Session Two: Day 14

After semi-complaining about a regression in potty training we had an amazing night with a couple potty times (#1 and #2) and then she was dry all dry again today at school and with me.  We did have one dirty diaper but we were gone all afternoon visiting friends and she went on the potty wherever we were.  Amazing!

I wanted to share with you this video I was able to take today.  You can see sometimes she gets excited and goes too fast but does really well with verbal correction and understands what she needs to do.  This was actually probably the worst I've seen her do with it.  One day the conductor literally had only on finger under one arm pit.  Again, amazing!

I Can Do This!

I'm just going to say it, I'm proud of myself!  I went downtown again today to run and while sixth street was still closed I already knew my alternate route and I kept going and I ran the whole 5K!  I knew I could do it on the nice safe flat treadmill but today I did it with hills and uneven pavement and I ran the whole way.  And, wait for it........ I enjoyed it!  It went by fast and I enjoyed listening to my uplifting music and the feeling of accomplishment was a better high than anything else.  The anxiety of Saturday coming up so quickly is leaving and the excitement is setting in.  I'm so excited that we have been able to raise money for such a great program as the Conductive Learning Center and I'm truly proud to be Legs for Laila (who by the way has been standing and walking on her own two feet some these days thanks to the amazing program at CLC)  :)

There's still time to donate at active.com/donate/teamclc/legsforlaila



Session Two: Day 13

I will confess, I didn't do a great job over the weekend.  We celebrated the kids birthday on Saturday and were gone most of the day and then I spent a lot of time working on things for our adoption.  Laila went on the potty some and did some of her exercises but normal life is hard!!  When I'm here and she's my sole focus it is easy to make sure she is on the potty but at home....  Anyway, I already knew and prepared myself that we're going to do it at our own pace.  I know she can do it and hopefully little by little she will begin to tell me more and more but for now we're going to do the best we can. 

I think Laila knew it was the start of a new session today because she was super lazy for me this morning before school and when we got to school she already had a wet diaper which is crazy because that's the first time it's been wet in the morning!  Again, I knew this day would come and go and progress with her comes and goes and there are good days and bad days.  My how I've grown up in the last two years!  (Yes, I'm talking about me, not her!) She did have a bravo at school today which is good.  I really feel also like she is so much like me in the fact that she likes her routine and when it is broken she doesn't know quite what to do.  Hopefully once we get home we'll get things going good for summer time as she'll only have 1.5 weeks of preschool left by the time we're back.

OK so now for the fun news!  Andrea (program director) was the one that was walking out with Laila today to bring her to me.  She was using the walker again (so fun!) and was doing pretty well, not her best but good.  Andrea asked me what type of walker we use at home and I told her we don't have one yet.  She said "well I'm going to make some calls because she is doing so good here with the walker, she must go home with one!"  Yay!!  I remember sitting in our final conference last session and her telling me she wasn't ready for any type of walker and I asked if she saw potential for walking (which others have said not possible) and she didn't really give me a straight answer which was discouraging.  Just six months later she's insisting she has a walker! 

Some look at us and think we're crazy and some look at us with pity but I have to tell you that we are the lucky ones.  Laila gives us the opportunity to see God's hand at work constantly.  We get to rejoice over things that just come natural to others.  We get to know and be a part of amazing programs changing lives for kids that would not otherwise have a chance.  What a blessing it is for us to be a part of a life that is so wonderful and awe striking.  Thank you God for each and every one of our amazing children!

I tried to spare the "indecent" parts ;) but here is a picture of Laila sitting on the potty after school today.  How about those straight arms?!!?

Session Two: Day 12

ANOTHER dry day at school!  We didn't have as good of luck and had one wet diaper back here this evening but we did have another poop and pee on the potty as well.  Again, I'm just amazed that she is going at all so I'll take it.  We've been sitting her on the potty for six months without success and I'm so thankful for at least the possibility that she'll go when I sit her on there now!

She's just doing amazing.  I LOVE getting to see her try walking with the walker and love that it's not a walker that basically does everything for her besides move her feet.  She's got to hold her own weight and stay upright.  I'm hoping we can find a good option for us for back home.  We've tried a few different walkers but it's just so hard because most of the ones her other therapist use give her so much support which is nice for her but could hinder her to be able to do these on her own someday.  I used to think decisions for Emma and Jackson were so tough but they are mostly a piece of cake compared to trying to figure out what's best for this little one!

Tomorrow we'll be heading home right after school to spend the weekend celebrating birthdays.  Our home computer died (again) but apparently the wireless is still working so I can post from the laptop if something really exciting happens tomorrow :)  There is no school at CLC on Monday because it is the start of a new session and they always take the first day for the conductors to rearrange the classroom and work on the new theme for the next month. 

May or may not post again over the weekend.  Thanks again for following along with us and being excited for Laila.  What a gift to be able to see a miracle in her firsthand.

Nine days till the run!

I finally went downtown and braved running outside today.  After getting into the groove of running back home and then finally getting used to running at East Hills here in Grand Rapids I figured with only nine days to go I better start running outside finally.  I had been able to do four miles on the treadmill so I was pretty confident that could do the 3.1 outside with the few small hills.  For the most part it went really well.  I did have to stop a walk some because the sixth street bridge is closed (hope they open it soon!) and since I was trying to run the actual 5K course I wasn't sure where to go!  I found a path that goes along the river and made my way back to a bridge that was actually open and ran the rest of the way.  I was disappointed that I had to walk but then I decided to run back to my car but got all turned around and ended up running up some of those steep hills downtown.  People probably thought I was a crazy person.  I think I ran past the same group of teenagers three times!  HA!  Anyway, I'm counting this run as a success and hoping I made up some of that walking time while I was running around lost.  Guess that the downside of coming for the run from out of town but it was an adventure!  :)

We've also been so excited to meet and exceed our fundraising goal again!  Still time to donate!! active.com/donations/teamclc/legsforlaila

Session Two: Day 11 Happy Birthday Laila

Today is Laila's 4th birthday!  I was pretty bummed that we are not home to celebrate with Jack and the kids but it really turned into an incredible day with lots of love and accomplishments.

Grandma Mary and Grandma B (Great-Grandma Bierma) got in late last night to stay with us and then spend the day today.  I got up early and spent some extra time with Laila getting her bathed and ready for the day.  She was also very excited to see that the two grandmas were here!  I went and bought her a new Mickey (Minnie) shirt and a new hot pink tutu skirt yesterday so she'd have something to open this morning and something special to wear.  I'm hoping her actual birthday present gets to our house in time for her to open on Saturday morning with cake and ice cream for she and Jackson's birthdays.

We went down to the kitchen for breakfast and were greeted by a Happy Birthday from AMP and Grandma Jo.  They are our friends who are staying here at RMH too and have been riding with us to school every morning.  AMP is older than Laila but is always very kind and considerate to play with her here at the house.  His grandma brings him here every four months for therapy at CLC and so everyone just calls her "Grandma Jo."  We dropped Laila at school and then headed out to do some shopping.  We ran and got some ice cream for a treat for her class for snack time and brought it back.  She enjoyed it :)  In this picture she is being helped by her conductor Lotsy (sp?) who is here from Hungary for this session.  He has a puppet named "Grandma Sue" that he uses with the kids and it is hilarious to hear him talking back and forth with her.  All the kids crack up!

When we got there with the snack she was getting ready to go to the table and this time they had her walking with the walker so that was a very fun surprise :) I love those little high stepping feet :)

When we got back to school to pick her up for the day it was an exciting sight to see!  She walked out with the walker, had a star saying that she was dry all day AGAIN and she had flowers!  I thought maybe Jack had sent them to her but then they told us that Grandma Jo bought them and AMP walked them down to her in class.  Not only is that the sweetest thing ever but it is also a great accomplishment for AMP!  She was very protective of her flowers and wanted to make sure we didn't forget them!

 After school it was off for more ice cream with the Grandmas! (Mary and B, not the puppet)  ;)  Laila ate a little of hers but then was very interested in cleaning the table with her napkin and kept wanting us to make messes for her to clean up.  She's a good helper! 

I was a little leery that since we didn't have our normal routine of going straight back to the house for potty time that we wouldn't have as successful of a day and then........ she went potty on the big potty at Culver's!  I bet anyone else in ear shot thought I was a crazy woman singing this crazy bravo song in this public restroom.  It was so awesome!  I put her to bed this evening and when I changed her into her PJs she was still wearing the pull-up I put on her this morning.  It was our first day ever with a completely dry diaper all day!  I'm still in shock.  They told me at school that I could send her in big girl undies tomorrow because it's generally their rule that three days in a row warrants a try at big girl undies the next day.  I told her I'm not sure I'M quite ready for that since I just bought my first pack of pull-ups!  We'll see what the rest of the week holds and how she does being home this weekend.  Again, I'm just rejoicing in today!

The Grandmas headed for home and we headed back to RMH.  When we got into our room we were greeted by a big balloon bouquet from Tom, Melissa, Zoe & Kate!  What a surprise!  Laila dove right in as you can see and it was hard to get a picture where you can actually see her!

I had planned to take her to East Hills to go swimming but they had classes going on until 7 and since Laila didn't get a nap today I knew that was way too late.  I was glad however because I forgot it was Wednesday and it was dog night.  She's getting braver and braver with the dogs.  You can catch a glimpse of our friend AMP in this picture :)

We felt very loved and cared for today and while we would choose daddy and the other kids over the great day we had, we are thankful for all the joy that came from this day.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LAILA!!!

http://youtu.be/Om6HMNRO5CQ

Session Two: Day Ten

Not too much different going on here today.  She came out with this again:

Another "dry all day" star!!

Today was the first day in almost a week that she didn't go potty for me when she got home from school but we tried.  I also know it's not going to happen overnight and I'm just rejoicing with the victories of today!

Cooking for the house here at RMH tonight so gotta go but hopefully some fun pictures for you tomorrow of the birthday girl!!  :)