Big day and a big decision

Big Day
On Wednesday, August 6th, Gracie had her first OT session (Occupational Therapy) in a school setting... and she did GREAT! (She is currently making up sessions that were missed during the school year due to lack of staffing by the district.) This was a huge milestone for her and incredibly encouraging. Previously, Gracie has been too ill or too terrified in unfamiliar settings to even attempt spending an hour in a therapy room and thus, all session have been in our home. She has seen the therapy equipment at the hospital and in the "gym" at the infant program offices and then watched the kids play in the therapy room at school visits, but none of that was ever a positive experience. When she was doing her "social visits" to school, she refused to get out of her Kid Kart and be on the floor (which is her favorite place to be at home... although that is slowly changing, too!) so we really weren't sure what to expect yesterday.

The minute that we walked through the door, she began to cry and get very anxious. Her therapist, Rebekah, and I thought "Uh-oh" but just continued on. I took her out of her stroller and Rebekah set up a platform swing with tire on it and took a bear for a little ride! Gracie chuckled, scooted off my lap and then proceeded to play for the entire session. She tried four different pieces of equipment. The day was about play and comfort, and thus we didn't push her limits so that she'd have a very positive experience and have happy memories for our return next week. I am so very proud of her!

That wasn't the end of her busy day by any means. When we got home, Preston napped and Gracie and I enjoyed the backyard. She "helped" me plant some flowers and do some trimming, we sat under the misters on the patio and she spent some time in her Gait Trainer. When Preston woke up, we were still back there! She finally got too warm about 3:45 and we went in. I thought she'd need some down-time, but nope! She scooted off to the playroom and wanted to work at her bar and bench. She became quite frustrated when I told her she had to wait while I fed Preston a snack - - which is just so funny - - because not too long ago, she was the one signing "wait" when it was time to do all of this physical work!

Later we even had another outing to the pharmacy and grocery store which she now LOVES! (For those of you who don't know, the grocery store used to be a terrifying place for her... the lighting, the temperature variances from one aisle to the next, the smells... it was all too much for her to process.)

Needless to say, I LOVED yesterday!

On her bench - her reflection in the mirror

Signing "sit"

Working hard

Big Decision

I have given up nursing help for the time being. I know... you all may think I am crazy, but let me explain. I have spent the last 3 1/2 weeks without nursing help and two weeks of that were without any help at all because my mom was gone, too. Although it is challenging, it is not impossible. The truth is, I love it... and since I can do it right now, I am going to! The stars have all aligned - - the first one being, of course, the fact that I am not working while John is gone. The second "star" is that Miss Gracie is doing so well and improving in so many ways every day and third, Preston is no longer a "baby" and though super busy, is a sweet boy and manageable with his sister. They actually have formed more of a bond now that it's just "us" in the house. (I guess the fourth thing is that I still function very well on very little sleep! :-))

So, in the end of all this, it's safe to say that the nurse who completely flaked on us has done me a tremendous favor. I never would have known I could do this without a second set of hands in the house all day had it not been forced upon me. And the truth is, I am the happiest (and busiest and craziest) I have been in years... with the exception of my absent husband, of course!

To those who posted recently... Thanks! :-)
Cresenda - - thanks for your kind words! So sorry I missed you... I didn't even see your post until after you had passed through town. Will check out your blog! :-)
Hannah - - thanks for your kind words, too! :-) We aren't too far from each other... perhaps we can figure out a time to try and meet...? I have to tell you... We have a new cupcake place in town and when it opened, I thought of you one of your old posts about your favorite place to get the delicious treats! :-)
Catherine - - Miss you tons. Feels like forever since we last chatted! Would LOVE a visit so much! :-) I'll email you about those little collages! :-)