We have definitely seen better days BUT the Gralls are on the mend! ...everyone is finally getting healthy again and work is slowing down temporarily for both of us.
Birthday pictures are on the way!! It's been very hectic the last 2 weeks and we all know I'm not mother-of-the-year, but I think I should have time to blog about her birthday this weekend.
Zoe's annual review for therapy services was this past Monday, and she met ALL of her goals that we set 6 months ago!! Go Zoe, Go! We are so proud. Her feeding therapy will probably continue, but we will most likely start seeing her therapist less and less after the upcoming swallow study. Yay! And we are going to start getting more creative with her physical therapy during playtime. After some discussion with her PT, she has a long road ahead of her and her goals are a little vague at this point because we don't know what to expect in this next year. One thing is for sure that we are extremely optimistic and hopeful. Her new "leg up" game is very encouraging to see though, and we are gonna start there.
Spring Break is 7 more school days away, and both Zoe and I are excited about sleeping in, planting some flowers, playing at the park, singing and playing piano, and relaxing as much as possible. She's earned it for sure.
Jay and I are celebrating our 5-year wedding anniversary this Sunday!! I don't know where the time has gone, but we have a lot to celebrate this year! Each year looks incredibly different from the last, and I am looking forward to spending some time this weekend reflecting on our life together, eating some good steak (as per tradition!), and cherishing our little family.
I hope all of you are having a great week and enjoying this incredible weather right now. Spring doesn't last long around here, so get outside and enjoy it while you can! Love to all!
Team Grall is mostly about our life with sweet Zoe. Jay and I were blessed with a precious little girl in February 2010. Zoe was born with spina bifida. She has overcome so much in just a short amount of time, and we are incredibly hopeful of her future. Please join Team Grall on this journey of faith, joy, encouragement, laughter, and prayer.
Happy Girl!
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Cupcakes, Laundry, and Elmo "Treet"
What do all those things have in common??? It's Wednesday of course! What a crazy evening it's been! I couldn't wait to pick up Zoe this evening...we have been a little out of touch for the past 10 days and tonight was going to be a good night to just play and hang out. Jay even got to get home a little earlier than usual :)
Zoe's been battling an ear infection this week...no bueno, but she of course is managing it well. She actually told her teacher at school the other day, "Ouch!" as she pointed to her ear. We have communication guys!!! Yay! But sad for her. She's still suffering from some stiffness too. Poor baby can't catch a break!!! We are ready for her to be back 100%!!
I had a moment last night while giving her a bath. She was pretty mad about something and was letting me know all about it. Immediately, that guilt started creeping in telling me that I wasn't home enough and I had no idea what to do to help her......it was terrible and made me feel so rotten inside. Thankfully, Jay had just gotten home and popped his head around the corner just in time to help. I realized then, that we as mothers will always wonder if we're good enough, if we're confident enough, if we can handle everything life throws at us. I am not always going to have answers, I'm going to have hard days, I can't "do it all," and I will be completely confused by my child at times, but I love her more than life itself, and nothing compares to that. God gave me a job to do (several actually), and I will continue to do my best and I will try again the next day. That's all any of us can do.
Cupcakes are made for Zoe's class party, laundry is just about done for the night, house is ready for guests, presents are wrapped, and I'm running on fumes at the moment. Can't wait to see everyone this weekend though. Sweet Zoe is getting so excited to see everyone too!
Tonight, Zoe asked over and over again "treeeet!!!" and I had no idea what she was saying until she added Elmo to the request. She was saying Elmo Treet instead of Sesame Street......She wanted to watch Sesame Street so bad!!! It's quite perfect that Elmo is the theme of the party this weekend :) Hey, I at least I got that right this week! There's still hope.
Zoe's been battling an ear infection this week...no bueno, but she of course is managing it well. She actually told her teacher at school the other day, "Ouch!" as she pointed to her ear. We have communication guys!!! Yay! But sad for her. She's still suffering from some stiffness too. Poor baby can't catch a break!!! We are ready for her to be back 100%!!
I had a moment last night while giving her a bath. She was pretty mad about something and was letting me know all about it. Immediately, that guilt started creeping in telling me that I wasn't home enough and I had no idea what to do to help her......it was terrible and made me feel so rotten inside. Thankfully, Jay had just gotten home and popped his head around the corner just in time to help. I realized then, that we as mothers will always wonder if we're good enough, if we're confident enough, if we can handle everything life throws at us. I am not always going to have answers, I'm going to have hard days, I can't "do it all," and I will be completely confused by my child at times, but I love her more than life itself, and nothing compares to that. God gave me a job to do (several actually), and I will continue to do my best and I will try again the next day. That's all any of us can do.
Cupcakes are made for Zoe's class party, laundry is just about done for the night, house is ready for guests, presents are wrapped, and I'm running on fumes at the moment. Can't wait to see everyone this weekend though. Sweet Zoe is getting so excited to see everyone too!
Tonight, Zoe asked over and over again "treeeet!!!" and I had no idea what she was saying until she added Elmo to the request. She was saying Elmo Treet instead of Sesame Street......She wanted to watch Sesame Street so bad!!! It's quite perfect that Elmo is the theme of the party this weekend :) Hey, I at least I got that right this week! There's still hope.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Almost back to normal!
Zoe is just about back to herself! We are so thankful to have her "back." She is still a little stiff, but there is no pain associated with the surgery. Yay praise the Lord!!! Jay said at her follow-up last Thursday, Dr. Swift was grinning ear to ear when we told him her snoring has completely gone away. That was immediate confirmation that the surgery was a success.
She has not had a full day back at school yet, due to crazy contagious RSV sickness in her classroom which we wanted to avoid like the plague, literally, and a low grade fever this morning which sent her home. It broke within an hour, without any medicine. So we will try again tomorrow!
I was cuddling with Zoe on the couch tonight. We played with one of her new sweet little teddy bears. It just reminded me that amidst all the craziness of balancing work and home, friends and family, loading and unloading the car over and over again everyday (with Zoe, or any toddler, that's no easy task), work-outs, laundry, and cleaning, that each moment with Zoe is to be cherished. She will be two in ten days. That's just unreal. It seems impossible that it's already been two years. Our little girl is growing up and gaining more and more independence slowly but surely. One day we will be putting away that little bear that got the biggest hug and kiss tonight, or maybe it will go to another little Grall eventually, but all the "little things" need to be cherished.
I feel like we got a bonus when we had her - she was not mobil as early as most, took a bottle for way too long, couldn't sit independently for the longest time, I could go on and on.....BUT I have always looked at it like she just got to sit in my lap for a few months longer, and I got to feed her a bottle a little more than most. I get to be needed a lot more than some mommys do. Those are moments that happen and then they don't one day. That extra time with her was a blessing in disguise all along. She's not a burden, she's just Zoe. She makes me work harder than I ever thought I could, and she just makes me appreciate the little things more and more. I'm probably a little thinner than I use to be, I'm sure I'll be getting my first grey hair soon, and I may not be as rested as I wish I could be, but I wouldn't trade her for anything in the whole world. I wish everyone could have someone like Zoe in their lives.
Can't wait to celebrate with our family here in our home next weekend (not this one, but the next). Zoe's grandparents and cousins from Florida will be here, Zoe's sister Maddy is coming in for the weekend, all of Zoe's local family, and our very special guest-of-honor Zoe's great-grandmother "Nana" will all be here to celebrate her. There is a lot happening between now and then, including a trip down to San Antonio for TMEA (Texas Music Educators Association), a big "event" for Jay at work, a few doctor's and therapy appointments, and hopefully a few house showings (maybe an offer??? please???), but we can't wait to see everyone next week!!!
Love to all and hugs from Zoe...
She has not had a full day back at school yet, due to crazy contagious RSV sickness in her classroom which we wanted to avoid like the plague, literally, and a low grade fever this morning which sent her home. It broke within an hour, without any medicine. So we will try again tomorrow!
I was cuddling with Zoe on the couch tonight. We played with one of her new sweet little teddy bears. It just reminded me that amidst all the craziness of balancing work and home, friends and family, loading and unloading the car over and over again everyday (with Zoe, or any toddler, that's no easy task), work-outs, laundry, and cleaning, that each moment with Zoe is to be cherished. She will be two in ten days. That's just unreal. It seems impossible that it's already been two years. Our little girl is growing up and gaining more and more independence slowly but surely. One day we will be putting away that little bear that got the biggest hug and kiss tonight, or maybe it will go to another little Grall eventually, but all the "little things" need to be cherished.
I feel like we got a bonus when we had her - she was not mobil as early as most, took a bottle for way too long, couldn't sit independently for the longest time, I could go on and on.....BUT I have always looked at it like she just got to sit in my lap for a few months longer, and I got to feed her a bottle a little more than most. I get to be needed a lot more than some mommys do. Those are moments that happen and then they don't one day. That extra time with her was a blessing in disguise all along. She's not a burden, she's just Zoe. She makes me work harder than I ever thought I could, and she just makes me appreciate the little things more and more. I'm probably a little thinner than I use to be, I'm sure I'll be getting my first grey hair soon, and I may not be as rested as I wish I could be, but I wouldn't trade her for anything in the whole world. I wish everyone could have someone like Zoe in their lives.
Can't wait to celebrate with our family here in our home next weekend (not this one, but the next). Zoe's grandparents and cousins from Florida will be here, Zoe's sister Maddy is coming in for the weekend, all of Zoe's local family, and our very special guest-of-honor Zoe's great-grandmother "Nana" will all be here to celebrate her. There is a lot happening between now and then, including a trip down to San Antonio for TMEA (Texas Music Educators Association), a big "event" for Jay at work, a few doctor's and therapy appointments, and hopefully a few house showings (maybe an offer??? please???), but we can't wait to see everyone next week!!!
Love to all and hugs from Zoe...
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