different from e-stim because it is more targeted. Tracy did not seem to like thos much either, so Teresa turned it off. Tracy really tried to close her mouth and lips to swallow, but needed some tactile assistance. She did several Beckman exercises to help relax and release her upper lip. We continue to do these exercises several times a day! The goal is to speed up the feeding time by increments of 15 minutes, and to broaden the variety to include other purees. We have two sessions next week. Mom, Tracy, & Michelle Listen To The Audiobook: Shopaholic & Sister This Afternoon ~ Mom, Tracy, and Michellle listened to the audiobook: Shopaholic & Sister this afternoon. It is such a funny book. Mom loves the series. Mom & Dad Relax In The Hot Tub This Evening ~ Mom and Dad relaxed in the hot tub this evening. It was a beautiful evening, and the moon was really orange! Mom & Dad Watch Flashpoint This Evening ~ Mom and Dad watched Flashpoint this evening. It is one of Mom's favorite shows! Daily OM: Light Of The Party: Confidence In Social Situations ~

Thursday, June 16th, 2011 ~ Mom Misses Hot Yoga With Kate This Morning ~ Mom missed Hot Yoga with Kate this morning and got all of her continuing education requirements done for her Florida Nursing License and Certified Health Education Specialist. It sure feels good to get things done! Check! Tracy Refuses Her Morning Yogurt: She Seems To Be Feeling A Little Under The Weather ~ Tracy seemed to have a sinus headache too. Her eyes were red and she refused her morning yogurt today! There is a lot of smoke in the air as well, from brush fires out west. This might be what is bothering Mom too, because the air quality is not up to par. Mom Relaxes In The Hot Tub This Afternoon & Catches Up On Her Vitamin D ~ Mom had a sinus headaches and decided to relax outside in the hot tub and get some sunshine this afternoon. It really was just what she needed, and her headache went away pretty quickly! Mom, Tracy & Michelle Go To The Caregiver Appreciation Reception At Advocate Healthcare In Lauderhill This Afternoon ~ Mom, Tracy and Michelle went to the Caregiver Appreciation Reception in honor of the top 25 Caregivers this afternoon. Michelle was being honored, so Mom and Tracy were very proud of her! She is doing a great job with Tracy too! Mom gave a brief presentation on Tracy and on what a Caregiver means to her! They really enjoyed her presentation! Daily OM : Peeling Away The Layers: Trees Shedding Their Bark ~

Wednesday, June 15th, 2011 ~ Michelle Feeds Tracy An Ounce And A Half Of Vanilla Yogurt After Doing Her Facial Exercises ~ Michelle fed Tracy an ounce and a half of vanilla yogurt after performing her facial exercises this morning. She is doing a good job swallowing immediately and closing her lips. Michelle Massages Tracy's Hands & Feet With Forever Sunshine Lotion This Afternoon ~ Michelle massaged Tracy's hands and feet with Forever Sunshine lotion this afternoon and then donned her Yogi Toes on her feet for some stretching. Michelle Reads To Tracy From Her Angel Book ~ Michelle read to Tracy from her Angel Book this afternoon. It is such a sweet inspirational book about guardian angels. Tracy Has Her First Speech Therapy With Teresa At Imperial Point This Afternoon ~ Tracy had her first Speech Therapy session with Teresa this afternoon at Imperial Point Medical Center in Ft. Lauderdale. It has been months since she has had Speech Therapy, and Teresa did an evaluation. She was very pleased with Tracy's potential: her face showed very good symmetry, she had excellent range of motion of her jaw, she listened and responed to verbal commands, close mouth, close lips around the spoon. Teresa fed Tracy some vanilla Activia yogurt, and she ate about two ounces during the session, and the remaining two ounces later. The goal is to speed up the feeding time by increments of 15 minutes, and to broaden the variety to include other purees. We have another session Friday at 1:30 PM and then three times next week. Daily OM : An Invitation To Comfort : Creating A Happy, Serene, & Healthy Home ~

Tuesday, June 14th, 2011 ~ Happy Birthday Wilmene! ~ Mom & Michelle Feed Tracy About An Ounce Of Peach Yogurt This Morning ~ Teresa, Tracy's new Speech Therapist, recommended that we feed Tracy three times a day, so Mom fed Tracy one and a half ounces of peach yogurt this morning. She did an awesome job closing her lips and swallowing right away. We are so excited for her. Mom & Michelle Feed Tracy 3/4 Of A Packet Of Oatmeal & 3 Ounces Of Peach Yogurt For Lunch ~ Mom and Michelle fed Tracy all but four spoonsful of maple and brown sugar oatmeal for lunch today. She also finished off the remaining 3 ounces of peach yogurt too! What a miracle! Aunt Diane Comes By To Visit Us ~ Aunt Diane came by for a visit and to bring Mom a vente nonfat no-foam Chai Tea Latte from Starbucks! Yum! She was here when the girls brought the Blessed Mother too. St. Paul's Legion Of Mary Bring Tracy The Pilgrim Blessed Mother Statue From Fatima ~ The Legion of Mary ladies from the church: Diane and Marie, brought Tracy the pilgrim Blessed Mother to visit with Tracy for a few days! She is so beautiful. Mom made an altar in the family room where Tracy spends most of her time. She also moved her into Tracy's bedroom at night! She is right next to the picture of Pope John Paul II that we have beside Tracy's bed. Dee Cancels This Evening Due To Pink Eye ~ Dee had to cancel his Physical Therapy session with Tracy this evening. He contracted pink eye from his daughter's birthday party! Poor guy! Mom, Tracy, & Michelle Listen To Tracy's Shopaholic Audiobook: Shopaholic & Sister This Afternoon ~ Tracy and the girls are really enjoying the audiobook: Shopaholic & Sister! They are almost finished with it! Mom, Tracy & Michelle Watch Family Videos From The Past ~ Mom, Tracy and Michelle watched some of their family videos from when the girls were little. They especially loved The Tiffany & Tracy Show from when they were about and 9 years old. Daily OM : Going Away To Go Within: Retreat ~

Monday, June 13th, 2011 ~ Mom Obtains Another Cathed Urine Specimen As A Follow-up For Dr. Williams Today ~ Mom obtained and dropped off a cathed urine specimen for analysis to Dr. Williams' office. Results will be forthcoming. Michelle Massages Tracy's Hands & Feet With Forever Sunshine Lotion ~ Michelle massaged Tracy's hands and feet with Forever Sunshine lotion this afternoon. Then she put Tracy's Yogi Toes on for some additional toe stretching. Tracy Has Speech Therapy With Teresa At Imperial Point Medical Center This Afternoon ~ Tracy did awesome again today at Speech Therapy with Teresa. She ate 3 and a half ounces of coffee yogurt in about an hour. Teresa wants Mom to start giving Tracy something by mouth three times a day! What a rock star! Tracy & Michelle Listen To Shopaholic & Sister Audiobook This Afternoon ~ Everyone is enjoying listening to the Shopaholic & Sister audiobook this afternoon. It is such a funny series. Marcus Comes To Do Physical Therapy This Afternoon ~ Marcus came this afternoon to do Physical Therapy with Tracy this afternoon. He and Michelle transferred Tracy to the peanut ball for trunk and neck strengthening exercises in front of the mirror. He used the Theraband on Tracy's forehead to increase resistance. Tracy worked very hard today and did a great job controlling her head. After her strengthening session, Michelle and Marcus transferred Tracy to her bed for Passive Range Of Motion and stretching exercises. Marcus noticed that Tracy is controlling her head much better and her swallow has improved. Mom Goes To Kate's 6:45 PM Hot Yoga Flow This Evening ~ Mom had a great Hot Yoga Flow this evening with Kate. It was just what she needed. Daily OM: Plunging Into The Deep: Life Can Be Scary ~

Sunday, June 12th, 2011 ~ Mom, Dad, Marie & Tracy Go To Hippotherapy This Morning ~ Tracy had a great Hippotherapy session this morning at Bit-By-Bit Therapeutic Riding Center in Parkland. She demonstrated very good trunk control and was working the entire thirty minute session. She is so strong! Mom, Dad, Marie, & Tracy Go To Noon Mass At St. Paul The Apostle Church ~ It was perfect timing this morning as Mom, Dad, Marie and Tracy headed to noon Mass after Starbucks! It was great to be able to fit both in on a Sunday! Mom Goes To 4 PM Hot Yoga With Jessica This Afternoon ~ Mom went to Jessica's Hot Yoga class this afternoon. The room was so hot and humid! Mom loves Jessica's class! Tracy and Dad watched The Making Of A Wolverine while Mom was at Yoga! Mom & Dad Watch Game Six Of The NBA Finals - Heat vs. The Mavericks - This Evening ~ Mom and Dad watched the final game of the NBA Championship! The Mavericks clobbered the Heat this evening in Miami. What a shame, but the Mavericks were definitely the stronger team and deserved to win! Daily OM: Letting Your Voice Be Heard: Writing Your Story ~

Saturday, June 11th, 2011 ~ Dad Goes To Bikram Yoga Today ~ Dad went to Bikram Yoga this morning, while Mom hung out with Marie and Tracy! He loves his Bikram practice. Marie Gives Tracy A Pedicure, Manicure & Facial This Morning ~ Marie gave Tracy a Pedicure, Manicure, and Facial this morning. She does such a good job! Mom Goes To Hot Yoga With Veronica This Afternoon ~ Mom really enjoyed the Warm & Gentle Yoga class this afternoon after taking yesterday off. Veronica taught so it wasn't so warm and gentle. In fact, the temperature was 97.2 degrees with 72% humidity, which spells HOT HOT HOT! Tracy Ate Two And A Half Ounces Of Coffee Yogurt In Less Than Twenty Minutes This Afternoon ~ Mom did Tracy's Beckman facial exercises and then it was time to feed her some coffee yogurt. She ate about two and a half to three ounces in less than twenty minutes. She is doing a good job closing her mouth and trying very hard to close her lips. Mom & Tracy Listen To Shopaholic & Sister This Afternoon ~ Mom and Tracy enjoyed listening to Shopaholic and Sister this afternoon. It is a really cute audiobook. Mom Massages Tracy With Forever Sunshine This Afternoon ~ Mom massaged Tracy with Forever Sunshine lotion. She put some on her arms, hands, and legs, and feet. Tracy really loves her massages and sweet smelling lotion. Daily OM: Trusting Spiritual Assistance: Saying Thank You ~

Friday, June 10th, 2011 ~ Mom Misses Pilates & Yoga This Morning ~ Mom missed her Pilates and Hot Yoga this morning. She is staying close to home since Wilmene is in Haiti, and Marie and Michelle are working with Tracy. They did a really good job with Tracy's morning routine. Tracy Has Her Second Speech Therapy With Teresa At Imperial Point This Afternoon ~ Tracy had her second Speech Therapy session with Teresa this afternoon at Imperial Point Medical Center in Ft. Lauderdale. Today, Teresa fed Tracy some strawberry Activia yogurt, and she ate about two ounces during the session. She tried electrical stimulation on both sides of her mouth, to stimulate the muscles to encourage lip closure. Tracy did not seem to like the e-stim, so Teresa turned it off. Tracy really tried to close her mouth and lips to swallow, but needed some tactile assistance. We discussed doing the Beckman exercises to help relax and release her upper lip. We will do these exercises several times a day! The goal is to speed up the feeding time by increments of 15 minutes, and to broaden the variety to include other purees. We have three sessions next week. Michelle Massages Tracy's Hands & Feet With Forever Sunshine Lotion This Afternoon ~ Michelle massaged Tracy's hands and feet with Forever Sunshine lotion this afternoon and then donned her Yogi Toes on her feet for some stretching. Mom, Tracy, & Michelle Listen To The Audiobook: Shopaholic & Sister This Afternoon ~ Mom, Tracy, and Michellle listened to the audiobook: Shopaholic & Sister this afternoon. It is such a funny book. Mom loves the series. Dad Goes To Bikram Yoga In Boca Raton This Evening ~ Dad enjoyed his Bikram Yoga practice this morning at Bikram College of India in Boca Raton this evening. He sure does love his Yoga practice. Daily OM: Begin With Yourself : The Journey Of Finding A Relationship ~

Thursday, June 9th, 2011 ~ Happy Birthday Kathryn Jean ~ Mom Goes To Hot Yoga With Kate This Morning ~ Mom had a great Hot Yoga class with Kate this morning at Awaken Hot Yoga Studio in Lighthouse Point. Mom loves Kate's classes! Mom Stays For Jenn's Yoga Sculpt Class Today ~ Mom completed her 30 yoga classes in 30 days (instead of 45 days) for the Yoga Challenge! The reward is $25 off next month's autopay! Michelle Massages Tracy's Hands & Feet With Forever Sunshine Lotion This Afternoon ~ Michelle massaged Tracy's hands and feet with Forever Sunshine lotion this afternoon and then donned her Yogi Toes on her feet for some stretching. Michelle Reads To Tracy From Her Angel Book ~ Michelle read to Tracy from her Angel Book this afternoon. It is such a sweet inspirational book about guardian angels. Wilmene Feeds Tracy Four Ounces Of Tapioca This Afternoon ~ Wilmene fed Tracy four ounces of Tapioca this afternoon. It took her a while today, around 2 hours, but Tracy was pretty sleepy. Mom surprised Wilmene with a chocolate ice cream cake, and Wilmene gave Tracy a couple of spoons full. She perked up and the cold ice cream seemed to wake her up. She ate the remaining Tapioca a lot faster after the ice cream. Marcus Comes To Do Physical Therapy This Afternoon ~ Marcus came this afternoon to do Physical Therapy with Tracy this afternoon. He and Michelle transferred Tracy to the peanut ball for trunk and neck strengthening exercises in front of the mirror. He used the Theraband on Tracy's forehead to increase resistance. Mom played some Dixie Chicks and brought Tracy her cowboy hat to wear during PT. Tracy was laughing a lot and Mom videotaped her session! Tracy worked very hard today and did a great job controlling her head. After her strengthening session, Michelle and Marcus transferred Tracy to her chair for Passive Range Of Motion and stretching exercises. Michelle Shapes Tracy's Eyebrows This Afternoon ~ Michellle shaped Tracy's eyebrows this evening. She did such a good job! They look awesome! Mom, Dad, & Tracy Watch The Heat vs. The Mavericks: Game 5 This Evening ~ Mom, Dad and Tracy watched Game 5 of the NBA Playoffs this evening. The Heat lost by 9 points! Hopefully they will get it together when they return to Miami for Game 6! Daily OM : Burning Brightly: Allowing Your Soul To Shine ~

Wednesday, June 8th, 2011 ~ Mom Goes To Hot Yoga This Morning With Keri At Awaken Hot Yoga Studio In Lighthouse Point ~ Mom had a great Hot Yoga Fitness Fusion practice with Keri this morning. The studio was really hot and humid and everyone worked their butts off. She has two more classes left to complete the Yoga Challenge. Michelle Massages Tracy's Hands & Feet With Forever Sunshine Lotion This Afternoon ~ Michelle massaged Tracy's hands and feet with Forever Sunshine lotion this afternoon and then donned her Yogi Toes on her feet for some stretching. Michelle Reads To Tracy From Her Angel Book ~ Michelle read to Tracy from her Angel Book this afternoon. It is such a sweet inspirational book about guardian angels. Tracy Has Her First Speech Therapy With Teresa At Imperial Point This Afternoon ~ Tracy had her first Speech Therapy session with Teresa this afternoon at Imperial Point Medical Center in Ft. Lauderdale. It has been months since she has had Speech Therapy, and Teresa did an evaluation. She was very pleased with Tracy's potential: her face showed very good symmetry, she had excellent range of motion of her jaw, she listened and responed to verbal commands, close mouth, close lips around the spoon. Teresa fed Tracy some vanilla Activia yogurt, and she ate about two ounces during the session, and the remaining two ounces later. The goal is to speed up the feeding time by increments of 15 minutes, and to broaden the variety to include other purees. We have another session Friday at 1:30 PM and then three times next week. Daily OM : Enjoying The Ride : The Flow Of The Universe ~

Tuesday, June 7th, 2011 ~ Mom Goes To Hot Yoga This Morning With Emily ~ Mom had a great Hot Yoga class with Emily this morning. She really kicked her butt! Mom loves Emily! Mom Goes To Jenn's Yoga Scupt Class This Morning At Awaken ~ Mom stayed for Jenn's awesome Yoga Scupt class at Awaken. It was very challenging. Mom Does Kate's Warm & Gentle Yoga Class This Afternoon ~ Mom did a triple today, ending with Kate's Warm and Gentle class at 1 PM. It was an amazing class and Mom felt right in the moment. She has three more classes to complete the challenge. Mom, Wilmene & Michelle Play Tracy's Snare Drum With Her This Afternoon ~ Mom, Wilmene, and Michelle did Music Therapy with Tracy this afternoon. Mom got down Tracy's snare drum and they assisted her in playing the drum. Wilmene held Tracy's right hand and Michelle held her left hand and they attempted to play the drum to Bare Naked Ladie's "If I Had A Million Dollars"! It was really amazing to see how well Tracy responded. Mom videoed it on her IPhone. Tracy was laughing so much and having a ball. She was so alert and with us all the way! Tracy Has Physical & Massage Therapy With Dee This Evening ~ Tracy had Physical Therapy with Dee this evening. He started by giving Tracy a massage after Michelle and he transferred Tracy to the therapy mat. He even incorporated some Thai massage into his routine. Then he and Michelle got Tracy on the therapy bench for some trunk and neck strengthening exercises. Tracy really worked hard. We are so proud of her. Mom, Dad, & Tracy Watch The Heat vs. The Mavericks This Evening ~ Game Four was another nail biter, with the Dallas Mavericks beating the Miami Heat! Tracy Has Been Eating Yogurt & Moving Her Tongue Alot Lately ~ Tracy has been moving her tongue, and Wilmene and Tania have been feeding her 2 to 4 ounces of Activia yogurt about 3 to 4 times a week. She has been a lot more alert, and is sticking out her tongue on command as well. Tracy has also been laughing appropriately, especially at Mom's corny jokes. This is a very slow process, and is very inconsistent! Please pray that she continues to progress and that she can get her G-tube out some day in the future! Daily OM : Personal Tales: Writing Your Story ~

Monday, June 6th, 2011 ~ Mom Goes To Hot Yoga With Erika This Morning ~ Mom went to Hot Yoga this morning with Erika. It was a great class! She is constantly challenging us! Michelle Massages Tracy's Hands & Feet With Forever Sunshine Lotion ~ Michelle massaged Tracy's hands and feet with Forever Sunshine lotion this afternoon. Then she put Tracy's Yogi Toes on for some additional toe stretching. Mom, Tracy & Michelle Listen To Shopaholic & Sister Audiobook This Afternoon ~ Everyone is enjoying listening to the Shopaholic & Sister audiobook this afternoon. It is such a funny series. Marcus Comes To Do Physical Therapy This Afternoon ~ Marcus came this afternoon to do Physical Therapy with Tracy this afternoon. He and Michelle transferred Tracy to the peanut ball for trunk and neck strengthening exercises in front of the mirror. He used the Theraband on Tracy's forehead to increase resistance. Tracy worked very hard today and did a great job controlling her head. After her strengthening session, Michelle and Marcus transferred Tracy to her chair for Passive Range Of Motion and stretching exercises. Emily Comes To Give Mom & Dad A Massage This Evening ~ Emily came and gave Mom and Dad a much needed massage this evening. She has magic fingers! Tracy Has Been Eating Yogurt & Moving Her Tongue Alot Lately ~ Tracy has been moving her tongue, and Wilmene and Tania have been feeding her 2 to 4 ounces of Activia yogurt about 3 to 4 times a week. She has been a lot more alert, and is sticking out her tongue on command as well. Tracy has also been laughing appropriately, especially at Mom's corny jokes. This is a very slow rocess, and is very inconsistent! Please pray that she continues to progress and that she can get her G-tube out some day in the future! Daily OM: Evolution Of The Soul: Life Lessons Through Reincarnation ~

Sunday, June 5th, 2011 ~ Congratulations Uncle Johnny: 36 Years Of Priesthood ~ Mom & Dad Change Tracy's G-Tube This Morning ~ Mom and Dad changed Tracy's G-tube this morning. Tracy Did Not Have Hippotherapy This Morning ~ Tracy did not have her hippotherapy session this morning, since it is Uncle Johnny's 36th anniversary of priesthood! Everyone surprised him by going to Pahokee for his Mass. He was really surprised to see us all! We had a nice luncheon after Mass in the rectory. What a long ride it is! Mom & Dad Watch The Heat vs. The Mavericks This Evening ~ Mom and Dad watched the Heat beat the Mavericks this evening in Dallas. It was such a close game! A real nailbiter. Tracy Has Been Eating Yogurt & Moving Her Tongue Alot Lately ~ Tracy has been moving her tongue, and Wilmene and Tania have been feeding her 2 to 4 ounces of Activia yogurt about 3 to 4 times a week. She has been a lot more alert, and is sticking out her tongue on command as well. Tracy has also been laughing appropriately, especially at Mom's corny jokes. This is a very slow process, and is very inconsistent! Please pray that she continues to progress and that she can get her G-tube out some day in the future! Daily OM: Conscious Creation: The First Moments Of The Day ~

Saturday, June 4th, 2011 ~ Mom & Emil Go To Hot Yoga With Erika This Morning ~ Mom and Emil had a great class with Erika this morning at Awaken Hot Yoga Studio in Lighthouse Point. It was really, really hot and humid in the room and there were lots and lots of people. Erika is a good instructor and she kicked our asanas. This was Mom's 23rd class for the challenge, which is to complete 30 classes in 45 days. It ends on June 22nd, only 7 more to go! She has to finish by June 9th, when Wilmene leaves for Haiti. Dad Skips Bikram Yoga Today ~ Dad decided to take the day off from Hot Yoga, after practicing last evening. Mom, Dad, Tracy, & Emil Go On The Boat This Afternoon ~ Everyone had a great time on the boat this afternoon. The weather has been really beautiful. They went out in the Hillsboro inlet to anchor, but the anchor was not working. Always something when you have a boat! Tracy Has Been Eating Yogurt & Moving Her Tongue Alot Lately ~ Tracy has been moving her tongue, and Wilmene has been feeding her 2 to 4 ounces of Activia yogurt about 3 to 4 times a week. She has been a lot more alert, and is sticking out her tonge on command as well. Tracy has also been laughing appropriately, especially at Mom's corny jokes. This is a very slow process, and is very inconsistent! Please pray that she continues to progress and that she can get her G-tube out some day in the future! Daily OM: A Glimpse Of Perfection: Living A Day In Grace ~

Friday, June 3rd, 2011 ~ Mom & Emil Go To Hot Yoga With Veronica This Morning At Awaken Hot Yoga ~ Mom and Emil went to Hot Yoga this morning with Veronica at Awaken Yoga in Lighthouse Point. Veronica kicked our butts today! Michelle Massages Tracy's Hands & Feet With Forever Sunshine Lotion This Afternoon ~ Michelle massaged Tracy's hands and feet with Forever Sunshine lotion this afternoon and then donned her Yogi Toes on her feet for some stretching. Mom, Tracy, & Michelle Listen To The Audiobook: Shopaholic & Sister This Afternoon ~ Mom, Tracy, and Michellle listened to the audiobook: Shopaholic & Sister this afternoon. It is such a funny book. Mom loves the series. Dad Goes To Bikram Yoga In Boca Raton This Evening ~ Dad enjoyed his Bikram Yoga practice this morning at Bikram College of India in Boca Raton this evening. He sure does love his Yoga practice. Mom, Dad, & Emil Have Thai Food For Dinner This Evening ~ Mom, Dad, and Emil ordered Thai food from Tamarind this evening. It was really good. Tracy Has Been Eating Yogurt & Moving Her Tongue Alot Lately ~ Tracy has been moving her tongue, and Wilmene and Tania have been feeding her 2 to 4 ounces of Activia yogurt about 3 to 4 times a week. She has been a lot more alert, and is sticking out her tongue on command as well. Tracy has also been laughing appropriately, especially at Mom's corny jokes. This is a very slow process, and is very inconsistent! Please pray that she continues to progress and that she can get her G-tube out some day in the future! Daily OM: Your Special Gift : Sharing Your Genius ~

Thursday, June 2nd, 2011 ~ Mom & Emil Go To Hot Yoga With Kate This Morning ~ Mom and Emil had a great Hot Yoga class with Kate this morning at Awaken Hot Yoga Studio in Lighthouse Point. Mom loves Kate's classes! Michelle Massages Tracy's Hands & Feet With Forever Sunshine Lotion This Afternoon ~ Michelle massaged Tracy's hands and feet with Forever Sunshine lotion this afternoon and then donned her Yogi Toes on her feet for some stretching. Michelle Reads To Tracy From Her Angel Book ~ Michelle read to Tracy from her Angel Book this afternoon. It is such a sweet inspirational book about guardian angels. Mom Goes To WSSC Spinning The Force Ride With Josh Taylor This Evening ~ Mom went to Miami with Yoli, Jenn, and Dan to the WSSC The Force two-hour Spinning ride with Josh Taylor. There were three hundred riders on 300 new Spin bikes! It was awesome! There was so much energy in the room it was electrical! Awesome! Tracy Has Been Eating Yogurt & Moving Her Tongue Alot Lately ~ Tracy has been moving her tongue, and Wilmene and Tania have been feeding her 2 to 4 ounces of Activia yogurt about 3 to 4 times a week. She has been a lot more alert, and is sticking out her tongue on command as well. Tracy has also been laughing appropriately, especially at Mom's corny jokes. This is a very slow process, and is very inconsistent! Please pray that she continues to progress and that she can get her G-tube out some day in the future! Daily OM : Composing Bliss: Poetry As Meditation ~

Wednesday, June 1st, 2011 ~ Mom & Emil Go To Hot Yoga This Morning With Keri At Awaken Hot Yoga Studio In Lighthouse Point ~ Mom and Emil had a great Hot Yoga Fitness Fusion practice with Keri this morning. The studio was really hot and humid and everyone worked their butts off. Michelle Massages Tracy's Hands & Feet With Forever Sunshine Lotion This Afternoon ~ Michelle massaged Tracy's hands and feet with Forever Sunshine lotion this afternoon and then donned her Yogi Toes on her feet for some stretching. Michelle Reads To Tracy From Her Angel Book ~ Michelle read to Tracy from her Angel Book this afternoon. It is such a sweet inspirational book about guardian angels. Tracy Refuses Yogurt This Afternoon ~ Tracy refuesed Wilmene's offer for yogurt or tapioca this afternoon. Marcus Is On Vacation So Tracy Does Not Have Physical Therapy This Afternoon ~ Marcus is still away this week and so Tracy does not have Physical Therapy until next week. Tracy Has Speech Therapy With Jodi This Afternoon ~ Tracy had Speech Therapy with Jodi this afternoon. It has been several months since she has had Speech Therapy with Jodi, and Jodi was very pleased to see Tracy so responsive and alert. She began by working on Tracy's oral stim exercises, beginning with the Beckman exercises and proceeding to some facial stimulation with the little vibrating alligator. Then she worked inside Tracy's mouth with the Nuk brush along Tracy's gumline. She used a grape flavored tongue depressor to stimulate a swallow by pressing on Tracy's tongue. Tracy had several good swallows. Then it was time to get out Tracy's Dynavox Imax. She and Michelle set it up on Tracy's tray and went through the various pictures and games that she customized for Tracy. Tracy did a good job looking at the pictures and paying attention. She is working really hard and doing a great job! Dad Returns From Colombia This Evening ~ Dad returned from Colombia, South America this evening. He was there on business with American Airlines. Tracy Has Been Eating Yogurt & Moving Her Tongue Alot Lately ~ Tracy has been moving her tongue, and Wilmene and Tania have been feeding her 2 to 4 ounces of Activia yogurt about 3 to 4 times a week. She has been a lot more alert, and is sticking out her tongue on command as well. Tracy has also been laughing appropriately, especially at Mom's corny jokes. This is a very slow process, and is very inconsistent! Please pray that she continues to progress and that she can get her G-tube out some day in the future! Daily OM : Forward Momentum : The Train As Metaphor ~