Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Walking, reflecting and haircuts.

Despite my earlier pessimistic prediction, the evaluation process to find out of Clara qualifies for EI services has continued. It seems to be a windy road with many hoops and hurdles and even the destination is foggy. Today a "service coordinator" is coming out to fill out twenty-five minutes worth of paperwork. After which she will refer us to another evaluator who will come out to the house and run a bunch of tests out our girl. If she qualifies after that evaluation she will be referred to a physical therapist.

I refuse to get worked up about this process. She'll either qualify or she won't.

And besides, LOOK!



Clara has been taking steps independently for over six months now. One here. Eight there. But sometimes with weeks in between and no real progress. Her steps have been stiff and awkward and the neurologist even put on her prescription for therapy that she observed a "gait abnormality"

But in the last week, she has walked some every day. With increasing ease and excitement. And as you can see has made great strides in her gait. (Groan!) We are continuing down the road to EI because it has taken us so long just to get the referral, but I am very encouraged at the progress I am seeing.

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What you cannot see in this video is the absolute disaster my children made of the room around them while I was attempting to write an introspective post on my blog last night. This weekend I spent some time rummaging through the archives of my blog and recalling, wistfully, the obsession that blogging was for me last year; When I wrote compulsively for the sake of writing, and not simply to record the minutiae of life in the Chaotic household.

Failing to find a balance for my new obsession I have instead gradually diluted it into a watered down version of what I wanted it to be. While I still pop on each week to post updates and pictures and the occasional anecdote it's been a long time since I have gone to bed with words and phrases swimming through my head. I miss it. The challenge of trying to become a better writer, of self-analysis and story-telling and attempting to recreate moments instead of just record them.

And yet, here I am again, with a quick Clara-update, because it's all I can manage except at naptime and bedtime and those hours are already allocated 3 times over. And I find the less I write the harder it is to return to it. But I know I will return, eventually. Or maybe for now just occasionally. Until my life takes another turn and time alone is not such a coveted rarity.

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Oh and look what else I did this weekend:

Before:












My sweet friend Nikki took pity on my long scraggly locks and my 2 inch roots and gave me a free cut and color. Free - people! Seven inches and 3.5 hours later I am forever in her debt.

After:


Thanks Nikki!

I

heart

you.

17 comments:

Lady Epiphany said...

Walking! Yay :) Lovely locks also!

Chrissy said...

Joy, that haircut is gorgeous on you. What a sweet friend you have. Glad to hear Clara is improving.

Beck said...

Life changes and our writing will reflect that, right? You'll have time again for more writing some day.
I'm so glad darling Clara is walking! And you look BEAUTIFUL!

Kyla said...

Go Clara!!

Love the hair!

Christine said...

you look gorgeous. i love the new look!


sometimes writings takes a back seat and it's hard but how it has to be with the family. i go back and forth--sometimes i'll on'y post update type things once a week. but others i get on this weired writing roll and post more often.

the important thing: i'll keep coming back no matter what you are posting about.

painted maypole said...

cute kid, cute haircut, and i hear you on the uninspired posts. i feel that way, too. although I do love reading your stuff, so i don't really know what you're worried about. ;)

Amanda said...

Hey knockout!

Lori said...

You look fabulous!!

I always love reading anything you have to say. And look at Clara go!!

karen said...

Woot for Clara's walking (you knew she'd get around to it sooner or later...) and double woot for great haircut!

Unknown said...

Clara's walking is like going to the mechanic. when you actually see the "professional" the problem goes away! woo hoo! also AWESOME do for an awesome mom!! :)

S said...

you are gorgeous!

and yay clara!

flutter said...

you.are.gorgeous.

Lynn Stallworth said...

Yay Clara! She's doing great! You're hair looks awesome! I swear, a good cut and color can make you feel like you've won the lottery!

RAY AND TINA said...

WAY TO GO CLARA!!! SEE SHE'S JUST STUBBORN AND DOES NOT WANT TO DO THINGS ON OTHERS TIME BUT ON HER OWN TIME. YOUR LOOKING GREAT TOO. I HOPE TO GET MINE DONE SOON. MAYBE WE CAN GET TOGETHER SOMETIME THIS MONTH. LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK! LOVE YOU GUYS!!!

nutmeg said...

Clara is priceless! I think you will look back one day and wonder what all the worry was about.

I know what you mean about the obsession of blogging - I too am past that and I think my blog suffers for it. I was recently interviewed about blogging and I was asked why I do it. I do it because it's a productive, theraputic hobby. When it starts to feel like work, I'm outa here.

And the haircut rocks!

bethie babes said...

you know how women are suposed to age and men are susposed to improve? well, i can't get over how you look more and more beautiful every time i see you!! would some of that rub off on me please?

Amy Wyatt said...

You look gorgeous!! I love the haircut. Glad to see that Clara is walking! Even if you have to do the therapy you will get through it. We did it 4 times a week for years. Speech, OT, and PT. It will work wonders and even though during it you will want to scream... it is sort of like childbirth... you will look back and think "that wasn't so bad." We are finally back in town and trying to get into a routine. Can't believe Ben wrote all over the walls :) Mary Lyndsey did the same thing at my mother in law's house this past summer. I have a post on it called the Writing on the Wall. It happens to the best of us :) Take care. Will see you Sunday afternoon at choir.