Dinah is Moving Forward

so...We have been doing the therapy with Dinah and I really see a change. Before she seemed uninterested in standing and walking but now I think she understands that not doing so limits her. She wants to get around. She is also trying to communicate more. She says "all done" very clearly, but only after I prompt her to. Dinah is moving forward to her goal!!!!

Dinah will Walk...just wait and see

We picked up Dinah's wheelchair yesterday and it is amazing how it has motivated me to make SURE she walks. Never before was the possibility of her not walking more evident. As I stared at her sitting in her pink wheelchair 2 distinct futures flashed before me. A functional one. And a non-functional one. But trust me when I say Dinah will walk. I have never felt more confident about a statement: Dinah will walk. I will blog her journey everyday to inspire. Everyday I will talk about the exercises we do and the progress she makes. I usually make a vow to do something and I start it EXTRA motivated and amped...then slowly I loose focus and fall off. BUT this is the most serious event of my life thus far. My daughters future is in my hands...and I wont let her down. Dinah will walk. Then she will run circles around this world...

Dinahs' Story

Dinah Caresse was born Feb 24, 2007 at 24 weeks gestation. In lamest terms I was 6 months preggo when I had her. She weighed 1 lb and 14 oz. That afternoon I was rushed by ambulance to Botsford Hospital after going into an unexplained early labor. After an emergency C-section, Dinah was whisked away to the U of M Neonatal Intesive Care Unit. With no immunity and underdevolped lungs, premature babies have to fight to survive. The doctors never really gave us a positive outlook. We always heard more bad than good news. But after multiple brain surgeries due to hydrocephalus, severe infections, hundreds of tests, scans, and probes our little miracle was discharged on June 19, 2007. A lot of people call her Dinah-might because she has blasted through so many obstacles in such a short amount of time. But I call her my precious baby. She is a healthy little girl who has more obstacles than the average child BUT to me that just means she has more chances to prove how great God has made her.

i got my hair did!

Shes not sure how she feels about this yet...

So Dinah spent last weekend with her Granny-auntie Paula. Thank God for Auntie Paula because she managed to TAME Dinahs wild hair. Anybody who has paid enough attention would see how thick and unruly Dinahs hair is, she cries when you try to comb it. So I took it as a small miracle when I picked Dinah up Saturday night and she had little french braids in her hair. I wish i had of gotten a picture but i didint (sorry). Only half of her hair was done because I guess that halfway through the process she figured out she did not approve of this new "getting he hair did" thing (lol). So the next day i went and bought Babylove hair products and little scruchies and had a ball finishing up her hair. IT WAS THE CUTEST THING!!! As Trish so greatly put it "she had more barrettes, there was just barrettes everywhere!!!" (lol, once again). I really think that Dinah knows that she has a new look because looks at us with a look that says "eat your heart out" (lol).

So I just got my hair did and i need a mani-pedi!

"Eat your heart out!"

Pics and video taken 3/7/08

P.s. Dinah said Da-da clearly for the first time yesterday. She said it for like 2 minutes straight

Dinah Mimics talking now

Video made 3/11/08

Okay, so just to update you guys, these are some of the things Dinah is doing now: she sits w/minimal support, she has great head and neck control now, she can roll, she likes to mimic speaking, she loves to smack peoples faces, she transfers toys, she smiles, laughs, says about 4 consistent sounds. Hey was her first word/sound. But she always says "aboo"...we still dont know what that means. Shes about 21 lbs and longgg. She understands tones of conversation very well. She knows if you are happy or sad or mad, etc. Her favorite toys are her rattles and she likes the walker even though her feet barely touch the ground in it. All and all, little ms Dinah is still shocking her doctors and therapists with her growth and progress. And for that alone we praise God.

Ist Smile caught on camera

It took Dinah a while to start smiling big at us. First she would smirk, then grin, now her smile lights up a room. THIS video is her FIRST smile caught on tape. This was filmed Nov 2007.

So...Dinah USED to hate baths

NOW DINAH LOVES THEM!!!! Except she doesnt like getting her hair washed.

These are memorable pics from the first bath Dinah actually liked.