3 Years

Three years ago today, I thought was the worst day of my life. Abi was diagnosed with Aicardi Syndrome. I remember feeling like my heart had been ripped right out of my chest & torn in half.  Looking back, we have experienced many ups & downs with Miss Abi.  She has overcame so many obstacles & achieved milestones that we were told she may never do. She is our miracle. We love her so much! We are hopeful for her future & are grateful she is ours!

It's been awhile since I've blogged; So I will update you on Abi's current happenings.

• In April 2010, Abi started walking. She not only walks, but she runs everywhere.

• Abi can feed herself. We no longer have to spoon feed her. She is doing really well with holding a spoon or fork. She is a bit messy, but she can feed herself & for this we are grateful.

• Her vocabulary has expanded GREATLY! Here's the list of words she can say:

Dad (Da-Dee)

Mom (Momma)

Eat (Eeeet)

No

No Way (noway)

Cookie

Drink (gink)

Hello (hewwo), Hi (hieeee), Hey (aye)

Puppy (Pu-pee)

Ball (bawl)

Bubble

Night Night (nigh nigh)

Knock knock (Nah Knock) & knocks on anything that makes a noise

Banana (na-na)

Go

Baby (bay-bee)

See ya (seeya)

Jump (mum)

Uh oh

E-I-E-I-O

Cow (c-oh-w)

Doggy (DahGee)

Elmo (Ehmo)

Boo

Wee

Kitty (Ki-eeee Ki-eeee)

Meow (Neeee ow); We'll say, "Abi, what does a kitty say?" Abi: "Neee ow"

Ho Ho Ho; We'll say, "Abi, what does Santa say?" Abi: "Ho Ho Ho."

Grandma (Ma-Maw)

Grandpa (Paw-Paw)

What's that? (wa-sat)

Yummy (MMmmeee)

Stay (StaYEEEEE)

Bird (bibp)

Apple (Bapple)

Bye Bye (Bu-Bye) & waves

Owie (Wowie)

Hot (hosh)

Soft (sosh)

Abi (Babbi)

Eyes

See

Tree (ree)

Moo (mMMm)

• She can sign: eat, drink, grandpa, grandma, mom, dad, more, shoes, bird, please, thank you, cracker

• She LOVES music! She will sing, dance, twirl or sway back and forth when she hears it. She can fill in the blanks to the songs: Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree, Old MacDonald, & I Am a Child of God.

• She is socializing more & enjoys going to preschool.

• She sleeps in a "big girl" bed & sleeps all through the night.

• She LOVES to read or be read to. Books keep her entertained & it's so cute to watch her read.

• She's learning her body parts. Nose, eyes, ears, belly, hands, toes

• She starting to play pretend. She will carry her cabbage patch around & kiss it.  Abi also plays pretend phone.

• She gives kisses & hugs.

Abi still has spasms/seizures. Lately, one spasm, every day, is the norm. But sometimes we are lucky & can go every other day or two days in between. She warns us when one is approaching. She'll come stand by me & hug my leg. She has picked up this horrible tantrum where she screams & slaps her head over & over. We're not sure if they are headaches or she feels a seizure come on (sometimes a seizure happens & sometimes it doesn't). I have an appointment with her doctor to discuss it.

She is a joy to be around. She has a contagious smile that melts my heart every time. I'm so grateful for her. Even with her challenge, she has taught us so much! She is very forgiving. She loves her sisters. She's Lyvie's shadow. She follows Lyv all over the house, & Lyv is so kind to let her join in in most anything she is doing. And she is finally starting to like Sophie. They have a cute bond. Sophie can be laying on the floor & Abi will go sit by her. They give each other a look, then the laughing begins from both of them. It's quite cute!

I LOVE my family so much! They are my life, my world! It's hard to imagine what life would be like if they were not here. I'm grateful every day for them. I need to be more thankful & not take them for granted. Cherish the ones you love. Let them know you love them. You never know when it will be your last.

Happy LOVE Day!!!