More on Caroline

 Caroline, on her first day of school (after missing a few days in order to get her cast), complete with her little wheelchair.  The wheelchair was pretty cool, and made school manageable.  I have been so impressed with how Caroline has made so many friends at school.  The kids all want to help push her wheelchair and get her lunch for her. 

A few weeks into wearing the cast, we bedazzled (is that a word?) it.  Her Grammy Collene brought her jewels and special glue.  I don't think I have ever seen a fancier cast. 

Two and a half weeks ago, Caroline got the cast off and moved into a walking boot.  Starting to walk again was challenging.  Several days later on a Thursday morning, I told Caroline that she could take her wheelchair to school but that she would have to get out of it once she was in her classroom.  This sounded great to her until she actually had to do it.  She had a total meltdown.  I think that she was scared.   I let her know that she could use her wheelchair at any time that she needed it, but that she needed to try walking as much as she could.  I left with her calming down, but still crying.  I was wiping away tears too, as I walked out of the classroom.  Half way down the hall, the teacher helper caught up to me and let me know that Caroline was happy and no longer crying.  When Caroline came home from school she announced that she had not used her wheelchair once the whole day and that she was done with it.  Although we loved the wheelchair for a while, we were happy to see it go. 

Today she got the go ahead to walk without her boot.  She had already experimented a little bit over the weekend.  The Dr. said that for a few weeks she could use her boot at school to help with her balance, and then take it off at home.  But, she was determined to go to school in two regular shoes today.  I was concerned about that because she had a dance informance.  She was determined, so I let her make the choice.  When I went back to the school later to watch her informance, I was so touched.  The class gave a 30 minute demonstration of how they are learning stories and verbs and nouns in Spanish and English.  They moved and danced all over the place.  She gimped around the best that she could.  She could not keep up with the group at all.  I don't think that she even noticed.  She had an ear to ear grin on the whole time and tried to do everything (except leap).  I actually started to cry at the end of the informance because of this sweet little child with fierce determination to do everything that she can.  That has been the way she has responded to having a broken leg.  She has been absolutely determined to be as independent as possible through the whole recovery.  She has had a few minutes of meltdowns, but really spent most of the time proving to me and everyone else that a broken leg is not going to slow her down.  I love this kid!