IEP and other things...

Another busy week..
Last Friday after seeing Isabelle's story in the papers, a reporter from Fox news called wanting to do a story for the news that night. He came and interviewed me, and it was on the news Friday night. We talked a lot about pool safety. It went really well, although I hated seeing myself on television (ugh)! But I would do anything for Isabelle and to spread the word about pool awareness... Like Matt says, it's like having a loaded gun in your back yard.
Isabelle kicked the ball twice while side lying in physical therapy. She also reached for the ball twice. Then on Thursday Camilla worked with suction balls on a mirror, asking her to look from one color to the other which she did very well. She preferred the yellow to the green and when asked if she wanted to get the ball she vocalized and then made an effort to get the ball. We were all impressed by her! She continues to show us just how smart she is!
The golf tournament was fun (I didn't actually play golf) but I was there and it looked fun! It was great to see people coming together for our Izzy. We are now planning a big event in June... a silent auction, moon walk, popcorn, snow cones, face painting, band playing, hot dogs, "mom's" cinnamon rolls (yum!). . . We're praying for great success with this event!
We had Isabelle's IEP at school Wednesday. I honestly don't really like these meetings, but it was very pleasant and I just sat there thinking how blessed we were to have a team of people working toward a common goal of getting Izzy better and I could see and feel the love they all have for her. They made really good goals for her and they made it clear that they could see a lot of potential. I am excited to see what leaps we make over the Summer with our new program that starts in July... She will go to Physical therapy and occupational therapy weekly over the summer as well as continue with horse riding and chiropractor.
On another note... Izzy's big sister, Amanda, had award's assembly Tuesday evening. She is graduating from 9th grade this year. She was awarded a golden falcon for all A's for her junior high career among other honors and was named valedictorian. We are very proud of her as well as Bailey and Emelia.

Emelia reading Izzy a bedtime story...

Izzy made the paper!

Izzy's story is in the Daily Oklahoman today, front page of the metro section... and also the front page of the MWC Sun. I hoped that the stories would increase awareness of drowning precautions.
Isabelle has done a few things worth noting the last week or two...
...when I picked Izzy up from school last week, her p.t. Camilla said she had been swinging Isabelle and would stop the swing and encourage her to say "go" to swing again. I don't think she ever said go for Camilla. On the way home I asked Isabelle about school as usual and then asked her if Camilla played with her on the swing. She said, "go." I said, "Oh, Isabelle, did Camilla tell you to say go when you wanted to swing some more?" and she said "go" again very clearly.
...I got a little silver ring for Izzy and she has raised her hand to show it off to several different people when asked.
...Izzy touched a little package of chocolates when sitting with me so I placed it in her hand and asked her to give it to me and I would give her a bite of chocolate. She moved her arm to place it into my hand and let go of it at the right time. I then gave her a bite of chocolate which she seemed to enjoy.
There are more, and these may seem small... but to us these things are all huge and step by step we are seeing Isabelle progress. The steps may be tiny tiny baby steps, but we are still on the path of progress.

There will be a Benefit Golf Tournament
Saturday, May 13
for Isabelle... Her chiropractor is organizing it.
Tee times start at noon.
Cost is $55 per person/$220 per team
Lunch is provided with entry fee
Prizes will be awarded
Hole sponsorship is available for $50 which includes a sign
with a business name and number or just a note that will be placed
at a hole on the golf course.
For more information call 769.1900

Izzy rides Taco!!!

Sunglasses on & ready to go outside to ride!!!
Izzy did well riding and was able to hold herself up much of the time she rode.
They could tell a difference from the last time we were there and much of the time Joy only held the edge of her hensinger (neck brace she wears sometimes on the taller horses to keep her from having her head jerked back if the horse moves too quickly).

Izzy from the back riding Taco... Look how good she is holding herself up with minimal support!!!

Happy Easter!!!!

Izzys World ...

Isabelle is HEALTHY!!!
We are so thankful for her continued good health!
Several things have been happening in Izzy's world...
1. We went to a pediatric dds last week and she wants to do extensive dental work because of some grinding etc. that took place primarily early on after her accident. We are trying to get pre-auth's from dental and medical ins. and may have a bit of a battle on our hands. Please pray that this all works out.
2. We are getting ready to head back to Ponca for more hbot!!! I think we are doing 20 dives this time consecutively. I am so excited to watch her make gains from another round.
3. Izzy got to ride Opie and goes back next Monday for another round of horse therapy. Matt was able to meet us there and see her ride. She did well!
4. We are getting everything moving on our trip to PA this Summer for brain net. Izzy's chiropractor is organizing a golf tournament fundraiser. EXCITING!

Iz had a good day today at school. Her O.T. said her head control was just getting better and better. She was able to sit at the table with her class while they dyed Easter eggs! They said she was really motivated to watch all the activity and kept her head up nicely. She later worked with the visual specialist and also did a great job at "looking."

...With God all things are possible.
-Matthew 19:26 NIV

Izzy had a good weekend! Matt's mom, aunt Jane Ellen, and sister Jane Ann spent the night with us Friday night. Isabelle decided to show off a little and vocalize for about 30 minutes with gram early Saturday morning. Later, Matt put a metal ring on her foot and she kicked it off repeatedly on both feet. It was very very purposeful and accurate kicking! She had horse therapy on Monday. Shorty was resting so she got to ride Opie. She did well, relaxing to the point of actually falling asleep. In the Fall the ride was getting uncomfortable because she was tight. She seemed very comfortable and was able to ride for at least 30 minutes. She worked hard and as a result was sore on Tuesday. We have also started some different things at home with her that go along with the program we plan to begin this summer. We have decided to go forward with our plans to take her to Philadelphia this Summer to begin a new program. We are excited about bombarding her with stimuli and look forward to awesome results. While lying on the floor the other night, Izzy rolled off her wedge mat and then rolled over again ending up face down on the wood floor. She was not happy about that and was kinda stuck... But we were happy with all her hard work. She continues to show us that she is very aware and very capable of many many things. Oh, I almost forgot to mention that the statewide visual therapist was visiting her school last week and did some light box work with Isabelle while I was in the room. She said she was amazed at the improvment in Izzy's vision since Fall! She tracked both ways and held her gaze much longer than before. We continue to praise God for our little miracle... Izzy!!!

Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me. Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD [shall be] a light unto me. Micah 7:7-8

Spring Break!!!

This is Izzy's light box. She works in her stander at school at least 30 minutes a day with Niecie... they have their own quiet cool room and she is encouraged to move the beads in front of the box to use her hands with her vision. Niecie goes to our church and she is able to pray with Izzy when they are in this room without other students. We love Niecie...

This is spring break for all the kids. They have had special days with my mother and are going to Matt's mother's house for a few days this evening. They are going to the aquatic center and movies... shopping... fun fun. Monday was Emelia's 8th birthday. We went to the mall and had her nails painted and made (another) build a bear (a cat this time) and shopped.... had lunch. It was a good day for Emelia!!!

Izzy is doing well. I'm reading a book written by the man who founded the place in PA we are going to this summer. It is really interesting... Really pushes a lot of floor time so we are trying to work that into our schedule.

Email Update sent out today (3 Mar 06)

Hello to all. I've been told it is time to send out an update! We are still on our rest from hbot. We will start up a session of 20 mid-March. I talked to the man in Dallas who is studying to be a dr. and has a special interest in hbot and he lined us out for the next session. He also suggested we go to a place in Philadelphia that specializes in stimulating the brain and gives you a schedule of activities to perform at home. We are giving this thought and prayer. Isabelle has been very healthy! Emelia (Izzy's 7 year old sister) complained of a sore throat which turned out to be tonsillitis, bronchitis and sinusitis... Isabelle continues to be the picture of health. She is really growing! We are using a TENS unit to send stimulation from her muscles to her brain. She is also continuing to go to Dr. Heath (chiropractor) three times a week. She is taking a supplement called Juice Plus daily that is derived from whole fruits and vegetables, and she continues to eat well by mouth. Matt was off work this week to get some home projects completed. He was able to go to Izzy's school and meet her teachers and therapists. He agreed that it is a wonderful group of people working with Izzy and that she couldn't be in a better program. The love they show for Isabelle is so evident every day! I think the main gains we feel Izzy has made during this first round of hbot is an improvement in her vision and cognitive. She seems to take in her environment more and more every day. Camilla feels she is standing much better and is more relaxed, not using tone to hold herself up, but muscle (which is good). We have an appointment to go horse riding later in March (yeah). I'll be sure to let you know how Izzy reacts to seeing Shorty (the horse) after such a long hiatus. Please keep us in your prayers and know that we love you for it!!!
Matt & Annie Pettigrew
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust." Psalms 91:1-2

Another good day for Isabelle. Camilla put her in the swing and she liked it. She said she had tried her in the swing months ago and Isabelle wouldn't have it. Anyway, it is good because when their class goes out to play on a nice day they can take the swing out for her to swing too.
Matt went with me to pick Isabelle up and met the teachers and therapists.

Like our new dog? Her name is officially "White Dog" since she was officially given to Bailey on his birthday... but I have unofficially named her "lady." She is a lady of a dog, she crosses her paws and is very polite. I'm not a dog person at all, but she is a great dog!
Izzy has had a good week so far. Yesterday Camilla, P.T., said she was standing very well and that she was very relaxed. She mentioned that Margaret, S.T., also noticed improvements.
Emelia is not feeling great... I took her to the pediatrician today and she has... tonsilitis, bronchitis, and sinusitis!!! She doesn't really look or act sick, but I guess she is. She is taking antibiotics.
The roofing project is almost finished. Maybe one more day and they will be done! On to bigger and better projects.

izzy & mommy 

Here is ponca City...


Well,
we did our 40 dives in Ponca so I talked to Darrin (the guy in Dallas who pushed me to go ahead with hbot) He says we should wait 2.5 months which will be right on target for spring break to do 20 more. He also said that we will see more dramatic results with our next session. I think that sounds interesting.

Izzy with Thao 

Emelia with Isabelle 

Pray for Izzy!

Isabelle continues to do really well.
We had a neurologist appointment today, I was really hoping she would be perky and alert today.
She was tired and not really very alert at the appointment, but still continues to make improvements.
The neurologist said it was 'dramatic' that she is not on any medication and not having any seizures, she also said it was 'huge' that at one year out from her accident she is not being fed by a tube anymore.
It was a year ago yesterday that Isabelle got into the pool. Since yesterday, I keep having these overwhelming realizations of how much God loves us and has blessed our family. That may sound a little strange, being as my baby drowned in a pool and all... but this last year with all it's trials has been filled with more blessings than trials. I don't quite know how to articulate how I am feeling. I am getting some sense of how deep & how wide His love is for us.
That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be strong to apprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye may be filled unto all the fulness of God. Ephesians 3:17-19
The last couple of days I have had some small sense of what I think this scripture is talking about. Also I have found lately that my prayers have been filled with more praise than with requests. In the beginning, it was more of "Lord get me through this night." and then "Lord get me through this moment." with a little praise sprinkled in there and from there it went on with prayers and petitions for Isabelle's recovery. Now my prayers are full of extreme thanksgiving and praise, so much so I can not find the words to express the gravity of the knowledge I am beginning to grasp. I have started to study the Psalms to find words to speak what I am experiencing. Some of the words I have been using to describe God are: shield, shepherd, refuge, stronghold, helper, King, defender, rock, deliverer, savior, dwelling place, and resting place. I'm not finished, but that's what I have come up with so far.
This may sound like a lot of rambling, but I guess what I am trying to say is that the Lord has lavishly and richly blessed us here in Choctaw and has blessed us with the love shown to us by our family, church family, friends, coworkers, and all of Isabelle's new friends in cyberspace.
Please join us in praising and glorifying God for what He has done for us this last year and what He continues to do.
Sincerely,
Matt P.
p.s. When wondering why Isabelle's recovery is slow, I realize that a slow-cooked miracle probably tastes a lot better than a microwaved one!!!

Psalms 34

I will bless Jehovah at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul shall make her boast in Jehovah: The meek shall hear thereof, and be glad. 3 Oh magnify Jehovah with me, And let us exalt his name together. 4 I sought Jehovah, and he answered me, And delivered me from all my fears. 5 They looked unto him, and were radiant; And their faces shall never be confounded. 6 This poor man cried, and Jehovah heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles. 7 The angel of Jehovah encampeth round about them that fear him, And delivereth them. 8 Oh taste and see that Jehovah is good: Blessed is the man that taketh refuge in him. 9 Oh fear Jehovah, ye his saints; For there is no want to them that fear him. 10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger; But they that seek Jehovah shall not want any good thing.

11 Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of Jehovah. 12 What man is he that desireth life, And loveth many days, that he may see good? 13 Keep thy tongue from evil, And thy lips from speaking guile. 14 Depart from evil, and do good; Seek peace, and pursue it. 15 The eyes of Jehovah are toward the righteous, And his ears are open unto their cry. 16 The face of Jehovah is against them that do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. 17 The righteous cried, and Jehovah heard, And delivered them out of all their troubles. 18 Jehovah is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart, And saveth such as are of a contrite spirit. 19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous; But Jehovah delivereth him out of them all. 20 He keepeth all his bones: Not one of them is broken. 21 Evil shall slay the wicked; And they that hate the righteous shall be condemned. 22 Jehovah redeemeth the soul of his servants; And none of them that take refuge in him shall be condemned.