The Little Things #10

Today's gift is the little things #10.

So many times we get wrapped up in the comings and goings of every day life that we often miss things or we see them but nothing looks different.

Until you take a step back.

I'm out of town for one of my best friend's wedding and I am talking with my children via FaceTime.  First, let's just say how awesome is technology today that we can see our kids when away...seeing them AND hearing their voice...double bonus!  Second, I love watching them.  I love looking at them when I take a step back.

It happened before my eyes.  My daughter is maturing.  I KNEW this, but seeing her from afar has really hit me.  My baby is becoming a young lady.  Her beautiful chubby cheeks have turned into a beautiful face of a soon to be teenager.  She is taller....up to my chin!  Her hands are getting bigger. 

However, with all the changes her eyes are still bright and full of life.  Her smile is still contagious.  Her hands still fit into mine. Her voice still melts my heart.

I pray every night that one day...and hopefully one day soon, she will be cured from the Rett Monster and we can share many conversations doing whatever she wants to!  Whether it is next year, in five years, or ten years....I will wait for the chance to share a "typical" mother/daughter conversation.  

Until that day I will continue to look at her beautiful face, deep into her bright green eyes and smile.  Smile because she is mine.  Smile because I love her.  Smile because that is our language.

Here is a quote for today....

Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment- Buddha

© copyright 2012 – All rights reserved
365 Days Gift

The Little Things #9

Today's gift is the little things...#9.

My daughter was in a mood when I picked her up from school today.  It was a mood where I didn't know which way it was going to swing....get better or get worse.

I was hoping and praying it was going to get better as I never like to see her upset, but today in particular I need her to be in a good mood because she had her second chiropractor appointment.  After last week I was really excited and I didn't want to miss today.

I let her have "her space" when we got home and hoped she would come out of it...on her own.  She had some down time on the sofa and then walked into the kitchen still with her "look" and walked back over to the sofa.  I asked her if she wanted her snack and she said yes, with a smile.   I was hoping we were on our way to being in a better mood......and we were.

I don't know what it was because even after her snack she still wasn't 100% so I can't say she was hungry.  I kept trying to make her laugh to keep her spirits up so we could make the appointment.  I even called them to give them a heads up in case we didn't make it.

When I told her it was time to go and where we were going, she jumped right up and was eager to leave!  I think that is a sign she enjoys going...what do you think?!?!?!?

As soon as we walked into the office, they called us back and she was grinning from ear to ear as soon as she saw her doctor.  It was like she had been in the happiest mood all day!

I was so proud of her for pulling through and working through her "funky" mood.  I still don't know what caused it...maybe she was just tired.  However, ever since we stepped foot into the chiropractor's office today she has been all smiles.  I think this is a very good sign that she not only enjoys going, but it must make her feel better.  In hindsight, maybe I should have told her right when I picked her up where we were going....maybe then she would not have been in her "funky" mood.

Since she is of few words, I have to rely on her body language all the time.  If you know her well, you will be able to read a lot from her actions.  You know what they say...actions speak louder than words....

....and her ear to ear grin as soon as she saw her doctor explains it all!

Here is a quote for today....

Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple- Dr. Seuss



© copyright 2012 – All rights reserved
365 Days Gift

Life is Good

Today's gift is life is good.

There is a quote which I love...life doesn't have to be perfect to be wonderful. Today this quote was perfect for our day.

We have been having one of the best family spring breaks...ever. We started our morning on the beach overlooking the beautiful blue, green water, we enjoyed the afternoon by the beach front pool, ate dinner by the pool, and ended the evening sitting on the back porch overlooking the water watching the sun go down. I don't think the day could have been any better.

Even though my daughter has Rett Syndrome we always try to revolve our family vacations around her- and what is going to make her comfortable. As long as there is a pool...she is ecstatic! So all family vacations need to involve the sun...which is fine by me as I am more of warm weather person too. She does not care for the cold weather...at all. After the winter (and start to our spring!) we have had we couldn't get to warmer weather fast enough!

So while our life isn't perfect, our life is very good. Instead of focusing on the negatives, we focus on the positives. Instead of worrying, we pray to God. We enjoy every little moment.

As I watched the sun set tonight, I was so happy to experience this with my whole family. Something which happens every single day, yet something we always take for granted. Many times I have been outside when the sun sets, but I can't remember the last time I actually sat and watched it set. Having my daughter by my side to experience this with made it even more special. Something so simple, yet so memorable.

Here are two quotes for today...

I'm beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all- Author Unknown

Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated- Confucious

The Little Things #8

Today's gift is the little things...#8.

I remember shopping with my mom at the beginning of each new season for clothes and being so excited to wear them!  I remember our shopping trips and trying on tops, bottoms and shoes galore....and wanting to buy...all of it!  I still do!

Shopping for my daughter is not the same as when I went shopping with my mom.  Instead of taking her to the store, I buy the items at the store in different sizes, bring them home and see which ones fit...if any.  Or I order them online and have them shipped directly to me...which is easier all the way around.

I miss being able to take her shopping....like I did and do.  Of course I take her to the mall, but it isn't the same.  Picking out what she likes is the easy part.  It is trying the clothes on which is difficult.

Remember my post about her picking out the swimsuits she wanted...well they arrived!  Tonight we tried one on and she looks adorable in it!  Not only did she look adorable....we tried it on...without her getting upset!

This is one of four she picked out!

To get to this point, it did not happen over night.

I remember trying clothes on her used to be more of a chore than anything else.  She didn't like it and would let you know.  I would try a bottom one day and a top the next.  It would takes days to try on a bag full of clothes.  It was not fun!  And many times she would end in a behavior.  She didn't like the constant transitioning from one outfit to the next.  It was too much for her.

Getting dressed is also physically hard for her.  She requires assistance getting dressed and undressed, and she is stiff (when she wants to be...and getting dressed is not a favorite thing to do...so she locks her body up...used too), making getting clothes on and off a little challenging.  I see why she didn't like it.

However, she still had to try the clothes on to get ready for the next season.

Today, I am happy to report the days of not wanting to try on clothes is OVER!  I don't know if it was the repetition of always having her try clothes on.  I don't know if it was the fact I started buying the same pants/shorts in different colors so she only had to try one pair on to see if it fit.  Same with the tops.  I don't know if she just decided she likes to try clothes on now.  I don't know....

Or it could be a combination of all of the above.

Whatever the reason, I am thrilled for her and me!  The last thing I want to do is make her upset...trust me.  And having someone who is not fighting you like an octopus to try on clothes makes getting ready for the next season more enjoyable.  Now if only the weather would cooperate....we are READY for SPRING!

Here is a quote for today...

All great changes are preceded by chaos- Author Unknown



© copyright 2012 – All rights reserved
365 Days Gift

The Little Things #5

Today's gift is the little things #5.

This afternoon my middle daughter (she has been home so far this week with the flu!), son and I picked up my oldest from school.  On the way home I had to run through the drive-thru at the bank.  When we were pulling out of the drive-thru lane I hit the brake suddenly my accident causes the car to stop suddenly.  Which lead to lots of laughter from the back seat!

My husband would say, this is my driving.  I on the other hand have to disagree.  However, my passengers thought it was hilarious and wanted me to do it again...and again...and again.

My oldest daughter was laughing nonstop and saying "e" constantly.  I wish I knew exactly what "e" stood for...but at this moment I knew it had to mean she didn't want me to stop!

Of course I know my car probably didn't like my constant breaking, but the deep belly giggles were winning!

Hearing all three of my kids laughing from the backseat made me smile from ear to ear all the way home.  I loved how they were all laughing at the same thing and sharing in the moment together.  Every time my youngest two would say "do it again", my oldest would say "e, e"....like she was agrEEing with them!

To most people this was just silly fun in the car where the kids were laughing.  To me it was the fact my daughter understood this was funny.  She wanted me to do it again and again.   She was enjoying the moment just like her brother and sister and she was indicating so verbally (even if I didn't understand 100% what "e" meant, I definitely knew it meant she was happy, excited and she wanted me to repeat what I just did).  She was enjoying the moment.

Luckily no one got stomach sick and no one rear-ended us...it was all safe fun!  I was very careful to make sure no one was behind us when I would break.

I love moments like these today.  The ones that are spontaneous.  The ones that are fun.  The ones that make you appreciate the little things.

Here is a quote for today....

Your smile tells me more than words will ever say- Author Unknown

The Little Things #4

Today's gift is the little things #4.

The little thing she gave me today was the gift of helping me do chores.  Her brother and sister have a list of chores they have to help with around the house, but she does not.  However, whenever I can have her help me, I jump on the opportunity.

It is an opportunity for her to work on a skill, it is an opportunity for her to feel like she has a "chore" too, it is an opportunity for us to do something together.

Today's "chore" was helping me put towels from the washer into the dryer.  She stood in front of the dryer, I would hand her towels from the washer and she would throw them in.  This was quite a fun game.  I enjoyed seeing her throw some in with force and a giggle.  And of course, if she didn't make it in the "basket" she would have to pick it up and try again.

Something so simple, yet we worked on LOTS of skills.  She had to overcome her apraxia many times...to take the towel from my hand....to throw the towel into the dryer...if she dropped the towel, she had to bend down, pick it up and then throw it in again.  She worked on gross and fine motor skills.  She worked on keeping her hands apart, as I was fast in having the next towel ready.  She worked on speaking as she would tell me the color of the towel...if I knew she could tell me verbally.

Most importantly, we bonded.  We had time together....doing a typical household chore.

Here are two quotes for today...

We sometime underestimate the influence of little things- Charles W. Chestnutt

Sometimes when I consider what tremendous consequences come from little things, I am tempted to think there are no little things- Bruce Berton