Abby update - November 27

(Note: This is the missing post from November 27--you'll have to read below to find the post from November 29)

Today was a full day and a good day for Abby. She had great therapy sessions. In OT she was able to sit unsupported for several minutes (I think that the secret was the OT engaged her in playing mock games of basketball and volleyball!). Before this time she had not been able to overcome her muscles spasms in order to sit unsupported more than a few seconds.

In speech therapy Abby is performing better at tasks that require her to discern and choose between different objects. She was also able to vocalize a few sounds today, and our dear friend Jessie is the lucky recipient of her first vocal "hello" on a telephone! She is constantly mouthing words now (as she went to sleep she was silently singing along with a Michael W. Smith CD), so either we have to get her vocalizing more, or I've got to get better at reading lips!

Physical therapy is still hard work, as Abby's tight tendons still make stretching her ankle joints difficult, but she works hard on her walker, nonetheless. She's also still got a lot of tightness in her neck that the PT hopes to work on.

And then there were the social highlights today. Puffy the Shih Tzu therapy dog paid her a visit, and Abby combed her hair (believe me, there's a lot of it to comb!). And then Abby was visited by therapy horses (or at least it was good therapy for Abby!). Her Aunt Linda and Uncle Greg (and cousin Kayla) stopped by on their way home from Arizona with Holliday and Canuck (sp?). Abby's eyes really lit up at the sight of the horses, and the horses even sensed what they needed to do, as they both gently extended their noses to her. Okay, we also had wonderful visits from some very special human friends today too, but you know Abby and her horses and dogs...

Or if you don't, then I'll try to tell you soon about this girl and her love affair with animals. For now, I'll just let you know that the special thoughts you've shared with us about her have warmed our hearts...

Keeping you close to our hearts,
-the Linams