So, I know it looks like we have dropped off the face of the earth since it has been so long since my last update. All is well, we have no appointments scheduled (although I need to make some) and Jilli is getting better at walking everyday. We could not possible be more proud of her. Her balance is improving and she is getting stronger. She and Abbey Lee are going to be flower girls for my sister in laws wedding in 6 weeks and so they have been practicing caring a flower basket in between them and tossing petals. I am proud to report that Jilli can hold the basket one handed (with Abbey Lee on the other side of the basket), toss petals and walk. How far she has come, last year this would not have been a possibility. Words can not express how I feel when I see this.
In April we took the girls to see Elmo Live. If you know Jilli then you know that her one true love is ELMO. We were given the opportunity to take the girls to meet Elmo and Baby Bear, thanks to the great people of Red Crown Credit Union. Which in Jillian’s world, none of the other characters exist, there is only Elmo. He walked in the room and her mouth drooped open, she looked like she was going to cry, and she was in a trance. If you tried to talk to her, she wasn’t hearing you. She had this look like “OMG, I can’t believe it’s really him”. She got to sit on his lap, take pics with him, give him lots of hugs and kisses and tell him just how much she loved him. It was a great day, one that I will always remember and I think she will too. She told everyone she got to meet Elmo, (even the cashier at Wal-Mart) and asks me almost daily if she can see him again. Abbey Lee enjoyed meeting him to but was more excited over the necklace and Zoe purse they gave her.
Abbey Lee has her dance recital coming up in June and we are excited to watch our little ballerina so us her stuff. I would never take Abbey Lee out of dance because she loves it so much but it gets hard to see Jillian watch her sister week after week and want to dance as well. It has brought me to tears many a time. So, I was sharing this with Abbey Lee’s instructor who is also the manager of the studio. Well after talking to her and sharing about Jillian, I am proud to announce that Jillian will be starting dance either this summer or fall. They are starting a special needs class. I can not tell you how happy this makes me or how excited Jillian is. I am so grateful to Owasso Dance Company; they are a GREAT dance studio, the best.
Last Friday Jillian and I met up with Lauren from MDA to talk to all the area managers of Coney I-Lander about MDA summer camp, to share Jillian’s story and raise awareness about SMA. The campaign starts May 18th, I believe, but I’m not sure when it ends. So, go to a Coney I-Lander snack on some conies and buy a summer camp Mobile (they are just a $1) and help send a kid to MDA camp. Also, look for the posters of Jillian hanging around the store.
We are gearing up for a fun and busy summer. Abbey Lee will be completing pre-school and off to Kindergarten next year. She can’t wait and I am sad at how quickly my babies are growing up. Abbey Lee will be 5 and Jillian will be 3 next month and I just can’t believe it. We are planning a slumber party for Abbey Lee’s birthday so pray for me as I will have 6 5 year old girls hyped up on sugar. I told my mom she has to help, hehehe
Well, that is all for now. I will try not to make it so long in between posts but I make no grantees.
