A Grateful Heart

One day last week I got my daily devotional via email per usual, it has really stuck with me.  It was a story about a woman complaining about all the troubles in her life to God.  She decided to take a different approach instead, praising God for all her blessings.  Quite frankly, I don't really remember how it all turned out for her but her approach has remained on my mind.

I've been walking through the past few days with a heart of gratitude.  I'm taking a hiatus from my prayers being consumed by frantic 'needs' or requests, but only by praise.  It almost certainly leaves me in tears each time.  But they are happy tears.  It is so hard to believe that after everything we've been through, our blessings are honestly so abundant.  It can be so tempting to constantly ask God for what I want but when I consider everything that I already have, it can all seem so little.

Now, I'm sure I'll be slipping in a "God, if you could just....", but the last few days my heart feels so much more full when I'm not emphasizing my problems to God.  Plus, maybe He'll appreciate my shorter request list and be more inclined to answer them :) I'm certain that's not how He works, but that's the human in me!

Today I'm unbelievable grateful for this sweet spirit and beautiful baby girl.  She has enriched our lives incredibly in just two years.  She endures far more than I could ever imagine, but is almost always happy.  For that, I am so, so grateful.

First Week Down

We made it to Friday....barely.

To say Elena and I are exhausted is an understatement.  It has been an incredibly long week but we made it.  You better believe Elena and I have spent an entire hour this morning doing nothing but simply cuddling, kissing and hugging on the couch.  Our entire week has been go, go, go so we have thoroughly enjoyed our time together this morning.  She still has another therapy in an hour and our afternoon is packed with a trip downtown to pick up some things up at the office and an appointment with our architect.  Soooo, this break is short-lived.

Elena was a champ this week.  I swear we must be the luckiest parents on the planet.  We put Elena through so much and yet, she always goes with the flow.  Tuesday was our first day at the Jackson Center.  I was in a frenzy to get out of the house on time.  The 40 minute drive was easy.  Handing my baby off to practically strangers, was not.  I could hear Elena's protests (hysterics, rather) from the waiting room.  I chitchatted with the other Moms for a bit before deciding I couldn't handle listening to her cry for the entire three hours.  The Moms all assured me their children did the same for the first few weeks, but I hustled off to sit at Starbucks for an hour.  She was quiet when I came back, which gave me a bit of assurance.  The report at the end of the first day was mixed.  She did cry, a lot.  But, they said she relented and participated in a majority of the therapies.  I think the scariest part for her is being handled by a bunch of people she doesn't know.  In my mind, that would be incredibly scary too, especially considering she relies on the sound of their voice and their touch.  Poor baby.  We raced home for a quick nap before another therapy later that afternoon.

Thursday was better, well and worse.  She cried harder, sooner when I handed her over.  So, I immediately darted out of the door and off to Starbucks.  Again, she was quiet when I came back.  They said she cried for about 30 minutes pretty hard then did really well with the therapies they put her through.  We again raced home for a nap before an appointment with her Vision Teacher.

All in all, I can't believe how well she did for her first week.  She easily could have cried for the entire three hours.  She easily could have cried through the two additional therapies I put her through in the afternoons.  But, per usual she adjusted.  She's two...not many two year olds can last through three hours of anything, let alone a rigorous work out and tasks that are incredibly difficult for her.  So, I'm proud of my little gal this week.  We made it, no doubt with the help of your prayers, emails and texts!  Thank you!

And next week....her first day of her other "school"...Mother's Day Out!

Goodbye Summer!

Last week marked the unofficial end to our summer.  We seriously enjoyed our last week of practically any free time.  Elena didn't have therapy at all last Tuesday, Thursday and Friday so we lived it up!  On Tuesday, Gramma came up and played with Laney while I got to run all the errands I had been stocking up.  Thursday, we went down to Gramma's with my cousin and her two girls to swim and have lunch.  Elena has really enjoyed all her pool time this summer!  Friday, Gramma, Elena and I went to the Indiana State Museum to check out the Abraham Lincoln exhibit and had lunch on their terrace overlooking the canal.  It was such a fun week!  I wasn't stressed about napping and schedules...what a reprieve!

But this week, so it begins.  Tomorrow will be an early morning as we head down to Elena's new therapy in Mooresville.  I'm not sure how things will go...for her or me, so prayers this week will be much appreciated.  August is going to be a whirlwind of a month.  She'll be in therapy 11 hours a week and for whatever reason, she has at least one doctor appointment a week this month.  So, needless to say, we'll be girls on the go!

Elena's been enjoying another nice little bump from the Botox the last couple weeks.  She's been able to use her arms a little more, which is so encouraging.  It's another reminder to us that she really can comprehend what we are asking of her, it's just so hard for her little body to communicate that she understands.  We're praying that the Botox continues to work as well as it has these last couple weeks.

I'll leave you with a little video from last week.  Elena is borrowing a "switch" from a family we met here in the neighborhood.  Their son will be in Elena's class at the Jackson Center.  A switch is basically a button that you plug into an adapted toy.  When Elena pushes the big button, it makes the toy turn on, teaching her cause and effect.  We tried the switch for the first time with her in therapy last week, and she got the hang of it very quickly!  I've never seen her be able to use her arms that much at once...it was so exciting for me to see.

Thanks for all the prayers this week!  I'll let you know how everything goes!

Birthday Botox

Last week was my big 29th birthday.  So, I packed up the car drove to the doctor for some much needed Botox.....for Elena!  Though, teetering on the edge of my 30's has me finding a few more grays and another wrinkle or two!

But really, on my birthday last week, Elena had another round of Botox injected into her inner thighs, hamstrings and triceps.  As usual, it was painful for both Elena and Mom and Dad.  But, she's had a great week in therapy no doubt attributed to the Botox.  Keep praying that this round of Botox will continue to produce good boosts in progress.

Last weekend, we had a mini-getaway to French Lick for a family reunion.  Elena was such a champ.  We spent some time in the pool, which she absolutely loves.  She stayed up with all of us, enjoying a ragtime band, on the veranda of the hotel until nearly 10pm.  She loved the music!  And best of all, she enjoyed a queen size bed all to herself!  She's getting much too big to sleep comfortably in a pack n' play, so we nestled her into the bed and she did great.  It reminds me that my little peanut is no longer a baby!

We're enjoying our last two weeks of "summer" before Elena begins at the Jackson Center.  As the date approaches, I'm starting to get very apprehensive about it.  I'm not just nervous about doubling the amount of rigorous therapy Elena will be receiving on a weekly basis.  It's lots of things.  The first few sessions I anticipate will be miserable, as Elena will have to adjust to strangers pushing her through tough physical activities for three hours.  I'm not sure I will be able to even watch.  I'm nervous about pushing her too hard.  I'm anxious about our new weekly schedule, and if we'll have time for anything else.  This is going to be a big step and huge adjustment for Elena and me.  Your prayers over the next couple weeks will certainly be appreciated.  I know I'll be praying my way that first week.

I'll leave you on a higher note with a sneak peek of Elena's two year pictures.  Our dear friend and reliable photographer, Sam, knocked it out of the park again.  We've only seen one picture and it immediately made Chad and me giggle.  It captures exactly our precious Elena.....our happy, easy-going, full of smiles, Elena.

Videos

We've been taking quite a few videos of Elena the last couple months.  I'm trying to do a better job of capturing some of her therapy-based moments so that *hopefully* this time next year, we can giggle about about all the progress she's made!  

The first was from back in June when we were testing out a gait trainer for Elena.  It was her first time being upright like that and able to move her legs in a stepping motion.  She really did a great job, taking a few steps with her right, but like everything that left side is tough for her to control.  Still, it was so precious to see how proud she was of herself after taking a step!  

This next one, is from the other day when Elena and I were working on some vision and touching exercises.  I put this toy in her hand her little arm just started shaking it!  We've really been pushing her to learn specific commands.  We get so excited when we observe her understanding a command and actually is able to act on it.  It was even better when she started to try and put the toy in her mouth!  Considering how orally averse she is to pretty much anything, this is great!

This last one, is from the same day working on sitting in one of her therapy sessions.  She is just so darn close!  Elena has high muscle tone in her extremities and low tone in her neck and trunk so sitting for her is the ultimate balancing act.  We treat her high tone with Botox; if only there were a way to take the tone out of her extremities and put it into her trunk!   Keep praying she accomplishes this goal soon...it's soooo important!

I'm just now getting around to uploading pictures from her birthday party...so I hope to share those with you later this week.  Thanks for all your continued prayers and love for our little sweet pea!

She's T-W-O!

Good Lord, how is my baby TWO?  I know every parent says that, but honestly I have a hard time believing that my sweet Elena is two.

Two years ago I was soooo over being pregnant ready to meet my little boy or girl.

Two years ago the doctor announced "It's a GIRL!"

Two years ago I laid my eyes upon the sweetest little face I had ever seen.

Two years ago my life changed forever.

Elena came into our lives and made us feel a love you can never describe.  She has made my heart grow to the size of Texas with love, compassion and tenderness.  Our lives have become more chaotic but we wouldn't change it for the world.  Her smile melts my heart and her giggle is contagious.  She is the best cuddle bug and never tires of my excessive hugs and kisses.  My Elena is the sweetest soul.  I can't imagine my life without her.  I became Elena Catherine's Mommy two years ago and there's been no greater moment in my life.

For Elena, each birthday truly is a celebration of her life, a life that was spared for a greater purpose.  Each birthday is an incredible blessing to us.

Happy, happy birthday my darling, my sweet, my precious, Elena!  We love you more than could ever be put into words.

Santa Barbara

Boy, am I backed up on blogging.  I feel like I have about five posts I need to publish!

I'll start with our trip a few weeks ago to Santa Barbara, California.  Each year Chad's company rewards those on their sales team who exceed their goals, with a fabulous trip.  Chad and I went out for a few days and came back wondering why exactly we live in Indiana!  I mean the Midwest is great and all, but I'm pretty sure I found my little piece of heaven.  It's a beautiful part of the country with the most ideal weather.  I would assume that's why real estate costs what it does out there!

Anyway, we enjoyed laying by the pool, amazing food and the great people that Chad works with.  Laney was great for my Mom and Dad, which helped us relax all the more.

 Chad's ugly catch

 I hate running but I'm pretty sure I would run this path every day!

 Part of the crew on the last night

 We're soooooo Hollywood!

Some more of our friends, you know Sammy, Dean, Frank and Marilyn.