It is February of 2009 already! Where does the time go? Melissa is 4 1/2!

Melissa is outgrowing her Kid Kart. We need to figure out how we are either going to grow her chair bigger or if we are going to get a new chair for her what we are going to get. She is also in need of new AFO’s (ankle foot orthoditcs basically a fancy term for braces). We will be doing new casting for her AFO’s. We will also be doing an adaptive communication evaluation. I am very curious what an adaptive communication evaluation will entail as we are new to this one. Wow, lots to do.

The bigger kids are involved with a group called Living Legacy Academy. I help out when they are there and Melissa is able to go into the pre-school class. She enjoys watching the other kids for the hour or so that she is in there.

Melissa is in some respects getting easier to take out and about and in other respects getting harder to take out. She is getting easier just because she is more predictable in when she will want to to eat, drink, etc. It is getting harder because where do you change a 4 1/2 year olds diapers? Do you pay for her when you go on field trips? She still communicates by crying and complaining to get what she needs because she doesn’t use words yet.

I know that some people ask how can I tell people that Melissa is in a constant state of change and development yet she still can’t sit up by herself or feed herself? I know it may be hard to understand to those who don’t see Melissa on a regular basis but it is true. Melissa has only improved in development in the last three years. When you have a child like Melissa any improvements no matter how little is more then what the professionals expect to ever see with her. We celebrate the little things like going from pulling back when something was put in her hand to reaching out and grasping it for seconds at a time. We celebrate that her legs can now hold her up for several minutes at a time (with someone holding her to keep her balance). So while to some it seems as if she is in the same place to us we know that she has come so very far with her development!

I guess the poem”My Child” says it best.

“My child is on the honor roll”
“My kid just made the team”
“My daughters the greatest ballerina”
“My son’s a musical dream”
We all have moments we feel so proud,
of the feats our children achieve
But the smallest task may also be,
the most beautiful gift to receive.
Let me tell you something wonderful
about my amazing child.
I called out my daughters name today,
And she turned to me and smiled!!
I’ve heard them all but I’ve got you beat,
though your not likely to understand-
I reached out for my daughter today,
and my princess reached for my hand,
People see a child in a wheelchair,
and feel sad or even disturbed-
but that magical little laugh-
is the sweetest song I have EVER heard!!