Dancing into a new school year, Emily is now trying Hip-Hop!

Well, haven't been here for a while.  Emily started 7th grade at a new brick and mortar school.  She decided no more home school since she's not doing gymnastics so no need for home school option, and she wanted to be around kids her own age.

Emily is now trying Hip Hop one day a week and trying to keep from re-injuring the knees.  I was not able to find a good swim option for her so she played with the neighborhood kids all summer.  No stress, no pressure.  It was a good summer.

Emily has thrown in the towel on Gymnastics.

After a very long and painful battle with Osgood-Schlatter's Disease, approximately 8 months total on crutches, Emily has decided to end her gymnastics career and save what's left of her knees. This decision was not made lightly, and with much pain and tears.  Emily loves gymnastics, but sadly her body is growing too fast for her to keep going in the sport. It's a shame really, being in the gym is such a good thing for girls.

Now she'd like to pursue swimming!  So down to Sports Authority I go, credit card in hand.  New Speedo swimsuit, new goggles, gym bag.  She started out at the local swim club, only to have the building condemned within the first week of her training.  Sheesh! Back to the drawing board.

Everyone is suggesting diving for her, since she has a background in Gymnastics, but that's not what Emily wants to do.  She wants to swim laps.  Ok!  I am with her on this one.  I still picture Greg Louganis hitting his head on the springboard during competition.  OMG that was a parent's worst nightmare!  It's a wonder it didn't knock him out completely. No, I can't imagine Emily diving.  It was hard enough for me to watch her tumbling in Gymnastics. Coming back from a brain injury is no fun at all , this one I have first-hand experience with.

 So far we've not been able to get her involved in swimming, but I am still looking for a good fit. Maybe I can get her into dance if it's not too stressful on her knees.. we'll see.

Back at Gymnastika!

 After that horrendous knee injury, and over 4 months out of the gym and on crutches,  Emily's back with her friends over at Gymnastika!  I had her at Highland Hills and hoped she would want to stay there a little longer because it's not such a far drive, but the moment the doc released her, she begged to go back to Gay Lindsay's.  She loves her coach.  Even though the ortho doc hates girls in gymnastics, Emily has other ideas as to what she wants to do with herself.   Emily's  been working beam and bars and  working hard on conditioning.  It won't be long before she's back in competition form.

One month back in the gym, so far, so good

Well, Emily's been back in the gym for a full month, and still on very light duty.  She's lost her kip and desperate to get that back, she has not performed any tumbling on the floor yet and gets cleared from the doctor on December 7th.  We'll see how it goes. 

Meanwhile Emily has grown one inch, gained about 15 lbs and her shoe size has gone from a 2 to a size 4 children's, 5 ladies.  She's really growing fast, wider in the shoulders and a little taller but I fear if she doesn't grow soon, she'll be lucky if she makes it to 5 feet tall.  She takes after her Grandma June I fear.  Both her and Kerry Anne, her cousin are going to be the shrimps of the family.

Christmas is only 26 days away!  Happy holidays everyone!

Emily's finally back in the gym...

Well, starting last week Emily's been back in the gym conditioning. It's been a long time off and a long time healing from Osgood-Schlotter's Disease.  Her knee is still sore, but she couldn't wait to get back into the gym. I don't think I want her out there 5 days a week again.  She's got to use those legs her whole life.  Long after her gymnastics career.   She's still got 4 more weeks before she's cleared for full practices.  We'll see how it goes.  There's always next year.  Right now she's taking it easy at Highland Hills Gymnastics.

Gabby Douglas Wins the All Around Gold!

and her old gym whines about losing "their" champion...

Gabby's Mom owes Excaliber money
Gym owners are truly a strange breed.  With the money that they could reap from new clients, they really shot themselves in the foot with this whining.

I salute you Gabrielle Douglas not only for helping your team win Gold,  but for being the first African American woman to win the All-Around Gold at the Olympics!  Congratulations to Natalie Hawkins  (Gabby's Mom) and Gabby's siblings for making the sacrifices to help get her there.  Congratulations to Liang Chow , you are a great mentor.  Not only have Shawn Johnson and Gabby Douglas achieved their Olympic goals, but they have also been given the strength to handle themselves under the spotlight because of the confidence that you helped instill in them both.  We can't wait to see all of the champions when they come to town for the Kellogg's Tour of Gymnastics Champions - 2012

Meanwhile:

Emily has been fighting through Osgood-Schlatter's disease for most of the summer, so we've opted to take a month off of hard training as she's in far too much pain to continue her 26 hour a week regimen.  It's really close to competition season, but I'd rather she made it to adulthood without tearing out both knees.  Sorry, but it's a Mom Thing.   There will be a life after Gymnastics, and I'd like to make sure she gets there without a Handicap Placard. She'll keep up her conditioning at home and we'll re-evaluate at the end of the month.  It was hard to tell Gay at Gymnastika that we were taking a break, but I feel it's the best thing that Emily can do for herself right now, and the pain is causing her to realize that it's best to take it easy for a couple of weeks until this recent growth spurt is over with. Competition can wait awhile.  It disturbs me to see so many taped ankles, knees and wrists in this sport.

USA WINS GOLD!

USA Women's Team beats out Russia, Romania and China for the Gold!  Whoo hoo!!!!!

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