Whats Been Going On... (LOOOOOONG BLOG!!!)

Well... It has been a REALLY long time since I wrote. Here is what has happened...

Mike - IS A DOCTOR!!! He went to Canada and defended his thesis to great success. He received an "outstanding". When his father asked Mike's supervisor what this means he was informed that Mike was given a made up mark HIGHER than the highest mark. They had to get permission to give him the mark since it doesn't exist. He was also told that his thesis is a great model for other students who are getting ready to write theirs. Ok I am done bragging but really, Mike has been in University for....almost 11 years and he works very hard. It has finally paid off!!! Next hurdle.... getting a real job!!!!

Mike's supervisor sent me a nice message saying I have received my Pht... Putting Hubby Through!!!

Mum - Since Mike left for Canada I was alone here with Veronica. We were together for 4 days before Mum came to help out. Since arriving she has been such a big help! Veronica is not the best sleeper and gets up numerous times at night... She also wakes up early in the morning ready to go. Since mum has been here she has taken over the morning play time so I can catch up on some of the sleep I have missed at night. We have done alot here and I won't describe them all but here are some high lights...



- Seeing the Colosseum twice... first time we didn't make it in due to a SCREAMING Veronica and the Rome Marathon
- Getting a 50 Euro ticket (each) for not paying for a 1 Euro bus ticket... 100% my fault
- Lots of Shopping!!!- Hail Storm
- Lots of time spent playing and enjoying Veronica - picking out outfits... playing int he bath tub... physio...
- Getting stranded in a transit strike
- Lots of good food and gelato

Veronica - Whats been going on with her???? Hmmmm... She turned 7 months on Wednesday!! She can happily "crawl" backwards and in circles... not forward yet. She is pulling herself into a standing position by herself more and more. we have had to lower the crib because she was figuring out how to pull herself up onto the bars. She is SLOWLY figuring out how to put herself back to sleep at night. Sometimes she can and others not. She tries to sleep on her stomach but every time she rolls over she immediately pushes up and wakes herself up. So for now she just sleeps on her side. She is eating more and more. She eats twice a day and likes a variety of food... prunes, cereal, carrots, pears, apples... not peas!!! It takes her a bit but she is enjoying eating. I make some of her food and bu others. The produce here is different from Canada so we have to buy the food rather than make it.

sleeping with BOTH arms up!!!

Her arm is doing well. I am happier with the physio. Now that V is more comfortable with her and doesn't cry the physio is actually able to work with her. V's arm is looser (I have noticed) and she is slowly starting to scratch her head with her bad arm...turning her arm inside. Very exciting! We had a coworker  of Mike's talk to the physio about her winged scapula and external rotation. The physio spoke to her supervisor (main doctor) about this and we have an appointment on April 11th for the doctor to examine Veronica for her external rotation. Mike also e-mailed the surgeon about her appointment in May but he is not coming in May.... Ok. He said we can go at the end of April or June.. We would like to go in June but the date is when Mike (might) be in Japan. We are going to find out if his conference is still happening and if not we will make the appointment for June.

PRUNES!!!

Other than that Veronica is doing very well! She is becoming such a FLIRT on the bus. She stands and smiles at the guys on the bus and when they smile back she squeals and continues to flirt until they get off. Then she looks around for someone else and starts making the eyes and smiles at them!!! Very Funny to watch!!

Me - I'm fine. I have been more relaxed and have enjoyed sleeping an extra hour in the morning! I have done lots of shopping finally and have pants that no longer fall down... seriously I could take them on and off without undoing them!!! I have gotten a cute short hair cut which will be nice for the summer. It is already 21 degrees here!! Tomorrow Mike and I are going on a date. I am so happy and excited to be dating my husband again. This will be the first time we have been alone together since our date in Burlington when V hung out with her grandparents and Mike and I went to the Keg! I think we are going to Trestevere which is the arty area of Rome. We are going to get all ready, put V down for her nap and then run away! She never eats when she gets up so we figure we have a good 4 hours to ourselves!!! YAY!!!

I think that is everything. I will go back to blogging more :)