Jewel's day

January 17, Monday 2011


Today Jewel sat indian style (chris-cross),on the floor, unaided for One minute!
Three days ago 1/14/11, she sat like this for the count of 55!
I am so thrilled and hopeful at this repetition. She does not always repeat her progress, which can be hard for me to understand.
I had her barbies and mermaids all lined up and she was engaged in focusing on the conversations that I was having with the dolls. I think this helped her mind focus on something fun.
On the 14th she read a whole sentence on the chalk board. Her Da wrote; "Cat ate rat. Cat, rat, and, the", one of the lessons in the McGuffey's Primer reader-and she read it.
We used the McGuffey's set with our older children and they proved simple and rich. Jewel is almost ten years old and carries the label of Cerebral Palsy. She is on no medication and has never been consistently on any. She was medicated on many things in the Neonatal unit and had some antibiotics and pain meds. during her brief hospital stays.
One surgery due to a hernia, one cellulitis (staff) infection, one surgery at Shriners hospital for children.
Ultimately I would like to encourage all parents who have a "special" child, especially those who are homeschooling their special child/ren and who have been labeled systems resistant because they would like to raise their child with out medications that are not needed, (I am not talking about the medicines that are absolutely needed).



Today I am hopeful and full of positivity due to Jewel's progress and willingness to co-operate. This is a grand and merry day but not all days are fueled with such an emotional euphoria.
Some days are void of restful sleep, these are bleak days. We give Jewel the best nutrition and organic food that we can give. We daily supplement with Mannatech, which we have been doing for six months now. Jewel sees; a great O/T occupational therapist(x1wk), a great P/T physical therapist (x2month) , a wonderful Speech pathologist; language specialist (x1wk.), chyropractic care(x1-2-month), body worker(x1 wk - he is a new addition), massage therapy (x1 month- this is her fourth time), horse therapy ( this is our fourth year.)
We have cut out milk for three months now, we have seen an improvement in her chest, it is less rattly and raspy, less phlegmy. We like these results :)




Instead of keeping a journal I will attempt to keep track of Jewel's progress. I am tired and need to plan tomorrow. Good night.