Thursday, April 25, 2013

Thursdays are meant for dancing!

Lil G loves dance class on Thursday afternoons!
She also loves Fresh Beat Band,
Here are some blurry but cute photos of her dancing and drumming.











Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Yarn along

I look forward to Wednesdays,
Such sweet ladies sharing what they are reading and knitting.
Surprisingly I'm not reviewing a book right now!
We've been in the midst of preparing for Lil G s IEP
It's actually called a service plan for drop in services since she is a private schooled student.
I was pleased with the meeting last week.
She had her first Occupational Therapy appointment yesterday.
I am assuming there is always an adjustment period!
She was awful.

I am thankful for my knitting right now.
I used Jared Floods Wool leaves baby blanket pattern to knit a wrap.
It will be slow going but I do have the pattern memorized which is a bonus. (For those of you that aren't knitters I have cute photos of lil G enjoying her pocket. Silly girl.











Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Dancing is fun!


“We should consider every day lost on which we have not danced at least once.”
― Friedrich Nietzsche











Thursday, April 11, 2013

Yarn along

I'm linking up with Ginny again,
I just love this part about Wednesdays.
(Sharing what we are knitting and reading)
I knit a baby blanket in a little under a month!
Since I was focusing on trying to pray and knit
It took a little longer than I think it would have if I was only knitting
I will be honest and share that I was not 100% successful with this.
But this baby will be literally covered in love and prayers when this blanket is used
That's the truth.
I used Jared Flood aka Brooklyn Tweed's wool leaves baby blanket pattern
It was worth every penny I spent. You can find it on Ravelry or on the Internet.
I love this cascade pacific washable wool. I held the yarn doubled and used a sz 13 needle.
Here are some photos,
Sorry, I haven't been reading anything other than my Bible and a bedtime story here and there.
There might be an extra photo thrown in for good measure of our darlin Lil G.
She really has stolen my heart.....
What was left of it that is!








Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Time to go to the park!

The weather has been beautiful.
I took lil G to the park twice last week
And so far twice this week!
Not long adventures mind you,
I don't have much stamina.
( I am happy that I've been getting out tho! Baby steps)

It's been great to enjoy a change of pace.
Today I took her cane.
This was a huge step for the mama.
I posted about it and shared a photo of it,
A few months ago.
It's hung on the entry closet knob since then.
Waiting for me to feel ready.
I had planned on us going to a park that isn't used much,
But we were greeted with a ," do not enter " sign where the grass had been sprayed.
So after much thought I took her to the best and most crowded park around.
I guess we got to jump in with both feet.
Nothing like a white cane to scream," my child is blind!"
Of course we got lots of looks, I'm cool with that.
The first time Id ever seen a child with a cane was in November when she had her evaluations,
(Remember that would've been only 2 months post diagnosis.)
It choked me up.

Can you believe we are now six months post diagnosis?!
One thing I noticed was how much she needed me in situations like today,
And how extremely important this process is.
Lil G will be 8 in November.
Eight year olds do not need to constantly hold their parents hands
and basically stand back and watch the other children playing.
My job is to prepare her to become independent,
And I need to start exposing her to environments that aren't familiar.

She also needs me to advocate for her,
something as simple as a yellow or even multicolored stripe
on the steps would give her independence.
She cannot tell with the wood slats where the steps are because there are so many grooves, the local playgrounds have so much that makes them accessible to different abilities, this would be an easy fix for the children with visual impairments.

I read an incredible book an orientation and mobility by Joe Cutter.
I also had a great packet of info sent to me by the Nation Federation of the Blind,
Along with her first cane.
They have a program called "young explorers".
Basically everything I mentioned above was provided free of charge.
She seemed to really enjoy using the cane at moments,
She is very strong willed tho and had moments where she Was. not. Going. To. Touch. It.
I took it all in stride and figure that one day she will enjoy the independence it gives her,
Instead of the familiarity and comfort she finds in holding my hand
and hearing My voice warning her about using her eyes,
be careful, pay attention, and "step!"

It was hard work, I am proud of her.
It's new and she took to it right away which was unexpected.
Here are some adorable photos.
(I know that's the only reason you follow along! )