Purely, Unabashedly Herself!

Just a quick share of some unexpected joys that have emerged, lately.  (Since we just came through some unexpected hardships it makes this post all the more sweet.)

Phia has been modulating her receptive language to expressive speech!  She is adding more words and making sentences. Her latest and longest sentence..."You give me that face!"  (We were teasing each other and I gave her a look as she was being feisty.)  Out came that sentence...the one she was thinking and without hesitation, she could express her very thought.  We were shocked and thrilled as we quickly started counting the words...5!  Smile.

She is also singing more words to the songs she knows. She loves music and keeps the beat, a future drummer.

She is watching Sesame Street and interacting with the characters and trying to do what the characters are doing and she wants to know their names!  Names have been a big concept that she is learning.  When she meets people or pets, she asks, "name" as she points to them.  After she learns their name she asks them, "why?"  Love it!

She is also very helpful in her chores.  She reminds me of what needs to be done. She really thrives on routine and order.

She learned to scooter this summer.  That brought some hardship as she broke her first bone in her arm.  The flip side of that... she caught her herself by extending her arms which is something we have been working on in therapy... for months!  Yay!

She also is loving to jump rope.  She picked it out of some toys at a store and asked to have it!  She can do many things with her rope than just jump. Smile. She can tie knots with it, twirl it around her head like a lasso, wiggle it on the ground and pretend it's a snake, with hissing sounds and all.

Imagination is coming into her play in many other areas too. Interacting with dolls and making tea in her kitchen is common.  She is naming her dolls as of late. Rhon-a seems to be her favorite name.  (We know very few Rhon-a's or Rhonda's.=)  She also likes to name her dolls after family members, like Auntie or Papa.  Love, love it!

Tattling!  We all have to watch ourselves now...HA!

Just a few unexpected joys with Phia, purely, unabashedly herself!

Kindred Spirits, Phia and Austin

"You're visiting Seattle?  This is our home state. Wow...would love to meet your daughter, we have never met anyone with Austin's syndrome before." =)

This was the message in my inbox after posting a few Seattle landmarks on my Facebook page, while on our Spring Break vacation!  Such a fun surprise after we tried to meet another family but were unable to arrange a time.

"We are staying in Mukilteo...how close are you?  We leave Friday but have some flexibility. We tried to meet another family but it hasn't worked out. We haven't met anyone in person, either!" My response within a few minutes after receiving her message.

How exciting is this.  Hoping to meet another family has been a dream to us.  Living with WHS AND living in Montana hasn't given us the opportunity to share in this way.  We've depended on social media, online, since Phia's diagnosis.  This was worth changing plans and making time for.   A dream come true for our families.  Truly exciting.

A few more texts and we were able to pinpoint a time and we were on our way!

As I walked through the door, Val reached out her hand for a greeting and I couldn't help but embrace her. Another Mom, acquainted with the journey of living with WHS... in the flesh. (Somewhat like pinching yourself when you think you are dreaming but find out your not!)  This was happening, really happening.

Then came her children, bouncing to greet us with a hello.  Austin was bashful and in the background taking it all in.  Reserved but with a smile that melted my heart.  A few moments passed as we were all talking and greeting one another.  Then the wave emotion hit me.  Austin was so similar to Phia.  His mannerisms the same.  WOW, another kiddo like mine! Tears of joy and relief as I witnessed another miracle before my eyes.  (Here's a pic to show what I am describing in these two.)  It didn't take long to be comfortable. *Smile*

The time we had together was full of embracing our likenesses and capturing as much on camera as possible. We had a short time to simply smile and express gratefulness.  It was perfect!  I'll let the pictures speak for themselves...

 

Later, that same day, as we were sharing photo's and texting, Val wrote, "seriously, how cute are these two? So many similarities!  The best smiles!"

Yes, seriously, kindred spirits.  The best smiles that leave us smiling until we see each other, again.

 

Thanks to Val, for reaching out and making this happen.  Looking forward to growing together in this amazing friendship.  Truly exciting and blessed.