Day of Josie

The diva Chickadee on the swim deck doing her stretches before getting into the water. She loves this swimming program so much. She can't believe she gets to be on a team and can actually do almost all the same things they are doing. I may have to start a program back in CA!! She is at practice here every morning from 9 - 10. We ride our new bike and trailer down there. By the way, I forgot to mention our new mode of Grosse Pointe transportation.. we bought a new purple bike for me and a trailer to pull Josie in. We are having a blast. We made a rule that if we are in Grosse Pointe and weather permitting, we are only riding not driving. The trailer has a spot for carting things. I can even put her standing cart in back. The trailer also is a stroller. I just flip the wheel down and unhook it from the bike and away we go. It's like being a kid at Christmas all over again with my new bike...wish Santa would have dropped it off though, a lot nicer when Santa pays for it!!

As soon as Josie arrives at therapy, she gets to lay on hot packs to her her muscles warm and the blood flowing. Then she gets a nice message with Arnica oil. She told Sylwia that it was her spa and to wrap her in the warm towels so she can sleep. Yeah right...after that beautiful introduction comes another 2 1/2 hours of the hardest work you have ever seen....enjoy your spa moment Josie!

Josie is doing a good job walking. Sylwia has changed the canes positions to make her legs do more of the work, She is to keep her canes wider and closer to her feet. She was really hanging on the canes with her arms which she was good at. Now they are changing her so that we get can her more independent with her legs. This is new and a bit harder so she has to work at it. It makes her slower for now, but she will pick it up soon. She isn't fighting it though. She is trying. A couple tears at the end from sheer exhaustion. She had swimming and tutor before her workout today...to much. She fell fast asleep in the car on the way home. We will have to skip swimming on tutor days.

OK, I know you are wondering why I put this random picture in here. Well thought you would never ask. (PS. excuse the underwear shot). She has been trying to isolate on leg at a time and holding it in the air. It is hard for her to get rid of the tone to hold one foot(leg) up at a time. Last night she was so excited to be able to hold each leg up separately, even lefty. Don't ask me why it just clicked but it did. She also has a move at Chickadees that is called ballet leg. It is when you are floating on you back and you straighten one leg up in the air. This move has been really hard for her for the past 2 years and now she is demonstrating her ballet leg. She did it for her coaches today and they were very impressed.

Our little furry friend Theo. We were so happy to see him again last night when we got to go to Roger and Jeanie's for dinner. We had a nice dinner outside on a beautiful Michigan night. We are enjoying the warm weather. It was unusually cold last year so this is nice. Jeanie and Roger just returned from a great cruise which was fun to hear about.

And the princess sleeps at the end of another beautiful day. Good night Sleeping Beauty


And last but certainly not least, good news on the "Dad" watch. He got released from the hospital today and is at home being taken good care of by Nurse Carol. So get this picture...only my dad would tuck in his hospital gown into his shorts to try to make it look better. Only dad could make a hospital gown look descent. Priceless!! He is doing well. The doctor said that he was lucky he was in such good shape going into this and so healthy that his heart and body could take such trauma and actually recover. Thank you God!!! You have once again answered our prayers. Josie lit a candle in front of Mary at church on Sunday for him. We love you Dad!!