My sweet Maggie Jane turned 3 just over a month ago. For some reason, I’m excited when Ash turns a year older; he’s growing up, able to do more independently, able to spread his wings a little. Yet with Maggie, I tend to go whaaaaaa???? Where did the time go, and how is my baby this age?? I think it has to do with the fact that she’s my last baby- and I’m totally ok and do not want to carry any more children. Like at all. Yet, have you felt this way about your youngest getting older, too?
It’s easy now to see her as the sassy, opinionated, funny, cute little person she is, who says “mommy, watch me run”! Yet I felt I wanted to share some of her background, in case you haven’t seen some of my earlier posts.
We are blessed that Maggie was born healthy. Let me just start right there. She joined us 4 weeks early, and had a short (but felt like forever to this mama) stint in the NICU, yet it was determined she was strong and good to go. Around a year old she was not showing any signs of trying to walk. Not even close. And her ankles were noticeably rotated so that she would pull up and stand on the inside of her feet. I was told all was ok, but my mom gut said otherwise. Through a plan that I feel God had already set up, we changed pediatricians and ended up starting pediatric PT at 15 months. Again, very fortunate that it was determined that surgery was unnecessary to correct the tendons, ligaments, and muscles in her feet and ankles that did not tighten up as they should have. She had what is called “low tone”.
We were connected to the most amazing PT, Dr. Katie. God hand-picked her to help my little girl. She has a son who has similar “walking” issues and her other son is a redhead. The odds??!! Small thing, but we instantly connected. She told me the success her son had with orthotics and although Maggie was already almost 16 months old, they could still be the best way to help her.
So with the help of her braces and almost 2 months of red-headed determination, Dr. Katie helped my baby take her first unassisted 7 steps to me! It was sooo emotional and I remember it clearly. (Which for my foggy brain is saying something.) We worked with Dr. Katie for almost a year. Then in June of 2018 we were released from PT, with the idea that she may need it again around age 5, when a lot of gross motor skills are honed.
My point in sharing all this- trust your mom gut. If there’s something you feel isn’t right with, or best for, your kiddo, pay attention. You are his/her advocate- fight for them. I also feel like getting out there that if there is a delay physically (or otherwise) with your kiddo, you are NOT alone. As small as it may seem to others, it’s big for you. And that’s ok! Again, what we went through was so small compared to some, but I will not negate it as it was big in our world. Finally, prayer is HUGE. Pray for your kiddos regularly. I honestly feel like we were led to a certain PT and supported in so many ways along our journey.
If you want to read any more, check out Maggie’s Journey. You got this mama!!
Embrace Life