Standing!

Here is Melody practicing standing with her air braces.

Melody's legs continue to get stronger.  Her PT has given us some air splints to use to mimic knee braces.  They work a bit, but I'm pretty sure a hip brace will be needed as well as the knee brace. 

She tends to sit on the top of these. :) 

Her PT has scheduled a consult with the orthodics company in a few weeks, so we will see if they agree with our assessment that Melody needs HKAFO's.  (hip, knee, ankle and foot orthotics).  Currently she has AFO's.  We are hopeful that the HKAFO's will not be a permanent brace, but rather a step toward helping Melody learn to walk. 

With the right motivation, Melody really works her legs out reaching for things.  The older kids ninetendo DS, my cell phone and Joel's domino train are all things that will motivate her to push up on her legs and reach.  She has been enjoying playing with the domino train while standing at the table in the picture above.  Yesterday, when I didn't have time to help her stand, she got so angry.  Sitting by the table was NOT what she had in mind.  Now that she knows she can stand and reach and see everything. 

I tear up often when I am working with her on standing.  Just feeling her using her knees and hips is such a blessing.  In pictures you can see that I am assisting her, but you can't see how it feels when I know I'm not helping her.  I can tell she is getting stronger, too.  I can't tell you how joyful I will feel the day I can set Melody down in public ON HER FEET!  I have faith that day is coming, and what a day it will be. 

First Hair Cut



Before

I took Melody to Cool Cuts for Kids today for her first hair cut.  It makes her look so much older, but it was time.  She watched Dora and sat in a little taxi.  She wasn't quite sure about the whole thing at times, but overall she did really well.



During



 


After



18 months

Today Melody is 1 1/2 years old!  Here is a bit of what life looks like with Melody right now. 

 Quesidillas and smoothie for lunch.  Wearing much of my smoothie.

 

Sticker Fun.  One for you, Mommy

Disaster in her wake.

Getting into everything and not too thrilled with the word "no."

Sick Thoughts

Getting the Sick Kid Treatment - Joel has Lunch in Bed

For the last almost 6 weeks someone has been sick in our family.  It has been exhausting for me, which is probably why I got sick several times through the whole adventure. 

While having sick kids and being sick is no fun, it sure gives you a lot of time to think.  That is, when you are rested enough to even think straight.

It is times like this when I am so grateful to be a full-time Mom.  I'm so blessed to have a husband who works so hard to support us all.  I'm so thankful that I get to be here to do lots of cuddling and comfort my children when they are sick.  I'm thankful I don't have to wake each morning and scramble to figure out who stays with a sick kid.  Knowing that I can always be here if they are sick is comforting.  To all of us. 

Kevin's job flexibility is such a blessing in times like this as well.  He can stay with kids while I run one to the doctor.  Or, like last week, go pick one up at the last minute if another one vomits at an inopportune time.  Yes, he still works a lot of hours, but setting his own schedule is a blessing to our family. 

I really believe the kids need their Moms and Dads to be their primary caregivers, and it is times like this when I'm so thankful we have made the sacrifices to make that happen.  It is a wonderful blessing.

Our new HOUSE!

We are so excited that we finally own a house.  A single story with a pool, which we believe will be the most helpful for Melody's mobility needs.  It even has a view.  Something we were sure we would have to give up.  We praise God for His provision.  It has been a long one-year journey from selling our previous house to buying this one. 

We will begin moving in 23 days!  The previous owners are renting back from us for a few weeks while they complete the sale of the house they are buying. 

It has been a longer journey than I anticipated, and we are thankful to be nearing the end.  All we need to do is actually get moved.  The pool is only 6 months old.  Isn't it amazing that God even had them put a pool in for us?  Perhaps that is what we were waiting for. 

These are a few pictures I have.  Kevin has many more, but these are the best I have.  Of course, I'll have lots more once we actually can move in.