when I'm 7

In our normal routine, the girls played on the swing set last evening before dinner. Because of muddy feet and knees, the girls took a bath together. 

These days, I've encouraged Shelbi to bathe alone so that both girls can have some privacy separate from each other.  Tonight was different simply because they both had muddy feet. 

After their bath, I was getting Sadie dressed and I didn't realize it, but Shelbi was watching me.  She was already quickly dressed.  Sadie must have been making her normal vocalizations.  Shelbi asked, "Mommy, when I'm 7, will I be like Sadie."

Taken back, I said, "Baby girl, what do you mean, will I be like Sadie?"  She said, "Will I start saying, 'babababa?"

I hugged her after that and tried to reassure her that she didn't have a disability, and that she would be able to talk when she turns 7. 

Trying to explain that to a four year old is tough, but feeling it as I'm explaining it, reminds me that Shelbi is every bit, living this life, as I am.

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I love this photo editing app!

Time for a better fence?

Well, I guess we will be looking for a better, taller, Sadie-proof fence soon!!!!

Spring days

Sadie laying calmly in the grass after a softer fall than it looked.

communication

The older Sadie gets, the more communication gets to be a larger issue.  People look to me to be her voice... her voice for all aspects of her total care.  "Should I feed her, should I change her wet clothes, should I change her pull up, should I get her a snack, a drink, a toy, a game, shoes, socks, coat, sunscreen, should I stand by her side, assist her, hold her hand, give her space, hold her, sit with her, create an activity for her?" those are among the few questions I get on a daily, minute by minute, hour to hour basis when someone is caring for her who isn't capable of intuitively understanding the needs of a person, but more especially the needs of a person that can not speak traditionally with their voice.  This is probably the most challenging hurdle I've had to cross with her care givers.  Getting them to see her as a 7 year old and treating her as a person with choices, feelings, both physical and emotion, with needs just like any other child to balance her disability with giving her space has been tough.  I hate that people see her with out the ability to actually have choices and be able to have her wants and have those respected.  She is a person, a human being, a child.... presume competence people.

Sadie's new do

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> New hair cut!!!!
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St Patty's Day