I apologize for it taking so long. Here are the pictures from the last day of therapy.

Getting ready to work

I was supposed to be working on my standing, but I was really trying to figure out how I could grab my horse without anyone noticing.

I still don't like crawling too much, but I gave it a try.

I walked all the way to the front door!

My goodbye party. I was surprised!

This was my cake.

Here are the ladies, my friends, that helped me get stronger while I was away.

It has been a long week. We were all trying to recuperate from our trip this past week, so I apologize for not posting the pictures sooner.

What an amazing journey this trip has been. That last day was bittersweet. We were excited to be coming back home, but sad to know that the therapy had come to an end. Iliana has made wonderful progress in the last month. She still doesn't like to get into a crawling position even at home, but she does initiate standing and her attention to people and toys is much improved. God has really worked and continues to do so. I am anxious to see what the next several months will bring as far as her development is concerned. I look forward to reaching milestones that some may have thought as impossible. But we know the bible says that faith in God has the ability to move mountains. He already has removed some tremendous obstacles. He has brought my baby girl from what some said was certain death, to life.

Thank you for your prayers during our time away. Your love and spiritual support for our family has been a tremendous blessing, and I feel that thank you doesn't say enough. May God bless you all.

This is the monkey. I was working on my legs.

I was supposed to only lift my leg, but I thought it would be more fun to try to touch my head with my toes.

I'm not too sure about this one.

Doing my big girl walking.

My Horse!!! Yeah, I get to play!!!

It was the end of the day. I didn't want to work anymore, I just wanted hugs.

Of all the toys, I only want my horse.

Well, one more day to go. We are packed and ready for tomorrow. Marisa has told me several times already that she wants to go home "now". We are all excited to go back to Jacksonville.

Today was a fantastic day. Iliana was tired, but she didn't give in to sleep, she worked hard. As a matter of fact, during her walking she walked about 40 ft. This is about twice as much as normal. We did have to take a lot of breaks in between, but she would always push herself back up and start again. She's a trooper! I pray that tomorrow will go as well as today, if not better. This has been a great 3 weeks. I wanted to mention that just because Iliana may not crawl or walk yet, doesn't mean the therapy wasn't a success. She has changed a lot and in more ways than one. I can't wait for you to see her and see for yourselves. God is good, all the time.

We will see you soon!!!!

I have been unable to post any pictures until today, so here are pictures from Tuesday and Wednesday...

I had to try to keep my balance while sitting

I had to practice my crawling today. They used one of my favorite toys to motivate me, my horse.

I tried hard. I started crying because I didn't want to crawl, I just wanted to play.

I finally got there and grabbed my horse as fast as I could!

How's my sitting?

These are pictures from Tuesday...

This ball reminds me of giant pumpkin

"I'm still standing. Yeah, yeah, yeah!"

I was trying to decide what toy to play with.

This is back in our room on Monday night. She sat on the floor for the longest time playing with her horse.

Although our entire purpose for being here these past couple of weeks is to do physical therapy and to make Iliana physically stronger, we are seeing the benefits of this therapy in other areas as well. Iliana is able to track much better with her vision and seems to be more alert of what goes on around her. She seems to enjoy playing with her toys more and is able to play for a longer period of time.

I am amazed at how strong she has become over 2 and a half weeks. God has protected her from illness and seizures. That in itself is proof of God's power. Thank you to all who have faithfully prayed for her during our time in South Florida. We are looking forward to coming back home and continuing to share how God is working in her life.

I am learning to push myself up with one arm

I didn't want to do any crawling in the morning, I wanted to be up on my knees.

I was trying to be cute to keep from holding my head correctly.

My legs are stronger, can you see?

Still trying to talk Chrissy into letting me do what I wanted, it didn't work.

I like this walking stuff. I'm learning I can move my legs and actually go places.

The day is over. Yeah!

Today went as well as any Monday could go. Iliana really didn't want to hold her head correctly, she kept throwing it back. When she does this, it makes it a lot harder to sit and stand . She fought not to crawl again during the first half of therapy, but towards the end of the day she allowed Chrissy to help her crawl. Chrissy helps Iliana shift her weight from one leg to the other, and Iliana will move her leg forward. She is by no means crawling on her own, but she will get there with time. I was so excited to see that she would actually do this that it brought tears to my eyes.

This morning I woke up praying that God would really move in her body this week. My human desire is that she would give 110% each day this week. After seeing her not do that this morning, I had to fight my own flesh and yield to what it is that God wants to do in her. As her mom, especially knowing what she is capable of, it is very difficult to have absolutely no control over the situation. Iliana also began spitting up this morning, something that she hasn't done until today. I just watched her and would pray that she would be strengthened. There was a point today where I thought she might not even get in an entire 4 hours of therapy. As a believer, I was quickly reminded that we "wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places". I know that we were brought back here with a purpose and that it may get harder as the week goes on, and so I am asking that you please pray with us this week that Christ would be glorified in everything that happens throughout the remainder of this therapy and that all will be able to see God's hand and power in her life. That those who may not know Him would see a visible testimony of how real God is and that those who do may be strenghthened and encouraged in their own walk with Him. A song that has been in my head all day goes like this:

how great is our God,

sing with me how great is our God,

AND ALL WILL SEE HOW GREAT,

HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD!

This is my desire. Certainly, I would love nothing more than to see Iliana crawl or walk her way out of therapy this week, but above my own desires for her life, I'd rather see His perfect will complete in her this week.

A couple of days ago I said that our blessings are many. I was looking over the pictures on this blog and was making some comparisons. I wanted everyone to see how far God has brought Iliana in only 8 months.

Feb '06

Oct '06

God has been so good and faithful to us. I wanted everyone to see it.

Still no crawling. Can you see the determination in her face?

My big sister, my cheerleader. "You're doing a great job Nani", she would say.

I like to stand! Crawling is for babies!

Look at my thigh muscle! I've never had those before.

I'm doing my best to push up and stand.

All this standing makes me tired so I took a little brake.

I tried hard to walk today, but my legs are tired.

I did some knee walking too!

A smile at the end of the day. What a week I've had!

Two weeks have come and gone. One week to go. She has improved tremendously over the past 2 weeks. We thank God for this therapy and that we have access to it. Currently, there are 2 families from Italy whose children are receiving therapy at the same center. They have traveled all this way and have been here for months because they have nothing like this available to them in the entire country. How blessed we are that we only have to travel several hours and have never left our home state. Today I have felt a sense of renewed energy. I know that our church family and others are praying for us. I feel blessed to have Iliana and the challenges and trials that accompany her. Even Reece and Marisa are being blessed. I believe that because of their little sister, they too have experienced God's power in a way they otherwise would have never known. I'm looking forward to our last week and what God will do in and through Iliana.

Getting warmed up for my day

Standing in the spider

I have a new record!! A minute and a half!!

From sitting to standing. I'm feeling more like a big girl every day.

Taking a stroll around the room

Boy! Am I tired.

Iliana is a strong little girl. She worked and worked, even when she got tired. The walking above is at the end of the day. She seems to improve is some way almost daily. I was just thinking today how she has gone now more than 1 week without any seizures. I know that the work she is doing comes naturally to most, but she really has to work to accomplish these tasks. It's very tough for her physically. I am thankful that God has answered our (yours included) prayers and allowed her body to adapt in such an incredible way. Thank you to all for loving her enough to pray for her the way that you have.