Bailee's Surgery

When Bailee was around 3 years-old, she was jumping on our old sofa in the family room.  On her last bounce, her feet went behind the cushions and straight down into the sofa.  Unfortunately, she also connected with the inner framework of the sofa.  End result, she sliced through the toenails on her little toes.  Odd that it happened to the same toes on both feet, but that's the way it fell out.  It was off to the pediatrician for some Rx.  They healed up pretty well, but looked a little strange.  No big deal though.  Until now.

Now they look really strange, and they've become very painful - especially when shoved into pointe shoes.  As Bailee's foot doc said,  "Time to take care of this problem at last."  And so we did.  He removed the damaged portion of each toenail.  Bailee, never a big fan of shots, decided she better bring Nemo along to squeeze.  Getting shots in your toes is no fun, especially when you're a ballerina with rather impressive calluses on your toes.  This photo is right after the shots.  Worst part over. 

Well, worst part if you're the numbed up girl I suppose.  Watching the process was definitely not fun.  Removing a toenail, even a part, is pretty extreme.  Bailee peeked around her screen to watch him do the left toe and thought it was cool.  I did not find it cool.

She had some pain last night, but had a pretty good night.  She also walks like a penguin now, which is rather amusing.  For the next two weeks we're be soaking her feet in Epsom salts 4x a day so a scab does not form.  Scabs are bad in this scenario.  So, if you wonder what we're up to ... we're soaking feet most likely.

Remember Us?

I really get disgusted with people whose blog I'm following and they go months without updating.  It irritates me.  Yeah ... I haven't updated our blog since March, and yes, I am aware that this is a period of three months.  I am ashamed.  I have an excuse, but I'm still ashamed.  Sorry.

The excuse - the slow death of a laptop.  It was a pill for two months.  I couldn't get the darned thing to do anything on the internet really.  It was a pain.  In May I got a new laptop.  I had to reconfigure everything and transfer things to the new computer.  It was a little time consuming, and in May I do not have much in the way of time.  June is ballet intensive month, so time is nonexistent then as well.  So - no updates.

Till now.

Bailee had a wonderful time at her summer intensive in Pocatello at Brindusa-Moore Ballet Academy.  Despite having her phone stolen (we tracked it down and got it back - long story I'll blog about later), it was her best experience yet.  She had a wonderful time seeing all her friends from past intensives.  She also got to work with Constantin Apetrei (Ballet Apetrei in New Orleans - he trained at the Bolshoi Academy in Russia), Vladimir Bykov (Artistic Director of Central Florida Ballet and the World Ballet Competition), Monique Betty (Ballet Idaho), Geoffrey Bennett (acting instructor), and of course Sergiu Brindusa and Beth Moore.

 

 

They performed the ballet "La Fille Mal Gardee" (yup, they put this together in 3 weeks), and Bailee did an amazing job.  We were very proud of her.  This was her 5th year at intensive, and her 3rd year in the advanced class.  Such an amazing experience for her.

After the first week of intensive, Bailee's ballet studio put on a recital featuring the classical ballet variations the older girls have been learning (as well as some of their modern dance projects).  I still cannot believe I got this photo of Bai airborn.  Way to go phone!

 

 

These are some of the costumes she wore for the performance.  We made most of them, and yes, that does mean Bailee helped.  She's learning so much!

 

 

One of the cooler things about the performance was the fact that Bailee's artwork was used for the program and DVD cover.  She was very excited.

Mom is working with a home health group right now.  They are helping her to get a handle on her blood pressure and are doing physical therapy with her as well.  So far, she is doing very well.  That is very good news.  We were really worried about her in May.  Now it appears that she has turned the corner and is on the road to improvement.

Now that we are done with our ballet commitments for a time, we're going to concentrate on home.  Bailee is having her little toenails partially removed tomorrow (she injured them when she was 3).  Mom has 5 billion yard and home projects for me, so I will be very busy I'm sure!  Tired too.  ha ha