Puuur-fect !

Up until until last year, Elle had never participated in Halloween.  Not because she couldn't but because I could not and would not dress her up in a costume.  As silly as it sounds, I didn't want to dress her up and possibly have someone laugh at the disabled kid who probably had no idea she was even dressed up in a costume.

That changed in 2011 when Elle was invited to go trick-o-treating with David's family.  I was telling a close friend that I really wanted her to go but was hesitant to dress her up.  She told me that Elle could go dressed up as something beautiful and asked if I would allow her to "make" this said "beautiful" costume for her.  I agreed  and was so happy that I did.  By the end of the week the costume was done.  5 yards of red tulle, lots of black hand cut, felt dots, 4 black and red pipe cleaners and a few black fuzzy pompoms later and Elle was a beautiful lady bug!!  Kate made Elle an amazing red tutu and antenna.  This accompanied with a red turtle neck and black tights and she was absolutely adorable.


I realized that night that it is ok for Elle to participate in Halloween like other kids .  I just had to find a costume that "worked" for Elle and also worked for me. 

Jump to Halloween this year and another invitation to join in family trick-o-treating. With a little research, we found the perfect or should I say...Puuur-fect Halloween costume for the kid!  The best part of all was that the costume was actually built around her pediatric wheelchair!!  Woo Hoo!  This meant Elle could be completely comfortable and we would not have to fuss with other modes of transportation for her.  While we can't take full credit for the overall design, we did make a few adjustments that made it even better. A little creative verbiage from David and it was done!   Elle had a good time and got lots of compliments on her costume.  A few people even wanted to keep her but this lil kitten is allll mine!

Over The Moon!

That is exactly how I felt about elle's latest and certainly greatest!!  For those of you who don't know Elle, she attends Mandarin Oaks Elementary School. This is a public school that has an ESE or Exceptional Student Education program. AKA...kiddos with special needs.  Anyway...Elle works with her physical therapist and also occupational therapist a couple of times a week.  At the start of the school year, goals are set for Elle.  Here are a few examples...

1. Elle will place items into a contaner and remove them given verbal and visual prompts.
2. Elle will initiate and complete an activity by clapping hands to participate in a circle with verbal directive and physical assistance in 4 out of 5 opportunities.
3.Elle will demonstrate the ability to spoon feed 3 bites of food with minimal assistance and verbal prompts and adaptations as needed 3 out of 4 trials.

Every few months an update is sent home to me so that I can see her progress.  While reviewing the report I noticed the comment under #3 which read, "Elle is demonstrating the ability to spoon feed with assistance and verbal prompts."  This sparked my curiosity as I had not given Elle the opportunity to use a  utensil at home as it always resulted in the same thing...a spoon being thrown across the kitchen and me cleaning up morsels of food from the floor and walls. I went to the grocery store and bought Elle a pack of colorful, toddler size spoons and macaroni and cheese.  Elle is food motivated so I figured I might as well pull out all the stops.  When dinner time came, I placed Elle in her high chair as usual.  I stood next to her and scooped the mac and cheese with the spoon.  What happened next left me speechless.  As I handed the spoon to Elle, fully expecting her to swat it out of my hand , she gently reached out, took the spoon from me and fed herself !!  After she cleared the food, she gently returned the spoon to the tray and awaited another bite!  I was over come with happiness and joy and a renewed sense of hope.  I about hugged the breath out of her and as I told her how proud I was of her and clapped my hands...she amazed me again by joining me in clapping for herself!!  Words truly can not describe the feeling of seeing this little girl display an appropriate, learned skill.  The fact that she was able to focus enough to learn, retain and demonstrate this everyday proves again that Elle is capable or doing soooo much more.  I had a conversation with her occupational therapist, who is the one that began working with elle on this skill.  She is also working on teaching Elle how to scoop the food herself!  This step is a bit messier as Elle hasn't yet perfected it....YET.

So today, on Thanksgiving...and everyday, I am thankful for the people, like Jenny, and all of Elle's teachers that are inspired to work with children that have special needs.  People that can see beyond the disabilities and can see what potential lies within each child...what lies within Elle.  I have always had hope of more for my daughter and she continues to show me that she IS capable of more.  If she could, she would tell me..."MA....gimme a minute...I'm working on it !".  I love you Elle and I am so proud of YOU!!