The Footsteps

I know it has been awhile since my last blog but I really have been super busy. Ava was baptised on Sunday 10th April and we had a super day. The weather was beautiful, Ava was on a good day (rare at the moment) and I kept super busy leading up to it. In a way it kept me sane and focused. I have resigned from my teaching job and as of 31st August 2011, I will no longer be employed - scary but I need to focus on my little girl who has 3 appointments a week and I have 2 a week so we are kept pretty busy anyway. Ava is on a 700 calorie a day catch up diet (we are lucky if she takes half this), her milk has 100 calories per 100ml compared to normal milk which carries 8-10 calories per 100ml. I have started to wean her and that is going well, the dietian said it was the right thing to do when she wasn't taking her milk. Fingers crossed she starts to put on weight now. Her length is following the 50th Centile and her head (dare I say it) is now following the 0.4th centile. We have physio appointments, exercises to do every day, portage are now involved and I have to say the after care has been superb from the health professionals.
We have seen the specialist from the RVI now who is a paediatric neurologist. He was so lovely and even admitted to buying tat for the Royal wedding! He did a thorough check of Ava and wants a few tests repeated that he can't make sense of the results of and a few tests doing that haven't been done. He said for a baby who has been so poorly, she is doing well and he is pleased with her progress so far. I know it may seem daft but I dare not to hope too much just in case. Keep praying and hoping with us.
We have had a long string of bad days with Ava recently, and you know in the morning if she is going to have a good or bad day. I was nearly crying in front of my mother-in-law but refrained - just! Then a very kind friend of our family sent me an Easter card and in it she had put the Footsteps story for when I was coping with a bad day. This really was so heartwarming and again nearly made me cry. My family have massively supported me at this time and some friends have been fabulous. I know people don't understand deep down but I thank everyone who has tried to. Happy Easter everyone.