Bling Bling

Sometimes a black shoe needs a little bit of color. Madeline received her walking shoe and black is not Madeline's color. With help from Madeline we took her walking shoe from boring to great! Now Madeline's shoe reflects her personality.

Sometimes the medical field needs a little help.

Walker

After being home for a weekend, Madeline was still struggling with walking to the point of not walking at all. On Monday I called her doctor and we were set up with physical therapy. The next day we were off back to Dallas to Scottish Rite to meet with physical therapy. After asking us a few questions and testing the strength of Madeline's legs; they presented her with a walker. After all the adjustments were made and a quick demonstration from the physical therapist it was Madeline's turn. Boy did she take her turn. She grabbed her walker by the horns and took off and never looked back. The walker was exactly she needed to help her get back to walking. It only took Madeline a total of couple minutes to learn how to walk with it and to use the walker to walk up steps and uneven surfaces. Less than 30 minutes later Grant and I watched Madeline walk out the hospital with a huge smile. You know what her huge smile said to me? I am FREE. I no longer need my parents to get around, and the best part if I need to go to the restroom I don't have to wait for someone to take me. Freedom is truly sweet.

Cast Off

I wish I could say that we are done with casts but not yet. However, we hit a huge milestone by having the full leg cast off. Madeline has been counting down the days for weeks, she was so excited knowing that the full leg cast will come off and she will be able to regain some of her independence back. Mommy and Daddy were excited as well. Madeline was so brave and didn't move a muscle during her cast being taken off. They use a machine with a disc cutter that vibrates and the vibration cuts through the cast. To me if I was a little girl that would be so scarry, but Madeline was a trooper and focused on the games that the Child Life had on hand.

After the cast came off, we caught a glimpse of her incision and boy were we surprised by what we saw. That is a serious incision she definitely had a serious surgery. It didn't help either that the whole leg didn't look so hot with no seeing a bit of sunshine or a drop of water for 5 weeks. As parents we were so happy that we were able to wash her leg before they put on her new cast.

For her new cast Madeline once again picked out a pink cast and though her foot was still in a cast she was so much happier. Being able to bend your knee can bring you so much happiness. You can do so much when you can bend your knee. As soon as she was all wrapped up and we were cleared to go we had to follow through on tradition. The tradition is that when we finish visiting her doctor we go and eat lunch in the cafeteria. I don't know why but Madeline really enjoys and asks every time we go for an appointment. This time Madeline enjoyed a special bonus by being able to play at the park they have on the hospital grounds. We love this park because it is designed for children in a wheel chair or other handicaps. Because Madeline is in a wheel chair playing at parks have been a challenge. It was nice to be able to see her with her shorter cast enjoying herself in a park made for her.

What a wonderful celebration!

Open Book

One morning I went into Anthony's room after I dropped him off from school and found something precious. There staring at me on his bed was his scriptures, but they were opened with a bookmark carefully placed to mark his place. Warm fuzzies filled my heart and a smile spread across my face. What a good example I have in my son, who takes his time to start his day off the right way by reading his scriptures. This will be his second time of reading The Book of Mormon from cover to cover on his own. He is such an amazing kid with a strong testimony. Sometimes I just pinch myself. I love being a mother!

Heart Attack of Love

I have learned that when one receives a prompting, one should follow through. One night before bed as I was pondering about the days events I felt a prompting that I should give Anthony a heart attack. So the next day while Anthony was at school, I followed through on the prompting. I decided to do a little bit more, by really cleaning his room. I dusted from top to bottom, organized a bit, nicely made his bed and finished it off by vacuuming his floor. After that I went about putting hearts all over the wall. Some of the hearts had qualities that I admire about Anthony. I then added streamer to the door and then filled the room with balloons. As I went about this I just thought about Anthony and what a huge blessing he has been to me. Feelings of love and admiration filled my heart and I couldn't be prouder to call Anthony my son. I am so glad for promptings and so glad that I followed through. This act of service brought me closer to Anthony and appreciate more the gift he is to me.

Anthony was surprised when he got home and the smile across his face said it all. There are so many things that I love about Anthony, his smile is no exception. In his eyes you can see pure joy and pure happiness. That afternoon I saw something else in his eyes, pure love. Sometimes I am so hard on me as a mother; but I am grateful for tender mercies of the Lord that shows me I am doing a good job.

A Date with Mom

With Madeline being home bound and having a full leg cast I have been planning fun activities that her and I can do together that would help her to feel special. We have been having beautiful weather and so one day after we drop Spencer off at school we headed to the park. Madeline has figured how she could go for a walk independently as well as ride a bike with a full leg cast. I offered to push her on the wheel chair, but she insisted on doing the walk herself with the help of a little tricycle. It was a nice walk around a little pond with trees, flowers, and brushes. I enjoyed talking to Madeline, seeing her smile, and seeing the world through her eyes. After our nice walk we enjoyed a picnic. As her mother I just loved watching her and seeing her smile. She was having a good time and enjoying being a fun girl. At that moment she didn't have a full leg cast, she was a healthy, strong, and beautiful Madeline. After our fun in the park we finished the afternoon off with a yummy girl scout cookie; you can't get better than that.

During this past month with Madeline being home bound from school, I have enjoyed spending time with her and the moments that her and I have shared together. It is times like this where I feel proud to be a mother and where I catch the full vision of the gift and beauty of motherhood.

As Madeline's mother I am so proud of her and the determination and resolve that she has during this period of time. She does not let a cast get in her way of enjoying life and doing the things that she loves. Seeing and knowing this, I know Madeline will go far in life and will not let anything get in her way of what she loves and enjoys doing. Madeline is such an inspiration.

I am so happy and proud to be her mother! What a gift.