Lydia is learning how to shift her body, when she is sitting, and slide along. She needs to learn to use her arms to support her, and her legs, to move them along to help with the sliding of her torso. The goal is then for Lydia, with the assistance of two people, to slide from bed into her wheel chair, or from her wheel chair to the therapy table. She will continue to work on this all week.
Today, we gave Lydia a new pair of high top running shoes - something her therapist recommended because they provide better ankle support than her running shoes. She only has to wear her casts at bed time now, or during long periods of bed rest during the day. Otherwise, she has her high tops on when she is sitting up in her wheel chair.
Lydia had more taste stimulation today, again with peach puree. I need to clarify that in yesterday's post when I said that she reached for the spoon, it was with her mouth that she opened and was reaching. Lydia had the spoon in her hand, and her therapist had her hand over top, guiding Lydia's hand to bring the spoon to her mouth. Learning to swallow food safely is a very difficult process that progresses very slowly at first. With regular practice, Lydia will improve, and then be able to eat more at a time. In these tastings, she is getting less than one teaspoon in total. On average, she is given three 1/4 teaspoon amounts of food to try. The Speech Pathologist listens to her swallowing with a stethoscope, to ensure that it has been a strong swallow, and that Lydia will not aspirate what she has taken in. She has a strong but slow swallow.
We continue to be overwhelmed by the prayers of many. Each day we hear new stories of individuals, or groups, many of whom we do not know, who are praying for Lydia. This is the Lord's stirring in many hearts, and we are thankful for it.
We pray this prayer from Ephesians for each of you:
16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge —that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
