Inspiration

There has not been much talk about Twink and her progress or lack of progress in sometime on the blog. Basically there was really not much to blog about. She had been holding steady at the level she was at until recently.


If you've been following Twinks story for sometime hang in here with me for a few minutes as I recap a bit. During the summer Twink transitioned out of EI (Early Intervention) and into our local school district. They have been wonderful so far. Twink started an inclusion preschool this past summer. During that time it was more of a transition time. We really did not see much growth and I was frustrated. In September she started back to the same school, different class, and few of the same therapists. She receives ST 4x a week, OT 3x a week and PT 3x a week. We are now seeing amazing results!

Twink receiving speech therapy 4x a week is definitely helping. She is really starting to talk! Whenever we have to do something that requires us to hold her (brush her teeth, wash her face) she will tell us to "let go". This does not happen once, she will tell us this over and over until we let her go. LOL She tells us when she wants to eat and when she is hungry. She says her name all . the. time. She tattles on SPITFIRE by name and tells her to "go". ;) On Halloween I gave her a piece of candy and she walked over to Daddy and said "I got candy". I asked him if he had heard what I heard and he said yes. I often wonder if I hear words coming from her that are just something I want to hear. So if someone else is around I'll often double check if they heard the same thing. They always hear the same word or phrase. We asked Twink to repeat the sentence and she came out with jumbled words. I did give her another package of smarties and she repeated the sentence "I got candy"! I must say it brought tears to my eyes. There are times when she just busts out with a new word or a sentence. She amazes us.

School asked me to stop in yesterday as her new brace for her arm came in and they wanted to show me how to put it on. Unfortunately the lady that brought the brace in came earlier than expected but luckily it is much like her old one so I already know how to place it on her. When I arrived at school Twink was working at a table with her brace on. I was afraid she would not be able to use her right hand as well as she did previously. The brace is to help keep her hand open and in the correct position. We do not want her hand to contract in a closed position. Twink is still able to take the tops off makers with this brace on. She holds the maker in her right hand (affected) and will pull the top off with her left hand. She never even used to use the right hand. Oh and did I tell you Twink was writing her name with those markers?!?! She can't make the A yet but she can make the LI. Short names people, short names! LOL :) She loves to do anything with arts and crafts.

I was also able to talk with her PT. She would like me to talk with our developmental doctor next month but she thinks it would be a good idea for Twink to be fitted with a brace for her right leg. I've questioned her leg for many months (over a year) but they always wanted to hold off. Actually the dev. doc did have a PT in her office that wanted to see how Twink was doing at her next appointment way back when but she ended up quitting. We will see how things go next month after our visit with her doctor.

To think about all Twink has been through and all she still has to go through is mind boggling. We are her family and we will do everything humanly possible to help her through whatever struggles she faces. She is our inspiration.

Our daughter WILL talk clearly one day! The odds were against her and she is beating them everyday!

Tubes Are In

Sorry I did not post an update sooner. I've been feeling a bit under the weather. Whenever one of the children come down with croup I do too. I know I know, you've never heard of an adult that has had croup. Well I've had it more than once and it is not fun. My doctor said that he does not see many patients with it but he has had to admit a woman once and place a breathing tube. YIKES!

Twink had her ears cleaned and tubes placed with no problems! It was super fast and we are relieved. She ran a fever the night before so we were unsure if they would even do anything to her. Have I ever told you that Twink despises doctors and nurses? She screams at the top of her lungs. After her tubes were placed we were in recovery and every time the door opened she'd start to cry and point. At first I thought she was pointing to the popsicle that was in the same vicinity but I soon caught on. When the door was closed she was fine but as soon as it opened she wanted OUT!! She was telling me that she wanted to go. As soon as we left all was well.

Twink has been doing great at her new school. We seem to have a poop issue though. I'm not sure what to blame it on. She can not have milk and we have told the school. I believe they were giving her straight juice, something we do not do. We asked them not to do that. I started packing her lunch so that we knew what she was eating. Was better but now we are having issues again. This all started her first day of school. She also increased her medication that day. If it continues we'll have to take her to her doctor and see what is going on. I'm beginning to wonder if it is her medication. Please pray that is not the case.

We have started to work on the potty issue. Twink has cried every time we tried this. The other day I brought it out and she did not cry when we placed her on it. The last couple of nights she has cried when placed on it. Tonight though she produced a drop!! :) I plan on doing this every night to try to get her used to it. Hopefully this will work. I was floored she even sat on it without crying. Baby steps!

We had a fellow bloggy friend stop in for a visit on her way to her family reunion. As you can see Little T and Twink loved to swing. Twink did not want to sit to have her picture taken next to her though. This is what usually happens when we try to do a group picture. A photographer worst nightmare! ;) Are these girls not cute?!?!