Hey everyone! I hope you are all well and getting ready for the holidays. I am WAY behind this year but am trying to give myself some grace. Thankfully, Rob and Ruby have been helping decorate for Christmas this year and it has saved me from still having Halloween and Thanksgiving decorations out in December. HAHA! For all you last minute holiday shopping and prepping folks out there...please give yourself some grace as well! Life can be absolutely CRAZY! 

I have some AWEWOME news to share! Rosie got her halo and torso cast off today! She is FREEEEEEEE! She is doing great and is figuring out her new center of gravity without 20-30lbs of extra weight on her top half. She has no pain so that is amazing!

We got to Mayo really early this morning for a CT, blood draws and other miscellaneous appointments. The big appointment today was with the doctors where they reviewed her CT scan and determined if her back had healed enough to transition from the halo/cast to a brace. The Mayo doctors were exceptionally busy today so we waited for about 3 extra hours until we could see her doctors/surgeons and the verdict was positive. Her spine is fusing and they felt comfortable removing her gear.  She has a spiffy new brace now and it fits her pretty darn well. 

As her mom, I am elated and am also terrified. I was able to give her a real hug today for the first time since the beginning of August. That was one of the best hugs of my life! Rosie is getting better, and I want to celebrate that. At the same time, she was super safe in her cast and halo and that is gone. I certainly didn't want the halo/cast forever but leaving that behind and having a brace gives me some anxiety. I feel like she is fragile as tissue paper and do not want her to break. It is the new normal for a while and this will become old-hat, just like her brace/halo install. 

Anyways, I wish you all a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year. I sure hope 2024 is a wonderful year for you all! 

Much love, Christy