Madison is a super star!!!

This week has been amazing.  I have never seen this kid work or try so hard.  Her endurance, motivation, attitude, and perseverance are absolutely incredible.  She’s on a mission, and she’s not gonna stop!  Every day that I come to pick her up from therapy, she is dripping with sweat.  It is not for a lack of air conditioning – Marika has turned her house into an icebox to accommodate Madison.  She does not want to take any breaks, and will only do so when Marika insists for a snack, drink, or trip to the bathroom.  This is what she looked like after her first day:

A beautiful, sweaty little mess!

Because it is rather hot and humid in good ol' Texas, they started a routine of a morning walk in an effort to beat the heat.  Maddie is walking the length of Marika's (beautiful) block with her walker and without her walker:

The sidewalk is perfect since it is flanked by grass.  It gives Madison a clear path and by trying to not touch the grass, it is helping her walk a straight line.  It is a little bumpy which makes Madison concentrate even more.  In the below video, Madison had walked from the VERY end of this sidewalk (way way way down there!) with no support.  Marika is behind her just to catch her in case she falls.  If Madison asks for help, Marika will put one finger on her shoulder.  The finger is all she needs.  This is day two:

And this is day five (today):

Marika took the video and I got to walk next to Madison. Listen to Marika's beautiful voice encouraging Madison  :-)  The control she has already gained is phenomenal! 

These are clips of the obstacle course Madison is doing towards the end of her day:

That video cracks me up.  You will hear Madison say "it is not a football", as Marika explains the wood is not to be kicked like a football.  And then we get a "Comprendo!" at the very end.  Madison will come out of this therapy trilingual.  She is learning a little Hungarian and Spanish as she goes...  ;-)

The next video shows Marika's expectations and how Madison is rising to the occasion.  She hits the second section of the blue flooring so Marika tells her to go back and do it again.  No fuss.  That's just the way it is and Madison accepts that:

This last video is impressive.  Maddie bending down and throwing objects.  Not falling.  It's beautiful:

Madison is also trying really, really hard to be more tidy when she eats.  One trick Marika is teaching Madison is to keep one hand down on the table.  This gives her some stability and I think it is working.  They also examine the floor after each snack to see if anything has dropped on the floor.  The floor has been very clean!  (And, uh, we are working on having the same expectations at home...)

Marika's Hedgehog, Shuni, is providing A LOT of motivation for Madison!   This is yesterday (I couldn't pick out my favorite pic, so I'm using them all ;-))

Have you ever held a hegehog?!?  They aren't soft and cuddly, but Madison just loves this little guy...  ;-)  She kind of gets the "heeby jeebies" when she is trying to hold him, and will let Marika know exactly when she is done.  I can't decide who is cuter - Madison or Shuni?  :-)

Meanwhile, back home...  (Texas-home, that is...)  Poor big sister Savannah has been suffering with STREP THROAT!!!  Derek took her to urgent care on Wednesday, and the antibiotics kicked right in.  This is what Savannah's week ended up looking like:

She has been a trooper though, and Derek and her will start their adventures next week.  :-)  You will see Madison snuggling here with "Her Shuni"; the stuffed hedgehog we brought from home.  She brings her Shuni with her everywhere she goes now.

When Savannah started feeling better, we DID get a little chance for some family fun.  We made it to Babe's Chicken Dinner House and had the best fried chicken in the U.S.A.!

I am going to go pick up Madison now and then we are packing up the car and the whole family is heading to San Antonio this afternoon for a weekend full of fun!  Madison will start up therapy again on Tuesday, and we'll see if this little one can keep up the amazing pace she has set for herself.  :-)