Wow....Cora

Cora is at a point in her short life where everything is an adventure.  She explores and points and asks questions.  She wants to know what things are and how they work.  After being shown a few times, she will try to work whatever the gadget is herself.  Her language skills keep improving and she has started to walk behind her little bike that her Papa and GG got her for her birthday.  Yes, she is certainly mobile and determined.

As read that, I hope the first thought in your mind was similar to mine as I typed it.  Wow, I am listing regular kids stuff!  What an amazing feeling.  Still, this late in the game, I often hear about what Cora can't do, isn't doing, or should be doing.  Still, this late in the game, I often respond with "Let's focus on what she IS doing, CAN do and WILL do.".

Is this walk with Cora on her journey a challenging one?  Absolutely!  But in all things, if you stand back and look at it with a solid faith, it becomes ever doable, ever loving and ever rewarding.

The latest accomplishment was a review that was done for Early On.  A test to see how far Cora has progressed, and of course, where she is lagging.  The one part of the test asked about her language skills.  It asked if she was saying three or four word sentences.  I said, "Yes, she signs a three word sentence."  I was told that didn't count, that it had to be verbal responses.  Didn't count?  How does that not count?  It requires cognitive reasoning and developmental understanding to speak or formulate a three word sentence.  I again grew frustrated with the system of testing that we have available for our children with certain needs.

How would that test qualify a deaf child who cannot speak other than through sign?  Or a mute child that cannot speak with the use of her hands?  To me, it only focused on what Cora wasn't doing, according to someone's requirements.  It did not take into consideration that Cora can , and does, often speak in two, three and rarely four word sentences.  While the words are spoken through sign language, they are spoken in a way that is understood by another person.  Is the use of hand language not a form of speaking?

While the Early On team was impressed with Cora's ability to sign and even "talk" with them, the paper form did not allow the reward for Cora. Did not allow for the recognition of the work it takes for Cora to have learned the signs and talk with others.

So again, while others focus on what Cora isn't doing....I will focus on what she is doing and continue to share in her WOW moments!  You can do the same for yourself.  Instead of focusing on what you aren't doing, or haven't achieved, look at what you have done and are doing.  You will probably have a WOW moment of your own.

Cora's story is published

Todays blog brings great news!  The book that everyone kept encouraging me to write, to share Cora's story and the faith it took to get where we are today, has been published.

As you read this blog, the book is officially LIVE!  That means, it is ready for people to purchase the book and read our story.

Click on the link below and it will take you to the book.  Once you reach the page, scroll down a little and you will see the cover of the book.

I want to thank you for your continued support during Cora's journey.  I look forward to continuing to share our journey with you. 

Blessings,
Katrina Head

http://bookstore.westbowpress.com/AdvancedSearch/Default.aspx?SearchTerm=katrina+head

Cora's typical...YEAH

Cora spiked a fever over the weekend and by Monday morning I had her in the local clinic to see what was wrong.  I had spent the greater part of the weekend fighting panic, and cuddling with a very sick baby girl.  The panic is fast to rise from the pit of my stomach after all the scares Cora and I have been through.

While she remains pretty healthy, and her heart is still doing the work it is suppose to do, when she becomes sick my first instinct is panic.  The second is to tell myself to breathe and remember that her heart is okay.

Monday morning, like I said, found me in the clinic with Cora.  Her fever still slightly high despite alternating the tyenol and motrin, she was smiling at the help and willing to have her weight taken.  She is still silent with her signing we are in public, but at home she kept telling me she was "cold" and "hurt" and "tummy" and saying "ouch".  The doctor examined her and found the culprit.  An ear infection.

Yep, an ear infection.  I felt the tension leave my body and I broke out into a huge smile.  "An ear infection!  Isn't that great!!".  The doctor looked at me and laughed.  "Katrina," she said, "coming from any other mama that comment would have me concerned.  But coming from you, I totally understand!"

For not the first time lately, Cora has done something typical.  While I am not at all happy that it was causing her pain and discomfort, I was happy that it wasn't anything severe or anything to do with her heart.

Today finds her finally feeling better, the amoxicillan seems to be doing its job and her fever is finally gone.  She is playing with her over sized legos and looking at books.  She talks to her favorite stuffed monkey and tries to share her crackers with him as she gives him hugs and kisses. 

Yes, typical is something to celebrate in this household.  Because today, Cora is a typical toddler in both play and illness.  Creator is truly wonderful!!

mama, are you really taking another picture?

Reinvent yourself

Cora continues to grow.  She crawls faster than you can catch her, and she is finger walking with the stability that comes with practice.  Her leg braces help her with keeping her ankles where they should be, but she can move just as fast with them, as without them.

Speedy seems to be Cora's new nickname lately.  That and "official greeter".  Cora has learned that if she says "Hi", it will usually inspire other people to stop what they are doing and say "Hi" back to her and have a short conversation with her.  This also means that no one is immune to the greeting of Miss Cora, where ever we may be. 

For example, Cora and I were waiting in the truck yesterday for her brother to get done in the library and an older gentlemen and his wife pulled up in a car next to us.  As the man stood up and closed his car door, Cora starting waving and saying "hi".  This man didn't hear Cora as we were inside the truck and he was outside walking into the library.  Cora looked at me and said "OH" and made the sign for crying.  Apparently, to Cora's understanding, if you don't say hello you are sad.

So right!  I totally agreed with Cora's reasoning.  If you cannot stop and say "Hi" to a happy baby, then perhaps its time to reinvent yourself, possibly time to reinvent your day.  Take a quick look at the day and how you've been greeting it, greeting others, or handling the issues that have come up.  Have you handled them as they are, or have you made them worse?  When someone greeted you, did you take the time to feel the sincerity behind their greeting, or did you brush if off with the standard "I'm fine" and keep on walking while swallowed up in your own thoughts?

Maybe Cora was right, maybe that older gentleman was sad yesterday.  If he was he probably could have used a dose of Cora's heartfelt "hi" to help him reinvent the remainder of his day.  In either case, I am proud to be a sponsor of the Miss Cora official greeting, because it often enables me to reinvent my whole day.