Last day the pool is open

Today was the last day that the pool is open. Josie is so sad it is closing. It has been an incredible source of entertainment as well as a good workout. We are going to have to find another pool. It is too hard for her after these big workouts not to loosen her muscles up. Today the pool was freezing. I don't think they have had the heater on all week. She was brave enough to get in...not me. I watched her from the side. I had a take one more video of her swimming because I think it is so remarkable the strides she has taken in the pool this summer. One thing she learned was how to walk across the bottom. Most parents are trying to get their kids off their feet and swim. I, however, am begging her to walk aross the pool. What ever works! We went to the Park's park to listen to my cousin Barry play in his band. Beautiful weather to be sitting overlooking the lake. Jeanie, Roger and dog, THeo came over to Harriet's for dinner with us. We are exhausted and off to bed so this week will be another very productive one. Maybe it is just that I am tired tonight (which is not often) but we need a few really productive weeks. She has got to be more independent for her and for me. She is trying the sweet little girl. More prayers that this all starts to click more. Love, Jenny and Josie

Summer is here!!

The weather here has been confused for a few months. It was such a cool and mild summer and now that it is fall it has decided to warm up. Perfect for us cold weather light weights. We walked to the Little Club today to swim with the Egers. It was so amazing to be at the pool for hours. The girls had fun, of course. It is remarkable to see 2 little girls that have very limited leg ability, swim. Josie finally was able to make herself crawl around the baby pool. When it is only 18 inches and she is on her belly it is hard for her to use both arms to move. She had fun doing that today. Melissa can't use her legs too much but she has incredible arm strength and can swim with just using her arms. Always humbles me. Lory and I realized that we were 2 of very few people that have adopted our host children through Healing the Children (or name before we became Mending Kids). Just a tidbit of unnecessary information for you all. We had a nice day. Again, always a treat to be with the Eger family. Thanks Egers for entertaining us once again!! Looking forward to another beautiful Michigan day tomorrow. Lots of love, Jenny and Josie

A Day to Remeber and be Thankful

Taking a step with Richard





Lily the service dog being trained to help Richard and Bella's daughter Caya. Josie loves having Lily watch her at therapy this week. Lily loves her baby dog!


It is with humble thoughts and words that we remember those who perished 8 years ago today and those who are still here morning their loss. Thank you to all the service men and women here and overseas that put their lives in danger everyday to protect ours and our freedom. Best wishes to my cousin, Josh Meador, who is in Afghanistan training their doctors to take care of their own. It is truly a day of remembrance and to be thankful for the blessings we have been given. There is a great quote that I read once that says, "Be nicer than usual to everyone you meet because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."

There is my patriotic words of the day and onto what you really came on here to read...Josie. I have attached a few pictures of Josie and Richard from workout today. Also, there is video of Josie walking with Richard without canes or a walker. Before you get to excited, I am not saying she is independently stepping. He is trying to get her to realize every single thing that works in a step and not rely onany kind of support. He wants her to feel her heels on the ground to the shoulders pulling slightly back to begin to initiate the next stepand everything in between. It is remarkable how she is actually able to understand in great detail and manipulate what he is talking about. If I had to think about all of that I would be flat on my face! We are so grateful that we had a week with Richard. It brought her attention to detail and increased her strength. It is always good to get another instructor for a bit to get what they are experts in. He and Bella might be in Los Angeles in December and if they are he agreed to come train Liz on specifically what Josie needs. I would be so grateful if that could happen. Liz will be able to so do it regardless but it would help to be face to face and talk it through. Also, for Richard and Susan to meet because Susan is a lot like Richard in how technically sound they are with the mechanics of it all. Boy we have a great team!!

Aunt Harriet came back today from her trip up north. We are delighted she is back and grateful that we are staying with her. Our love to all, Jenny and Josie

You may have to watch this sideways...Sorry!!

Thursday

Good evening to all, I feel like a broken record when I keep saying "another great day at therapy" but I actually mean it. It is like when people ask how you are and you immediately answer with a polite "great" except I mean it. If you have ever met my dad and ask how his is it is always "terrific". He might quite possibly be the only one I know that means it. So after that unnecessary bit of family information Josie did have a good day. Richard trains her differently then Silvia and Przemek with a different method but incredibly effective. They have worked a lot on strength training. He also focuses on the very tiny but important details that coincide with walking. He is making her keenly aware of exactly what muscles, tendons, etc that need to work during each moment of a step. It is shocking to watch this process and then wonder how anyone ever learns to walk. Richard is also excited to have someone that can actually converse with and have understand at the level of a functioning human. He has so many damaged kids that can't communicate Josie is refreshing for him. Careful what you wish for because she could also talk you into the ground!!

After therapy we got to go watch Josie's Friend, May Eger, at her horseback riding lesson. We got to give some of the horses treats. May did such a good job riding. She looks so little out there but has such control of her horse. Josie and Melissa spent most of time picking flowers. The 3 girls have such a great time together. They just giggle away.

To bed we go since therapy is earlier this week and we wake up earlier. It will be great to get back to our other schedule next week. Thanks so much for reading this blog and supporting Josie. She asks everyday if she got a comment on her blog. It really does motivate her. Love, Jenny and Josie

PS. To my Dealing Divas -I wish I was being dealt in right now. I can't believe I am missing another cards night but most importantly my good friends. Miss you all and can't wait to see you in October. PS. Is anyone going to be able to stop Camilla??

Jumping

Josie hooked up in the "spider" jumping and doing step ups

Josie had an exciting time jumping in the cage today. She was hooked up in the bungees and learned to bend her knees and the jump up and pull her feet off the ground. She was very proud. She is working really well with Richard this week. Sylvia and Przemek are on vacation. He is really hitting her with a lot of strength training. Sylvia will be pleased when she gets back at how much more strength she will have to work with. Josie is getting quite proficient walking through the house with her walker. She loves to tell me, "Mom I will meet you at the table." I pretend to still need to get something out of the cupboard while she walkers herself to the table. Great to see the independence increase. She is so proud. She wanted to help Jeanie cook dinner tonight so she got to toss the salad. Simple pleasures. We are off to bed since therapy is a little earlier this week and we are having a terrible time having to set an alarm!! Best to all, Jenny and Josie

Sweet little girls with walkers and canes

Melissa, Mayra and Josie



Melissa, Mayra and Josie being silly



Josie walking in Farms Market

Josie had a great time today having the Eger sisters over to have lunch and watch the Hannah Montana movie. You may remember from my earlier posts that we met the Eger family at the Little Club in Michigan this summer by coincidence. The Eger's have a heart grown(adopted) little girl from Guatemala, Mayra and a heart grown from Haiti, Melissa. They also have three older home grown kids. Melissa and Josie are in very similar situations seeing that they both have conditions that prevent them from walking independently but have sharp, normal functioning minds. Anyway, it was fun for all three girls to get together. Lory Eger, the girls mom, and I wanted to see if Melissa could handle canes. She already has great balance and so much strength in her arms. We handed her the canes and she walked right across the kitchen floor!! If we do that by November I will be a very happy mom...Go Melissa. Needless to say Lory will be ordering those tomorrow. It is always a treat to be with the Egers. It is selfishly nice for me to have a mom in the same boat I am in. It is nice to bounce off different scenarios with one another. Thanks Egers for spending the day with us.

Tonight we went to our favorite store in town, Farms Market. I decided that Josie should try doing her new walker in public. Up to this point I don't think she was ready because it took so much concentration that it would be too distracting in public. She didn't even baulk when I put it in the car so I knew right there she would be ready. She was. She did so well maneuvering the isles and people. Matt, the nice store owner, helped us a lot of the way and Larry the other owner came to see her walking. They have only seen her in a stroller and were so pleased to see what she was here to do. I find great support where ever we are even in places like the local grocery store.

What a nice end to a good weekend and an amazing summer. As we turn to the Fall season, I look forward to what is on our horizon. My grandpa bet on a horse at the races the other day named Jenny's New Chapter. It's record is 2 wins and 1 second place. I hope I am as lucky as this horse in the race I feel we are in right now. If we fall a few lengths back it won't be from lack of trying and training. Now we are off to the races!! Love to all, Jenny and Josie....PS. let the new chapter begin.

What Time is it...

Singing to the folks in Grosse Pointe

The title of this blog has to do with the song from High School Musical 2 and the rest of it is it's summer vacation. Now why, you are probably asking, am I titling
it that (nothing to do with losing my mind). Tonight when I parked the car at the store and was on the phone with my sister Josie had rolled down the car window and was standing up singing this song at the top of her lungs to everyone walking by!! Didn't dawn on me that she was actually standing when I first heard her singing. My little entertainer. I posted the picture up above. Never dull with her. We were actually at the store after a fun day at the beach and in the pool. Church was this morning where she spent most of the time going from sit to stand in the pews. I know it is probably distracting to those behind us but it is incredible to watch her do it not to mention great getting in 200 squats during mass. Go glut muscles go. I will just keep apologizing to those behind us who we are disrupting.

Hope everyone is enjoying Labor Day Weekend. It feels like the real world starts up again Tuesday. Best to all, Jenny and Josie