The Girls love this new DVD we got with lots of xmas songs. I snuck up on them this morning and took a few videos while they were dancing to the songs. Nothing too exciting but quite cute all the same.
Enjoy x
1. First xmas song
http://youtu.be/MwJ19zMxVKk
2. Another xmas song
http://youtu.be/oDUOQ8H2GVg
3. Last one:
http://youtu.be/ekcI_riBwp4
Morning of Jamie's Birthday Celebration, playing with her dolls - boring but cutish
http://youtu.be/402oWGijjhI
Hello again
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Thursday, December 8, 2011
8th Dec 2011 - Ash is on the move!!!!!!!
Have a look at Ash on the move.....
http://youtu.be/nfsezm5O-Tw
Ash doing another long walk today with one of the physios
http://youtu.be/FE5SB99Zdrs
Here's Ash trying some new walking sticks at the Wilson Rehabilitation Centre today, just before she went swimming (hence the swim suit!)
http://youtu.be/lcQ__ZfT67Q
Finally, this is just a cute, happy video of Ash at her preschool Christmas party a few days ago, on the train with her best friend...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oXNrGTRG_s
http://youtu.be/nfsezm5O-Tw
Ash doing another long walk today with one of the physios
http://youtu.be/FE5SB99Zdrs
Here's Ash trying some new walking sticks at the Wilson Rehabilitation Centre today, just before she went swimming (hence the swim suit!)
http://youtu.be/lcQ__ZfT67Q
Finally, this is just a cute, happy video of Ash at her preschool Christmas party a few days ago, on the train with her best friend...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oXNrGTRG_s
Monday, November 14, 2011
Nov 12th, 2011
Boy it’d been a very long time since I updated the blog, and so much has happened in that time. The overall picture is that Ashling is doing really well, and has even started taking a few steps without her walker, which is really exciting!!!
It’s been a busy few months with Ashling. She finished her rehabilitation at The Wilson Centre in July, having spent 2 days a week there for about 9 months. Ashling made massive progress during her stint there. Not only did her legs eventually get back to where she was pre-surgery regarding her walking etc, she met a lot of other milestones too. She learned how to push herself up from the ground into a seated position by herself for the first time, learned how to crawl, learned how to do tummy time etc. She had missed so many of these milestones because of the tummy tube that she had and all of the related problems afterwards. Thankfully that is a thing of the past now. The surgery that Ashling had in Jan 2011, (which was to close the gastrostomy hole), proved to be a huge success; Ashling is very comfortable on her tummy now. We are still working hard on building her strength though as she is very weak in this position.
As I said, the rehabilitation after Ashling’s 8 plate surgery in Oct 2010 took about 9 months. This was also because she had an unlucky year, fracturing her right leg twice in the same place, just above where the plates and screws were in her legs. However, despite the setbacks, Ashling finished her rehab in July and has gone from strength to strength since then.
Her 8 plate surgery was due again 2 weeks ago, to readjust the plates/screws. Even though this was a year on from her last one, Ger and I still felt that the rehab had taken too long and we didn’t want to repeat the process at this stage. The 8 plates had worked somewhat. Her legs have straightened by about 5-10 degrees and we were delighted with that. But it was a huge cost to her – a very tough year. So after a lot of hard thinking, researching and getting alternate medical opinions, we decided to have the whole lot taken out of her legs for now. We will re-evaluate things in a year or two when she is bigger and stronger. So Ashling had her surgery and it went really well. She was in casts for 10 days, mostly to protect her knees and to stretch her legs into a straight position. They came off yesterday and she is doing brilliantly. We just cannot believe how quickly she is recovering and we are absolutely thrilled with the decision we made. It was the right one for her at this time.
Otherwise, all is well. Ashling and Jamie continue to get on like a house on fire and life is good – particularly now that that there are no foreseeable surgeries in the next 12 months. Halleluiah!!!
If you get a chance to have a look at any of these videos, you’ll see just how much Ashling is coming on....
Thanks again for reading this. Lots of love, all the Collins Gang xxx
Videos:
1. Ash walking with a buggy http://youtu.be/X_BA56O-5EM
2. Ash and cousins singin "Ireland" http://youtu.be/oi6F1hDp1CM
3 Girls playing http://youtu.be/DwCi_5XmNl4
4. Girls doing twirls like ballerinas http://youtu.be/6Fnq98d8iMg
5. Girls Messing before one of the Ireland world cup games; http://youtu.be/zBGb3vKxMIc
It’s been a busy few months with Ashling. She finished her rehabilitation at The Wilson Centre in July, having spent 2 days a week there for about 9 months. Ashling made massive progress during her stint there. Not only did her legs eventually get back to where she was pre-surgery regarding her walking etc, she met a lot of other milestones too. She learned how to push herself up from the ground into a seated position by herself for the first time, learned how to crawl, learned how to do tummy time etc. She had missed so many of these milestones because of the tummy tube that she had and all of the related problems afterwards. Thankfully that is a thing of the past now. The surgery that Ashling had in Jan 2011, (which was to close the gastrostomy hole), proved to be a huge success; Ashling is very comfortable on her tummy now. We are still working hard on building her strength though as she is very weak in this position.
As I said, the rehabilitation after Ashling’s 8 plate surgery in Oct 2010 took about 9 months. This was also because she had an unlucky year, fracturing her right leg twice in the same place, just above where the plates and screws were in her legs. However, despite the setbacks, Ashling finished her rehab in July and has gone from strength to strength since then.
Her 8 plate surgery was due again 2 weeks ago, to readjust the plates/screws. Even though this was a year on from her last one, Ger and I still felt that the rehab had taken too long and we didn’t want to repeat the process at this stage. The 8 plates had worked somewhat. Her legs have straightened by about 5-10 degrees and we were delighted with that. But it was a huge cost to her – a very tough year. So after a lot of hard thinking, researching and getting alternate medical opinions, we decided to have the whole lot taken out of her legs for now. We will re-evaluate things in a year or two when she is bigger and stronger. So Ashling had her surgery and it went really well. She was in casts for 10 days, mostly to protect her knees and to stretch her legs into a straight position. They came off yesterday and she is doing brilliantly. We just cannot believe how quickly she is recovering and we are absolutely thrilled with the decision we made. It was the right one for her at this time.
Otherwise, all is well. Ashling and Jamie continue to get on like a house on fire and life is good – particularly now that that there are no foreseeable surgeries in the next 12 months. Halleluiah!!!
If you get a chance to have a look at any of these videos, you’ll see just how much Ashling is coming on....
Thanks again for reading this. Lots of love, all the Collins Gang xxx
Videos:
1. Ash walking with a buggy http://youtu.be/X_BA56O-5EM
2. Ash and cousins singin "Ireland" http://youtu.be/oi6F1hDp1CM
3 Girls playing http://youtu.be/DwCi_5XmNl4
4. Girls doing twirls like ballerinas http://youtu.be/6Fnq98d8iMg
5. Girls Messing before one of the Ireland world cup games; http://youtu.be/zBGb3vKxMIc
Saturday, May 21, 2011
May 22nd, 2011
Sorry it's been so long since I wrote a blog about Ashling. I will write a proper blog in the next week or two as there's a lot to catch up on......
But in the meantime, she's doing great, and here are some videos of herself and Jamie. Hope you enjoy them!
Some old videos from May:
1. My Birthday:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iXV4Ll3eqk
2. Another one of my birthday:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DND5RsPH1GQ
3. Kids watching a DVD - Little Einsteins - Ash singing the theme song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHYOc7cka_A
Some new ones from July to September, 2011
Cute Jamie:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIQPAdMFvP4
Girls doing Row Row:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rs7x-8Lx2_0
Girls Playing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVq2gUYtDt8
Girls singing Mr Crocodile:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jd4RnZz0Z5U
Girls Dancing in the hall:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGdjkhsFyj4
Jamie singing Mr Elephant:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1s2780-n4E
But in the meantime, she's doing great, and here are some videos of herself and Jamie. Hope you enjoy them!
Some old videos from May:
1. My Birthday:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iXV4Ll3eqk
2. Another one of my birthday:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DND5RsPH1GQ
3. Kids watching a DVD - Little Einsteins - Ash singing the theme song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHYOc7cka_A
Some new ones from July to September, 2011
Cute Jamie:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIQPAdMFvP4
Girls doing Row Row:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rs7x-8Lx2_0
Girls Playing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVq2gUYtDt8
Girls singing Mr Crocodile:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jd4RnZz0Z5U
Girls Dancing in the hall:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGdjkhsFyj4
Jamie singing Mr Elephant:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1s2780-n4E
Monday, May 9, 2011
Some new videos, May 2011
Girls Singing and Dancing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xu9udabCxoo
Girls Messing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91r7D5pgHa8
More of girls messing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZJ2vDxLdwE
Jamie Feeding the goats on holiday in Rotorua
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1whRsJ4IgQo
Ash feeding them:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uf-fpGo5sg
Girls Feeding Animals;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLONRXlKt9o
Girls Playing in Play-house
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fgoq5cfVcKY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xu9udabCxoo
Girls Messing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91r7D5pgHa8
More of girls messing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZJ2vDxLdwE
Jamie Feeding the goats on holiday in Rotorua
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1whRsJ4IgQo
Ash feeding them:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uf-fpGo5sg
Girls Feeding Animals;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLONRXlKt9o
Girls Playing in Play-house
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fgoq5cfVcKY
Friday, April 1, 2011
April 1st, 2011
These are some videos from the last couple of months. Some of them show Ashling working hard at The Wilson Rehabilitation Centre, and others are of Jamie flying around the place now. Hope you enjoy them. If you only have time to look at a couple of videos, look at the last two - they're the best. The first ones are of Ash doing her exercises.
Tummy Time on a skateBoard - very short
Ash walking with a float only
Ash kicking in the pool
Ash sidewalking in the pool
Jamie about a month ago
Jamie about a week ago - telling her Daddy to "Go Go" while he was playing with her
Ash, Jamie and cousin Leah dancing in the playPin
Jamie and Ash chatting
Jamie Laughing
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Feb 25th 2011-update on Ash
Sorry it's been so long since I've written a decent blog. Hope you are all keeping well and happy.
We are all keeping well, though very shocked by the earthquake in Christchurch.
Ashling is doing very well now after a rocky few months. She had been doing really well at Christmas time, starting to look a lot stronger when walking with her walking aid. But then she had a wee accident on her trike after Christmas, which resulted in a fracture in her leg. This put her out of action for a couple of months and unfortunately, this put her progress back quite a long way. It's been such a rollercoaster for her. Everytime her legs get stronger, something happens. Her legs are still not as strong as they were before her first knee surgery last September, but we know she'll get there again soon.
Otherwise, she's doing so so well. Her arms are getting very strong from bum shuffling and moving around the place. She's doing a huge amount of rehabilitation and she's highly motivated so it's really easy to do it with her. I'm taking her to a rehabilitation centre 2 days a week and she does lots of gym work (walking, learning to kneel, tummy time etc). She also does aquatic therapy in the pool after that. It's a big day for her but she's getting a lot out of it. Poor girl falls asleep in the car within minutes of leaving the place! We also have a girl called Renee who comes round to the house 2 afternoons a week to do more rehabilitation with Ashling. We do as much as can in between. So she's getting lots of opportunites to get stronger and she's really happy about that. I think watching Jamie flying around the place has been a great motivator for her. They get along so well, it's just gorgeous to watch them playing together. We just adore Jamie, she's been so great for our family.
The last bit of news about Ashling is that she finally had the hole from her gastrostomy repaired. As you know Ashling had a gastrostomy for over a year and after we stopped using it, it continued to leak and was very sore and problematic for Ashling. She had been on the waiting list to get it repaired. On the 17th of January she had it done under anaesthetic. It was like a mini c-section. It all went really well and Ashling is so much happier now that the scar has healed. We have finally been able to get her to lie on her tummy (after 3 years), though she still doesn't last long in that position.
She is such a happy little kid though and has a dynamite personality, making friends everywhere she goes. She goes to PreSchool 3 mornings a week and has a teacher's Aid helping her to get from A to B. She loves it there, in fact she never wants to come home!!!!
That's all for now. Lots of love xxx
We are all keeping well, though very shocked by the earthquake in Christchurch.
Ashling is doing very well now after a rocky few months. She had been doing really well at Christmas time, starting to look a lot stronger when walking with her walking aid. But then she had a wee accident on her trike after Christmas, which resulted in a fracture in her leg. This put her out of action for a couple of months and unfortunately, this put her progress back quite a long way. It's been such a rollercoaster for her. Everytime her legs get stronger, something happens. Her legs are still not as strong as they were before her first knee surgery last September, but we know she'll get there again soon.
Otherwise, she's doing so so well. Her arms are getting very strong from bum shuffling and moving around the place. She's doing a huge amount of rehabilitation and she's highly motivated so it's really easy to do it with her. I'm taking her to a rehabilitation centre 2 days a week and she does lots of gym work (walking, learning to kneel, tummy time etc). She also does aquatic therapy in the pool after that. It's a big day for her but she's getting a lot out of it. Poor girl falls asleep in the car within minutes of leaving the place! We also have a girl called Renee who comes round to the house 2 afternoons a week to do more rehabilitation with Ashling. We do as much as can in between. So she's getting lots of opportunites to get stronger and she's really happy about that. I think watching Jamie flying around the place has been a great motivator for her. They get along so well, it's just gorgeous to watch them playing together. We just adore Jamie, she's been so great for our family.
The last bit of news about Ashling is that she finally had the hole from her gastrostomy repaired. As you know Ashling had a gastrostomy for over a year and after we stopped using it, it continued to leak and was very sore and problematic for Ashling. She had been on the waiting list to get it repaired. On the 17th of January she had it done under anaesthetic. It was like a mini c-section. It all went really well and Ashling is so much happier now that the scar has healed. We have finally been able to get her to lie on her tummy (after 3 years), though she still doesn't last long in that position.
She is such a happy little kid though and has a dynamite personality, making friends everywhere she goes. She goes to PreSchool 3 mornings a week and has a teacher's Aid helping her to get from A to B. She loves it there, in fact she never wants to come home!!!!
That's all for now. Lots of love xxx
Friday, February 4, 2011
Feb 6th 2011
Hi Guys, these are some recent videos. I will write a proper note on the blog over the next few days, giving you an update on Ashling's progress. Cheers, Caroline
1. Ash having a play with Renee
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzKpFuBZQWY
2. Ash and Jamie playing in the Pools
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ed9FOFdSJA
3. Daniel playing with Jamie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiVZPn42uyQ
4. Ash sharing her ice-cream with Jamie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ff7a4T2ElMA
5. Ger taking the girls out in the wagon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zE8PmGecJ7k
6. Sisterly love- watching Tv
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHlJ3m2-ZJY
7. Jamie playing with my mobile
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHt38Ju5bng
8. Ash's first camping experience
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKinIThH3rA
1. Ash having a play with Renee
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzKpFuBZQWY
2. Ash and Jamie playing in the Pools
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ed9FOFdSJA
3. Daniel playing with Jamie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiVZPn42uyQ
4. Ash sharing her ice-cream with Jamie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ff7a4T2ElMA
5. Ger taking the girls out in the wagon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zE8PmGecJ7k
6. Sisterly love- watching Tv
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHlJ3m2-ZJY
7. Jamie playing with my mobile
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHt38Ju5bng
8. Ash's first camping experience
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKinIThH3rA
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