August 7, 2013 - Day 123
So much has happened lately, it's been hard to keep up the posting. The best news is that since our disheartening visit to the Dallas Neurologist, Bella's appetite has increased exponentially! I'm plying her with whole milk, Cool Whip, milkshakes, on top of her normal diet. We seem to have finally woken up her appetite! We'll give it another week and then see if all this eating is actually helping her to put on any weight.
This morning Bella and I met with the principal of her new school. Neither of us is scared anymore about school starting (well I'm still a little scared but Bella is not). Most likely Bella will still be in her wheelchair at the start of school, though she's improving at such a rapid rate now that it seems possible she could go with only her walker. She will be given all the accommodations that she needs, including not being graded on the legibility of her handwriting. Just 3 1/2 weeks until the first day of school!
Yesterday Bella *finally* got her AFOs (leg braces). I have not remembered to snap a picture of her in them yet but will do that soon. The braces fit the bottom of her foot and up her calf with Velcro straps across the top of the foot and just below the knee. They can really irritate the skin so she has to build up a tolerance to them. We're hoping to build her up to be able to wear them for full school days starting August 26th.
This afternoon, we left the wheelchair at home when we went to Bella's OT! She walked (without her foot braces) with her walker into the facility at a snail's pace but she walked! She did awesome with her therapy and then walked out WITH her foot braces & walker at a much faster pace! The braces make a world of difference!
I am so proud of Bella! She has faced this whole journey with such grace and I just pray that the worst is behind us.
Playing bean bag toss with Brody at therapy
Flying like TinkerBella in the net swing
