I don't know where to start, so I'll go from where I left off. The last entry I wrote was on Oct 17. I had just received a letter saying that PP's health insurance was back in order and things were going very smoothly. School is going great, we added a Speech Therapist to the mix, and we brought her orthotic leg braces into the specialist to adjust them. PP now walks with an orthotic boot that only goes up to her ankle, not her knee. She is allowed a larger range of motion and it forces her to use her own core to balance instead of relying on the brace to hold her leg straight. It's really exciting! The main goal is to get her walking by herself without braces, and through planned adjustments we will chip away at them until they are gone!
Speech Therapy (ST) is interesting. I am not quite sure where it will take us, but I am excited about it. It seems like PP is concentrating more on walking than talking right now. Kids usually do one big thing at a time, so it's ok for her not to be very interested in it. However, starting this therapy right now is still a good idea. The therapist gives me tips and tools on how to get PP to make different sounds. I like using sign language with PP because it's a very short, basic way of communicating with her, but I know that she understands much more than she can say. When PP starts to walk her attention could switch to talking and I want to be ready to jump on the opportunity to teach her new things when she is ready. It's like doing orientation for a week before you start a new job, it's just stretched out over a few months. It also gives PP time to get to know her therapist, Lauren. She only sees Lauren once a month, but that's also how all of the other teachers started out. Over time, we increased the number of sessions per person every month and so far the system works beautifully.
Anyways, so she started Speech Therapy. Cool. She's been busy with other things too!
During the week between visits, we focus mostly on the homework given to us by the Physical Therapist. With newly adjusted orthotics we are able to do more walking, so the therapist got a new walker for PP this past Thursday! It's metal, it goes around her back and it has handles on the front. It also has wheels on the front and rubber stoppers on the back. She loves it! PP tells us when she is ready to use it and she likes to use it a lot! It's amazing to see her in such a way, so grown up! I am a very proud momma!
That brings me to the most important thing as of late...PENELOPE IS TWO YEARS OLD! On 11/11/11, my girl turned two. I can't say it enough! It seems unreal! We had a nice, relaxing day. We played lots of games, opened presents, ate lots of cake, and went out for a pizza dinner with the family. I had to postpone her birthday party the following day, 11/12, because I chose to attend a funeral instead. My grandpa passed away from lung cancer and he was a very important person to me. I can celebrate my daughters birthday every day she is alive, but there is not always a chance to get the physical and emotional closure that a funeral can provide. Although it was difficult for me to do, I am very glad I made that decision. I can now celebrate my daughters birthday with a clear head and a happy heart!
We went through the motions, which were unusually exhausting, to get PP some eyeglasses! She is farsighted and slightly cross-eyed. The glasses are a very flexible plastic with a head band that goes around the back of her head so they (hopefully) stay on. They will be in the store ready for pick up tomorrow, so we will see how that goes!
PP has been showing us more and more of her sassy personality every day! She is two, I am hoping she won't be terrible, but she is very driven and almost never takes 'no' for an answer. If you say no she finds a different way to get what she wants, by doing something that you haven't said no to yet! She's smart, she's sneaky, she's freaking hilarious. PP is giggly, flirty, loves to play games and dance. She is NOT a fan of realistic baby dolls. She's energetic and likes to explore her world. My little girl is definitely not a baby anymore. That makes me happy and sad at the same time. I always kind of liked the fact that she was developmentally delayed because I got to have a baby for a little longer than most parents. I got to go through the developmental stages at a slower, more relaxed pace. It's nice because when she does something new it doesn't seem so drastic and I have a lot of time to prepare for what comes next. I didn't have to baby proof my house until she was about a year old because that's when she started to crawl! On the other hand, I am definitely ready to raise a toddler. Growing up is such an adventure!
It has been a topsy-turvy month, but my bunch can handle it! We are family (just like the song says)! The three of us will head-butt and triumph over the obstacles life throws at us!
So, until next time, sweet kisses and fuzzy feelings!
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