Someone just turned FOUR!

Wow, we are already on Cast #15.  Hopefully we will only have (maybe???) 1 more!  That is already quite a bit of anesthesia and surgeries our little one has had to endure, but with results like we have been seeing, it is all worth it.  Before we get into this casting day, let's check out some of Savanna's latest adventures...

Recent Adventures

Camping!

On the road to camping

At our campsite

Looks like camping was a good time, right?  It was very promising.  However, unfortunately, it was not quite the experience we had hoped for, and let's just say... Not much sleep was had during our first and only night trying it.  We are a little shy about trying it again until the kiddos are a bit older.  It was awesome in theory though!  Ha ha...  

Playing at the park

Technically, Savanna should not be playing in the sand, as it could be pretty bad if any sand got in her cast.  (At best, it could make her itchy.  At worst, it could cause her skin to breakdown.)  However, we are all very careful while she's in the sandbox, and her shirts provide some good coverage for her cast.

Sponge bath time!

Preschool Graduation Program (Savanna did not graduate yet, but she was part of the program.)

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear

I'm a Little Tea Pot

Someone just turned four!! (And we celebrated at Chuck E Cheese's with Savanna's buddies!)

Swinging with Emerson on the front porch

Beach Trip!

Because Savanna has to go through yet another summer in a cast, we are always looking for ways to take advantage of her cast breaks.  This time we planned a beach trip with the family.  It was a great trip, and Savanna loved playing in the pool.  She was not a big fan of the ocean, but I can see how it would be scary for a little girl like her.

First we removed her cast.  She could not wait to get it off so she could go swimming with her "best friend," her cousin Julianna.  Her skin and spine looked really good!  There was only a little bit of redness and heat rash to contend with.

Fun at the beach, in the pool, and at the water park

 

"Conehead" from the blast-from-the-past Friendly's!  (Savanna doesn't really like sweets, but she'll get down with some vanilla ice cream these days.  This silly girl wanted me to eat her M&Ms and take the chocolate off of the cone...  Like she had to ask!)

Casting Day

Do you know Paw Patrol?  If not, spend a few seconds with Savanna, and she will talk your ear off about that crew.  Her favorite pup is Everest.  Everest is a super cool mountain pup that helps to save the day.  Everest goes everywhere with Savanna right now.  It's pretty funny and cute.

Waiting in pre-op

Watching Paw Patrol while holding Everest from Paw Patrol

Daddy sleeping, yes sleeping, while the nurse and I hold the Paw Patrol videos when Savanna is in recovery.  It's been a long few days for us.  We just got back from the beach yesterday!

More Paw Patrol while eating Goldfish in her room

Getting her cast trimmed, petalled, and all cobanned

She chose dinosaurs and purple again.  She wanted to be like her buddy Lyla with the dinosaurs, and she just couldn't pass up purple.  :-)

We love Miss Stephanie!

Progress and Next Casting Date

Overall, Savanna's doctor was very positive about her progress.  It has been increasingly more and more difficult for him to do this casting procedure on her because her progress has been so good!  He has a hard time achieving the same level of correction than he has in the past.  This is great news for her!  It means that there is less and less correction to be had.  He wants us to do an x-ray at her next appointment and cast at least one more time for about 4 weeks (at which point the cast will be used to help mold a brace for her), as long as her numbers stay in the teens or get better.  She was at 13 degrees in April.  Please help us pray for continued good numbers!  Also, please help us pray for others on the same journey as Savanna who are not having as good of results.  We met a family with a beautiful daughter who has been holding at 49 degrees for over a year now.  I am pleased with Savanna's results, but feel sad for this little girl.  I wish I could give her family some comfort.  The little girl will likely need surgery in the future, which is not something any parent wants to go through.

Savanna's next (and last??) casting date is set for September 9, 2016.  In the meantime, please continue to keep her little spine in your thoughts and prayers.  Thank you for all of your well wishes over these last 2.5 years!!