A walking update... there she goes!

I've been working on getting Madi in her walker to practice walking.  She is doing really well!  She is starting to "hop" too!  Yes, I am one proud momma for sure!  I am sorry for the crappy cell phone videos, but here she is!

P.S. Each video is different.

I'm baaaaaaack, with great news!

A little background on why I temporarily disappeared...

• My computer hard drive crashed.  When it crashed, I lost the work I was working on for Wacap... hours of work.  Oh joy.  I started over, and did finally finish, but it took me about 3 nights of staying up until about 12:30 am to get it done.  Of course, about half way through, David recovered the things off my hard drive (I love having a tech-savvy and totally sexy hubby!) but I had already re-done that part of the work anyway.  Oh well, such is life!  I am buying a used netbook to save money, but still have a computer to use.  Some people love netbooks, some hate them, but I think it will work just well for me.
• Our home computer got a virus and isn't working.  The only computer I had that did work was David's work computer, and I was super paranoid about getting a virus on that somehow, so I wouldn't check anything but facebook and my e-mail.  The computer still has a virus, but David is working on it.

A few days ago I checked craigslist for playgrounds, which I do every day or two.  On a whim, I searched for 'play set' instead of what I usually search, which is 'playground and play ground".  I came across a set that is made out of the nice Treks lumber, which is a lumber made out of recycled milk cartons and is very durable, can get wet, and stays cool to the touch.  I really wanted one of these sets, but a basic set with NO ramp was about $4,000, which was just too much to spend when it would still need to be modified and it was just very basic.  I went and looked at the set and the lay-out is perfect!!  It needs a new slide (the slide was cracked) and we will need to build a ramp, but the set was only $400 and in great condition!  WOW!  WE OFFICIALLY HAVE A PLAYGROUND!!  I've been singing from the roof tops.  It's been such a long time looking!  Before I show you pictures, here are things we need to do to it:

1. Buy and attach a new slide
2. Buy a new periscope and wheel, as those are too weathered to use
3. Buy another set of chains and a buoy ball/ trapeze bar combo set (Madi uses the trapeze bar in therapy) and move the other swings down so that we can fit 3 swings
4. Build and attach a ramp
5. Optional- I REALLY want to attach a little pull-down table for the play area underneath so the kids can have picnics and play down there, but Madi can be sitting down if she wants.
6. Optional- I'd love to build a little rock-climbing wall for Conner.  We have the rocks (they were donated and did not sell at the garage sale) so my dad would just need to help us build and attach it.
7. Get a new swing for Madi with a little support and one that she can't fall out of.
8. new update, forgot number 8~  It has all the attachments for a shade, so we just need to buy a new shade :)

But even with all of that, we will save a LOT of money!!  And for anyone looking to buy a semi-modified playground, cedarworks has the ability to customize a play set.  They are amazing to work with, and there is a lot of flexibility on ramps and stuff.  For example, you can have two separate deck heights and have slides on both deck, then ramps going to the decks.  The ramps are steeper ramps, but a child could probably crawl up them, especially to the lower level.  Ok, now for the pictures!

Watch for updated pictures of our project!  My dad is going out of town, then it's ramp building time!!

My Craft for Today

Madi has been wanting to practice walking with her forearm crutches, aka "walk-walk sticks" (she is still very wobbly and a long ways off from using them independently, but I'm always happy to help her practice :)).  They always have seemed so uncomfortable, though, because of the hard plastic that the arm cuff is made of.  I had some craft fir that did not sell at the garage sale that I had kept and I decided to try and make little covers for the arm cuff part, so that they will not dig in to Madi's soft skin.  Madi really likes the new cuff covers and calls them "kitty tails".  They seem to work pretty good!

This playground will be the death of me!

My dad came over tonight to measure out where the playground would go.  The one I like best with the best ramps would take up most of our grass area.  Sigh.  We have other options for the play area, but this is the most accessible for Madi.  The other play sets will fit in our backyard better, which is great, but will also make it to where Madi can only access the smaller portion of the play set and not the bigger area with the big slide.  I know for a while I can carry her up to the big slide, but I was really wanting her to have her independence.  GAH!  This playground will be the death of me, I swear!

Madi's Scar

Tonight I sat rubbing Madi's back as she settled down to sleep.  I was overwhelmed with the feeling of how lucky we are to have her in our lives; of how blessed I am to have her as my child.  When I got to the scar on her back, I could not help but think all that her it represents; the neural tube defect, the nerve damage, the hydrocephalus, the Chiari II malformation, the surgeries, the lack of function, the paralysis.  But at the same time, none of those things define who Madi is.  Madi is smart, funny, determined, loving, kind, curious, analytical, beautiful, a charmer, strong, compassionate, giving, and absolutely amazing.  It makes me sad when people stop and stare.  It makes me sad when they don't look at the person who she is, but instead look at the equipment that she uses.  The equipment is nothing.  Her equipment and her disability do not define her.  My prayer is that Madi will grow up strong and confident, showing the world that you are not your disability.  My prayer is that Madi redefines spina bifida, not only for herself, but for all those that come after her.