August is winding down and as I look back to see what we did with our days that went way too fast, I see a lot of growth. We started May with another trip to Omaha for our yearly clinic. The best news was that Willow's bone density increased by a lot. In the OI world, I am told that this is normal following a year on biophosphates and good nutrition. I am also told that this does not mean she will not break; she still has bad bone composition even though there is more of it. But I rejoice in knowing she has these numbers in her column. She did have a break prior to this and another break a week later. These brought me up short and I had a struggle to realize that her many victories do not cancel genetics and there is still a lifetime of needs ahead.
Summer also brought Willow's first wedding; the marriage of a cousin. Her goal for the proceeding months had been to dance at the wedding and dance she did. As I stood both watching and dancing with her I wanted to yell to all those sitting conversing, "Do you see this? Do you know what an amazing thing this is?"
We went from wedding to vacation and there were more firsts. She rode a bike with training wheels for the first time and played 9 holes of putt putt golf standing/walking. This year she wasn't terrified of the open water of Lake Michigan and went in with gusto.
July was a blur of swimming including doing 2 workouts with the YMCA swim team in which she swam the 25 meter length. Unfortunately this ended with an ear infection. In the past few weeks, she has learned how to shoot an arrow, kick a ball and jump in the pool. She is always appreciative and proud of herself but never satisfied with what she has done. She wants to do more and more. Today she told me we should go back to PT so she could learn how to skip.
There are some sad days as well. A few days ago she asked when she is grown will she still need a wheelchair? I felt bad as I realized I had asked her to sit in it. She likes to walk around the kitchen as we are making dinner and I fear she Will get knocked over. I sometimes find myself saying "please sit and rest" or "stop walking for a while." I never want to limit her but at times I think we are both just winging it praying to God he gives her whatever she needs to know as far as limits.
