Monday - Physical Therapy

Gracie woke up bright and early at 5:15 a.m. this morning. I guess she was just done sleeping or she is figuring out that if she wants time with daddy, she has to get up early. When I got out of the shower and saw that she was awake and running around, she gave me the biggest smile. She was a good girl all morning and even was cooperative when I put her in her car seat on the way to daycare. It was snowing on the way to daycare and when we got out of the car, she loved it falling on her face. I also showed her some snow on a plant, but I'm not sure she quite gets what snow is quite yet.

She played shy for a minute when we got to daycare and then marched right over to Michelle and sat on her lap and snuggled in. By the time I left her eyes were getting heavy. The daycare kids got to eat in the dark today as the electricity went out for awhile. A tree had fallen on some electrical lines. I picked Gracie up at 3:20 p.m. and we headed to the clinic for physical therapy. She was in a super mood and did great. Gracie's PT concurred that Gracie's muscles are tight again and she is walking with her knees very bent again. This is a sign that her bones are growing and her muscles aren't keeping up. We will just need to do more stretches with her and really work on those muscles.

Today at PT, Gracie walked on the treadmill for a long time, she did really good on it. She also walked up the stair steps to the slide all by herself using her feet and hands and not being helped at all. Gracie ran up and down the hallway. They use the hallway that goes to the clinical assistants. Do you know how proud a mother can be, when her daughter runs as fast as she can up the hallway and all 4 of the clinical assistants stop what they are doing and clap and yell "Yay Gracie!!!!" Gracie was beaming, I was beaming, and pretty soon from around the corner, Gracie's neurologist (who we all love) peeks her head around the corner. Dr. N said she heard everyone cheering for Gracie and thought "Hey, I think she is one of mine!" So she came to see. Sure enough Gracie gave her a great big hug. Dr. N. marveled at how well she was doing.

Gracie also sat on a scooter and was given a rope to hold onto. The PT pulls the rope, Gracie holds on, and then she gets pulled down the hallway. This is really good for her core strength. Gracie has never been successful with this, she lets go of the rope almost immediately. But not today, the first three times she let go and on number four the concept sunk in and she got it. Gracie also did some bouncing on a half exercise ball. We are trying to get her to jump. It was a GREAT day.

On our way back to our car, we ran into Auntie Sheila. So Auntie Sheila decided she was going to push Gracie's wheelchair and give her a fast ride, complete with "zoom" sound effects.

Gracie had a great evening too. She was happy and cooperative. I'm content and happy as I marvel over our successes today. It's hard not to be just bursting with pride.

Love,
Lisa, Jeff, and Gracie