28 lbs and growing

Lauren recently underwent her fifth surgery at AI DuPont. This was to remove the screws and plates from her hip joints and to perform muscle lengthening on her right leg. She is bouncing back from this one unlike any other- YEAH! She is a fighter and anyone who knows her will agree that she is the biggest pain ever to come in such a small package. I tell her all the time to "use it for good" and we're all hoping that she will continue to push forward and get upright in the next year. So at 28 lbs. and approaching her 5th birthday this fall we are hoping that this is HER year. Thanks for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers. If you have received this blog post know that you and your loved ones are close to our hearts, thoughts, and prayers as well. With love, Lauren and family

In like a lion....

hi friends & family.....

finally getting a chance to say hi and update you guys on Lauren's progress of late. Like the season of Spring which often comes "in like a lion and out like a lamb" Lauren's past 9 months seems to be finally reaching the "lamb" stage where she is settling down from her surgery and starting to feel a whole lot better.

In March we saw her finally get past the 20 lb. mark and hopefully this spring/summer will bring big gains in the weight department. She is tolerating more food and milk, yeah! No small thing considering she was nearly 100% tube fed prior to her surgery.

She enjoys her pre-school program three days a week and continues to receive her therapy for speech, OT, motor development, feeding, hearing, and anything else they feel like helping her with!! The teachers, aids, and therapists at First Step (an ARC school in Chester County) are amazing.

We're hoping for an upward cycle to cushion us through the inevitable downward cycles that come with illness and the turning of summer into winter but for today, although she is sick w/her "umpteenth" head cold, she is feeling much better.

Thanks for your love and support. We hope this update finds you and yours healthy.

L,
Jennifer, Lauren & family

Lauren's latest

hi everyone!

Hope this update finds each of you well and enjoying the holiday season.

Lauren is slowly gaining weight and we're hoping she'll hit 20 lbs by Christams and keep going. Her pre-surgery weight was 22 lbs so we've still got a ways to go. Her hips are healing well and she'll continue w/PT to gain strength and mobility.

Her doctors, teachers, aides, & therapists are amazing people all working together to get the most of out of her and we are very thankful for each of them.

We're also thankful for each of you- our faithful friends and family members- who continue to support the brown family. We hope you have a blessed Christmas and healthy 2012.

love,
jen, lauren & family

a little more herself today

the new pics on the blog tell the story today. up a few ounces and we're celebrating the tiny step forward.

hope you & yours are well.

lots of love,
jen, lauren & family

Lauren turned 3 and maybe a corner

hi f&f,

Lauren celebrated her 3rd birthday this past Tuesday! She had a good day.

Over the past few days we are seeing an improvement in her mood and ability to keep her g-tube feedings down. Her weigh-in this week had her at 18 lbs even and we hope that she'll start gaining again.

Thanks for your love and concern for Lauren.

L,
jen, lauren & family

a bit better

cautiously optimisitic today-

lauren's ortho doc met w/us last week and her hips are healing well which is very good news. we'll see him again in 6 weeks.

she has lost 3 lbs. since the surgery which is disgusting but nothing we can do except try and feed her a bit more each day. too much food too fast and she gives it back so it's very slow going. right now she's getting about 300 calories each day and our goal is 960 calories.

sleeping 3-4 hour stretches at night which is an improvement and oops- here she is waking early from her nap- yikes! she's just not used to her new hips yet.

off for now- hope all is well where you are.

l,
jen

slow going

lauren is slowly gaining strength and her PT is going well. yeah!

she is not eating well though and sleeping is still a bunch of extended naps overnight- not fun!

she appreciates all of your well wishes and prayers. thanks so much! will be in touch-

l,
jen, lauren & family