One primary focus that they worked on with her all week was planting her feet and hands. At the beginning of the week she didn't have any concept of what this meant. Today, when they had her lying on her back, she kept her feet planted and her knees up straight, which shows that she is learning how her legs are aligned and connected with her lower back. An exciting step towards learning to stand and walk. Her toes that were damaged from club foot treatment as a baby have also just today shown signs of straightening out.
Aside from this excitement, the biggest changes we saw this week were:
-looking at people and objects from a greater distance
-more sounds, longer sentences, more talking in general
-quicker response to comforting
-more emotions, especially during moments of frustration or discomfort
-learning to communicate humor
-increase in ranges of motion in arms and legs
-holding her hands and feet in new positions
-her back is showing signs of straightening
-more pelvic movement
-overall sensitivity to touch, feeling, and visual stimulus (like jumping when someone suddenly walks by in her line of vision or when she is touched without warning)
-muscle tenderness in her arms and hips, like she has used muscles that were not used this way before
Thank you to each of you who have supported us in this sequel trip. We didn't have the ability to do it on our own. We are incredibly grateful for the prayers and funds. Each of these trips have brought a wealth of new learning for Aimee. She is being set up to communicate and grow. She is learning to be the Aimee she was created to be. She is our pure gold girl.
As her special prize for this week we got her this sweet little ring. She seems really impressed with it. :)
