Psalm 139:13-16

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Therapy Progress

Happy Thursday.  It's the day before I begin my long weekend of working, so it's not so happy for me!  :(  I think I'll just hold a baby all day!

I just wanted to update on Grace's progress with therapy.

We are seeing our speech therapist, ML on an as needed basis.  Grace is doing really well with many different foods and textures.  She does great with both smooth and lumpy foods.  I often use a food mill to make food for her.  I also mash or cut up different foods.  She is still eating baby food mixed with crackers, and she is handling that texture really well.  She still gags on slippery foods, like peaches.  We are currently working on getting her to transition from the bottle.  I thought it wasn't going so well, but according to ML, Grace is doing good with transitioning.  Haha...just goes to show you that I still really don't know a whole lot about ST.  Who knew eating was so complicated?!  Grace will take thin liquids, such as juice or milk, from a spoon, as well as from the edge of a cup.  She still refuses a sippy cup.  It's hard to really understand sometimes when I may be pushing her too hard versus just behavior.  She sometimes fusses when I am working with her, but we do have to work on it, so I push past the tears without (hopefully) pushing too hard!  We are also desperately trying to work on self-feeding!  This is a combination of ST and OT.  We are finally making progress with this!!  For the first time ever, Grace let me help her feed herself a puff last night!  I videod it today (see below).  She used to totally refuse for me to bring her hand to her mouth during feeding times.  I think we are making progress!!



Our physical therapist, KC is helping Grace learn how to crawl!  I posted a video of this a few posts back.  Grace continues to make progress with this.  Our main task currently is finding something to motivate Grace with to crawl.  KC and I are stumped!  She has definitely learned what to do to crawl, she just is very content to sit where she is.  :(  Any suggestions are appreciated!

Our occupational therapist, KP is helping Grace learn how to hold onto objects for longer, as well as use her hands together.  Because of her ACC (agenesis of the corpus callosum), Grace doesn't really use her hands together.  But she is learning!  She is using her hands together to grab balloons, as well as one of her favorite toys, a red bowl.  Sounds boring, right?!  Who knew I could've just saved all the money I've spent on buying her fancy toys?!  Balloons and a red bowl.  Haha!  Here are some pictures of Grace doing really well for OT at home.

 Both hands!
 KP says this is a higher level skill
 Rrreeeeaaaach!!!
The infamous red bowl! 

I am very pleased with my sweet girl!  She is such a hard worker and has so much strength and determination!  Anytime I'm feeling tired and not really wanting to do her therapies, I just think about her strength, and I am able to continue working hard for her.  I won't fool you into thinking this is easy...it is NOT!  We go to therapy every Wednesday and Thursday (did I mention we don't live close to our therapy place??), and we do daily therapy at home.  I try to make everything teachable but fun for Grace.  I've said this from the beginning, but she is my feisty fighter!  Go, Grace!!  :)

And here's one last picture of my baby girl!  Isn't she just beautiful?!

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Easter

Our Easter 2012 in pictures...

Our family enjoying the beautiful day
My favorite person!  :)
Picture time...checking out my Easter basket from the Easter bunny
Being silly
This bunny is just sooo funny!
Happy girl!
Loving on my Papa during Easter lunch
Too cool in my new shades!
Hey!
Kisses from Daddy

We had a great Easter celebrating with our families (minus my sister) and our church family! 


In Christ alone my hope is found.  He is my light, my strength, my song.
This cornerstone, this solid ground, firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
  
What heights of love, what depths of peace when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all, here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone, who took on flesh fullness of God in helpless babe.
This gift of love and righteousness scorned by the ones He came to save.
  
Til on that cross as Jesus died the wrath of God was satisfied.
For every sin on Him was laid, here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay light of the world by darkness slain.  
Then bursting forth in glorious day, up from the grave He rose again!

And as He stands in victory, sin's curse has lost its grip on me.  
For I am His, and He is mine, bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death, this is the power of Christ in me.
From life's first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny.

No power of hell, no scheme of man can ever pluck me from His hand.
Til He returns or calls me home, here in the power of Christ I stand.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Crawling!

"...God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalm 73:26


Monday, March 12, 2012

Birthday Party

Saturday, we celebrated Grace's first birthday with family and friends at her birthday party!

Here are some pictures of the decorations.  My friend Anna helped me decorate and I think it turned out really good!  The theme was rainbow, which of course reminds us of God's promises.  


 
And, here are pictures of the birthday girl!




 This birthday party stuff is serious!
 Who needs hands??!

Silly face!

We also had lots of family and friends who came to celebrate our girl's special day.  Many of them traveled up to 3 hours one way to see Grace!  We love you and thank you so much for your presence at Grace's birthday party!  Also, thank you for the many gifts...Grace LOVES them all!  :)


Wow---it's been a great year full of ups and downs and many unknowns.  God has blessed us with the life of our precious Grace.  HE has been faithful! 

"You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed.  Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed."  Joshua 23:14

Thursday, March 8, 2012

"Toddler" Stats

Our sweet baby is now officially a toddler!  This makes my heart both happy and sad at the same time!  Her stats are: weight 22 lb, 13 oz; length 29 in; head circumference 40.5 cm.  She is 75th%tile for weight and 50th%tile for length.  She is <5th%tile for head circumference, but her head continues to grow.  It is VERY evident that her brain is growing!  She is learning like crazy!

So what is Grace doing these days?  Well first of all, she is growing!  She is eating some table foods finally (after seeing a speech therapist).  She is also taking liquids other than formula, including a little juice and some milk.  Our pediatrician recommended keeping her on formula for a little longer until she is eating more table foods.  Table foods we have tried include: green beans, pineapple, peas, and carrots.  She is also eating yogurt, pudding, salt free saltine crackers, graham crackers, and Cheerios.  She is unable to feed herself, but I am confident she will learn this skill!

Her most recent accomplishment with PT is getting into a sitting position on her own!  She did this for the first time two nights ago, and has really been working hard!  Our next goal is CRAWLING!  I can't believe it!  She did great in PT this week, and we practiced crawling at home for the first time today and she did great!  She is doing better with her legs...we've just got to get her arms doing the right thing!

In OT, we are continuing to work on grasping and holding onto (for longer periods) smaller objects.  Overall, she is doing really well with OT.  It's a little harder to see progress with OT, but she is certainly making some!  Most recently, she is consistently able to put her paci back in her mouth!  This is a great skill to have!  :)

She currently has three teeth (2 on bottom and 1 on top), and is working on a fourth one!  She looks SO cute with her teeth!  Teething has given Grace no problems! 

I think her vision is continuing to improve.  I was testing her the other day...we were laying in our big bed and without saying anything as she was looking at me, I gave her a big smile, and she gave me a big smile back.  We did this several times!  It was very encouraging!  We will see a new pediatric opthamologist in May.

Grace is on the waiting list for an awesome school in our area!  It's called Little Lighthouse, and it's a preschool for children with special needs.  The waiting list is long (we are #33), but we are praying that Grace will get in sooner than later.  

Recently, we have had appointments with her neurosurgeon and her pediatrician.  They are both very pleased with how well Grace is doing!  And of course Chad and I are too! :)

Thank you for your prayers for Grace, and thank you for continuing to pray for her!  As always, we give all praise and honor to our Father, who has Grace in the palm of His hands.

Sunday, March 4, 2012

O-N-E

Our little girl had a big day today!  She is one year old!  We have had a great weekend celebrating, and we will continue the celebration with her rainbow birthday party next weekend!

Our Grace is a good and perfect gift from our Father, and we give Him all the praise for her.  We have truly celebrated her and God's goodness today.

Here are some pictures from today.  I hope you enjoy.  Thank you for praying with us over the past year!

 Checking out my birthday cake!
 Proud parents



 Getting ready for church

 You can see my two teeth here!
 Being a one year old wears a girl out!
 Last picture with the bunny



 From my feisty little fighter...
 ...to my feisty little one year old!  :)

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Carter

Please join with me in prayer for a precious little boy named Carter.  He is having a BIG surgery tomorrow.  His mom's blog is www.littlegiftcarter.blogspot.com