Change is good!

I don't know why I didn't write about Grace's first steps before. Maybe I was afraid that if I wrote about it wouldn't be true. Well, here we are one month later and She is still walking! I still get chills when I see her skinny little legs moving. Her smile is contagious when she is walking to me- she is so excited for this change, finally, a good change.
The Saturday after her first steps were taken, Joel asked me if I thought she would have ever walked. My answer was sincere; I had already come to terms in my heart that She may never walk. Do I dare ever put her in a box again? No way! This little girl is unstoppable! She has a story to tell, and she will!
With God, all things are possible. I truly believe that it is a miracle that Grace is walking. How does a little girl, who just the day before did not even walk independently, to taking steps across the room the next day between her daddy and I?
Her testimony is going to change lives.
Be encouraged.

In the classroom

Well, we are 3 weeks into the school year and Grace has yet to adjust. The first meeting I had with our preschool team was something like this; Teacher, "Hi Miss Grace, Shannon, how was your summer?" Me, "well, honestly, it was the worst summer by far. Grace cried and screamed almost every day, and I am exhasted! I hope her therapy team is ready to get her back on track, because without summer services we are back to where we were 3 months ago. Next summer I expect services, even if I have to drive somewhere". The teacher was surprised that Grace had regressed so much, me, I told them this was going to happen in May. I have two other kids, as well as my daycare kids, a house to keep up, and my vinyl business. I do as much therapy with Grace as I can, but it does not take the place of OT, PT, and speech.

I want this to be her year! Her year to progress, her year to shine! I know as a team we will get there...hopefully Grace is on board!

Recharge and Refresh

As I'm sitting here, my house is buzzing with a sound not often heard...it's quiet, almost too quiet. The kids spent the night at their Grandma's house last night, so I could go out with the girls. I came home at 2 AM, slept until 8:30...a true dream for this mom. Do I miss them yet? I'll be honest, and I'll say it, nope, not yet. Maybe in an hour or two, but not yet.
I had the morning to myself, ate breakfast, had my coffee, and read an entire magazine! Oh, and did I mention, I'm going to get my hair cut today too! Not in my kitchen, not at WalMart. A real salon with women in black shirts, and glasses, not cups, of water with lemon. Wow! Life IS good for this mom!
I often have this lingering "mom guilt" surrounding me, but not today. Today is for ME! Moms, all mom's, need a day to recharge and refresh. This makes me a better person, and therefore a better mom.
I have called and checked on the kids, they are fine. Slept in for Grandma, ate breakfast, and are watching Phineas and Ferb.
So, now I will sit in my quiet house...listiening to the glorious sound of nothing.

Watch me mom

I would do anything to hear those words spoken to me by my daughter. My journey with Grace began when she was 13 months old and still not pulling herself up to standing. I thought there might be something wrong, and our pediatrition agreed. Currently Grace has had 3 MRI's- and if you have a little one who has gone through this- it's very scary. She had to be put under anethesia all three times. She did fine, I did not. The MRI concluded that she has old scar tissue in the middle of her brain, thus hindering her speech and gross motor development.
We started with the Early Intervention team in our county and were blessed by the most wonderful therapists that offered in home therapies until the age of three.
Leukodystrophy, Brain trauma, Autism, Severe Needs, Special Needs, Non-Verbal...these are words spoken daily in my house. Today, we still do not a have a formal diagnosis.
Some days are better than others, for all of us. Some days my capacity and patience is amazing, others, I am overwhelmed and just want to run away.
I want to be able to use this blog to vent, meet other parents in the same circumstances, and maybe teach others what true life is like with a real family and our sweet, sweet Grace.