Yoga, Cora style

Since Cora's health has improved a great deal, and I am finally able to get back into some of the things that took a backseat to Cora's care, I started back into the power yoga and the elliptical.

This morning, heavy into the workout and concentrating on balance and the instructor, I hear this little voice penetrate my thoughts.  "Mama, mama, mama" it was saying over and over.  I looked over to see Cora in the downward facing dog position and looking at me to get my attention.  I was so shocked, I fell out of my pose which led to much laughter from Cora and me.

I sometimes forget how Cora is a great mimic of everything.  Sounds, signs and movements.  She watches us and tries to do the same things, and today she was doing advanced power yoga movements, like it was nothing.

An absolute blessing for her is the hyper-extension the third chromosome allows her.  That which Early on has been telling me will be a burden for her ankles, knees and hips was today a blessing in disguise. 

So here is my thought, if she can do yoga it will actually strengthen those tendons and ligaments that are super stretchy.  What a beautiful interaction it offered me and Cora... her in her play yard and me right next to her. 

I love the blessings in disguise that this journey continues to deliver me.  With those blessings I find that thinking out of the box is definitely the way to go, and Yoga for a almost two year old is where the journey took us today.

Shifting the perspective

I see Cora coming up with new ways of achieving some of the simplest goal. For instance, standing up. She extends her one leg out straight, bends her other knee, draws her other leg in and then stands up while pulling herself up, with every ounce of strength she can muster, with her hands and arms.

Its not the usual way of standing up for a toddler, and it comes at a later time for her than most babies, but she is successful every time she tries to stand up. I think back to my other children and remember trying to help them, over and over again, on standing up. Instead of letting them find their own way, I would interfere and help them. I wonder how often I ended up hindering my children, instead of helping them?

Cora has taught me that she can achieve the goals I set for her, if I allow her the ability to try it her way. She has taught me to not interfere,but rather stand back and watch and encourage. I wait for her to sign "help" before I physically get involved and help her.

How often, I wonder, have I done that in my own life. Instead of taking a step back, waiting and allowing a change to happen, I forced the outcome.

I am so blessed that through a child's perspective, the Creator is opening my eyes to new ways of achieving goals. Cora continues to teach me life lessons and I remain her ever vigilant student.

Are you learning from her as well? Are you becoming a better student of life, rather than a person who forces the outcomes? Today's blog is focused on this question...and as always, Cora and I continue to thank you for following our journey.

 Cora has her own way of falling asleep, and it often happens while she plays with her feet. 

Cora stands up

Finally, Cora is able to stand without help.  She crawl to the couches and has learned to bend her knee underneath herself and pull up to a standing position.  This also means that she has become more mobile, which means that we have put more things out of reach and up higher! haha.

Its a good change for this household though.  Having to move things, reinforce the word "NO" and make things even more baby safe is a blessing.  For a little girl that was struggling this time last year, she continues to bring in the new year with strength and happiness.

Add a few new teeth to the equation and Cora is quickly losing her baby looks and turning into a toddler.  Well, growth is definitely a grand thing for Cora and if that means losing the baby look , I am okay with that.

Are you changing and growing for the better?  Are you standing up for yourself, and setting boundaries?  As we continue to slide into this new year, Stand up with Cora and learn from her continual blessings...



-- still trying to figure out how to post pictures.  the blog is experiencing some problems...sorry--

Maintaining hope

A few days ago, I had a woman ask me how I was handling Cora's new growth.  I answered her, "I am maintaining faith and hope."

Blending my faith, into Cora's recovery, has seemed like a pretty good mixture so far.  It has given me strength, perseverance and persistence.  My belief, and my "we're gonna do this until we get it right" attitude, has definitely been a god send on this journey with Cora.

I see Cora, everyday, show me what faith and perseverance can do for an individual.  She stays focused and keeps trying until she accomplishes the task at hand.  If its playing the same song on a toy over and over until she figures out which button, pushed at a certain time, will change the sound of the music, she sticks with it.  If its placing her feet so she get her knees under her to lift herself up into the standing position, she will move those legs until everything is lined up and then stand.

Cora is a great teacher for me.  I think, at this point in my life, it is such a blessing that I can recognize I am still willing to be a student , as well as her teacher.  What an amazing gift that is, to receive from your child...  Life lessons interchanging between the two of us.

So, yes, I continue to walk this journey in faith and hope...and in the process Cora is teaching me a whole new way of approaching life.


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Happy New Year

Can you believe that it is already 2013?  I am looking forward to this year and the possibilities it opens up for Cora.

Last year was full of many heartaches, but also many triumphs for Cora.  She has overcome setbacks, cognitive difficulties, lack of strength, with a mindset that teaches me everyday.  Cora doesn't hold onto the past hurts, habits, or hangups.  She lets go of yesterday and thrives in today, no matter how the day approaches her.

Lack of skill doesn't stop her.  She keeps trying until she achieves  her goal.  I'd like to believe that spirit, that not taking your eye off the prize attitude, comes from me.  The difference with Cora?  She is willing to ask for help.  Cora has taught me that asking for help is not a sign of weakness, but rather, a sign of strength.  It takes a confident person to ask for help, learn the lesson, than take off on their own with what has been taught. 

Recently, Cora asked for help to stand up on her feet.  She has been working toward this goal, everyday, with her exercises that we were taught.  The little trooper works her way through those exercises, even when she is breathing hard and want to give up.  She doesn't quit until we ask her if she is all done.  She will smile, sign "all done" and that's the end of the session.

After working at it with her, she decided that she would try the same thing on her own, in her play yard.  The play yard is a portable fence that gives her play space and allows her a greater freedom of movement that a traditional play pen.  I love this as it allows her to crawl and use the muscles that need to be built up.  She was working on standing up but didn't run her fingers and hands up the side of the fencing.  This didn't allow her enough tension or angle with her arms to be able to pull herself up. 

She tried and tried, several times, only getting half way up before her little arms and legs would be to tired from the strain, resulting in her falling onto her diaper padded bottom.  Cora looked over at me and asked for help.  She signed "mama" and pointed to the play yard fence.  I showed her how to stand up, move her hands up the sides and then achieve the standing position.  The look of pride on her face was priceless.  We worked at this until she was too tired.  Later her sisters would work at it a few times and then walk away.

On January first, of this new year, Cora watched her brother walk by her play yard.  She signed "brother" and tried to get his attention.  He didn't see her.  She pulled herself up to the side of her play yard and got on her knees, he didn't see her  again signing "brother" .  Frustrated with her brother she grabbed hold of that fence and stood herself up.  Then let out a yell and a stream of other baby talk.

It was a wonderful sight to see and a great beginning to this new year.  True to her fashion and way of doing things, Cora welcomed the new year with an upright stance and a look of pure happiness on her face, and some much wanted attention from her big brother.

We hope your new year holds just as much success for you...