It's the WEEKEND!

This is Dani's favorite time of the week - the weekend. She knows that she can sleep in (with mom of course) and "just be a bum". Dani had a good day, but we did have to come to an agreement about what she was going to wear today because she had her mind set on the striped shirt (she loves stripes) we got her when we went to the Oregon Coast for a vacation. This shirt she had picked out had shrunk a bit and would be considered more of a mid-drift showing shirt...not appropriate. 
So we compromised  and agreed that she were another shirt underneath the striped shirt. That way we both win...yeah! I am sure that sometimes the people that work with her wonder why I send her in clothes that do not fit, but Dani picks these out and has her mind set on them and sometimes compromising is better than fighting and being late to work. 
See you have to remember that even though Dani is 23 years old, she is still a toddler mentally. Don't you remember how toddlers love to wear strange combinations of clothes? They love to experiment and this develops into their own personality. 
Dani does not have full use of her right hand and arm because of the brain damage. Because of this I have to help her get dressed in the mornings after changing her attends. I put her shoes on, brush her hair and put it in a pony tail and brush her teeth. We do this everyday. She is not always happy about it everyday...but, we get through it one way or another. This part of being a parent - and I try to make it fun with her. When I know she is starting to be grumpy about something, I change the subject to something I know she likes or I make funny noises to make her laugh. This helps get through the morning routines, but that does not mean the "good mood" will stay with us for the whole morning....but we pray it does. Tell me some of your morning routines you do with your specials ones in your life who have special needs? We can compare notes and even help with suggestions for each other. 

Motherhood

Being a parent of a child with Cerebral Palsy is not always full of rainbows and unicorns, but it is rewarding. To see my daughter learn something new and actually remember it with pride, brings joy to my heart. Her smile beams and she gets so excited when she does something new. I have been her mother for 23 years years now, getting very close to number 24 and she still calls me mommy and plays peek-a-boo with me. Miss Dani is my pride and joy, my sorrow, and sometimes my frustrating all rapped up in a four foot 150 pound determined little girl. I am creating this blog with the suggestion of a friend. Though it is brand new and still has not been completely set up, I wanted to get it rolling. This blog is for all those parents out there who are raising these wonderful children who are always full of so much joy and happiness. They love to smile and hug, sing and dance. Even though they some may not be able to walk, talk or even take care of themselves, they are selfless. They just want to be happy and they want you to be happy. Please join me on this journey of my precious moments. I welcome all parents and anyone connected with someone who has cerebral palsy or any other disability. I hope you enjoy my stories and I encourage you to share yours with me. I welcome one and all.

~ Denise