Back to Reality

We're settling back in to home life - it has been a much easier adjustment than the first go-around. Calli isn't having the tantrums and nightmares she had before when we were gone for so long.

Lizzie is doing really well - I would say she's about on the level she was pre-surgery...maybe a little more tired, but that's to be expected after brain surgery. One thing that has changed is that her hunger levels are off the charts where before we were seeing a little progress with that. Seriously all day long she is hungry and asks for food - I feel like I live in the funny farm. We're hoping that this manic hunger will taper off like it did before and become more manageable for Lizzie and for us. She isn't stealing and hiding food this time around and we're grateful for that.

We are starting up physical and occupational therapy and I'm really hoping that she'll have more motivation to work hard and get her mobility back. Her weight is becoming an obstacle for her I think. She is about 15 pounds heavier than she was 5 months ago, yet her height is the same. Hypothalamic Obesity is really a rotten deal because you can't just exercise the pounds off or just eat healthier - the way her body is processing and storing food is completely altered because of where her brain was damaged. There is currently no cure for this, but there is a lot of experimentation right now so we're really hoping to see some miracles in her lifetime for this.

She will start taking human growth hormone in the next 6 months and we are hoping this will help even her height/weight out more and give her more energy as well. Our elation about no more surgeries is still with us, but we're also more aware than ever about our reality and the challenges that come along with it.

Life is good and everything is better when you're home!

P.S. I literally cling to this messsage - there are always "Good Things to Come" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nczw6xHJ0I