Quick update

Nothing major to report but lots has been happening. These two little girls are keeping me running and exhausted by the end of each day. Its the best kind of exhausted.

Yesterday and today started with PT appointments. The therapists have been impressed by how well she is doing and how little there is to work on with her because she is doing so much self rehab just by wanting to be on the go. Today she asked if she could try her crutches and I had her do that in therapy. First steps were cautious but that did not last long. The first walk across the floor she wanted me close and then told me I could sit because she had this. “I got this” is quickly becoming her signature statement! 😄. She was doing all the things, steps, ramp, and uneven surfaces before the session was over. She is one tough and determined cookie!

Alex was super excited to get back out to the lobby to show LaRue how she can use her crutches again. Brought tears to my eyes as I watched them embrace and LaRue congratulate her and tell her what a wonderful job she is doing. I hope Alex never forgets what a special big sister she has.

Alex had her test socket fitting for her prosthesis yesterday. As with most firsts for her she was anxious about it and the first attempt was met with tears. After a break and some talk about the hard things she has to do to get to the big reward of walking on two legs again she was ready to try again and did the rest really well. The prosthetist was impressed that she was able to power the knee joint on the test socket already. He kept mentioning how strong she already is. She was pretty happy to get to hold her ”third foot”! That is what she calls her prosthetic foot.

Since the cast came off she has wanted to go swimming. We have friends nearby with an outdoor pool but the weather has been too cold for that. I called around to find an indoor option and after striking out several places came to the Moody Family YMCA and they graciously allowed us to use their heated therapy pool on a guest pass. Both girls were very excited. That has been such a blessing and some wonderful connections have been made there. Both days the girls have spent an hour in the water and not been ready to be done even then. Let me just say that the best PT happens when she doesn’t even know she is in therapy. She is kicking both legs when she swims in the pool, pulling up on the bars, doing flips and trying to learn to control her body so she doesn’t roll to the side with one leg being longer than the other. Swimming from one side of the pool to the other. So much great exercise.

After swimming today we found a new park to play on the playground. We had our first big hard in the world of obvious differences while at the playground. Up to this point kids have asked some questions about her foot and we have a quick and easy, kid friendly explanation that gives them what they are curious about without more than they really want or need. Typically after that they all just play together and even invite her to join. Today was different and it was hard to see but I was so proud of my girls and how they handled it. These children had unkind things to say and laughed at her. It was not loud or obnoxious but definitely for her to hear and see. LaRue and Alex just ignored it and went to play together in another area of the playground. I watched to see if I needed to get involved or if they had it under control. A few minutes later it was happening again and the girls came to me and said they were ready to leave the playground and take a walk around the duck pond. We briefly discussed what happened and how proud of them I was and then moved on to have a wonderful time walking and enjoying the animals Together. I am thankful that my girls know they are both special and unique in their own ways and that their inner self is what matters most. God is constantly working in all of our hearts along this journey. Sometimes those lessons are hard but I’m thankful i am able to see fruit in so many areas of their little lives. It is hard in these situations to know if I need to step in or need to let her handle it. Of course as mama I want to protect her but at the same time I realize she has to learn to stand up for herself as well. I know this won’t be the last time and it probably isn’t the first just the first that has been so obvious. She is so strong and so is LaRue. On our walk we enjoyed the ducks, geese, and even a beautiful swan. None of us had ever been so close to a swan before. The funniest thing that happened was a duck they named Hank who kept coming up and trying to nibble on Alex’s little leg. It was pretty silly.

We finished the day with a visit and dinner with our friends, the Thompsons and Alex had another bubble bath in their garden tub. Alex said it was big enough to swim in!

It has been a good couple of days and Alex is working and playing so hard that she is sleeping well at night. Speaking of which I need to join my girls and get some sleep myself. I hope this gives you a glimpse of the joy and challenges and helps you know how to pray moving forward.