Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Cora's Chiropractor

Just got back from a visit to Cora's chiropractor.  It went well.  She is adjusting quickly and as Dr. Burt said today, "She is adjusting and moving into place like butter."  No more stuck Cora with an unmoving rib cage!

Its like this....if you leave a joint out of place and scar tissue forms around that joint, it remains stuck and out of place.  Its easier to get an adjustment soon after trauma or injury so the joints go back to the place they belong and then scar tissue doesn't develop.  Or, for that matter, arthritis.  Ouch!!
 (If your reading this Dr Burt, I hope I got your explanation right. )

I am happy that Cora likes her Chiropractor and that they get along.  She greets him with smiles.  They both share laughter as Cora makes grunting noises and little squeals while he twists her and turns her and bounces her little vertebrae and rib cage back into place. 

What started out as uncomfortable and with grimaces from Cora has become a game between the two of them.  Cora is back in place now and moving freely, and faster than ever.  She now only needs to see him once a month. 

I stand in awe of the gifts she continues to receive on this journey and the friends she continually brings around to travel her side of the road.  Its a sunny day on the journey of Cora Jean!
Dr. Burt and Cora Jean - happily adjusting to life

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Its a Tuesday

Cora will start speech therapy soon.  The Early On physical and occupational therapists feel she is ready for this part of her Early On program.  She is very verbal, often mimicing sounds and facial expressions that you make while talking with her.

It is sometimes funny to watch Cora try and make the same mouth shape that you are making.  She will go through a whole process of different shapes and finally get the right one.  Cora will clap with joy at finally getting the right sound or shape and then go right back to doing it and clapping for herself each time she feels she gets it right.

I'd like to think that I taught her that strong will to keep at it until the goal is achieved.  I'd like to think that I taught her to be her own champion, her own cheerleader.  I'd really like to believe that.  But somehow, I feel that this is a blessing she was given by Creator and I can only enhance that hidden knowledge. 

We are all born with this knowledge, some of us just lose it along the road we travel in life.  We become less our own cheerleaders and even less a cheerleader for those around us.  We start to become judgemental and tainted in our thoughts and actions.  We forget to laugh and clap with joy at our accomplishments.

Cora is able to laugh at herself and clap with such an open and heartfelt joy.  She sees nothing wrong in congratulating herself for a job well done.  She will smile and encourage those of us that live with her when we are struggling with fixing something, or cleaning the house.  She watches our faces all the time and our body for cues to our emotions.  When we get done with our task and smile or relax it is not unusual to hear a scream of delight and clapping hands from the silent observer who is only 29  inches tall.  If our head is bent down and we seem sad she will lean forward, put her hands on my chest and tilt her head until look she can look up at me.  She will say a few babbles and then give me the biggest smile.  She is her own cheerleader as well as for those she loves.

Today, when I get done vacuuming and doing dishes I am going to clap for myself.  I will clap with gratitude that those household chores are done.  I have learned that even the slightest try, the smallest accomplishments deserve to be rewarded.  Especially if they get the Cora approved clap!!


Friday, August 24, 2012

Cora's Heart

Today Cora and I traveled to Cheboygan and then to Petoskey for her appointments.  The appointment at her pediatric cardiologist went VERY well.  I took Cora there in good spirits and with optimistic feelings of success.  I left in great spirits and a heart filled with continued gratitude.

Here's the scoop:
Cora's regurge is still at mild to moderate, but the left ventricle and left atrium are now a normal size and match in size to her height and weight.  While the regurge is still a concern, there is no surgery in the immediate future for Cora.  ( inserting another prayer of gratitude here ).  Dr. Webb felt that we can be less cautiously optimistic and more optimistic after seeing Cora for herself and viewing the echo cardiogram and EKG.  While she is still concerned that the weight gain is an early sign of heart failure ( this according to Cora's past history ) she is certain enough that the progress is good and that Cora shouldn't need another surgery for awhile.  ( OK, inserting a few words of gratitude again !)

I left with instructions to adjust Cora's medicine again and continue on with the Reliv for Cora.
I also left with huge smiles and laughter on my heart.

Cora's additional milestones from the last listing :

she is signing 13 words
she is verbalizing 4 words
she sits, lie downs and crawls quicker than you can catch her sometimes
she tries to open and close doors when in your arms
she talks to anyone that makes eye contact (and if she doesn't, take her cue and go the other way)
she can put signs together to make a two or three word sentence
she thrives with energy work, chiropractic care and RELIV
she hugs when she is glad to see you
she tries to give kisses by rubbing her head against your forehead
she is pointing to things that interest her
she is mimicking everything you do

I am sure there are probably a few more that I have forgotten, but y'all get the picture.  This baby girl is thriving and exploring life in all the ways that she can.  The other day she snuck out of her barrier in the living room and came into the kitchen with her army crawl.  I was doing dishes, engrossed in my thoughts, and all of a sudden there was a cute little "mama" and when I looked around here was Cora peering at me around the corner of  the kitchen cupboard.  Then she laughed and laughed when she saw how surprised I was! 

Yes, life is good with Cora and finally full of much laughter.  Today it was filled with laughter from all the nurses in Dr. Webb's office who have come to love and cherish little Miss Cora. A  laughter filled with gratitude that Miss Cora is doing well and got two thumbs up today.  There were many congrats on our way out the door, and many hugs too. 

I felt like royalty who had just won another jackpot! I think Cora even did a princess wave as I pushed her carriage down the hallway. haha!


Monday, August 20, 2012

Cora goes Campin'

Cora experienced camping life first hand.  I took her and the other kids for a couple of days of camping and it was full of good times and happy pictures.  Cora took it all in stride, smiled lots of smiles, said "Hi" to anyone that would listen.  She would point at things she wanted to discover and I would try to remember the sign that went along with whatever she was pointing too.  I even got the opportunity to increase awareness of  Down syndrome and Cora did her part by showing off what a baby "can do"  instead of what she couldn't do.  Such a blessing!

Cora's older sister was visiting from Florida and it made the time spent with family and no gadgets a memorable time for all of us.  Best of all, Cora went for her very first swim in the lake.  Being that the water was a little cold I left her long dress on, but it didn't damper her attempts at discovery.

This past weekend was spent building Cora's immune system and just having some good old fashioned family time.  Now its back to the real world and an echo cardiogram for Cora tomorrow in Petoskey. Life is all about the adventure and journey, and how well you decided to travel it.  Cora chooses to travel with smiles and hugs and a genuine interest in everyone and everything around her.  For today, its all good.  And for me, that's all great!

Enjoy the camping pictures and continued blessings to you as you share this journey with us.

  First swim...and its a little cold, but so interesting!

Saying "Hi" to the cute baby in the mirror.

 Camping IS for messy faces mama!

 Oh, there's mama, inside the camper...no more fussy me then!

 Quick take the picture mama before Cora squirms away!
(lf to rt... Kelsey, Phoenix, Melissa holding Cora, Emily) All Cora's siblings in one pic - yeehaw!!

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Cora's Beauty

We've all heard it.  We've all been told at some point in our life that we are a beautiful person.  Maybe a few times, or maybe several times, but in a any case we have all heard it.  If you are like most people, you may have dismissed it as soon as you heard it or you may have said thank you and then forgotten the compliment.

Cora has a beauty that is quiet, simple and loving.  Daily, by those that cross our path, she is complimented on her beauty.  She is told she is beautiful and she is offered love and acceptance from the people who offer up this announcement to her.  The compliments outweigh the negative comments and for that I am very grateful.  Selfishly for myself as well as for Cora.

Raising Cora this past 16 months has been a journey within a journey.  Self growth for me and survival for Cora.  Negatives and positives along the way.  Compliments and criticism.  Pride and humility.  But in all of this journey there has been continual beauty.  Each and every day. Somtimes in the smallest breath she takes.  Sometimes in the laughter she lets loose.

When Cora hears the  "beautiful" comment she gets quiet and stares at the person who is speaking to her.  She turns solemn and looks steadily into the other person's eyes.  Seemingly gazing right into the very soul of the individual.  Intensely looking and pondering.  If that person is fortunate, at that moment, just when you think those big blue eyes cannot possibly hold the gaze for another breath, Cora will break out in smile and and squeal. 

For Cora life is beautiful.  Just yesterday she started pointing to things that have caught her attention and needs a closer look.  Cora now points to beauty and that is another milestone crossed for our  Beautiful Cora. 

Take a moment and see beauty in your life today.  Maybe next time you hear the beautiful compliment, take a moment and really take it in to your very soul...then break out in a smile and squeal with thankfulness.  After all, it works for Cora!

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Cora's critical lesson

Time flies by while Cora continues to have fun.  I watch her crossing the living room floor in her now infamous army crawl.  It takes her all of  a minute to get from one side of the room to the next.  This journey used to take her 30 minutes and that was with one of us giving her feet a bracing point and several rest stops on the way.  She now traverses this route with little effort and lots of smiles and babble along the way.

I watch her signing "Love mama" and "Love sister" and brother, papa and gg and auntie, etc.  She does this at the most spontaneous moments and with the sweetest smile on her face and a beautiful sparkle in her eyes.  She knows what she is saying.

I watch and become excited at the gain in balance she has achieved since visiting the chiropractor and having her energy work.  I see the strength increasing daily and her cognitive skills multiplying faster than I can do the times table, and this is from adding the Reliv products to her daily menu.

I sit back and watch Cora a great deal.  I sit and watch and reflect and my gratitude grows.  I am so thankful that I have learned the lesson of not listening to the critics.  If I had listened to the critics Cora's day would surely be different.

She wouldn't be signing, she wouldn't be crawling, she wouldn't be doing cognitive reasoning that is beyond her age and expectations (for an infant with Down syndrome), she would still be moving with a stuck spine and ribcage, she would probably be getting a medical intervention to help the failure to thrive, she would still be .......well - you get the picture.

Cora was born not listening to the critics and proving them wrong with the very first breath she took.  She has gifted me with this ability.  I have learned to be her voice and to follow my "gut instinct" and to not listen to the critics.  I have learned that I might have to displease a few people along this journey by not listening to their criticism and excusing them from traveling with us.  I have found that even those with the most well meaning of intentions are actually holding Cora back, by following up their suggestions with a opinion that contains criticism or a warning of what Cora won't do. 

I know without a doubt, that Cora and Creator have her journey all designed and planned.  One of the lessons on this journey has been to ignore the critics.  There are always going to be critics in anyones life, especially those whose lives are challenged from the very beginning.  Cora has taught me to allow people the respect of  knowing that they are listened to, to allow them their opinion, and then graciously thank them and send them on their way.

There are always going to be critics, there are always going to be those that offer their opinion and negative feedback.  As long as I understand that, but don't take it to heart, their criticism goes no further than the breathe that carried the words. 

The beauty of this lesson is that as long as we send those that criticise or are negative toward Cora's journey away with understanding, instead of condemnation, Creator will continue to bless us.  I have found that for every one person we dismiss from her life, Creator has brought us five more that support her and encourage her growth.

So, don't waste your time on people that will condemn you or try to make you fit into a box that they feel you should be in.  Don't let anyone criticise your choices when you are trying to live your life according to the journey that Creator has chosen for you.  Embrace you lessons and your destiny.  You don't need any one's approval.  The only approval you need is that of Creator.

For me, approval also comes from the one who greets me every morning with blue eyes and the words "mama" while she signs "love you". 


Monday, August 6, 2012

Cora passes the test

Cora had a visit with the eye specialist to make sure that her eyes were developing the way they are suppose to be.  I was hesitant to allow them to use the eye drops that dilate her eyes, she is still on medicines and I worried about the interaction.  The Doctor was pretty determined that she needed her eyes dilated and even to the point of being persistent.  At one point he even used the reasoning with me that infants with Down syndrome are more prone to serious eye issues.  He reassured me many times that Cora would not have a negative reaction to the eye drops.  I finally relented.  The drops were only suppose to work for 8 - 24 hours.

36 hours passed and Cora's right eye was still dilated and not focusing the right way.  I had called the family eye doctor with concerns and he said I could bring her in to be seen in the afternoon, and they could probably give her medicine to reverse the dilation.  More medicine??????

In the meantime, I had to take her to another chiropractic care appointment.  I seemed to be the only one really concerned with Cora's eye not focusing and still being dilated, and since I tend to worry about my baby girl, I went ahead and took her to her chiropractic appointment.

When we walked into the office, Dr. Burt commented on Cora's eyes and I told him the story.  He said, "Well, she looks out of alignment today so let's see what happens."  He started to adjust her and half way through.....zing!  her eye went back to normal.  I was amazed at the magic.  He told me it wasn't magic and he often sees those kind of results.  Something was probably pinched and not letting the blood flow move like it was suppose to and therefore the medicine couldn't leave the eye like it needed to.  All I could say was, "WOW". 

A rare moment for me to be without words! haha.  Yet, a very reassuring one.  For the naysayers that felt Cora didn't need the chiropractic care, there you have it.  Proof that the body can heal itself if you give it the right adjustments and nutrition........and there was no medicine involved.   Isn't that wonderful?!