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.

Doing my situps

Do I have to do this?

Sitting with Chrissy, my therapist this week

Suiting up

Iliana will get in a crawling position, but as far as crawling, it's a no go.

Since I wouldn't crawl, I practiced walking on my knees.

I can almost sit by myself!

I have to go from sitting to standing in this exercise.

My first Cheetoh! Yum!!

Iliana was physical spent at the end of today. Although she is unwilling to participate in any crawling, she is working hard on strengthening her legs. Her lower body has become much stronger in the last week and a half. When she is doing her knee walking, Chrissy helps her to shift her weight and Iliana moves her knee forward. This shows that she is beginning to understand how she needs to move. In speech therapy today, she had her first taste of junk food. She loved it!

Thank you for praying for us. It is the middle of the week and exhaustion is beginning to kick in. We are home sick and anxious to return to our normal routines. However, we praise God for this tremendous opportunity and for what this therapy is doing for Iliana. Staying focused on that is the only thing that is keeping me going. I love seeing her discover that she is capable of doing new things. Our blessings are many!!

Iliana sat correctly today for 1 min!

Building up those arm muscles

She seemed to be focused on doing a good job today

Crawling, not her favorite thing to do.

She has to go from being vertical to horizontal in this exercise, strengthening her back even more. She did this on her own 1 time. I'm very proud.

Getting stronger every day

This is back in our room. She has really grasped the concept of drinking from a straw.

Today was much better than yesterday. Iliana has started waking up on her own the last several days. The first couple of days she would begin eating her breakfast with her eyes closed. She has adjusted easier than I expected.

She still doesn't like the crawling exercises, but she gave a lot more today. Her sitting, outside of the 4 hr therapy session, is better. She still isn't able to hold her back straight for the entire time, but I know that with practice she will be able to perfect this.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...

Again, the only smile that we got was at the beginning of her day

Iliana was able to hold this position for a record 60 seconds!

You can see she was quite focused on setting that record

Practicing her standing

She is kneeling in this picture and having to support herself on the bench

This is one of those "worst of times" pictures. She was fighting with all that she had to not do any crawling today.

One of today's proud moments. This is as good as it got with this exercise.

Again, she's not a happy camper.

This is all she did on the spider. Most of the time she was just a noodle.

Iliana figured out how to suck from a straw today in speech therapy

As you can see, there were some very proud moments today, but mostly she complained about having to work. She must've known it was Monday. I don't know. She didn't even want to hold her head up correctly. She was rebelling and wanted to be relaxed and snuggle with her therapists. I suppose she thinks she can act this way now that she is 2. I'm praying that she will have a better day tomorrow. Our proudest moment today was during speech therapy when she began sucking from a straw. It's amazing how these little things can make us so proud. It's proof that with time, Iliana can learn to do things. She just has to be taught how.

Please pray that she will have a better day tomorrow and that she will have the energy and desire to do what is asked of her. We love and miss everyone back home...especially you daddy.