One warm, September day we celebrated Charlie's birthday by taking Gemma to the park to have a picnic. We played on the picnic blanket, had some food and enjoyed the warm, peaceful early evening together as a family. It was really special and we knew it was probably the last time out on the park grass for the rest of the year.
The next week Gemma went in for what we hope to be her last (5th) surgery to get her heel cords released. We struggled with the decision but knew that it was the only way for Gemma to be able to eventually be placed in a standing frame that would develop her hips and spine. Without that development she would get scoliosis and be in pain. The procedure went better than expected and Gemma came out in cute, bright neon pink casts. She adapted really well and once they were taken off we were amazed that she was already pushing off the flat of her foot. What a huge difference, we are so glad it went well!
October came and we had a really fun Halloween party. We were the 'ladybug family' and our house was decorated inside and out, we had Halloween-themed foods & drinks and a caramel apple decorating room. We took all the kids around our neighbourhood for Gemma's first trick-or-treating out of the hospital. It was spoook-tacular!
