We have a blog!

This is the 1st posting to many we will have. Now that I started this site I find it hard to write in words the same thing we have had to explain so many times over the last few weeks.... Ellie has Cerebral Palsy.

Some of you reading are close friends and family, others might not know much about Ellie's adventure so far. And adventure it has been. One simple call for development delays, we assumed related to prematurity, has turned into a whirlwind of emotions and craziness!

First what is cerebral palsy? 
    Cerebral palsy (CP) is permanent brain damage. It will not get worse and will not improve. There is no cure. CP is a disorder that affects muscle tone, movement, and motor skills (the ability to move in a coordinated and purposeful way). Cerebral palsy can also lead to other health issues, including vision, hearing, and speech problems, and learning disabilities (kids health.org).
    Cerebral Palsy is what John is also diagnosed with and no Ellie did not get it from him. They have told us that it is not proven to be hereditary at this point. Just coincidence!

So what are Ellie's symptoms?
    Ellie's CP mostly effects her legs. She does have tightness in her calf's and hips causing her toes to point downward most of the time which prevents her from being able to balance on her feet as she is unable to put her heel down. This is why Ellie can not walk without help, as she can not balance on just her tippy toes.
    Ellie does NOT have any comprehensible words yest, except the occasional "dada". This is still not 100% known to us if this is from the CP or maybe related to a mild hearing loss she has in the left ear. We have been told it is most likely the CP but we are holding out some hope that maybe it could be as easy as hearing!
    Ellie is very smart and seems to be doing cognitively well. She is slightly behind in social skills but was also a preemie so that we are working on. Currently they are not worried about her mental development just physical. However until Ellie keeps developing we will not know the extent to what she is capable of.

Whats is in our future?
    We have physical and speech therapy plus we also have a teacher that helps us with social skills and interactions and how to adjust our normal routine to a way Ellie can participate. We are working on sign language so Ellie can communicate with us instead of just screaming at mom and dad when she wants or needs something. She has been doing so well and is picking up the signs well. I will post what signs we are working on and pictures for followers to learn as well. Our speech therapist has told us it might be a few years if that before Ellie may learn to verbalize to us. So we are encourage all family and friends to follow and learn with us and Ellie. There has been talk of Ellie needing a hearing aid but at this point we are retesting AGAIN in September. Ellie does need leg braces to get her walking which we will hopefully get at the end of next month. And we also go for an MRI of the brain next month as well.  Besides therapist Ellie has a Neurologist, Orthopedist, a pediatric ear Dr, a pediatric eye Dr, and a development delay specialty Dr. So many to keep tract of!

And I have to tell everyone.... John named our blog!