We were so happy to go to Houston for Easter this year! This very same time last year, Retta was still in heart failure and we were unable to travel with her.
We gave her a few curls and a string of pearls and she was ready to go!
Retta and Grandma before Mass on Easter Sunday
2013!
And after Mass!
This was the best family pic out of about twenty!
Uncle Brian's taking the picture.
Retta didn't want to wear the bunny ears, so Szymon volunteered!
Then we packed up and headed over to Aunt Gina's for lunch! Retta was not herself and fearful to go to anyone but Szymon, Grandma or I. If Grandpa or Uncle Brian were to even look at her - the lip would start to curl. We call them "the monsters!" This was the theme for the entire weekend.
But, she found some respite with cousins who also shared an interest in Easter Eggs!
Snap, just like that! Retta has just taken off this month!
A day hasn't gone by within the last month without being completely taken back by something new Retta is doing! She is starting to engaged in pretend play and just loves to kiss, hug and feed her baby dolls. She gives LOTS of love spontaneously as well as when requested. She gives the best hugs and kisses but I think it is the sweetest is when I catch her planting a big wet one on her baby doll or even better - on Buzi! She is an affectionate soul that is for sure!
She is so eager to imitate anything she sees us doing. Including feeding her baby breakfast!
Retta's signing vocabulary has also taken off! She readily signs: HI, BYE, DOG, EAT, SWING, MORE, MILK, APPLE, PLEASE, PLAY, BOOK, POTTY, SHOES, BABY and ALL DONE without cue. I think my favorite surprise BY FAR was to look down and find Retta signing "SHOES, SHOES, SHOES" while strolling the aisles at Nordstrom Rack! "Shoes, shoes, shoes....cute shoes!"
She is even stringing two signs together MORE EAT, MORE PLEASE and MORE SWING. Meal time is when her signing really comes to life!
It is apparent Retta understands so much of what we are saying...especially if the phrase "SIGNING TIME" comes up in conversation. She will start to dance, clap, wave her hands in the air and smile the biggest smile you have ever seen! We recently learned the sign for "SHOPPING!" It's a bit more of an advanced sign....
but a must in our vocabulary!
Verbal expression of course is still our main focus. We finally have a speech therapist who we are extremely happy with! We see her weekly. Retta's latest is mimicking the "Ss" sound! Her favorite is to copy us in saying "Shhhhh" to Buzi or repeating the "Xxxxx" and "Ssssss" when singing the Texas Fight Song! She says "Eyyyyyeeee" when pointing to any one's eye (including Buzi's, baby doll's, stuffed animal's) and makes good effort in saying "DADA," "DUCK," and "HI" with appropriate association!
Interactive play, however I would have to say is Retta's favorite! When asked "How big is Retta?" She will reach up as high as she can with both arms. And anything that has to do with a song can turn a frown upside down! She will try to imitate the movement of "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" going up the water spout with her fingers and she will pat her head, pull on her ears and point to my eyes and nose when singing "Head Shoulders Knees and Toes!" (We are still working on the shoulders, knees, mouth and toes). She LOVES to clap her hands and stomp her feat to the song, "If Your Happy and You Know It," and all together has become a pro with the Ipad! She can point at the smallest buttons on the screen to turn pages and flip to the next scene and best yet....she will CRAWL on all fours across any room to get to her Ipad!!!!
YES!!!! RETTA IS CRAWLING!!! OK, she's not exactly zooming through the house just yet,
but she is crawling at her own perfect pace! This is SUCH AN ACCOMPLISHMENT!!! We have been working on crawling day in and day out the last 8 LONG months!
On top of all of these wonderful accomplishments, we are pleasantly surprised to find that Retta is a meticulous organizer! She has to position her straw cup in the beveled circle on her high-chair after every sip during meal time. She thoroughly enjoys organizing her flashcards and teacup set, and when crawling across the floor, she will throw any obstacle behind her without loosing stride.
"Clear the path I'm coming through!"
She also politely wipes her face after taking a bite that doesn't quite make it all in her mouth! And speaking of eating...Retta now has teeth!!
Two bottom, four front top and one molar moving in! Eating is on the top of Retta's list of favorite things to do. We haven't found anything that she won't eat...except a fluke dish of green beans, which I wasn't even a fan of. After taking one bite, Retta promptly threw the rest of them on the floor for Buzi to enjoy!
These are only a few things that come to mind in thinking about all Retta has started to do. We CELEBRATE every accomplishment...no matter how small as we know it takes her 200x the effort to do the smallest thing! WE COULD NOT BE MORE PROUD OF ALL RETTA HAS ACCOMPLISHED! The sky is the limit for what she will take on in the future!
It might take her a little bit longer....but she will get there!
The SWEETEST little toes... that CHANGED MY LIFE!!! (I can't get enough of them!!!!!)
Having a typical child
changes you. But it's much different
than the change that happens when
you have a child with
a disability.
Family members and friends
who knew you before the
birth of your child with a disability
will comment on how you have changed.
And when you think about it,
you know they are right.
How could you not change?
Your expectations change. The vision of your child's future changes. You begin the journey of acceptance. You have to adjust to your new "normal".
You start celebrating, and I mean REALLY celebrating milestones that people with typical kids take for granted.
You don't give up on your dreams for your child but your dreams definitely change.
You try not to compare your child with typical kids but sometimes it's so in-your-face that it's hard not to. And then you realize that it has to stop. It's not fair to your child and it's not fair to you. You continue the journey of acceptance. Accepting your child just as they are.
You begin to see the BEAUTY in them more than ever before. Their joy. Their unconditional love. Their perseverance. Their determination. You start to notice the things they CAN do instead of focusing on what they haven't mastered yet. You change.
You become a research fanatic,
equipping yourself to be the
best advocate possible
for your child. Medical terms and educational terms you had never heard before the change become everyday words to you.
