Here's Frankie playing a little game of "wipeout" with her PT, Ms. Amanda during our last 2 weeks there.
We were able to see Kathryn, our occupational therapist on our last day. THEY are smiling, Mama was crying. The photo says it all. Frankie thinks she hung the moon! And heck ya...we had our Texas tee on! Thank you, Tia Rose!
We worked with Hannah on our last day of PT since Amanda was out. Hannah is a sweetheart! She had Frankie step down from a platform with one one leg at a time, and touch a bubble on the floor with the other foot. This helps build strength and balance.As you can see, Frankie still needs assistance with this. I'm pretty sure I would have a hard time with this exercise too!
After our last day of therapy,I had time time for my wandering mind to reflect on our last few years in Virginia. I want to hit myself (well,not really,) by not insisting that we have private speech therapy weekly. I see other kids Frankie's age having grown-up dialogue with other kids/adults and I still don't get much of this with Frankie.I purposely ask her open ended questions as soon as I pick her up from school each day in the hopes to get her thinker to spin. Sometimes, she doesn't want to talk. I totally remember not wanting to talk after school, so I get it. Who wants to chat after talking and thinking all day?
But, I keep trying to get her to chat. When I picked her up in the carpool line the last week of school, the first thing SHE asked ME when she was strapped into her seat was, "what's on your chin?" I replied, "which one?" HA...She kept pointing at my chin. I had to laugh and said,"That's a zit. A pimple." Then she quickly belted out the song, "Jesus loves me this I know." I quickly forgot about having to nurse the growth on my chin that she was so quick to point out, and was reminded how happy our little girl has been in the Christian school that she attended!
I must add that she was really proud that Daddy came to school for Daddy Appreciation Day. Mark was trying to take it easy on the carbs that week but I told him he better shove those muffins down, or else! hehe
Our last month in Virginia was eventful. We were able to hit the soccer field a few times. Little Miss F had a hard time hanging with the soccer group. She wanted to go out and do her own thing. Another reminder that we need to get her into more recreational activities with peers so she can get use to following directions and being part of a team.
Saying our last goodbyes was tough. I purposely avoided seeing a few friends (you know who you are) for the last hug. Selfish, I know. BUT, I have always had a hard time with goodbyes. Actually, I don't believe in goodbyes, because I always have hope I will see people again. BUT...I still don't like them.
After a 3 day drive, we are now residents of Texas again! Yehaw! Frankie was SO awesome during our trip...thank goodness for the TV in the car but she wanted to hear her Christian music from school most of the time. We all have it memorized now. =) Here she is posing after being forced to, right after we hit the Texas state line!
The first two weeks we have been here, Frankie has had a pediatric appointment, (which was needed for therapy scripts in Texas,) a dentist appointment, neurology appointment and an evaluation for physical therapy. We will see the orthopedic surgeon, the orthotist (to get her fitted for braces) and an opthamologist in the next few weeks. We also have our occupational therapy and speech evaluations coming up. Bizzy bees!! We are trying to get all medical appointments out of the way before school starts and we are coming along just fine! We also toured the school we wanted to enroll Frankie at and we now feel comfortable it will be a good fit.YES!!!
We are proud to be in the no-cavity club after her 4th dentist follow up!
I have to say the appointment with Dr.Jan, our new neurologist here has been the highlight of our arrival so far...at least for me. Of course, visiting with family here is priceless, but finding a neurologist like Dr. Jan has been a blessing. She just opened up a practice here in Plano called 1CP place where she specializes in seeing patients with cerebral palsy. I don't know of another neurologist that has specialized in a single condition but this one does! The fact that she is only minutes away from our home is even more amazing.Patients are flocking here from all over just to see her. Why? Because she herself has cerebral palsy and she knows first hand what it's like. She spent over 2 hours with us during our initial visit. I left there SO hungry for lunch and ready to leave and she asked..."Do you have any more questions?" HOLY, WOW! I'm not used to being anxious to leave a doctor's visit! I usually beg for more time. All my questions were answered and then some. I didn't have to write down notes during our visit because they were all transferred to a portal. I took a few photos of Dr. Jan stretching out Frankie's foot (I need visuals for our therapy homework,) and I had to take one of the new duo smiling from ear to ear...We will be seeing her every 3 months and am certain we are in the best hands.
The past few weeks have been crazy...I'm not even going to sprinkle sugar on that. But! I realize the chaos is just temporary, and some of it may just be made up in my own little head. I have had my moments where I feel like I'm overwhelmed, but this is when I have to step back and make time to be alone and thank God for all of my blessings. Mark granted my wish to escape one evening and took Frankie to her cousin's house. That one day away definitely recharged my battery. I was able to bask in the sun at our neighborhood pool and read a book. As I was walking back home from the pool, I heard the sounds of cicadas & some blaring Mexican music from new homes in the area that are under construction. All of a sudden, there was an extra spring in my step...I really feel like I'm home now, and I love it!
After a 3 day drive, we are now residents of Texas again! Yehaw! Frankie was SO awesome during our trip...thank goodness for the TV in the car but she wanted to hear her Christian music from school most of the time. We all have it memorized now. =) Here she is posing after being forced to, right after we hit the Texas state line!
The first two weeks we have been here, Frankie has had a pediatric appointment, (which was needed for therapy scripts in Texas,) a dentist appointment, neurology appointment and an evaluation for physical therapy. We will see the orthopedic surgeon, the orthotist (to get her fitted for braces) and an opthamologist in the next few weeks. We also have our occupational therapy and speech evaluations coming up. Bizzy bees!! We are trying to get all medical appointments out of the way before school starts and we are coming along just fine! We also toured the school we wanted to enroll Frankie at and we now feel comfortable it will be a good fit.YES!!!
We are proud to be in the no-cavity club after her 4th dentist follow up!
I have to say the appointment with Dr.Jan, our new neurologist here has been the highlight of our arrival so far...at least for me. Of course, visiting with family here is priceless, but finding a neurologist like Dr. Jan has been a blessing. She just opened up a practice here in Plano called 1CP place where she specializes in seeing patients with cerebral palsy. I don't know of another neurologist that has specialized in a single condition but this one does! The fact that she is only minutes away from our home is even more amazing.Patients are flocking here from all over just to see her. Why? Because she herself has cerebral palsy and she knows first hand what it's like. She spent over 2 hours with us during our initial visit. I left there SO hungry for lunch and ready to leave and she asked..."Do you have any more questions?" HOLY, WOW! I'm not used to being anxious to leave a doctor's visit! I usually beg for more time. All my questions were answered and then some. I didn't have to write down notes during our visit because they were all transferred to a portal. I took a few photos of Dr. Jan stretching out Frankie's foot (I need visuals for our therapy homework,) and I had to take one of the new duo smiling from ear to ear...We will be seeing her every 3 months and am certain we are in the best hands.
The past few weeks have been crazy...I'm not even going to sprinkle sugar on that. But! I realize the chaos is just temporary, and some of it may just be made up in my own little head. I have had my moments where I feel like I'm overwhelmed, but this is when I have to step back and make time to be alone and thank God for all of my blessings. Mark granted my wish to escape one evening and took Frankie to her cousin's house. That one day away definitely recharged my battery. I was able to bask in the sun at our neighborhood pool and read a book. As I was walking back home from the pool, I heard the sounds of cicadas & some blaring Mexican music from new homes in the area that are under construction. All of a sudden, there was an extra spring in my step...I really feel like I'm home now, and I love it!
