Mary Out and About

The last three weeks have made us wonder how we ever functioned without this little girl in our lives! Little girl has us all wrapped!

 

 

 

She is such a tough little girl and is unbelievably uncomplaining. As many times as she seizes, despite bumps and bruises all over her from all her falls, she recovers each time and just goes back to whatever she was doing. I don't know many children who would tolerate head gear, but she wore this crazy motorcycle helmet for days without a fuss while we waited for her real helmet to arrive.

 

 

She loves all things sensory. She loves other children and is LONELY at home with just Mama and Papa when the little boys are in school.

 

She's still pretty much non-verbal but does have a few words she says - some we wish she didn't have. Although we do use some signs, we are hesitant to do a lot of sign language because we know that she is capable of talking, and right now we want to encourage her to find her voice. Language is going to take her a long time, but we went through the same process with Aaron who never ever stops talking. We give lots of prompts, first letter sounds and a whole lot of praise. She loves the praise part!

 

If you signal it is time to go outside... this is where she is going to head.  No competition.

 

This comes in second place. Years ago I bought this little cart at a yard sale thinking maybe Aaron could ride. Nope. It didn't work. In fact, despite have lots of children at our house over the years, no one has ever really been able to ride it, and many times over the years I have considered selling it. I am so grateful we kept it.

 

 

Little girl isn't quite strong enough to peddle it up the incline so we have to pull her up.  Aaron wins the prize for being the best puller. He hooks a bungee cord to the front, and she peddles, and he runs up the incline. He loves doing it as much as she loves being pulled. They go around and around and around together until he wears out.

 

 

Riding down is her favorite part! She was made for the road!

 

Her seizures have decreased, but we still have a long ways to go. It's going to be a long process to figure out how best to help her. Our next appointment is in two weeks and if she has not improved with dosage changes etc. they will most likely hospitalize her.

 

She started a one day a week preschool at the homeschool co-op where I teach. We had no idea what she would think of the idea, so Papa took her in the first day. Her shyness lasted for about 5 minutes, and then she was ready to roll.  This week she pulled me down the hall to her classroom running as fast as her legs could carry her!

 

 

This past weekend she attended her first drama production; Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. We again had no idea how she would handle sitting for two hours watching a show in a totally foreign language. We had nothing to fear! Once she realized that the show involved music (her love language), dancing, really cool costumes and MAKEUP... she was hooked! One of the moms let her practice putting on makeup which was the absolute highlight of the day for her!

 

After the show was over she led me up to the stage so she could do some twirls and turns and then offer her own personal bow.

 

Once done with her personal performance, she happily helped Papa clean up the set!

 

Yep.

 

She's a gem.

 

 

We can't imagine how we functioned without her. Even so, it hasn't been a perfect three weeks. We have climbed into bed some nights completely exhausted and overwhelmed and just glad for a few minutes of respite. Keeping a child safe from non-stop seizures adds a stress that is hard to explain and difficult to live on a day to day basis. Our little boys are adjusting to their little sister and that transition brings another level of stress. We are adjusting to the new norm and trying to figure out how to get work done with a little one wanting our undivided attention. Navigating in grocery stores has been a new challenge. We can't just jump in the car and go - little girl needs her seat, sippy cups, snacks and other essentials that are not on our normal radar.  

 

It's been a challenge.

 

But she's precious and we wouldn't trade a minute of it.

 

------------------------------------

 

There are three babes who are just as precious.

 

They are all three gems.

 

CADENCE. JENNI. RONALD.

 

 

 

Undiscovered gems.

 

I'm their MACC Warrior this Christmas.

 

I'm supposed to raise 1,000 in their accounts and do everything I can to find them families.

 

My new norm isn't offering me a lot of time to do either.

 

So I have to resort to begging!

 

Please - see them.  Please!

 

I wrote about them HERE.

 

They need swings and bikes and play sand and good food and lots of praise. They need loving hands and exhausted parents. They need to upend a family. They need to wreck havoc on someone's norm. They need their bruises kissed and their medical needs addressed.

 

Please, Holy Spirit - tap on hearts for these three!

 

Cadence and Jenni are in Mary's orphanage and I would not recommend that place to anyone! Ronald is in a decent babyhouse, but he faces transfer in the next year.

 

Gems.

 

All three.

 

Please share them and please help me raise the 1,000 in their grant accounts. I'm trying to figure out what I can do to raise their funds.  I am accepting any and all ideas!!  Anyone have something of value we could giveaway? Anyone want to offer some matching grants? I'm open for ideas! My new norm right now doesn't offer me a lot of spare time but I'm open to doing what I can.  I love these three.

 

CADENCE. JENNI. RONALD.

 

covenantb@yahoo.com