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Sunday, June 14, 2009 1:25 PM, CDT

Our little girl will get her "dance'n" shoes this week!

Let me explain. :0) Bella was finally fitted for orthotics a few weeks ago, and we will be at CMH Wednesday to make sure they fit, and receive instructions for wearing them. We DO know she will need to always wear socks and shoes. The socks are no problem, as I almost ALWAYS have her in bobby socks, but she NEVER wears shoes, because they fall off her all the time! I guess we'll be going shoe shopping in three days. :0) They say the orthodics (Sure Steps brand) should fit in her regular shoe size, but I don't even know exactly what size she wears! I think she is in a 2.

In case you aren't sure what orthotics are (if I'm even spelling it right), they are little flexible plastic braces that she slips her feet into. They go just above her ankles and stop before getting to her toes. They will not fix her "problem", but during the next couple years, as the ankle/foot/leg bones grow and develop, this will help them to grow straight. Right now, when she stands, her feet sort of slid inwards to where her ankles sometimes look like they are resting on the floor! It's not painful for her, but it hurts ME to see it! I am very excited as I think this will also give her more confidence in trying to walk.

She can now pull herself up to standing VERY well, and she is sometimes able get into a standing position in the middle of the floor without anything to hold on to! She only stands for 3-4 seconds, but ... WAY TO GO, girl! It won't be long!!

She has about 18-20 signs, and can actually say "da da" for Daddy, "op" for stop, and "da" for down.

She has a new in-home PT, and a new in-home OT. Due to the economy, the program that provides those services had to cut back on workers. That's how we lost our PT, and our OT moved away. :0( Bella has done better than I expected with the new ladies, which is very encouraging.

Bella has just JUMPED developmentally these past two months. Her therapists have been just as surprised has we have been. What an amazing little girl. :0) The only mishap we have had was a couple weeks ago when, while laying down in the bathtub, she kicked her feet up in excitement and hit her eye. She cut the cornea in her left eye 1 cm long with her TOENAIL and had to wear a patch for 24 hours. Who has EVER heard of such a thing happening??? That silly girl. :0)

Well, we will be going (DRIVING) to Orland, Florida for our church's General Assembly in about a week and a half. We are VERY excited, as two of our children (Bradly and Brandon) will be quizzing in the World Quiz! Our family will lead a workshop on that Friday, and we'll have a table set up in room S221 to sell our Bible Memory resources. :0) On our way home, we will visit the Creation Museum in Kentucky. We are VERY excited about that. Grandpa Wright, my dad, will travel with us, so that will be a lot of fun, too.

Please pray for protection as we travel lots, and lots of miles.

If you get a chance, check out our newest Bible Memory resources at <www.hideandkeep.com>.

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