Sun Chips - Garden Salsa

There are many things I just can't bare to look or do without Ada. For example; I cannot get into her old bedroom, I cannot go through her old cloth and things, I cannot look at her baby pictures, I cannot eat Sun Chips - Garden Salsa, not until now.
Ada is eating just about anything. She prefers crunchy stuffs so I give her cereal most of the time. When she sees the box of cracker or potato chip, she will make a hand jester to let us know that she wants some.
She was sitting in my bed eating Sun Chips - garden Salsa before she left. Some time we will get cracker and artichoke dip for late night snack. I bought a bag of Sun Chips yesterday and Ada still likes it. I went into her room and pulled out some pants and shirts that she can wear. I keep a stack of pictures near by. She likes to look at old pictures. I felt like a get a part of my life back, piece by piece.
We took her to ER yesterday because her feeding tube came loose. Not a problem, it is time to get a new one anyway. The dietitian also called and want me to send her the list of what she can eat. We might be able to wean her off formula in a month.
We just have to remember to give her plenty of water.
My ultimate goal is to have her eating Sushi again. What do you think?

IU Grad

We just got a letter from Indiana University that Ada had been certified to receive her Bachelor Degree in May 2009.
A few phone calls to her advisor at IU, I'd explained Ada's situation and asked if they would let her graduate. Now we can cerebrate her accomplishment and she had done it without getting a student loan but with a lot of help from many angles in her life, and I hope they will continue to be her angles.
Ada continues to walk and eat more and more. She is able to pick up cereal and put it in her mouth. I had tried to contact her dietitian and her GI doctor but nobody call back so I have to take the matter in my own hand.
One time I asked Dr. Lipson about her feeding, she said, "You are her mom, feed her", so I did. It is still a bit tricky about chewing but she is learning and doing better everyday.
I found that posting on "Twitter" is fast and more fun. I will continue to post here so I can add more details. 140 characters on twitter are not nearly enough.
The journey is still continue. Ada is learning new things everyday and it helps me getting up every morning and wonder what she will be able to do next.

New wheelchair

We received a new wheelchair for Ada today. The origional chairwas a loan. The old company filed bankruptcy and the new one finally be able to order a new chair and the custom cushion for Ada. It took... oh, about 10 months.
Kellen, Ada's old schoolmate delived the chair by himself. Kellen had been wanted to visit Ada and finally he got to come. The chair is very nice and easier to use. We put Ada on the chair and put the belt on her. It looks like the one they use on the airplane. Ada flicked it open with her finger and laughed at us. Ha... ha.. It took her 10 second to figure it out. Kellen had to exchange the old strap with the new one. She is still sliding down but I hope she learn to sit still on the chair longer. Thanks Kellen.
We sat her at the dinning table. I put a piece of pork ring in front of her, she grabed the whole piece and put it in her mouth. Sorry John, the girl knows how to eat.
She also took a long walk around the house today. We will get her out to the museum tomorrow. It'd been so warm outside.
Ada continues eating and now she is able to tell which one she likes and doesn't like, or if she wants more.

Dental appointment

Ada went to see the dentist, Dr. West at IU dental school today. She sat through the x-ray machine without a fight but we have to wrapped her up while sitting in the chair so Dr. West can look at her teeth. Dr. West was very pleased with what she saw. She said we took good care of her which make me very happy. Actually, it was her nurses who take care of the brushing. Eating also help her teeth get cleaner too. We will go back later and have her teeth clean and do more x-ray.
She is also eat a lot more. Let's see; a bowl of cereal, half pear, half cup of sweet potato, half bowl of cracker, a little bit of puree potato and carrot. That's quite a lot, isn't it? Her stomach is doing just fine. I also reduce her formula intake so she won't get too much. She seems happy and smiles a lot.
You can check what is Ada doing now at www.twitter.com/dearAda (Try to keep up with the rest of the world)

Eating is her new thing

Ada is having fun eating solid food. We introduced food to her a few weeks ago. First she did not open her mouth and used her right hand to push our hand away from her face. After a few time that she got food in her mouth, she starts to chew and swallows it. We always make fun of her about her therapist, Emily, who for 6 weeks had tried to convince Ada to open her mouth. "Open, Ada, open" she said, 1000 times a day.
I tried a couple of things and chex cereal works best. Cracker and cookies seems to stick to the side of her teeth. You have to be able to use your toung to move food around the mouth and Ada is learning how to do that. I gave her a few piece of blueberry and cherry today. So far her stomach is doing fine. I still think that everything has to be reintroduce to her since she has not eat anything for more than a year.
And, John, she eats Pork Rind the other day and still like it.
She also be able to put all the toys in the bucket. I have to figure out what else she can do.

Ha-ha, just found out that it is not the spoon that she hates, it's what we put on the spoon that matter. I had tried applesauce and, one wack from her strong hands, the applesauce ended up on my head. Today we had chicken from Boston Market for dinner and I gave her some baked sweet potato, she ends up eating the whoe thing, from the spoon.

Concert for Ada

Today, New August North Breakfast Club Orchestra Came to our driveway to play concert for Ada. Mr. Staubach, was Ada's Orcrestra teacher at Pike High School. Actually he taught all of my 3 kids so I was a regular at school concerts.
It was raining pretty hard this morning but that did not stop Mr. Staubach, his students and a few brave moms who drove the kids here to our house. They set up in the drive way and play beautiful and fun songs for Ada. The rain had stopped for a while so we were able to enjoy the concert. What a treat! Here are some of the pictures.

progress report

We went to Rehab Clinic today to visit Connie, Ada's PT. I want her to adjust the walker for Ada because sometime she hits her knee or her foot on it. Actually, I just want to show off that Ada can walk now. Everyone was so excited and happy to see Ada. Then we, I mean Karec, her nurse and I got her out of the chair and start walking. Connie told us what to do to help Ada in that situation. I know she will be able to tell us what to do.

Connie told me that I did a great job with Ada. I was happy because I always want to do more for Ada and always questioning myself whether I had done enough for her. Since none of the doctor can tell me what to expect or what to do, I had to take the matter in my own hand. To hear that from Connie did make me feel better.

Ada enjoy eating again. We gave her Chex cereal, Gold fish, Teddy Gram and some cracker. She accept it when we feed her by hand. No so happy about the spoon but she let us brush her teeth without too much trouble. You know, pushing, fighting and kicking, sometime. She also, once in a while, pick up a piece and put it in her mouth. We also give her a bucket full of small toys. She picks up the toy and throws it away and sometime, she put them in another bucket. One time I put the bucket of toy next to the empty bucket and told her to put the toys in the empty one, she picked up the bucket and pour all the toys into the empty bucket. With a murky smile on the corner of her lip, she knew she won.

Not sure what she will be able to do next. I think she will talk soon. What do you think?

Come walk with me

Hello, It's Rachel again!
I thought this was so cool, that I wanted to share! I was outside with Ada and she was having a FIT! She was pushing back on the wheelchair so hard that it almost fell backwards! I told her that I was gonna lock the wheels on her wheelchair if she kept on! She seemed to get more angry, I knew she wanted to go inside, but I told her she had to wait a minute. I locked the wheels...... Ponsawan came outside as Ada was STANDING UP OUT OF HER WHEELCHAIR. To make a long story short.... We stood on each side of her to see where she was going. She WALKED all the way to the back room to her bed, turned around and layed down!! All we did was help keep her balanced. It was amazing. Then she starting taking off her shoes, which I helped her finish. I called my mom and she said it sounds like I need to make Ada mad more often! Well, catch you guys next time!!
Merisa and her cousins came by to see Ada and brought more flowers for her. Thank you guys.

Come to my window

Ada's bed is next to the window which faces the fence and neighbor's house, with a few trees insight and the doggies that running around the yard. I got the idea that I will make her a mini garden right outside her window. Hopefully, by next summer, we can start the real garden outside for her. So if you are thinking about coming to see Ada, grab a few potted flowers so I can add them to her personal garden.

P.S. This is a message for Derek Rugsaken. Your letter and the content in the envelope had arrived with much appreciated fro us. Thanks for your kind and generousity. Hope to see you and your family someday.

Good night Ada

After came back from the hospital, Ada hasn't slept through the night like she used to. She kept waking up every few hours and she lets me know that she needs me by tapping her leg. Finally. I decided to give her Advil PM before she go to bed. It seems to help so we both can get a good night sleep. She also has gas in her tummy too. I just have to open her g-tube to let the air out. We still working on it because she seems to sleep better when I lay down with her.
Ada had slept with us in our bed since she was born till she turn 4. I had Archie so she decided to move out and have her own room. She was in and out of our bed till the night before the accident. It might sound weired but I also grew up this way with my parents.
She is also moving around in bed and in the recliner. I can keep her in her wheelchair for long. She manages to wiggle down which make it hard to transfer her from chair to bed. She is also stiffen up her body and won't stand up on her feet.
I am sure she still have some pain. She does not want to walk as much. We are working on getting her back to before surgery.
John and Kristen Olson came to see Ada. John went in to the room and said hello to Ada, she smiled. She recognized him right away. It would be nice to have more of her friend stop by to see her. I know she gets bored sometime.
We go outside everyday and I push her around the block. Good for her and good excercise for me too.