This and that

PT is going well, especially since Maria got her new shoes. She has done some standing and I have noticed her putting more weight on her left leg. She isn't noticing it, unless I point it out.

We did go to the Bulgarian reunion. Maria had fun connecting with kids and having fun. I tried my hardest to make her go out on her own....not just let her sit beside me. She is very introverted and prefers for others to approach her. I had to leave her to figure things out on her own. Although it did mean that other adults stepped in at times when it would have been better for her to figure it out on her own or come to me and express her feelings more. Oh well, overall it was a success.

This week is bringing PT and a doctor follow up appointment.

 

 

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Catching up

Summer break started over a week ago. It was much needed. It is great having Maria back home and being with her daily. I missed her a lot while she recovered at grandma and grandpa's house. Maria is happy to be home too. She has been busy doing her summer reading, math and language arts program. She has also been doing PT twice a week. She still has a long way to go, but she is getting stronger all the time. We are still waiting for her new shoes to come....they were suppose to be here yesterday.

We have been having some fun too. We went and saw Maleificent. Went and watched some wheelchair basketball and got to cheer on some of our favorite friends. Getting ready for a mini vacation. Biggest surprise has been how much Maria is growing up....she is looking like a teenager more and more everyday. So grown up in many ways!

 

 

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A request

I have heard that the court date for Zack's adoption is quickly coming up. A friend has told me that Zack continues to say he doesn't want to be adopted. This is hard....so many want to see him in a loving family. I know that the judge will talk to him and he will get to say how he feels about being adopted, but at this point the judge still has the decision on if the adoption will be granted. I have also heard that some judges are being more cautious about older child adoptions due to the number of disruptions. So please pray that what is best will happen. Zack has waited for so long and I'm sure he is very scared about the unknown.....I hope and pray he will reconsider his feelings about being adopted and not let any fear or anger prevent him from knowing the love of a family. I hope and pray one day he and Maria will be reunited and have their bond of friendship rebuilt in a new country. I also pray for the family who has waited for so long to bring Zack home. I know they will have many challenges before them, but they will make it work.

 

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Physical Therapy

Maria started PT this past week. She has so far has two sessions and plenty of exercises to do at home. She is finding it easier to sit unassisted and without support. She is practicing this even in her chair throughout the day. She has said several times that her back feels less heavy than it did. She is lifting up her left leg, not a lot yet, but she is getting there. PT even helped her to stand 3 times on Friday with support! I wish I could have been there to see it, but I was at work. She is making great strides. I'm thrilled that I also have been able to relieve her sore muscles with some amazing essential oils that I found a few months ago. We are using Young Living Deep relief roll-on and Ortho Sport Massage oil on her muscles. She has said that it is helping take the soreness away. I love that we have found something that works well and is good for her.

Other than that the school year is winding down. I am in need of a break and to be able to focus on Maria and trying to sell the house. We are also excited about grandma and grandpa's cat who is going to have kittens at the end of June. So far we have 4 people interested in kittens, but we are afraid that she is going to have 6-8 at the rate she is growing! In a week she gained 1 1/2 inches around! Maria is thrilled and just wants to hug the kittens.

We had a fairly quiet weekend. Maria is all about going and doing things these days. She went to the store several times this week. Although she is having to build up her endurance again. I know she will get it back before I realize it. We also worked on a craft project together and helped grandma make ice cream. I swear she would do anything for ice cream!

 

 

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6 week appt

Maria has her 6 week appointment with her Ortho surgeon. She had x-rays taken....never fun to do. Then we went and talked to her surgeon. Things are healing nicely! So much so, that she is sitting up now! She can start PT and we even got the ok for some wheelchair basketball as long as it isn't too rough. Swimming can also happen once plastics says it is ok. She is thrilled that she is finished with the back brace and that she can do more. We need to get one of her shoes built up to make up for the leg difference.

Hard part is all her muscles are SO weak....seriously she currently cannot sit up on her own, let alone stand. We are working with her on starting to build those muscles back up.

Since she can sit up she wanted her hair cut. Thankfully a family friend was able to come over and cut it for us. It is so short! But she is loving it and the fact that it has some natural wave to it.

Things are going well....just got to get those muscles working again!

 

 

 

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2 years

I realized today that two years ago was my first court date to become Maria's mom. It was a hard day for me when I learned that the city social service agency did not provide the court with the needed document and court would have to be delayed. It was only delayed a week, but in the mist of waiting it was so very hard. On this day two years ago Maria traveled to Sofia, she talked to the judge and said she wanted me to adopt her. It amazes me how brave she was....leaving everything she knew for the chance to have a family. I cannot express enough the joy I have by having her in my life. She truly was meant to be my daughter.

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Happy Easter

Hope that everyone is having a happy Easter with their family and friends. Celebrating the death and resurrection of our Lord. This year has been different for us. Last year we were at church celebrating, but this year with Maria recovering it is harder to get her places. So, we had a nice quiet morning at my parents' home. Talking about Jesus and the importance of today. She did get her Easter basket and had fun looking at what was in it.

We also had a follow up appointment on Friday with Neurosurgery and Plastics. She started off with a brain MRI, followed by chatting with her neurosurgeon. So far everything with her shunt looks good. The fluid has decreased some, but the main reason they wanted the shunt there was so that there wouldn't be extra pressure on her spine from extra spinal/brain fluid. Right now it is doing the job it is suppose to do and they are happy with how she is doing. In fact we don't have to see neurosurgery for 6 months! We talked a little more about the surgery and from what her neurosurgeon said about everyone in the hospital got to see her MRI and CT Scan of her spine. They also said people were in and out of her OR all day long asking what they were doing and getting a glimpse of how uniquely Maria's spine was created. Plastics was also happy with how Maria is doing. We will see them again at the end of May. I do love that we go to a learning hospital where so many different people have a chance to cross our path and learn from Maria.

Maria continues to do well. She is her normal happy self, unless homework is involved.

 

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