My point of creating this blog is to update family and friends on Frankie's progress with Right Sided Hemiplegia.I hope to help other parents and/or children that are on a similar journey. I have the most incredible friend here, Danielle, who has a daughter with a similar diagnosis and has helped us so much with her blogs and our long phone chats. She has helped pave the path for us when it comes to therapy, orthotics, etc... I'd like to pay it forward and help others that are on the same cruise ship we are. Also, writing a journal/blog is somewhat therapeutic.I'm going to try to do this once a month. I hope that someday Frankie will read through all these posts, pat herself on the back and let this empower her to be stronger, wiser and to never give up on her dreams!

Frankie just turned 4 and has been in preschool since she was 2. This Fall, we started the school year a bit late because of the CIT program at UVA. She is now going to two schools. "School One," is a public school that provides an awesome IEP program. This program includes having a Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist and a Speech Therapist work alongside a teacher and assistant.I am so grateful that we have these services here! This is the 3rd school year Frankie has an IEP. Her other school, "School Two" is a private Christian school where she learns & plays with mainstream kids. Student/teacher ratio is 15-1.Last year, Frankie's preschool teacher encouraged us to to get her into a mainstream classroom setting this year to be challenged more.I was a bit apprehensive since Frankie needs a bit more assistance than most kids her age with physical tasks.  For example, most preschools require a child to be potty trained. Yup, we hadn't perfected this MAJOR milestone. Cognitively, I hoped Frankie was where she needed to be, but her speech delay and motor skill challenges have been concerning as well. Would the teachers at "School Two" be able to tend to her if needed? Would they help her open her right hand up to wash her hands? What if she had a potty accident? Would they understand her lingo? What would Frankie do when all the kids are climbing up the ladder on the playground?…twiddle her thumbs?  Oh, the list goes on.I think this picture below speaks for itself. It was taken right before the Halloween parade at "School Two." She's our Super Girl and has made friends with the entire class!

Today, I have to say that both schools are providing the services I feel Frankie needs to thrive.We continue to go to private PT and OT outside of school, once a week.Frankie is no different than other children and adults…to achieve a goal and to continue to progress, it takes work!

About the picture below...What? Our neighbor gave Frankie a scooter last year and it's been collecting dust. I felt like giving it to someone else but deep in my heart I knew that someday Frankie may be able to use it. One of our angels, Jill, whipped one out at therapy this week and WOW…Frankie was doing a great job controlling this thing!

What an awesome month this has been. We leave for UVA again in a week for a follow up CIT appointment and to pick up our E-stim machine.Can't wait to see our UVA team! So pumped! I will learn how to use our newest "prop" and the parameters on the machine will be set. We will be using it daily, I'm hoping.

Wishing all a Happy Thanksgiving! We have so many things to be thankful for this year. I'm sad we will be away from family this year, but so thankful to spend it with dear friends.