Faith's Mom's Blog

I admit I have some mixed feelings about school programs - like the kind of programs where children invite their parents and other family members to watch them sing and dance and do other activities. Don't get me wrong, I think it's great for kids to be involved - I loved having programs when I was in school. It always made me feel sort of special that my parents would come and watch us sing and perform, especially since we had put so much effort and practice into it. It's a little different with Faith though. She'll come home from school singing the songs she is learning and talks excitedly about all she is doing at school right up until it is time for the actual program to take place. Then she doesn't want to go. But we go, hoping she'll be okay. Last night was one of these events. The kindergartners were all putting on a "Rootin' Tootin' Hoot 'n Nanny event" that was going to be full of surprises for the parents and kids as well. And...

What an adventure we had last week trying to make it over to Mandan for the annual Morton County Ag Day . The day began by adjusting Faith's feedings so I wouldn't have to do it at the event. Thankfully, she was up early to get her feeding done. It helped that I was also able to bring her to school about 30 minutes late. By the time we were getting ready to leave the school she had her second feeding and was ready to go! Or so we thought. When I went to pick up Faith she was surrounded by all three Kindergarten classes standing in line trying to contain their excitement about their field trip. While the kids impatiently waited for their bus to arrive, Tina and I got Faith loaded up in her van and away we went.  As we drove into the parking lot of the Mandan Community Center, Tina received a phone call on her cell phone. Apparently, the paperwork for the bus had not been finalized, so the other kids that were still back in Bismarck could not go on the field trip after all. Wha...

Late last week, Faith and I had a little accident in the Hyundai. We were going north on Washington, which is a very busy street especially around 5:00 p.m. I was trying to get to Avenue C and then make a left in order to get home but we only made it as far as Avenue B. We had just gotten done with Faith's physical therapy appointment and getting her hair cut. It was after five and I knew Michelle (respite care) was due to be at our home at 5:30. I was in a bit of a hurry and then I got distracted by a pedestrian who was trying to decide where to cross the street. I watched him for a bit then when I looked back in front of me all I saw were bright red brake lights. I hit the brakes, but it was too late. CRASH!  Right away I looked back at Faith, and she had a look of surprise on her face. I asked her if she was OK, and she said she was. I was so thankful that instead of being buckled in a regular carseat, she was buckled into her adaptable carseat that offered her extra support....

One of my favorite sounds in the whole world is to hear Faith sing. She has such a sweet little voice and to hear her sing always brings a smile to my face. I really get a kick out of her singing when she's driving her power chair down the hallway. As I slowly walk behind her, she belts out, "1,2 buckle my shoe, 3,4 four shut the door..." She reminds me of me singing along to the radio while driving my car. But for her - she doesn't need a radio! When we are in the car together, I have K-LOVE playing on the radio and she always asks, "what's this song called?" She listens to the song then the next one will come on and she'll ask the same question. Sometimes I don't know the answer and I'll tell her, "I don't know what this one is called." Then she'll say, "It's about Jesus." There are some Christian songs she knows the words to and when she sings along to those, I am so proud of her for listening so well t...

It is yet another cold, blustery day on the Northern Plains. The temperature may be above zero, but the wind makes it biting cold. Personally, it is not the kind of weather in which I want to be pushing a wheelchair. Frankly, I probably wouldn't even be able to push a wheelchair through this wind especially over the snow-drifted sidewalks and icy patches. That's where my friend, Tina comes in. She has truly saved the day more than once this winter. It was in December during a cold snap that Tina noticed me pushing a very bundled up Faith to school. Her heart went out to us and that night she asked her husband to take one of the seats out of their van so they could transport Faith to school. Tina called me and wanted to try it. Although I admired her enthusiasm, I had my doubts that it would work. Faith's chair was heavy, and we were going to have to lift it up into her van. Plus, I didn't know if Faith was going to sit very well in one of her daughter's car seats....