Isla was so excited on Saturday to be going to her first dancing lesson! The teacher told us she had to wear shorts and a shirt, and she was very upset that it was cold and raining and I made her wear trackies!

We got there at 11am, the teacher said that they do 45 minutes of dancing all up, 15 minutes of ballet, 15 of jazz and then finish with 15 of tap, but suggested that Isla may have to sit out the tap as it might be a bit difficult for her.

Anyway, when we walked in the hall, the teacher told us that we were late! The other teacher gave us the wrong time, it actually started at 10.30 so we missed the dancing that Isla could do. They told us to sit on the stage and watch the tap, and that upset Isla so much, she didn't understand why she couldn't dance, so I told her to stand up and do what the teachers told the girls to do.

She tried really hard, but couldn't quite get the heel down thing that they were doing, but I can see that it will be a very good thing for my little toe-walker! She spent all day yesterday walking around going over the entire lesson!

I have to go and buy her uniform this week, I can't wait! She's going to look beautiful!

Swimming lessons start tomorrow, I've asked Mum to go in the pool with her, I can't find my cosie. She's freaking out already about going under the water, so I'll tell her teacher about that when we meet tomorrow.

We're so busy these days now, Monday is swimming, Tuesday is physio, Wednesday & Thursday are kindy, and Friday is OT and Saturday is dancing!! At least OT & Physio aren't weekly!

Will update tomorrow with how Missy went in the pool!

I've been a busy bee today so far, calling around for places for Isla doing various activities. I'm trying to find a dance class for her, she loves to dance so much, but it's so sad when you see how bad her co-ordination and balance is. I'm applying to different dance schools around the place and I hope that they accept her.

I've also found a swim school for her. Isla has never had swimming lessons before, but has paddled in a pool and dafter a very scary incident on NYD 2008 I've been meaning to put her into lessons, but then I fell pregnant and everything took a bit of a back seat. The swim schools I've spoken to have suggested that Isla may be able to go into a "normal" class, so we'll wait and see what happens.

I've also put us back on the waiting list for the Spastic Centre. Time for me to access everything available for Isla in order to get her ready for school and just to get a 2nd opinion on how she's going. I will continue to see Michael, who we adore, but I just want to see what other services/therapy groups are available to us. On that note, I might also see what the CP Clinic at the hospital has to offer.

I received a call from Isla's OT over the weekend too, and I'm trying to rebook an appointment with her too. We haven't seen Mel since around April or May of last year, which I am ashamed to admit, is WAY too long. I think Mel will be thrilled with the progress Isla has made in that time though :)

We see Michael again tomorrow to have this lot of plaster removed. Isla can't wait, and neither can I, I am so looking forward to seeing how much her range of movement has improved this week (last week's efforts were fantastic!). Hopefully she'll be just as good with the plaster saw this week as she was last week!

Lots of people have asked me how the plasters get put on Isla's legs, so today I took some snaps of the process. Michael, Isla's physio, explained everything to me, including giving me all the technical names for everything, but it's been a long day and I cannot remember any of it!!

Okay, here we go...
Step 1 - long cotton sock that goes from the toes to the knee. It's a long tube with no seams.



















Step 2 - "toe socks" as Michael calls them, bits of this woolly/cottony stuff wrapped around her toes to keep them separated. This is removed after the plaster is finished.



















Step 3 - Wrapping the foot and leg with the woolly stuff for a bit of padding.



















Step 4 - foam (??) type padding that sticks across the top of the foot (where it joins the leg, very technical, I know!) and another along the achilles tendon to prevent any pressure spots. Another foam (padded) strip across the top of the woolly stuff.














Step 5 - Wrapping the foot in the old style plaster bandages (Gypsona I think)














Step 6 - Michael goes around her foot and reinforces it with some more slabs of plaster underneath, then folds the cotton sock over the top.














Step 7 - Reinforcing the foot of the plaster with a "backslab" of fibreglass. Michael made sure Isla had purple for this weeks cast, bless him.














Step 8 - Wrapping the fibreglass plaster around the foot and up the leg.














Voila! A perfectly plastered right leg :)


Isla responded really well to last weeks plaster, Michael was very happy. He said her range went from -5 degrees to +5 degrees which is awesome. This plaster should be the last lot for now, then she'll go back into her AFO's. Botox Clinic is in a month and a bit, so I'm hoping Isla really improves in the mean time. I feel so mean putting her in her long socks and AFO's in this stinking hot weather, but I don't really have a choice.

We were a bit concerned how Isla would react to the plaster saw to remove the cast, but she was so very brave. Michael told her it was just a noisy tickle saw, and she seemed happy with that. She did say that it was hurting at one point, but it had only gone through the plaster and not touched her, I think she meant more the way her leg was being held. Hopefully she'll be as good next week having this one removed!

Here are some photo's from Isla's birthday party.

We saw Michael the physio again the other week and Isla's right leg is the worst it's ever been, now she can't flex her foot to 90 degrees (or flat) so we made the decision to put her leg into plaster, which was put on last Tuesday and comes off this Tuesday.

So far, so good. Isla hasn't really complained much at all, other than saying, "I don't want any more plaster". Poor little thing. These plasters are different to the previous one's she had, because these one's aren't "soft casts" they're fibreglass (and pink!). With the soft casts, they were a bit bendy to touch (that is a terrible description, but I can't think of another way to put it) these one's are rock hard, and thus have to be removed with a plaster saw, which Michael has told Isla is a tickle saw, just a very noisy one. Thankfully, Ian is coming with me to have them removed, she is going to freak.right.out.

The plasters were supposed to go on last week, but I postponed that round so Isla could go to the beach while we stayed at The Entrance for my SIL's 30th Birthday party. I couldn't handle the idea that we'd be going up there and having her in plaster and not being able to go on the sand or in the water. Good decision, if I do say so myself.

Here's a pic of the little ballerina in the waiting room at the physio's rooms waiting to have her plaster done. I always plan on taking photo's of the plastering process, but my hands are always needed to help hold her leg in place and bits and pieces for Michael, but with Ian going this week, I think I may just be able to get a shot or two.

And, here are some pics from our time away. Will also upload some photo's from her birthday party.

Dear Isla,

Happy 4th Birthday my gorgeous little duck.

In the past year you've grown into the most beautiful child, inside and out. You make me laugh every single day with the things you say and do. At the moment you like to talk with your hands on your hips and you're quite defiant - but adorable nonetheless. You are about to start Kindy two days a week to get you ready for Big School next year.

You love to sing and dance, right now, your favourite song is "Poker Face" by Lady Gaga much to our dismay, although you are also quite partial to Rihanna and Katie Perry too. You absolutely love doing puzzles and using the computer. You can spell "Isla", "Nana", "Pop", "Troy", "Mum", "Dad" and "Emu".

In the past year you:
* Have learnt how to ride a bike
* Moved house twice
* Learnt to write your name and draw people
* Given up your binkies
* Have taught yourself how to do starjumps
* Became a big sister

Every single day you amaze me with how far you've come, you are such an inspiration. I love you so much my most beautiful little friend.

It's been TOO long since I've updated Isla's blog. I have been incredibly slack (and pre-occupied) so while she's at Nanny & Poppy's place with Ian, I'll use the peace and quiet to update on my big princess.

Isla is doing very well. She's adjusted so well to all the goings-on around here lately, I am so proud of her. The biggest change for her to get used to has been the arrival of her little sister, Harper. Initially I was worried that Isla wouldn't respond very well to Harper coming home with us, but she's been such a treasure.

The first night that Harper was home with us, Isla went to bed as usual, but when Harper started crying at 1am, Isla woke up screaming, she hadn't heard H cry before and was scared LOL. Now, whenever H cries, Isla either puts her hands over her ears and waits for it to stop, or comes in to me saying, "I think we have a problem here" haha. She's too funny.

We haven't had physio since I last updated, it's been so hard to organise while I was pregnant (especially when her physio only works 2 days a week, and one of those days Isla is at kindy). Will try to get her in either this week or next, but it's difficult as I still can't drive after the c-section.

We've had a few lapses with the toilet this past week, I'm not sure if it's in response to Harper, or if she's just forgetting to tell us that she needs to go to the toilet. Hopefully it's just forgetfulness (is that even a word?) and things will work themselves out.

She's doing really well at Kindy, nothing but positive reports coming from there, although she has developed a bit of an attitude lately that seems a lot like her friend at Kindy, but then it could just be a phase as well.

Looking forward to Xmas this year, Isla is so excited. She's asking for a "Barbie Piano" - which is an electronic keyboard covered in Barbie - who I hate, but she's been asking for it for MONTHS now, so hopefully I can find one in the next 3 weeks! She's getting a dance cam thing which she'll be SO excited about, I can't wait to give it to her!

Not many new pics, I haven't had the time (lately!!) or the energy to take any, but will endeavour to take some tomorrow... famous last words...