Feeling Relaxed

Today's gift is feeling relaxed.

There are not many times during the day when I can honestly say my daughter is "truly relaxed".  No hand wringing, being calm and looking like she has no worries in the world.

I hardly ever see her feeling this way when she is in a therapy.  The only time at therapy she gets like this is when she is being massaged....then who can blame her for being relaxed.  I would be too!

Today, she not only had physical therapy, but also the chiropractor.

Today was also the first day she laid on the table and was 100% completely relaxed.  The chiropractor was finished and she was still laying there!  She was so relaxed, I honestly thought she fell asleep!  It made me feel so good to see her like this as I always feel like she is so tense and anxious.  It made me feel really happy to see her like this, while she was being adjusted, as usually she starts to get a little anxious right before...even though she loves it!

She even relaxed on the wave table afterwards and never tried to get up before her time was finished!

I love to see her in a relaxed state as her body moves constantly throughout the day.  It truly isn't until she is asleep that her little body stops moving.  If she isn't walking around, her legs could be jerking or her hands are wringing.....something is always moving.

I wish she could have many more relaxed days and give her little body a rest.  I can't imagine moving constantly throughout the day. Sometimes we just need to be still....and relax....and take that deep breath.  I hope she enjoyed her minute of pure relaxation, she definitely deserved it!

Here is a quote for today.....

Relaxation means releasing all concern and tension and letting the natural order of life flow through one's being- Donald Curtis

© copyright 2012 – All rights reserved
365 Days Gift

Walking Machine

Today's gift is she was a walking machine.

Wow!  She got her groove back!!!  It is so good to see.

As you know my daughter's walking hasn't been the best lately.  I know it was bothering her just as much as it was killing me to see her walk with difficulty.  However, over the past couple of days she has been getting better and better.

If her walking was good, her sitting up straight was off.  If she was sitting upright better, her walking was off.  But today....everything was great!  Everything was working like it is supposed to.

She started her morning with physical therapy.  I have to say she wasn't the happiest camper when we got there, but she pulled through (as we know she is a rock star!) and had a great session!  She was walking, running, jumping, and dribbling a ball that was easily four times her size!

Then she went to school with all smiles where overall she had a good day.  The best part of her day for me was watching her walk out to the car!!!!  I couldn't believe my eyes!!!  It has been a long time since I have seen her do this.  In between taking pictures, I was giving her thumbs up through the window!

Her busy day didn't stop after school, as she also went to the chiropractor today.  She really enjoys going and I have to say I truly believe she must feel so much better from going, otherwise she would not want to go one more place after school.

So why is her walking better?  I have no idea.  Is it the fact she went through a growth spurt and now her body has adjusted?  Is it the fact she added a chiropractor to her list of specialists?  Is it a combination of growth spurt evening out, chiropractor and physical therapy?

I do not know.

What I do know is she loves being back in her old body again.  She loves being able to walk and run freely.  I love being able to watch her go with no worries of her falling over.  I love having her sit at the table and not have to keep adjusting her as she leans to the side.  I love having her be herself again....herself... with the way we have lived with Rett Syndrome for 6 years.

As she has taught me, there are always going to be bumps in the road and mountains to climb.  This was a little bump we took, but hopefully one we can put behind us.  Thanks to the bumps and the mountains we are stronger individually and stronger as a family.

Here is a quote for today....

Sometimes God pushes us to our limits.  It's because he has greater faith in us than we have in ourselves- Author Unknown

© copyright 2012 – All rights reserved
365 Days Gift

Getting More Comfortable at the Chiropractor

Today's gift is getting more comfortable at the chiropractor.

This afternoon was adjustment day!  My daughter loves going to the chiropractor...and she knows the routine when we walk in.

Routine is key for her, as well as, repetition.  Each adjustment is done basically the same way.  Which is easy for her to remember and get used to.

Today, was no different.

Except, she was more relaxed!  Usually when she is lying on her stomach, she isn't 100% relaxed and has her head elevated a little in the head rest.  Today, she laid down and immediately rested her head all the way down into the head/face rest!  I couldn't believe it!

She was showing us how comfortable she is now going and trusts him to help her!

We also tried the "wave" table (the intersegmental traction table) at the end.  She didn't know what to think of it, but she also liked it.  It was a different sensation, but after exposing her to it, I know she will like it for sure.  Think of it as a massager.  It is an ergo-wave roller pattern which travels up the spine like a wave and all areas of your spine are covered with three independent rollers.  I have tried it too...and it does feel funny the first time, but it also feels good on your spine.

I love watching my daughter grow.  Grow at her own speed, in her own way.  There is no rush.

Here is a quote for today....

Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try- Author Unknown



© copyright 2012 – All rights reserved
365 Days Gift

Trying Something New

Today's gift is trying something new.

This afternoon my daughter added another doctor to her list.  This one is voluntary and was not a necessity.

I decided to try a chiropractor for my daughter.

There are many opinions out there about chiropractors....either you love them or hate them.  I have yet to find someone who is middle of the road.  But each person has to make the opinion for themselves and that is exactly what I am doing....for my peace of mind and for my daughter.

I will say I didn't jump on this decision overnight.  It has been on my mind for a while and I talked to one of my daughter's physical therapists who also has a daughter with special needs.  She shared with me her experience with her daughter and gave me the name of the doctor they used.  I of course want my daughter to be seen by someone who would understand her and the possibility of her getting upset...and I wanted someone who was understanding with the circumstances.

He was great.  He was understanding.  He was straight-forward.  He was patient.  He didn't try to tell me he would be able to "fix her" or "cure her".  He said he would try and make her more comfortable with adjustments and let's see how she does.

I am willing to try just about anything to help her be comfortable and pain-free.  I am willing to do anything to keep her moving.  Where is the harm in trying this?!?

She was fantastic!  As soon as he walked into the room she was all giggles and grins!  She was very cooperative and laid down nicely on the table.  She is so tense and tight it took her a couple of minutes to relax her neck and lay her head down, but once she did....she kept it down.  She let him do the adjustments and he could feel exactly what I told him in our consultation.  All the technical terms he used were the same her therapists were using.

Below are my "non medical" observations from her appointment:

• once she remained calm, head down, she was very relaxed
• as he was making the adjustments, at times she would look at me (I was on the floor at her eye level holding her hands) like...what was that...but also with a look in her eyes, that it felt good...felt right
• she always had a smile on her face
• she was in a "different" mood after the appointment.....

What I mean about a "different" mood is she was extremely happy....and loving towards me.  It is like if someone does something really nice for you and it made you feel good....that type of mood.  Which made me think and feel her adjustments, made her feel good.

It didn't stop there....her walking was better when we got home...not perfect, but much better.  So much better...she didn't want to stop walking!  This is huge!!  You know she must be feeling better if she didn't want to sit down.  And twice when she was standing WITHOUT shoes on she was flat footed...this hasn't happened in a VERY LONG TIME.

Overall, I am very happy with today's outcome...with his patience, her cooperation and her results from one adjustment.  We are going to try to go once a week for 4-6 weeks and see what happens.  If it helps her with her walking....than it is worth every second and penny!

Seeing her today after her appointment, it truly was like she had a different sparkle in her eye.  Even at dinner, she leaned over to me, grabbed my face, on her own and gave me a big kiss....out of the blue!  I think she was telling me....thank you mommy!

Here is a quote for today...

Don't be afraid to fail.  Be afraid not to try- Author Unknown





© copyright 2012 – All rights reserved