This girl can jump! Cerebral palsy won't stop her.

Cerebral palsy is one of Nina's greatest challenges, but although it is a challenge, cerebral palsy is also one of her biggest character builders. That was not always the case, when Nina first arrived home after we adopted her, she had a "victim" mentality. "I can't," were her first English words and oh how we pushed this little girl to take ownership of her abilities.

Last April (17 months ago) Nina had a rhizotomy. We spent the summer going to therapy every day of the week, and eventually were able to cut down to 3 times a week. Still, by the time Nina began Kindergarten, we were taking her to school in her wheelchair, she used her walker only in the classroom. Little by little, she began to gain strength and walk independently, the wheelchair became a means to get her from the car to her classroom only and back again.

We know the rhizotomy made a huge difference. This surgery gave her legs the possibility to walk by greatly reducing her spasticity (tightness). We are convinced Nina would not have been able to walk independently without some type of asistive device if it wasn't for this surgery. She was tight, tight, tight! But we are also convinced that when Nina saw what her classmates could do, and that she was being left behind, something inside of her became determined. Cerebral palsy? She was not going to let that stop her. By the end of the school year, Nina was walking independently all around school, without her walker.

Then summer came and therapy stopped (she received therapy through school) I tried to get therapy for both my girls through a local place here that supposedly works with kids in the summer. That didn't happen for unknown reasons to us, but that is a different story. Nina regressed during the summer, her confidence was not the same, her stability was not the same, her endurance was not the same.

As a mom, I felt discouraged.

Then school began on Wednesday, and I was hoping that within a month we could get back to the swing of "movement" we were at before.

Well, I guess our little determined girl decided to take it up a notch even more. She has decided she will not only work on her walking, but her jumping to. If you know anything about cerebral palsy, you know this is quite the accomplishment.

So here it is, our determined girl that won't let cerebral palsy stop her, her character builder for determination and courage. Jump sweet girl, jump! Oh, and this girl jumps with her own style, because she likes to move it!

First Day of First Grade and a Preschooler

Last Wednesday the girls went back to school. Ellie was excited, Nina was nervous, and Nichole was angry we changed her routine. It was not that different from last year really. Ha!

So we are back at making lunches, getting up early, getting dressed, and we are out the door by 8:00 o'clock. I take Ellie and Nina to school, and Andy takes Nichole.

I tried to have all three girls pose for a picture, but Nichole would have none of it. So I got the first graders together at least. They are only 8 months apart but the difference in height and development is quite...different! 

 So I quickly snapped a picture of Nichole with her daddy to remember the day.

Then Andy put her down really quick for a photo but she was not going to stop for me and let me take a picture, so this is as good as it gets.

Once at school, the big first graders were ready to begin the day.

A new year presents new challenges. New teachers, new interactions, new friends. But this is my overall feeling about the first day of school...

As I got back in the van and sat there all alone, I smiled. I forgot what it felt like to have time for myself, and it felt so good!

Creating Community for Writing/Blogging Moms

Last year, I took a writing class for moms through The Momoir Project. We had readings, on-line discussions, and of course, writing. I loved it.

My favorite part about the class were the writing starts. A short snippet that would plunge us into writing about our mothering experiences. And as much as I enjoyed writing about my happenings as a mother, I found it meaningful to read the beautiful, heartfelt, and honest stories shared by the other moms. Every new story was an invitation to be a part of their story. Their stories challenged me, brought me to tears, or made me laugh out loud. These writing exercises became something I looked forward to.

When the time came for me to have a professional writer website, I knew I would keep a blog there about my mothering experiences (hence: A mom that writes). But I also knew that a blog revolving around my stories would be lacking something, and that something would be the richness of stories that other moms (or bloggers) have to offer. I don't want it to be Ellen's mothering adventures only, I want to create a place rich with our stories. This, this is the heart behind the blog, this is what the writing prompt is all about.

So I am inviting you, my fellow mom, to join me. I want to hear about your mothering stories. I want to know about the hard days, those where you cry many tears because you feel so alone. I want to hear about the days where the laundry is piled high, and there are no socks to wear. I want you to share about the laughter heard around your home, and the life-long lessons you learned because of your children. I want to celebrate with you even the simple milestones that happen in your living room floor as your child takes his first steps. I want to know what it is like to see your daughter all dressed up for prom, or going out on a first date.

Let's share this crazy thing called "motherhood" together. Let's write our stories for ourselves, for our children, and for one another. Let's be a group of mom's that write, and let's do it together. 

Will you join me? 

You don't have to join every week, I know too well how hard it can be to get a blog post up sometimes. Write along when you can, you are always welcome. And if you are a writer/blogger that is not a mom, I think we still have a lot to learn from your stories, so we would love to have you join in too.

I am really looking forward to reading your stories!

Someone suggested I e-mail the writing prompt during the weekend, since that is when they have time to write. I want to make this is easy as I can on you, busy moms, so if you would like to receive the prompt in your inbox every weekend, leave me your e-mail in the form below and you will be all set!

Sign-up to receive a writing prompt in your inbox every weekend!

And would you pass this along to your writing/blogging friends? I believe that together, we can create a beautiful community of moms. Okay, now I am really done!

Like this post? Share it with your friends!

World Cerebral Palsy Day! {and a CP Connection}

Today, September 4th, 2012 is the first world Cerebral Palsy day!

My middle daughter, Nina, happens to have Cerebral Palsy. She joined our family two and a half years ago through international adoption. It has been quite the journey!

Cerebral Palsy can be very different from one individual to another. Nina has spastic diplegia, which means mainly her legs are affected (although her arms are too, but she has full use of them). We have done botox on her legs to help with her "tightness." It worked like a charm. Then last year, Nina had a selective dorzal rhizotomy (SDR) at Mayo Clinic and that surgery has made all the difference!

Nina is able to walk around the house and her school independently (just a year ago she was using her wheelchair!) She uses a walker for balance and support when needed, and for long distances we still use the walker. But this girl can walk!

So maybe I should let Nina be the one to share something with you today...

But that is enough about us, I would love for you to check out the AMAZING blogs that are linked here for the CP connection! Some pretty incredible posts going up today in order to raise awareness about Cerebral palsy. So click away on the links and leave a comment letting people know you stopped by!

Let's spread the word together about the CP connection! 

Check out the links on the CP connection celebrating world Cerebral Palsy day! Have a blog? Join us! (<---tweet this)  

(Yes, "tweet this" is a link, so just click on the words and it will link you directly to twitter!)

Linking up?

Make sure you link back to this post! You can link any way you want, but make sure you are linked so people reading your post can find all the other awesome posts linked up here. This is a party friends, an awesome celebration of those that have Cerebral Palsy!

You can use text or the graphic below. For the graphic, just copy and paste the html code under the picture.

Link your specific post, not your entire blog.

Happy linking and reading everyone!


<a href="http://elliestumbo.blogspot.com/search/label/CP%20connection/" style="border: none;"><img alt="Stumbo Family Story" src="http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh90/ellenstumbo/CP-connection.jpg" style="width: 129px; height: 129px;"/></a>

Down syndrome and the impact on siblings

Sharing one of my favorite pictures of Ellie and Nichole with you today. I love the relationship they have. One of my favorite things to do is to watch them interact, to see how much love they have for each other. They are perfect for each other!

I would love to tell you more about the relationship they have, stop by and read: Siblings and down syndrome: so full of love.

Down Syndrome Awareness Month, Let's Get This Party Started!

October is Down syndrome awareness month. I am not blogging every day this month, but I have some really exciting stories to share with you from guest bloggers, as well as some great posts inspired by your comments or questions.

People with Down syndrome are now able to do so much. Attend college, live independently, marry, hold steady jobs.

So to get this party started, I am sharing one of my favorite pictures of Nichole. because truly the sky is her limit!

And stay tuned for some great posts!

Hands that Hold

Andy and I walk back to my mom’s house across the street from the park and he reaches for my hand. Fireworks explode in my stomach and I cannot help but smile as we hold hands for the first time. He just asked me to be his girlfriend, and made it clear he didn’t just want to date me, but his intentions were to move towards marriage.

Eleven years later – married for over nine of those – and I realize that the simple gesture of hand-holding has changed. We no longer hold hands in the car, or when we sit together on the couch, or when we go out for walks. It is not that our hands are empty, but rather, they are full. There was a time when we only had each other, but now, we have three precious little girls with small hands that hide perfectly in our own.

As we take walks, Nichole needs Andy to hold her hand –even if just to prevent her from wandering – and she happily walks along her daddy, looking up and smiling at him, letting him know his presence is one of the greatest joys in her life.

Nina holds our hand as she learns to balance and take steps. She needs reassurance that we are with her. She walks ahead with independent steps, but we are quick to offer our hand when we know she needs to gain her balance once more. She knows we are proud of her, of how far she has come along in just one year. Her wheelchair gathers dust in our basement while our steady hands offer her the support that she needs.

Although Ellie is almost seven years old, she still holds our hand just because it is a gesture of love, and she likes to show us that she loves us.

Sometimes, we watch our girls hold each other’s hands. We smile watching big-sister and little-sister try to help Nina along. Or how Ellie offers her hand to her baby sister Nichole, and how willingly Nichole follows along.

These precious little hands are so full of love.

Andy and I drop the girls off at school. We walk down the hall and instinctively reach for each other. We hold hands. Our fingers intertwined as we walk through the school, out the door, and towards the car. There are no fireworks in my stomach. Instead, there is a deep love for the man that I get to do life with. We have journeyed together, grown-up together, and embraced whatever comes our way together. And still, after all these years, he reaches for me and holds my hand, letting me know that I am still his favorite girl.


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