Wheelchairs, Walking, and Hawks...oh my!

Wheelchairs
Almost as soon as Oksana came home I began to wonder what in the world would happen when she outgrew our stroller. We had searched high and low for the largest umbrella stroller we could find without breaking the bank, and she still fit in it a little too perfect. One year later she just looks uncomfortable! We only use the stroller for long distances...for example going to the zoo, etc. Sometimes we use a wagon but depending on where we are going that is not always an option. We started talking with her PT and ended up deciding on a wheelchair. This was not an easy decision for us but here is the conclusion we came to....we basically had to choose a wheelchair or a larger stroller. The wheelchair offers a number of "perks"...she is higher so she can be at the level of her peers, she can control it herself and does not have to rely on someone to get her where she wants to go, and if, for example, she were to go on a school field trip to the zoo, the kids wouldn't question a wheelchair but they might ask why she is in a stroller. Anyway, today we got to try one out and get measurements taken. The one she is getting is like the one in the pictures below but the wheels will be higher to allow her to reach them better, the handles will be higher (my husband is 6'2" and doesn't really want to bend down to push her), and it will be pink! Next week we will go to the doctor and have her sign the paperwork to present to the insurance company. Then we wait to see what insurance says about it and go from there.


Walking
Oh my we have struggled in this area. If you remember, we struggled with her falling a lot and a general lack of stability. Shriners told us there was nothing they could do for her. Well, we got her set up with a private PT who has also really struggled to find a good fit for her. She will not use an assistive device. She just keeps picking them up and walking away with them. The only thing she can't do that with is a walker and she really doesn't need that level of help. I hate to have her regress but at the same time we need her to be safe when she walks. It is really driving me crazy! Yesterday I was going to video tape her walking to show a friend how unstable she is. Wouldn't you know that she walked beautifully for a long period of time! I could not get her to fall if I tried! Yet other times I feel like all I'm doing is picking her up off of the floor. Anyway, we are only staying with this private PT until the end of the month and then we are going to switch to the school's therapist. I'll be VERY curious to see how she functions in school and I'm hoping that either she gets stronger and we never need to use anything or the PT at school has some ideas. This girl is a mystery!

Hawks
Today we had our homestudy visit. We were visiting with our social worker (who we REALLY like) when all of a sudden we hear BAM!!!!! A hawk had hit a window on our house and fallen onto our patio! He was stunned at first and was laying down. We thought maybe he had broken a leg. We were all shocked at this HUGE bird just sitting there on our porch! We decided to give him some time and sure enough he eventually stood up but still wouldn't fly. It looked like one of his wings might have been hanging so I called the World Bird Sanctuary. I told the nice lady all about the bird and she said "Can you bring him in?" I replied "Are you serious?!" Unfortunately she was serious. I told her that he was VERY big and VERY scary looking and there was no way I was touching him! She said to throw a sheet over him and put him in a box. She assured me that he wouldn't bite but said to look out for his talons (that was not comforting). I told her that bird was very lucky that my husband was home! So we got a sheet and a box and went outside which scared him enough to get him to fly away. He was not flying well and went into our neighbors yard. We went to see if they were home but they didn't answer and by the time we went back to the back yard the hawk was gone. I bet that's a homestudy visit we'll never forget!