How Abby is getting around these days

A few nights ago, we took Abby to the toy store to get some gift ideas. She always surprises me with her choices. I figured she would want either Strawberry Shortcake or Princess theme toys/party supplies. She has been loving them both lately. I was wrong, though. She consistently wanted Dora the Explorer and these little dogs. Funny.




We used her new harness, so her hands would be free to let us know what she was interested in. I am really liking this harness. I'm still afraid to let her walk independently, as she still has "melting" spells occasionally, and I just don't want her to fall and get hurt. We can hold her hand, but that puts a lot of strain on her arms if she suddenly loses her balance. She has broken both arms in the past year, so I like that the harness gives me the piece of mind that I can catch her if I need to, but she has the independence that she wants.

When she's walking very well, she wears this backpack.  It has a lightweight cushion stuffed in it.  Abby almost always falls backward, so this protects her head if she stiffens and falls.  There will be times when I still use this (maybe on carpet), but there are lots of times when the harness will be a better option.

"another birthday photo....really?"

And there are times when only her chair will get her from one point to the next.  We got great news yesterday.  Her Convaid Cruiser was finally ordered and should be here in the next week or so.  It is little different than the loaner that we are using now, and its going to be purple, which she will love.  

Abby has been a little all over the place with her mobility since last January.  Its nice to have some good options to keep her walking when she's up to it, and to wheel her around when she needs it.