Movin on to our place in the sun

If March marches in like a lion….aggressive…..so did Ivey during March. For now it is official, a page has turned, a chapter ended and book snapped closed. Whoooo-Hooooo. Bring on April.

With that, I am borrowing a song from one of my favorite people - Bev at Blessed Beyond Measure. I figure a little bit of Stevie or Ray Charles is good for Ivey's soul. Honestly, it is a song that I have on my Ipod. Ivey and I listen to it…OFTEN. Ivey has a great play list.

Back to March, our sweet baby girl leaped and bounded through the month. She packed on one whole pound. After five long months of nothing - no gain - she just up and did it. Something clicked in that little body of hers. She started rolling from her stomach to her back. And, she is persistently trying to roll from her back to her stomach; however, a trach and G-tube seem to just get in her way. Ivey is handing out smiles without coaxing. She recognizes and knows her name when she hears it. She is spring feverishly gitty. She is desperately trying to sit-up. Ivey found her own tiny little toes and loves them. (The catch to her toes: Her muscle tone is high. Nonetheless, we are working her little body. Not until this month could her body bend so that she could touch her hands to her feet. As you all know, most babies just do this, they are like rubber bands. Not Ivey, she started out in this life like a tree trunk. It took Ivey A LOT of hard work.) All around - she is mentally and physically stronger.

Ivey is learning to play. She is recognizing more people. It is amazing to witness. Ivey’s little hands feel their way around your face and eventually she figures out what makes us all different from one another. When she touches my face, she feels my nose and mouth then goes for my hair. She loves when Matt does not shave. Ivey goes for my mom's glasses. She loves my dad’s mustache. The boys do not stay still for me to figure what she likes most about how they feel. This past weekend Ivey found Mandy’s hoop earrings….almost yanked them from her ears. She is persistent. Ivey has a blue elephant that is her favorite toy. She will manipulate the elephant until she finds the trunk, then she chews on the trunk. I wish you all could be here to watch her progress. It is amazing.

Next time I want to tell you about my past weekend. It was truly a mile marker in my own life. In the meantime, I hope you all thank God for any hardships you have in your lives. It is our scars that make our journeys liveable. BATTLE WOUNDS. Seriously, how great was learning to ride a bike, despite the scraped knee? Tomorrow is Maudy Thursday. God Bless. If you are looking for something good to read…go HERE