later that same day...

Drop off went pretty well. Emma Jean got upset when we left Abby with her teachers. She is protective of her sissy, my sweet Bean.I decided to make an appointment for a private pilates lesson. I've always wanted to try pilates and they reccomend a private lesson for beginners, so I am going in at 11am.
After that, I will probably need a long hot bath, lol. I am also going to take a painting in to be reframed. Not too exciting, but not an easy task to do with the little ladies so I will enjoy getting it done. And then what? I'm not sure, but I want to keep busy so I won't fret over Abby's well-being.

here we go

3-23
Abby starts therapy today! I drop her off at 8:45am and pick her up at 4pm. I cannot believe she is going to be away from me for tht long! I am a little nervous for her, but I know that the staff at Behavioral Innovations have seen everything so whatever she throws at them, they can handle it. After I take her, I will be dropping off Emma Jean at PDO until 3pm. Whatever will I do with all that time? No screaming fits for so many hours!?! It will feel like I am in a vacuum. I am anxious for her to start getting this help. If she responds to it the way we believe that she will, things are really going to change around here. The first two weeks her therapists won't do much more than get her acclimated and get to know her, then the real work will begin. I am excited to see what happens. We anticipate some hard days in the beginning. Abby is not to keen on changes or demands of any sort being put on her, so it should be interesting. We've seen remarkable progress in her language since she began the Sensory Intergration therapy, truly remarkable! Yesterday she came up to me and said, "Mommy, I'm so glad to see you!" I was flabbergasted! Jimmy and I think she may have surpassed Emma Jean in her speech, no joke. We've always said, and the therapists that have evaluated her have agreed, that she has a lot more going on up there than she lets on, lol. So now we'll see!

later still....

She did great!
V. positive reports from each of her therapists. We are so proud. The real test will be Thursday. It has been Miss Abby Ru's MO to go to something once, then refuse to ever do it again. So, Thursday will really be the marker. But, until then.....Hooray!!!
I enjoyed my time. She has been stuck to me like glue for her whole life. It felt a little weird and I just had to will myself not to worry, but I need a break from her, terrible as that may sound. I couldn't believe how much more tolerable the evening was after having had a substantial break today. I enjoyed my pilates adventure, I signed up for a month. It was really hard!?! I'm not sure I will like it as much as Power Yoga, but what's life if you don't try something new once in a while? I also took care of some personal business and got an American manicure. It was great, but I was ready to see them by the time pick-ups rolled around.

whoo-hoo!

3-15
There is an opening for Abby part-time in the treatment center beginning March 23rd!!! I am so happy for her, for all of us really.
She will go from 9-4 Tuesdays and Thursdays until there is a full-time position available. She has never been away from me like this before. I know it will be difficult for her at first, but I truly believe that this place is blessed and that ABA combined with the SI therapy on Mondays and Wednesdays are going to work miracles. This means I will get a meaningful break on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the near future. Beans is in MDO during the same time slots. I am so ready for some room to breathe. Thanks for your support and for your prayers. God is good and His timing is perfect. We are going to keep petitioning Him for a full-time opening soon.Ya-hoo!

something is afoot with Abby

3-5
and it's WONDERFUL!
She got up this morning and came and got in bed with me. That in itself is not unusual. What was different was how sweet and giggly and above all, happy she was! She was talkative and affectionate.My heart is singing right now!I don't know if it is the SI or what, but I am loving this sweet little girl who's come to visit. I hope she sticks around for a while.

and the word is....

3-5
NO WILLIAMS SYNDROME!!!!!!! The neurologist called today with the DNA test results and everything is fine. No flukes in #7, praise the Lord!I am so happy right now, Jimmy too. Now it feels like there are no limits on Abby. Anything is possible. With Williams Syndrome, it felt like we might already know the ending and while we were going to keep on as planned, the prognosis simply was not as good, but now....Look out world 'cause Abby is on her way!!! Thank you all for all of your support and prayers and well wishes. Ya'll have sustained me more than you know.
We celebrated with McDonald's. Happy Meals even (I never do that, I'm so cheap!!), and then we went to the park. It was really fun. Daddy even met us up there and that was a BIG treat.

MRI results....

3-3-04
Normal!!
Certainly testament to His power and grace. Abby had a skull fracture at three weeks of age. It was a terrible accident. We were new parents and I was nursing, ya'll know how tired you are and it's all so new. Well anyway, I finished nursing her and as our routine stood, I handed her off to dh to return her to their crib. I guess he fell asleep and rolled over or moved some way and she fell to our tragically hip, stained concrete floor. It was awful and we spent a two days in the hospital. CPS was called in through an error in a hospital report, it was a giant debacle and Jimmy has carried tremendous guilt ever since. It was worth it to have the MRI just to put that whole mess to bed, once and for all. Prior to now, no amount of reassurance by me or the doctors that Abby's diagnosis and that accident were not related could abate his guilty feelings. I am so glad that he can be released from all of that now. Needless to say, I am also glad that there is nothing else at work here for Abby's sake too.God is good!

later that same day....

__________________
We're back.Emma Jean did great with her Aunt Barb. YAY!
Everything went pretty well at Behavioral Innovations. She only got about half-through the assesment though, so we have to go back again next Thursday. She did say that Abby was very smart and had a lot more going on than she was letting on to the rest of us, which is what Jimmy and I have always said. She said that she was a quick learner and that she would be a pleasure to work with, that said though, she is very non-compliant and has practically no attending skills. But we already knew that. I actually was in the rooms the whole time with her, which I am usually not allowed to do. It was interesting to watch her do the stuff she does with us with someone else and be on that end of things. It was also interesting to watch how a professional deals with her. I am in for a real education when we get this party started. On that front, there appears to be a near immediate opening for part-time therapy, Tu. and Thurs. and Abby is #1 on the waiting list. I asked the therapist if I needed to go ahead with the whole home-based process and explained that I wasn't sure that was the best use of our limited resources. I mean, if it costs $2000 to get started at home and then there is an opening in the full-time program, it's not like we can parlay that into the $3000/mo tuition. She said not do anything on that front. They will train me and I can do enough every day that coupled with the twice a week 8 hour sessions there, she will be on her way until there is a full-time opening. I am very pleased about that, plus that means in the mean time, we can also continue with the SI therapy which seems to be helping already.So, all in all, a good day. I am pooped out though. Thanks everyone for your kindness and prayers.

ABA assesment in the morning

3-2-04
Finally! After having had to cancel the first appointment in mid-February, we are going in tomorrow. The assesment takes about three hours. I hope to get caught up on some paperwork while I wait. I may even be able to draft the grant application letter that could result in up to $2500 in aid for Abby's treatment. Hopefully, she'll be as cooperative as she needs to be for them to get a true picture of her strengths and weaknesses. Emma Jean is in for a fun day with my SIL and her little cousin Gus, who is three weeks her junior. Barb has been wanting to help out in some way for a while, but Beans can be so unpredictable I had been hesitant about calling on her. We'll see how it goes. If it works out, then it may not be a big deal that we lost Wednesdays at MDO. Anyway, I am glad to get this part rolling. Pray for an opening in the program soon! Thanks ya'll.

i think i caught a glimspe of my abacus today

3-1-04
After Abby's OT/SI therapy session today I decided to try to run around with the girls. We went to SAM's and Central Market (grocery). Abby was smiley and friendly. She said, "Hi!" to several people and the lobsters at CM . She was even silly. I was very proud. I know it doesn't sound like much, but it is very unusual for us. It was so great. It was a rare glimpse of the little girl I know is hiding in there is we can just draw her out. It was a wonderful day.