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...

Cora's Christmas

This year Christmas was filled with laughter, food and a healthy and happy Cora.  Such a difference from last years quiet and reserved one.  As her mama, I am so proud of her continuing success that she has achieved throughout the days that have passed since last Christmas.

Cora was enthralled and fascinated with the Christmas day and all the activities that were involved.  She learned how to open her Christmas stocking and her three presents.  At first she did not want to rip the paper on the presents (I have been really working with her on her being softer with her hands) but after a few examples from older sister she dived right in and opened the presents.

Cora's first love of the day was a baby doll that she found while rummaging around in her stocking.  Santa was smart when he brought that gift for her as Cora fell instantly in love with her baby.  She has this way of scooting herself in a circle while pivoting on her bottom and her day was filled with holding the baby doll and spinning around to watch what everyone else was doing.  There was such a wonderful look of curiosity and amusement on her face that I found myself watching her reaction as much as watching the others open their presents.

During the day, no matter what she was playing with, she would look around and pick up her baby and rock it and kiss it.  She was in love with her baby and spent the day nurturing that love.  Such a blessing to see this baby girl loving and nurturing and playing.  In between loving her baby doll she would sign "food" to anyone that was snacking and she was enjoying all the different tastes of the foods that were shared with her.  At one point, she started to try and feed her baby doll some of her yummies!

As this year comes to a close and the new year is fast approaching I look forward to watching Cora continue to nurture her baby doll just as I will continue to nurture my own baby.  I think I have the advantage though, my baby gives hugs and kisses... 

 What's in here?

 A baby doll!

 What are you eating?

 A very tired Cora.

Christmas is full of truths

Cora is exploring this season with the gusto of a normal , almost two years old, toddler.   She may not be walking yet, but she can surely get around!  She is being fitted for some ankle supports to help her with the standing part of her therapies and those will be delivered soon on Santa's sleigh.  While it isn't a toy, it is something that Cora needs in her toolbox of success and I am sure she will understand that...besides, everything becomes a toy for Cora.  She finds comfort in the simplest of things and can play for minutes on end with whatever she has discovered.  Lately, she is enthralled with big sister's PSP handheld game.

Still, as the day of presents looms closer and closer, she is learning what this holiday is all about.  learning these life lessons are an important part of her growing up into a thriving part of this family.   Here are some of the life lessons she has learned in the past week:

1)  You are not allowed to open other people's presents and ruin the surprise of what is inside because the other person might not appreciate it.

2)  Wrapping paper does not make a good hat, it tears too easily and causes static cling in your hair.

3) When sampling  goodies that a family member makes it is polite to only take one bite, even if you love the taste, and it is not polite to grab the item and squish it in your hand so you don't have to share.

4)  Chocolate is amazing no matter what form it comes in....cookie, fudge, candy, etc.

5)  Pushing the play yard with your hands and feet so you can be closer to the presents and the tree is allowed, however, reaching through the fence panel and pulling presents into your play yard is not a good idea.

6) singing into the empty roll left over from wrapping paper is fun!  Its especially funny when you look in the bottom when big brother is singing into the top!

Along with these life lessons Cora has also learned new words with her signing.  We are now up to her recognizing almost fifty signs, using twenty signs and still getting better at her verbalizing words.  She continues to thrive in our house and we all continue to treasure the moments that we are sharing with her.

So, in keeping with the holiday season, we hope you are all feeling the love and blessings that come around this time of year.  If you find yourself with nothing to do, make a wrapping paper hat and laugh out loud at your own discovery....that's what Cora does everyday!

Continuing forward

Cora made it to the Upper Peninsula Down syndrome Association Christmas party in Marquette this week.  We were so fortunate to meet other families that have children similar in age to Cora and to see the development and skills of all ages.  Our children are so different and yet so similar.  One thing that was a definite given, all the children enjoyed the company of each other. 

There was a little fella there that was a few months younger than Cora and Cora instantly wanted to hug him.  She clapped her hands in happiness and hugged him really hard.  Then she signed "baby" and "more" to be able to keep on hugging him.  This little fella wasn't into older girls though and one hug was enough for him..haha!

For me, as a parent, it was rewarding to talk to a couple who's son is fifteen years old.  I listened to there advice and their struggles from years past and took away a greater wealth of knowledge than what I arrived with.

This journey with Cora continues to teach me about always being open to new ideas and suggestions and not being closed to those very things. 

While there this past weekend Cora also saw her Ear, Nose and Throat Doctor and he was delighted in Cora's growth and healthiness.  Her ears are normal and her canals are not terribly small, so it was a great visit.  He did remark several times on Cora's high function and abilities for having Down syndrome.  He told me I was fortunate and blessed.  (His son has Down syndrome). 

I am left, these past few days, with a feeling of happiness that I have not experienced before.  While there are storms that still rage in other areas of Cora's life, the seas we are sailing right now are calm and soothing.  This offers me a chance to catch my breath and a moment to relax, reflect and watch the sunset.

As I sat and held Cora during that Christmas party, and watched the other children sing Christmas carols and saw the patience of the other parents, I finally felt like we weren't alone.  A moment to relax indeed, and bask in the sunshine and happiness of others who are exactly where I am and understand everything I am feeling.  I saw those parents interacting with their children and I could see the pride in their faces.  It was a happy time in this journey and with it came the knowledge that Cora has a very bright future and along this journey she will be giving hugs to those that really want one!

 Cora and oldest sister Kelsey