Jordan is developing so quickly it is amazing to us!! She is now pulling up on anything and everything - the couch, her music table, window sills, and even my legs!! I can't believe that only a few short months ago she was not even crawling! It is very encouraging to see her blossom just as we have been praying!
I have been doing some research on mild cerebral palsy and found some interesting things. Most people with level 1 or 2 (Jordan's diagnosis) are able to walk without assistance (braces, walkers, etc) but struggle with issues with balance and coordination. It helps explain why Jordan still falls over backward when sitting sometimes. I read that many are able to participate in sports, but need to be directed toward certain ones. Soccer and basketball might be difficult for her but swimming and martial arts are highly recommended. I am in the process of doing some investigating to see if there are scholarships available to get her into a swimming class at the YMCA. She loves her bath and I'm sure she would love the pool!! Overall, I felt encouraged that while Jordan may seem behind in meeting her developmental milestones now, it is normal and that in time, she is likely to be able to participate in activities on her own!!
Jordan's speech is still significantly delayed and we mostly hear only the "b" sound and an occasional "g" or initiating vowel sound. However, she LOVES to imitate - clapping, stomping feet, etc. so we are working on sign language with her. I did some with Conner and I am trying to familiarize myself with the signs again as well as several new ones so we can encourage communication with her. Although I am still waiting for the day she says "mama!"
Jordan's personality is starting to come out as well! She has started having temper tantrums when she doesn't get her way. If we take something away from her that she wants (although shouldn't have), she arches her back and flips herself backward and cries! She has hurt my wrist a few times so I am VERY careful how I am positioned when I take it now. She definitely knows what she wants and expresses that to us clearly! She also loves to play hide & seek! She will go around a corner and peek back at me and then do it over and over. It is adorable to see her smile and laugh when she's playing!
I am so thankful to all of you for your prayers! God has blessed us with an amazing daughter and we feel grateful that we are given the opportunity to raise her! She has come so far and yet we know that she still has so much yet to achieve! Continue to keep her in your prayers and I will do my best to keep you updated through the blog.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Standing, Clothes, and Another Dr. Appt.
Friday night Derrick and I were sitting at the table and Jordan was in the port-a-crib while we ate dinner. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her sit down. I wasn't sure, but I kept watching and the next thing I knew, she pulled herself up to standing!!! Derrick and I watched in AMAZEMENT as our little girl continued to pull herself up over and over again (she can only stand for a few seconds)!!! I have been working with her for several weeks on pulling up to standing. If she's wearing her "hip-helpers" and I am helping keep her feet straight and guiding her up, she can do it, but I had never seen her do it on her own. We are very encouraged by this accomplishment as it shows her strength increasing and her desire to be mobile driving her forward meet milestones!
This past week, the weather turned colder and I had to face the fact that summer is over and it was time to put away the summer clothes and get out the fall one's. I tried some of her outfits on her and realized that she had FINALLY outgrown the 3-6 month clothes she has been wearing for a YEAR!!! Last spring I started using some 6 month clothes and mid-summer I even used a few 9 month outfits. I am now able to put her into 12 month clothes because she is gaining weight and getting bigger in her belly. She has consistently been so skinny that the waist of outfit's were always too big.
Unfortunately, since her tube leaks constantly, we have quite a bit of staining on some of her clothes. I am trying to be careful when dressing her in nice/cute clothes to cover the tube with an extra pad of gauze to try to avoid stains. She has an appointment with the surgeon tomorrow afternoon to have them address some of the problems we have been having with the leaking and tissue growth. We also had an internal stitch work it's way up the tube to the button - they didn't feel it was a big problem so we had to wait a few days to have it checked out. I'm not sure if they will put the new tube in, but I will bring it along with me in case they can.
This past week, the weather turned colder and I had to face the fact that summer is over and it was time to put away the summer clothes and get out the fall one's. I tried some of her outfits on her and realized that she had FINALLY outgrown the 3-6 month clothes she has been wearing for a YEAR!!! Last spring I started using some 6 month clothes and mid-summer I even used a few 9 month outfits. I am now able to put her into 12 month clothes because she is gaining weight and getting bigger in her belly. She has consistently been so skinny that the waist of outfit's were always too big.
Unfortunately, since her tube leaks constantly, we have quite a bit of staining on some of her clothes. I am trying to be careful when dressing her in nice/cute clothes to cover the tube with an extra pad of gauze to try to avoid stains. She has an appointment with the surgeon tomorrow afternoon to have them address some of the problems we have been having with the leaking and tissue growth. We also had an internal stitch work it's way up the tube to the button - they didn't feel it was a big problem so we had to wait a few days to have it checked out. I'm not sure if they will put the new tube in, but I will bring it along with me in case they can.
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