A rough physiotherapy session & family day out :)

This week was a bit of a tough week for me.  We had a physiotherapy appointment with Caitlin's new physiotherapist.  The lady is a senior physiotherapist and clearly very good at what she does.  When Caitlin was sitting she tried to get her to put her legs out straight and hold it, but Caitlin needed help to do it.  She took her shoes & splints off and and tried to get her to stand on her toes but Caitlin couldn't do that or keep her feet placed flat on the ground - her ankles are just too weak.  There was lots of things Caitlin could do but the assessment just highlighted her weaknesses.  I asked the physiotherapist did she think Caitlin would ever walk on her own.  The physiotherapist hesitated but then said No, she feels she will always need assistance to walk.  I protested of course, asking why would she say that when Caitlin walks around just holding onto my finger and she said It's only going to get harder for her.  As she grows and gets heavier, she won't be able to carry the weight on her legs.  We have been told she will walk independently so this was hard to hear.  I know it's silly to listen to all professional opinions - nobody can predict the future and some medical staff have been wrong about Caitlin already.  Maybe it's being pregnant and emotional but it really got to me and played on my mind the rest of the week.  

So I thought this weekend what I needed to do is what I love to do most - spend time with my family.  And of course my little princess lifted my spirits before we even left for our day out.  I was getting ready and her Daddy shouts up to me to come down.  So off I went and he tells me Caitlin was walking around just holding onto a cord thing attached to his coat!  She's needing less and less support to walk and it gives me some hope she's going to prove the physiotherapist wrong :)

Today was supposed to be sunny so we packed up for a day at the beach but it was not to be.  We woke this morning to grey cloud and winds so we changed our plans & decided to go to the park, feed the ducks then head up to the open farm.  

I was a bit hesitant to go to this particular park, our last visit there was a disaster to put it simply.  It had a play frame that's suitable for Caitlin's age group but means we can't go on it with her.  Last time we went Caitlin cried the whole time because she wanted on the play frame but wanted me or her dad to get on it with her so one of us could hold her hand as she walked.  She could hold onto the bars but the bridges on it dip up and down and she didn't feel confident enough to try it so needless to say last time we went we spent the whole time trying to encourage her while she screamed for us to get on it with her, despite the fact we couldn't fit on it!

Naturally the first thing she did when we arrived was make a beeline for the toddler play frame.  She asked once for me to get on it with her but when I said I couldn't she smiled and did it herself.  We were so happy with her.  She got lots of praise & cheers which spurred her on to walk back and forward again and again, holding onto the bars.  She was cautious at the bridges that dipped up and down but she figured it out quickly and I think it's safe to say she thoroughly enjoyed herself! 

When anybody asks her "Were's your smile?"  This is the face she pulls lol

My cheeky girl,

Going for a walk,

Swing time! 

After a quick bite to eat we set off for the open farm.  Caitlin would spend every day with animals, she just loves them.  The donkeys put on a show for her, rolling around on the grass and she couldn't stop laughing.  Something simple like hearing your child laughing is one of life's great pleasures :)

Looking at the pigs.  Caitlin told us to be very quiet because Mummy Pig was sleeping lol

Beautiful curls :)

When we got home (with ice-cream of course) we curled up on the sofa to watch Cinderella.  When Cinderella was crying after her evil step sisters torn her dress, Caitlin looked very sad.  I told her not to worry, that somebody was going to come help her, and make her happy again.  Caitlin looks at me and tells me very sincerely that Cinderella needs her Daddy.  How cute.  Such a Daddy's girl she is :)