Mobility Engineers

I can wholly admit that as a mother three; and two of which have a disability, it is easy some days feel defeated.  My last post was probably one of those days. ;) I worry and wonder if the things we are doing for our boys are enough- always brainstorming, 'what else can I do to help them along?'   I know there are days where any parent can feel this way...  I think self doubt is the plight of parenthood. The constant wonder and worry, but then you have a day like we had today and you know that everything you're doing is just right.

The last week has been paramount for Ashton and his quest for independent mobility. After weeks of waffling back and forth on whether or not to make the move to get a walker for Ashton, Shelby and I made the leap on our own. It was something we had been discussing with Ashton's physical therapist, but hadn't made any official moves.. we were still in the process of his PT trying to locate a small enough one we could borrow from a medical facility to see if it was a worth while venture- when the ah-ha moment came! We felt that Ashton needed to feel what it's like to walk without the assistance of others, just Ashton power. The walker would be assistance, but totally in his control. While getting Ashton up from a nap I walked by his room and eyed an old hand-me-down toy baby doll stroller and thought... if we did this, took this off, turned this, reattached this piece here- we could have an Ashton size walker!

I helped Ashton up the stairs and immediately went back down to get my newest invention. After I ran the idea past Shelby- because I would need his assistance in manufacturing my invention, we were in business. We removed the Winny the Poo cover & shade, drilled out rivets, used the pipe cutter to get the handles just so- and we had a walker.

I can't even begin to explain how great Ashton has received my invention! He has been a walking machine!! He can easily maneuver his walker around the house and get from place to place without assistance from us, he is even choosing to use it without our asking! In a week we have witnessed his mobility skyrocket, he has been zooming around the house and just 'looking around' from his new vantage point- and today was the icing on the cake!

We have PT on Mondays and Wednesdays at 9am at the Early Learning Center and after his PT session the teachers have extended the invitation for Ashton (and me) to stay and participate in the group activities for the remainder of the morning session. We did this last Monday and did pretty good until the last 20 minutes, but today was AMAZING! With his new wheels he easily lined up and walked with his assigned group, moving from activity to activity with little adult intervention and a whole lot less resistance. While watching him move through his day, I could only concentrate on not losing it and crying like a baby when he danced with the other kids during motors time.. watching him dance to the music was pure joy.

He even requested we go out and play with the other kiddos at the end of the morning session (Ashton NEVER asks to go outside- who wants to go outside when you have to crawl or have the constant adult companion) and so, we went outside and played! It was a gift to see him just be a little boy- to walk, to play, to discover, and to interact with his friends while standing on his own two feet! It was a relief and gift to be able to sit back and watch him from the sidelines- the whole time silently chanting "Go Ashton, Go!"  ..and God Bless those ELC kids that are so unbelievably accepting of him! The affection and true compassion they extend to Ashton melts my heart! It is very clear that engineering a walker for him was the right choice. I can't even begin to tell you how proud I was to see him participate just like the other kids today- yeah, just like the other kids!

There are many days that I struggle to have my boys recognized for the beautiful people they are inside and not defined by their unique disabilities. Today, I know I wasn't the only one that got to see beyond Ashton's disability- we saw his ABILITY!

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  Psalm 139:14a