Therapy, orthotics and shoes

I'm trying to not write too much between now and October 1st.  October is Down Syndrome Awareness month.  If I'm going to blog for 31 days, I don't want to use up all my topics!

This morning, Ian, Hailey and I headed downtown for Hailey's regular physical/speech therapy session at Children's.  Some days I look forward to these therapy sessions.  I love, love, love her therapists at Children's.  They love their job, they love their patients and it shows.  They were complaining how tough their jobs were and how hard their two patients before Hailey were today.  For a moment, I thought they were serious until one of them said that is very difficult to work with such cute children.  The gentleman from the orthotics company met us at her appointment and we settled that first.  Once they were snugly fastened onto Hailey's tiny feet, therapy began.  Her speech therapist worked on the alphabet sounds with Hailey while her physical therapist adjusted her body on the small ball to work her core.  Hailey made most of the sounds and even said a couple of the words.  They then moved to a higher surface so Hailey had to stand, squat and bend over.  She played with a little people barn putting animals "up" in the loft and "down" in the stalls after Hailey squatted down to pick up the animal.  She walked down the hall with a k-walker (which she is not fond of at all) while looking at flashcards.  She walked back the hall holding onto a hula hoop.  I think the poor girl was wiped after that.  She was quite smiley and chatty all through therapy.  I do believe she has the makings of becoming a stand-up comedian.  We had a few minutes left so while our physical therapist checked our upcoming appointments, our speech therapist walked Hailey down the hall to practice waving and saying "bye".  She wasn't aware that Hailey has mastered that one.  When they returned, she announced that Hailey has about 6 more people that want to become her therapists!  They were impressed with her waving and her "bye".  It is quite evident what she is saying and she flashes the dimples with her bye.  That gets them every time!

We made a quick trip to Stride Rite to get fitted for shoes.  A brief 10 minutes and quick $50 later, we were out the door with a pair of white and pink sneakers.  In true Hailey fashion, she mastered removing them quicker than it took to purchase them! 

As of now, the girl is not fond of her new apparel.  I figure in good time she will decide to like them or give up because her mom is just as stubborn as she is.  I'm hoping that  they will assist her in her quest to walk.  As with everything else...only time will tell!!!


I was told twice today that Hailey had an extra twinkle in her eye that made her look a little more mischievous than normal...I'll let you be the judge of that!

I think this is my fave in quite awhile!  She is so funny!