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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Summer School

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Daddy got to take Faith to her first day of summer school

Faith was full of questions this morning getting ready for summer school, or Camp Edventure. Many of them she already knew the answer to since we had been talking about it for a while. I think she wanted to be reassured of who her teachers were going to be, who was going to be her aide, when I was coming to get her etc. One of the questions she asked was, "How many days of summer school do I have left?"

She hadn't even begun, and she already wanted to know when it would end! Seriously though, towards the end of the regular school year, she fought in the mornings about going to school. I think she was just getting tired and wanted a much-needed break.

She expends so much energy at school that she is exhausted at the end of the day. A nurse told me recently that kids with CP put out three times more energy than the average child because it takes so much work for some of them just to keep their heads up and try to have some control of their muscles.

I know she has enjoyed her week off from school, but I think once she gets into the routine of going to school for four hours a day, she'll really enjoy that time.

This morning, since Faith starts school at 8 a.m., Rob and I both got to walk her to school. Originally, we had Faith scheduled to take the bus to school, but we figured since there was no snow to worry about anymore, we could just walk her down there and back home. Also, the bus wasn't able to get her until 8:05 and I didn't want her there later than the other kids. I think she's a little disappointed to not take the bus though.

When we got to school, Faith was especially happy when one of her friends came over to her and asked if she could push Faith inside. And when she saw her aide, she yelled out, "Hi Julie!" There was a little bit of confusion with some kids there from other schools not sure where to go. Due to the flood situation, many kids had to attend summer school at a different one than was originally intended for them.

During summer school she'll still be getting speech, occupational therapy, and physical therapy once a week at school along with specialized academics twice a week. She'll also be getting physical therapy and hydrotherapy at the clinic once a week as well.

I'm sure these 27 days of summer school that are left will go by extremely fast!

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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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February started out as it typically does: very cold! This year, my parents and sister braved the weather to have a small get together for my birthday. Faith thought I needed another party like I had last year, but I told her 51 just wasn't as exciting! She also asked if her Auntie Tesa was going to fly up again.  Faith really does love a good party!  Accurate!  Dawn, Faith, and Me Dad practicing holding his arm for after shoulder surgery The next day, my parents took me to IHOP , which had recently opened here in Bismarck, but I hadn't had a chance to go yet. It did not disappoint. My pancakes, eggs, hashbrowns and coffee were all perfect!  I was glad to have gotten this meal in with my parents as two days later, my dad would be going through shoulder replacement surgery. We were all expecting him to be in and out on the same day, which is exactly what happened a couple of years ago when he had knee replacement surgery.  I, along with my siblings, was shocked t...
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