Pony Rides and Doctor Visits

Natalie has been asking for a pony ride for years. I had heard good things about the Pony Rides at Griffith Park in Los Angeles (near the Observatory and Hollywood Sign) so I promised her that we would go there the next time we went to see her doctor in LA.

She was a bit terrified to start (and maybe should have been since the pony took off at a trot as soon as it turned around). But in the end she loved it!
Although Peter was the right age and size for those ponies, he opted for the 'merry go round' ponies that were tied to a post and a bit safer. He loved it too.

We left Carson and Henry at home since it turns into a 5 hour trip with the driving and doctor appointment. But Natalie and Peter were good company for each other and motivated to put up with the drive since there were pony rides for a treat.

We need to visit the pediatric rheumatologist every 3 months to check up on Natalie's juvenile arthritis. She had a flare up back in November so the doctor increased her medication at that point but she has been doing excellently since them. Her joints looked so good that the doctor said we could begin to slowly decrease her dose of medication. Great news!