Better Still

Bea is still going strong and is finally having some truly happy moments. She'll make a little noise now and again. Nothing specifically verbal but it's always when something she likes happens - like when our cat Eva hops up to nap on her. She also giggled last night while I watched Wallace & Gromit with her. Cracking Contraptions is a steady favorite and there's one particular skit about soccer that always cracks her up.

So, it's clear that she's pretty much totally lucid and follows what's going on as long as she's awake. And, that's almost all day. We do whatever we can to entertain - reading books, playing with a ball, bringing out some of her favorite toys, painting her nails, massaging her hands and feet - whatever we can think of to keep her feeling good.

When she gets particularly excited she tries very hard to sit up. If she keeps improving I think that'll happen soon. She is also moving her fingers on her left hand a bit - enough to pet the cat, jingle a bell or hold something important. She also can push a ball just a teeny tiny bit. I'm planning on doing more ball play with her today.

I'm still in a bit of disbelief that the doctor's wrote her off so quickly just 3 weeks ago. My thought is that it was a mistake but an understandable one. Bea was recovering from hydrosphalus. No doubt about that. This was the fourth time and the second time that is was really bad. She has never healed quickly from it. Her slow response to therapy has given doctor's pause in the past but she always managed to come through. It just takes her longer than most people. That's what I believe happened here. The doctors didn't take into account her past recoveries and were basing their conclusion on the common. Commonly, one would have no recovery. But, we all know that Bea is no common little girl.