3/4/2012

I am happy to report that Ruby is continuing to improve all the time. While the last post I wrote was riddled with emotion and worry, let me declare that this post - and indeed Ruby's entire story - will be one of hope. Although there are moments, and even periods, of uncertainty, we hold fast to what we know about our Creator: that He is just and good. He is faithful to those who love Him. And He has been faithful to us. I do not say that He has been faithful because Ruby is fully recovered or because our lives have calmed after the storm. He is faithful in that He alone has sustained Ruby and our family through the most tumultuous of times. He has sustained us through wonderful friends and family, sunny days made sunnier by the care-free play of a very remarkable little girl, and the hope that he will never leave nor forsake us.

It is a powerful thing to reflect on how far Ruby has come. Less than 5 months ago our precious little "chica" was rendered speechless and hemiplegic. Today she chases her father in a field. Today she climbs upon a stool to help her mom stir the cookie dough. Today she signs and says, "thank you." What a wonderful gift it is to watch out beautiful two and a half year old climb to the highest level of the playground and slide down the tallest slide.

Over the last couple of months, Ruby has been settling into a busy therapy schedule: Monday through Friday! We are constantly hearing from all of her therapists about how determined Ruby is and how much this quality is going to help her in her recovery. A lot has happened during the last few months, including many of Ruby's "firsts".

We took her on her first trip to Disneyland (and Molly too). Ruby's favorite ride was the Little Mermaid ride and she was also pretty happy about her old friend, Max, meeting us there, too. If we're being completely honest with ourselves though, we might say that her favorite part of the day was on the bus ride back to the parking lot. The bus driver sang "The Wheels on the Bus" and "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star", on an otherwise empty bus, just for Ruby. He was a very nice fellow and made Ruby's first bus ride memorable for everyone.

Molly sister wearing a classic expression

Ruby and her peeps

Ruby and Mama with her mouse ears

Dumbo with the whole family

The video shows Ruby's reaction to entering the Small World tunnel for the first time.  :)

We are thrilled that Ruby has gotten the opportunity to attend a therapeutic preschool very near our home twice a week. It has been so good for her. She does all kinds of typical preschool activities there, but with physical, occupational, and especially speech therapy mixed in. It is wonderful! There really are no words to express what a blessing this school has been. It is definitely helping Ruby in a big way.

Ruby and Mama before the first day of her new school

Ruby showing off her special new backpack!
She picked it out herself because it has a dog on it.

Another first is that Mom painted Ruby's nails for the first time. One morning Ruby noticed "Mama's" painted nails for the first time, so Melissa went ahead and gave Ruby some pretty nails too.

Ruby had to have a 24-hour ambulatory EEG, which essentially means that she had to have a bunch of electronically-conducting gel, leads, and wire terminal connected to her head and wrapped up into a neat gauze turban. We call it the "crazy hat"! To say that Ruby was a good sport is an understatement. She's had EEGs before, but never for this long. She did such a great job!

Molly, Daddy, and Ruby with her  crazy hat on. :)

And a couple pictures of our lovely little Molly Sister for the road . . .

We are thrilled to be getting settled into a routine and really feeling like a family again.  :)