Session Two: Day Nine

Check this out!

I RAN to the van to get the camera when I saw her coming out pushing a walker!  She has gained so much strength in her arms and legs it is unbelieveable.  Obviously she still needs help from her conductor and can't do it on her own but not that long ago it took one person behind her and one person in front of her to get her to take steps and now she just needs a little help with her weight and then help with shifting from one foot to the other.  TAKE THAT, doctors and therapists who told me this would never happen!  The other amazing part is that if you know Laila you know she LOVES to show off.  Well, she's to the point now where she actually wants to walk.  We don't have to do as much cheering or singing or counting to get her to finally move.  She stands and immediately wants to talk off.  It such an enoucraging sign that she's wants to do it for herself and for a purpose instead of just to show off.  She's even so excited to walk and push her chair back to it's place after we do the potty in our room.  She likes that she's helping.  And as if that didn't already make me cry......

Then she hands me this star!  It's blurry but it says "Dry All Day."  She had a dry diaper all day, went on the potty everytime they put her on and in a deliberate way.  Instead of it just being that she happen to be on the potty for 5 min and went, she's sitting down, going fairly quickly and then yelling that she's all done.  Another huge step!  She was also still dry when we got home from school and we always do a feeding then sit on the potty before nap and she knows that now so she was asking for the potty and when I got her on there, she pooped!

Lots of happy tears from this incredibly proud momma today!

Weekend Fun Picture Post :)

Session Two: Day 8

We had a really good day.  Stacy got her late last night and she and I sat up talking like two school girls having a sleepover :)  We got up and went to school and Stacy was just so interested in everything that were doing.  We stayed most of hte day except today was the parent lunch for this session so we went over to the Omelet Shop and I got to have my favorite Mexican omelet, YUM!  I'm sure that will be fun to run off tomorrow!

Laila had another good but it was interesting to see how different she is when I'm there.  She's always looking to me for approval and it was very interesting to watch her throughout the day know which conductors she could try to manipulate and which ones she couldn't.  They had a first year student in there today and she would get so lazy every time she would be the one sitting by her.  Such a smart little one.  Gotta give her credit for her brains :)  She got one bravo at school today and then one when we got back home.  This is the third day in a row she has gone potty for me right when we get home and has a dry diaper when I sit her down.  We're getting somewhere!!  She again had beautiful standing today and I'm seeing more and more great stepping and sitting. 

If you can get past the crazy matted hair in this picture...... look at how good she is doing in the bumbo these days.  She is always asking to sit in and and is wanting to be in her wheelchair less and less.  She wants her independence so much and I'm loving it!  See those nice straight arms.... progress!!!  She couldn't last barely five minutes sitting in the bumbo not that long ago.  Today she has finally figured out using her arms like this and has been sitting there watching mickey for about 25 minutes.

Also wanted to share this picture below with you.  This one of the pictures hanging in our room here at RMH.  The first few days she would look at it and say "momma, the picture says?" and would want me to read it.  Now she just keeps looking at it and says, "momma, picture says hope!"  You gotta love this girl's insight and God's little reminders when I need them :)

It's pretty much perfect for us :) 



Have a GREAT weekend!  I'll be hanging with Jack and the kiddos in about 20 minutes!  Can't wait!!

Session Two: Day Seven

This video was from last night and I had it on my facebook but I just had to share for those of you who aren't on facebook.  She is so stinkin proud of herself and I am too!  She went on the potty for me two times last night after school and today she went at school and then again from me before her nap.  One of the great parts about it is that the last two times she has gone for me it's pretty much as soon as she sits down and I hear her start to go and she looks at me with this surprised face and says "I pee!"  She is truly understanding what I've been talking about the the last. six. months!  Obviously it has helped A TON to be back here at CLC but I think it also has a big part to do with me just having the time alone with her and nothing else to do but put her on the potty.  Back home I'm like a bus driver for these three kiddos all day long and so she is out and about a lot with not a lot of time just to focus on this.  I've really been praising God for this alone time with her.  The extra snuggles and proud moments have really done a lot for our relationship and bonding as well.  Not that we were not bonded but I think there is always another level that you can get to especially with an adopted child and then throwing a special need on top of that makes things even more complicated.  I know our last experience up here was very emotionally challenging for both of us but I know that was also a huge turning point in our connecting as well.  I'm so thankful for this time with her but of course am missing my big kiddos back home!  Is it Friday yet??  Can't wait for them to get here!!  I miss the really big one as well ;)

We're looking forward to a visit from one of our favorite people tonight.  Our friend Stacy is coming to stay the night with us and spend the day in the classroom observing Laila tomorrow.  She's been one of Laila's biggest fans since she was a little baby.  She's known her longer than me!  We're so excited to spend some time with her and let Laila show off :)

Session Two: Day Six

Well another GREAT day :)  Poop and pee on the potty at school and then another bravo for pee right when we got back before she took her nap!  She still had a wet diaper at lunch time at school but we're at least catching some of it!  I'm SOOOO excited!

She also started feeding herself at lunch today!  They were playing a game where everyone would take a bite together and they happen to not be right by her to help so she decided to do it herself!  Her aim is still a little off but they were so proud of her doing bite after bite and getting better all the time! 

Her arms are getting so much better.  She is helping more with dressing and undressing.  She tightens up at first when you ask her to straighten but then her body catches up with her brain with giving her the cue of the word straight and then she will straighten her arm out.  They are using arm braces a lot at school to retrain her body and I think we'll be having our friend Allison make us a pair.  She did however to a great job having straight arms on the potty after school today.

I wanted to share this precious picture from yesterday (I thought I'd spare you the explicit potty pictures we sent daddy ;).  She was able to spend some time with the bigger kids yesterday while we were working on the TV interviews.  These girls took right to Laila and talked and played with her.  I love watching these girls giggle about boys and be stylish with their peace signs and zebra print decorated walker and clothes.  I'm so excited to see what the future holds for Laila because I just know God is going to do GREAT things through her!

Session Two: Day 5

We started off with a very early morning today.  We got to school early to be able to be a part of the school promoting their scholarship program through the Riverbank Run.  We put on our very bright new t-shirts and were out the door at 7am.  First we were able to be a part of the group of the kids in the background while they interviewed a few other runners and then it was our turn :)  Check out this link to be able to watch the interview :)

http://www.fox17online.com/videogallery/69561870/News/River-Bank-Run-Preview-#4---4-24-12%23pl-62882988

I was nervous to see how Laila would do all day with starting out so early but once again she was a shining star for her momma :)  She had another great day at school with two bravos and one of them including a poop on the potty!!  Her standing is just amazing me as well.  I'm soaking up every minute and praying that we can keep these things up when we travel back home.

In case any of you wonder what we do in the evenings.........

snuggles in mommy's bed are pretty much a must :)  I'm trying to soak up my alone time with her while we've got it!

Speaking of not a lot of time, I've gotta go.  We got a huge packet of info that has to be done ASAP for our adoption of RJ.  Gonna try to get a little done before this little on is done watching Mickey!





Session Two: Day Four

OK yes, it is a picture of her on the potty but I kept it clean :)  She sat all by herself and we were playing peek-a-boo from side to side.  Notice we have to keep cases of formula on the chair because freakishly strong girl can pull the chair right over!

Well I did not think that on April 23 we would only be posting about day four but here we are! 

I was really nervous about today.  The past week was a huge whirlwind, tons of driving and packing and unpacking and not a lot of Laila time.  I had tried to get her back to preschool last week while we were home but never got it worked out and our therapists already had people scheduled in our spots while we were supposed to be gone so Laila got a lazy break from everything except what we do at home and I'll be honest and say there wasn't that much of that going on either.  Sad, tired, busy mommy just didn't have it in her last week.  With all of that break for her I wondered if coming back today would be hard.  When we pulled in she got a little whiny and wasn't a whole lot of smiles when I brought her into the classroom.  I wondered all day if she was crying and fighting them. 

To my surprise, her conductor today could not wait to tell me how amazing her day was.  She walked out to me pushing her little chair and then when she got to the hallway she stood all by herself just holding the back of the chair!  Liz said she did AMAZING today.  She got one bravo which she then told me about the whole car ride back to RMH.  "Momma, I go potty! Momma I pee!  Momma I bravo song!!"  I love how proud she is of herself and I'm of course the proudest mommy EVER!  She also did amazing standing at the sand table playing all by herself today.  It's a little higher table so there's a little support under her arms while she leans over the table but Liz said she had very beautiful straight legs and was very careful to use one arm straight to hold herself up while she played with the other hand in the sand and then would safely put the other hand down, arm straight to play with the other hand.  She said every once in a while she would have to put her hips back straight again but for the most part she STOOD and played on her own today.  She also loved her lunch today and ate it right up.  I called and told Jack and he said "OK now how do we trick her into thinking she's at CLC when she's at home?!?!" I told him this is why so many families move here just for their children to attend CLC. 

While we can't move here, I did sit and look at Laila before I laid her down for a nap and just thought what a miracle she is.  How different her life would be without this opportunity.  We wouldn't know about this school if we hadn't run into another family from DeMotte who has been here before and we probably wouldn't have ever come if REMC hadn't given us the grant and the opportunity.  I also probably wouldn't be here if we hadn't had an amazing friend and therapist through First Steps who believed in Laila so much that her family gave us a check and said "Here's your application money, do it!"  We are so completely loved and supported and I hope that everyone shares in the miracles God is working in Laila's life every day.  We're so excited that God gave us the opportunity to be a part of Laila's journey and the resources to give her what she needs to become who He has called her to be and all for His glory!  (I also can't wait to see the miracles He'll do for our new son hopefully coming later this year!)

Just wanted to give a quick update about the run too.  I got a whole big box of shirts and socks and lanyards for our team today.  Again, I want to thank everyone who is running and walking, donated so far and want to give a big THANK YOU to the businesses that donated as well.  We'll wear our shirts proud showing off the businesses that love our little girl and the school that lets her shine!