It has been a while since I wrote anything about Amy’s new Whisper brace. It hasn’t been quite the smooth sailing experience we had hoped for. You may remember that the doctor wrote us the prescription while also advising that he didn’t think it would be effective. We have now gone to Philadelphia three times for brace-related appointments because there is no one in Pittsburgh trained to work with this kind of brace. For each brace adjustment there is an orthotist from the brace company who flies in to train the person in Philly and to make sure all is as it should be. Unfortunately, the first way the brace was configured didn’t actually give Amy any curve correction. This past Monday she had another brace adjustment, conveniently tacked on at the end of our Thanksgiving trip. She had a follow-up X-ray on Friday and the brace is now offering more correction, but not as much as her old brace. This is disappointing, and we have some thinking to do.
There is a poem that I grew up hearing and reciting whenever peas were served for dinner. I have of course continued the tradition, but despite what the poem claims, I don’t actually eat my peas with honey. The poem is, “I eat my peas with honey. I’ve done it all my life. It makes the peas taste funny, but it keeps them on my knife.” This week Amy and I tried eating our peas with honey, and we do not recommend it. Eating off of a knife was fine, and certainly the honey made it easier, but honey and peas are not a good taste combination.
We had a fun time Friday at a Christmas party in support of the St. Anthony School Program. Sarah learned to order a drink at the bar all by herself and downed two soda-juice concoctions. She and Amy also cut a rug on the dance floor, especially when “Love Shack” was played. Before going home, Sarah and Carl took a peak in the football stadium part of the venue. Amy and I opted to zoom to the car rather than experiencing any more cold air than was necessary.
Yesterday Sarah and I walked to the mailbox to mail our Christmas cards. Getting Sarah able to reliably assess an intersection for when it is safe to cross and then to cross with attention and speed is a marathon of a journey, and we still have work to do. But! Yesterday she was the one to lead me to the mailbox and say when to cross each street. As with so many skills, the journey is equal parts Sarah’s ability to take control and my ability to relinquish control. I used to think she would never get this skill, but now I am feeling more hopeful that eventually I will feel comfortable sending her out to the mailbox on her own.
We also got our Christmas tree yesterday and look forward to decorating it today. I’m sure our cat will be underfoot and trying to eat various branches, but I am having an easier time appreciating her annoying cat-like behavior after the scare we had mid-week. For an unknown reason she stopped eating and drinking for close to 24 hours. She was lethargic and not interested in her treats that she normally clamors for and gobbles eagerly at any opportunity. So, off to the vet we went. Four hours and many dollars later, she was sent home. Nothing was clearly or overtly wrong. Now she is back to her usual self, and Amy and I laugh about how the more annoying our cat is the more we know she is feeling better.
Last night the girls had a fun night with a beloved family friend at a Light Up Night celebration. Sarah pretended to drive a fire truck and give a stuffed animal a medical checkup. Then they all went inside to warm up with hot cocoa and to decorate cookies. Sarah was exuberant and extravagant with her use of sprinkles!
Lots of love to you all. May you notice and celebrate every little smidgeon of progress.
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