Faith's Adaptive Skiing Adventure

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I am usually all for Faith trying something new. Years ago, though, I drew the line at adaptive skiing. I knew that Dreams in Motion does an annual event at Huff Hills (North Dakota's largest ski area), but I was too afraid to let Faith try it. I just didn't know how she would do being strapped down so tightly, especially with her high tone and issues with her left hip.  At her day program, some of her friends had been going for years and Faith thought it sounded like so much fun. So, this year, I decided we should give it a try. Since there are only 20 spots available for this event, I got her registered the morning it opened up.  Lots of fresh powder at Huff Hills  As the event drew near, I knew I needed to get snow pants for her (since she had none) and make sure I had all the right winter apparel to keep her warm. That was also one of my biggest concerns is her getting too cold, which can cause her tone to increase even more.  As the day approached, she was...
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Avoiding Sleep: Faith's Nighttime Antics

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You know how kids come up with all sorts of excuses to not go to bed. They need a drink of water, they need to go to the bathroom, they need to make sure there's nothing under their bed or in their closet. My daughter is no different.

I share a room with Faith. We are finally getting her to sleep in her own bed at night. It is an ongoing process. I am proud of her that she can fall asleep all on her own. She used to need to be cuddled, rocked and sang to. Now I put her in her bed, and she falls asleep, after about 30 minutes, that is. No matter how tired she seems, it always seems to take a while before she finally drifts off to sleep. 

Faith cuddles in bed with her doll, baby Allie. 

Last night, it seemed especially hard for her to fall asleep. Here is how are night went:

10:00 p.m. - I put Faith in her bed while she yells, "I want to stay awake. I don't want to go to bed."

10:05 p.m. - "Mommy, could you help me out." "What's the matter?" "My hand is stuck." I'm sure it's not but I get up to check anyway in case it really is. It's not.

10:07 p.m. - "Mommy my sock fell off." I get up to check, both her socks are on her feet.

10:10 p.m. - Faith is thrashing, moving and scooting. (She is able to scoot while she is on her back.)

10:12 p.m. - "Mommy, could you help me please, please, please. I'm really stuck." I get up to check. She has managed to scoot up to the head of her bed and is unable to go any further. I lay her back down in the middle of her bed and tell her she has to go to sleep.

10:15 p.m. - More thrashing, making noise, singing, scooting.

10:17 p.m. - Dad comes in to tell her to be quiet and that she needs to go to sleep.

10:20 p.m. - "Mommy, could you come over here again." This time I try to ignore her and pretend I'm sleeping. "Again, AGain, AGAin, AGAIn, AGAIN!" Each time she repeats the word it gets louder. I pick her up and sing the "I love you song" to her and tell her to try her hardest to go to sleep.

10:25 p.m. - All is quiet. Is she asleep? Her laughter answers my question.

10:30 p.m. - "Mommy what does the word 'fabulous' mean?"

10:35 p.m. - "Mommy, could you come help me?" "What do you need help with?" "I need to sit up." "Try to go to sleep."

10:36 - Whimpering. I pray she is getting close to falling asleep.

10:40 - Laughter. I try not to laugh myself. Even at this hour, her laughter is contagious.

10:45 - Quiet. Finally, she is asleep, and I am able to fall asleep too.

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Faith's Adaptive Skiing Adventure

-
Image
I am usually all for Faith trying something new. Years ago, though, I drew the line at adaptive skiing. I knew that Dreams in Motion does an annual event at Huff Hills (North Dakota's largest ski area), but I was too afraid to let Faith try it. I just didn't know how she would do being strapped down so tightly, especially with her high tone and issues with her left hip.  At her day program, some of her friends had been going for years and Faith thought it sounded like so much fun. So, this year, I decided we should give it a try. Since there are only 20 spots available for this event, I got her registered the morning it opened up.  Lots of fresh powder at Huff Hills  As the event drew near, I knew I needed to get snow pants for her (since she had none) and make sure I had all the right winter apparel to keep her warm. That was also one of my biggest concerns is her getting too cold, which can cause her tone to increase even more.  As the day approached, she was...
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