She has come so far.
It has been 1 year, 3 months and 3 days since Nika left her baby home in Russia ... forever. Sometimes I forget how far she has come. Until I look back on the memories.
Like a video I have of her greeting us when we were there visiting her on trip one. She was such a baby.
Or a video I have of her taking her first steps at age two when we were there visiting her on trip one. She had so far to go, but was also doing so well given her circumstances.
Although she was walking regularly soon after we brought her home, her low muscle tone has always left a lot to be desired. We often ever-so-lovingly referred to her as the drunken sailor, because that is pretty much what she looked like when she walked.
And she still looks like that when she runs. Hands flailing, body swaying, feet all over the place.
We have been working hard in physical therapy and at home on strengthening her core ... basically to help her with balance. She used to think that jumping consisted of throwing her hands up and then falling to her butt. I honestly didn't think she would ever grasp the concept of how to jump.
But she has. She is getting it. And not only that, but she now has enough strength and balance to stand on one foot.
She has come so far.
When we brought her home from Russia, she obviously did not know a lick of English. She is still learning but she has come so far. She follows direction well and she is learning to say more and more words ... or approximations, thereof. She chatters all day long ... I often wonder what she and Chicky are saying to each other ... they have the most adorable conversations with each other.
So yeah, Nika has come so far. She still has so far to go, but we love progress!
Like a video I have of her greeting us when we were there visiting her on trip one. She was such a baby.
Or a video I have of her taking her first steps at age two when we were there visiting her on trip one. She had so far to go, but was also doing so well given her circumstances.
Although she was walking regularly soon after we brought her home, her low muscle tone has always left a lot to be desired. We often ever-so-lovingly referred to her as the drunken sailor, because that is pretty much what she looked like when she walked.
And she still looks like that when she runs. Hands flailing, body swaying, feet all over the place.
We have been working hard in physical therapy and at home on strengthening her core ... basically to help her with balance. She used to think that jumping consisted of throwing her hands up and then falling to her butt. I honestly didn't think she would ever grasp the concept of how to jump.
But she has. She is getting it. And not only that, but she now has enough strength and balance to stand on one foot.
She has come so far.
When we brought her home from Russia, she obviously did not know a lick of English. She is still learning but she has come so far. She follows direction well and she is learning to say more and more words ... or approximations, thereof. She chatters all day long ... I often wonder what she and Chicky are saying to each other ... they have the most adorable conversations with each other.
So yeah, Nika has come so far. She still has so far to go, but we love progress!