The Overdue Review of Our Time in Alpharetta, Part 2

Thursday, March 17, 2011

This morning, after our first (super uncomfortable and awkward) night with the braces, we head down to the abundant breakfast buffet and then we head off to Doc Ouellette’s for a half day of treatment. Rather than start the intensive work just before we leave for the weekend, Dr. Ouellette is mainly loosening us up today and tomorrow. Afterwards, most of us head to the hotel pool and gym facilities. Everyone has fun splashing in the pool before going upstairs and crashing. For reasons I’m still not sure about, I decided to skip the swimming, and instead check out the gym. . .The only problem with this is that underneath my sweatpants, I had on my brace shorts PLUS a pair of shorts underneath those to keep them from itching. After over an hour of gasping for air and chugging water, I decided that this was NOT the best way to get exercise! :-)  Anyway, after cooling down, Carrie and I headed back to Dr. Ouellette for an abbreviated afternoon round of treatment. For dinner, we eat at an amazing mexican restaurant with live music and patio seats-perfect for the awesome weather! But by the time we got back to the hotel, Carrie and I were exhausted! However, we were surprised to see that we had gotten an adorable flower arrangement from our friends, the Paschals. The flowers were arranged in the shape of a teddy bear! That was really cool, and enjoyed by all.

Friday, March 18, 2011

After another amazing buffet breakfast (I could sure get used to this!), Carrie and I are off to another 1/2 day at Doc Ouellette’s. After saying goodbye for the weekend, we head back to the hotel, where we have lunch and I head down to the gym for another (albeit shorter) round. Because we thought we were only going to be here for a few days and packed accordingly, we (OK....the girls) decided that we needed to go shopping! As you can imagine, my dad and 9 year old brother were fully behind the idea. . .OK-maybe not! :-D We also get birthday gifts for our mom and dad, who will celebrate their birthdays here in Alpharetta. Once we’re back in the hotel room, we watch Yogi Bear. Fun! 

Saturday, March 19, 2011

We decide to go into Atlanta today, and check some things out there. We go to the Aquarium there-it’s the largest in the world...or so they say! My favorite part were the belugas-they were really hammin’ it up! There was this one that kept on rubbing up against the glass ~ :-) And finally after walking around the aquarium for almost four hours, we got to sit down in a 4D movie, complete with water, wind and vibration effects! We eat at a yummy steak place and then head back to the hotel. . . It was a fun family day!

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Happy Birthday Dad! After a family church service in our hotel room, we all head back to Atlanta to do some more touristy sight seeing! We visit “The World of Coca-Cola”!!!!!! And even though we gave up soda and candy for lent, because it was Sunday, we got to have the entire experience! We try all kinds of sodas from around the world, including one that was supposed to be wonderful. . “The Beverly” from Italy. Let me tell you-it was the MOST disgusting drink I have ever had! After thoroughly scouring the gift store, we went and saw a production of “Peter Pan” in the 360 Theatre. It was sooooo cool! Evidently, when my mom looked down the row of seats at everyone, I was totally absorbed in the action-so much so that I was totally unaware that my mouth was gaping! Oh well-at any rate, I enjoyed the show!

~Caiti

The Overdue Review of Our Time in Alpharetta

Wow- this is so late. We apologize for the big delay, and for making you wait so long for an update!

Well, Monday morning, March 14th, my dad called the doc in charge of scoliosis bracing. Dr. Ouellette, SpineCor specialist in Georgia, informed us that we needed to get an appointment set us as soon as possible, for immediate bracing. At the time, we had just completed two weeks of intensive treatment at Dr. Fuh's, and were told our spines were 35 degrees (Caitlin) and 52 degrees (mine). I needed to see an Urgicenter physician on Monday for Strep throat, and then we left on Tuesday for a 13 hour road trip to Alpharetta, GA. 

Below is a day-by-day entry of our experiences in Alpharetta, GA~ I hope you all enjoy!

Tuesday, March 15, 2011 

We're on the road for Alpharetta, GA! As a family we all get ready for a short trip to Georgia, singing silly songs and playing random games along the way. We ate dinner at a Cracker Barrel in Memphis, Tennessee, and got a cute picture of Beau being his silly self. :) After trying a couple full hotels in GA, we finally made it to one, safe and sound. Unfortunately there was no crib for Beau at the hotel, and we got to bed at around 3:30am. . . not a good combination! ;) But we were so grateful to be together, and safe- God is good!

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

It’s a big day today; we tour through old time Marietta, Georgia, ooh and ah over adorable boutiques, and go to a museum both Caitlin and I were excited about- the Gone with the Wind museum! {Probably Caitlin was more thrilled about going. . . More like going insane to see the place! ;)} 

Here are some pics from the museum- we loved Scarlet’s massive costumes. . . Not to mention Rhett! ;D After the exquisite museum, we had a delicious lunch in a local ‘vineyard’ restaurant; I’m not big on teas’, but their Georgia sweet tea was astounding! 

Right after the meal, it was time for our appointment with Dr. Ouellette. We reluctantly left Marietta and headed toward Alpharetta.  Dr. Brian Ouellette founded was a very well-dressed, kind man, who seemed to know a lot about what he was doing. We took some x-rays, and when those full- length pictures made it into the room, I couldn’t believe that was my spine. “This is not 52 degrees,” Dr. Brian said, measuring my x-rays with an electronic protractor. “This is more like. . . 83.” We were all in shock. To be honest, I started crying. 83 degrees?!  How could 52 degrees jump up to an 83 in literally a few days? {Since we had just finished Dr. Fuh.} My family in the room were all upset, and totally thrown off-guard. How was this drastic change possible? 

We got Caitlin’s x-rays next. Her curve had increased, too! From recent x-rays at Dr. Fuh’s, Caitlin’s curve was 35. But Dr. Brian brought other news. “35?” he said, “How did you get 35? This is 60!” Are you kidding me!? I truly don’t remember much after the news of our scoliosis progression. All I remember was just feeling like I wanted to die. Yes, a little morbid. 

After viewing the x-rays, and discussing them, both Caiti and I got fitted for the brace. Working like magic, {sort of :)} Caitlin’s brace was working. From a 60 degree curve, Caitlin {in the brace} got her curve number down to a 48! Praise the Lord!

Wellll. . . My turn didn’t go as well. {I’m such a problem child, I know! ;-)} In Dr. Brian’s office, I took a breathing test, because my high curve number could very likely effect my organs- lungs, respiratory system, etc. So I took the test- and failed. I tried and retried the test nearly 8 times, without improvement.  I did have strep at the time, so we let it slide and planned to test it after the infection was gone. After that I got into the awkward brace, {by awkward, I mean wearing unbelievably tight shorts, which have no use whatsoever in any fashionable closet!} and got my 83 degree curve down to an 81- barely any correction. On the verge of not going home in the brace, and being very likely to be going to surgery, Dr. Brian still wanted to see if the treatment in his office would help get my spine flexible, or possibly corrected enough for the brace. That very evening I did a mini treatment in his office. He took x-rays of my spine afterwards, and concluded that it would be best, necessary even, for my spine to be monitored the coming week. We have to be here next week? Yep. 

So we booked two side-by-side hotel rooms, ready to stay a whole week here in Alpharetta. That night both Caitlin and I left with SpineCor braces. We ate at a ‘California Pizza Kitchen,’ talked over what we learned, {such as posture is so important. Who knew that you’re training your muscles and spine to bend when slouching?} and we also discussed and planned out our coming week in Alpharetta. That evening was the hardest evening of our entire stay, because we had just received such discouraging news about how our curves were worse than when we started, and the brace was so new and uncomfortable.  So what a wonderful surprise it was, on this discouraging day, to walk into our hotel room and see a gigantic basket full of games and snacks from Aunt Jamie and Uncle Kevin! We felt so encouraged and loved by this extraordinary gift . . . What perfect timing! :D

~Carrie