I have been blessed....

I have made a LOT of changes for Lilah and they are paying off: First, I changed her PT ,and that has showed great promise. Second, I changed her Speech Therapist, and that has showed great promise too. Third thing I have incorporated for Lilah is Chiropractic care. What changes have occurred!!! Lilah is babbling more, exploring, and she is climbing up and INTO things. Check out this first picture I took with my phone: Not only did she destroy my bathroom cabinet, but she got "in" to do it! I call her Hurricane Lilah because she can destroy a cabinet in less than two minutes and by the time I go to the first one she is destroying another. For those that are worried, and yes, I know you are out there, I "DO" have safety latches, use them all the time, but allow certain cabinets to remain open for Lilah to play and explore. I do not mind the extra clean-up. To see her brain growing and changing brings me such joy! Today at PT and OT Lilah made GREAT strides: Here are a few more images from my phone: First, She climbed up the stairs, on her feet, and held the rails to push herself with her quads and hamstrings. Next, we put her on the bike that has Velcro on the feet, and she rode around Backus a few times. She LOVED it! I will be putting the bike attachment together that my sister, Allison, gave to Eli a few years ago and attaching some Velcro so we can do this at home.

Her O&M specialist came today to help give some input on the new walker we will be ordering for Lilah. She brought her 22 yr old student with her and THAT was awesome for me, and for Lilah. He walks with his cane, and explained to me how his vision is worsening, but he is learning with Yinka's help. He also told me that he wants to teach children, like he and Lilah, so he can help them use their devices and not be scared of them when kids make fun. SUCH a GOD moment!!!

During OT, Lilah was on the swing and stopped and signed "all done" without any prompting. TEARS welled in my eyes!!! She KNEW what she wanted to do, she communicated it, and then proceeded to get off of the swing.

And finally Lilah played with cymbals for a VERY long time today. She actually used them and went along with the beat of the music being played on the CD player. She banged those cymbals as if she was playing in a great band. Lilah LOVES music. She dances and hums, and I am trying VERY hard to get her to open her mouth and vocalizes the vowels coming out(watch videos below.)

Today was a day that ONLY God could have orchestrated. There is NO other explanation for ALL of these amazing events occurring in the same day, at the same time. Our God is awesome!!

I have a VERY heavy heart today for fellow Savannah Christian Church members, whom I do not know personally, but as a church family it doesn't matter...we are in this life together. If you hurt, I hurt. Learning last night about all the loss.: 2 fathers killed, 1 baby died, and 1 teenage girl who made a poor decision and lost her life....I am devastated for these families. My heart aches for them. I have spent the good majority of my day today praying for their peace and comfort. I cannot even begin to imagine the pain they are experiencing right now. I ask that you all stop, right now, and lift them up. Please ask Jesus to comfort them during this time of extreme grief.

Thank you.

I also have been thinking a lot about how FAST life goes. How much of a blessing it is to experience this life. We must all stop and see the beauty in each day. I am so grateful for my family. I am so grateful to be a Mother. To all of my children! I am so amazed that I was blessed to carry these beings in my womb. I am even blessed by the baby we lost. I think of her often. My children asked me a few months ago if I ever named her, and I said, "No, I think because it all happened so fast, and so suddenly, that I never did that." So, they chose the name for her, and they named her "Angel." (We never met our daughter. I was 11 weeks 2 days pregnant when I learned the Thursday before Easter in 2004 that she passed away. I had a DNC on Good Friday) Sammie tells people all the time, "There are 5 children, not four." She makes sure to include her. (LOVE that!)

I think about how blessed I am that each one of my children has taught me something SO unique about this life. I cannot begin to thank Jesus enough for allowing me to be their Mother. I am beyond grateful for each day I am allowed to hold them, Mother them, teach them, laugh with them, and LOVE them.

Thank you, Jesus, for my children who allow me to see your face each day.

I am very, very blessed.