Our first day with ABR went well. After a good breakfast, we left for the training center around 8:15 this morning. When we got there we chatted with the 5 other families who were also there for training this week. All of their kids have some form of Cerebral Palsy too. I feel drawn to other parents of special needs kids; they just understand our situation so well because they have been there so it is a blessing to talk to them. Next we met all the trainers and then listened to an introductory presentation about ABR and how it works. Mark and I both felt the theories behind ABR really make sense and we are very encouraged and hopeful that it will make a drastic difference for Ruby.
When the morning was over we went out for lunch with a couple from Florida who is at the ABR training for their five year old son. It was great to get to know them and hear about their therapy experiences. After lunch we went to IKEA! We purchased a swing for Ruby that we are hanging from a doorway in our living room; I am so excited to put her in it because she LOVES to be thrown in the air and swung around. IKEA is such a rockin' store.
After all of this we went back to the hotel and took Ruby swimming. She really enjoys moving in the water. Now we are hanging out in our room and hoping to put Ruby to bed early since she didn't get much of a nap today. We are looking forward to tomorrow when we will actually get to start learning the ABR therapy techniques and then practicing on each other.
Oh- one other random, shocking experience this morning....
I was talking to a lady in the hotel lobby while Ruby and I were waiting for Mark to get the car. She was asking me a lot about Ruby and why we were in Montreal so of course therapy and adoption came up. She then asked me if we knew about Ruby's special needs before we went to Ethiopia, and I said no. Next, she said, "Well, couldn't you have gone back there and gotten a different child instead?"!!! I was shocked someone would say this, especially a stranger!! I responded by saying something like, "Well, adoption is like giving birth to a child in the fact that you are bonded to that child before you meet them. We loved her and didn't want to give her back." I wished I could have come up with someone better than that.... Mark told me that I should have said, "Well, we thought about it, but we lost the receipt". :) Wow-- never once have we thought about giving Ruby back; she is our daughter and we love her the same as we love Charlie. God chose her for our family. I can't believe she said that; people are crazy.
9 comments:
I like Mark's comment suggestion, but yours got right to the heart of it-Ruby is your daughter, chosen by God to be in your family.
So glad your first day went well. Looking forward to more updates.
Sounds like things are going well. Except for that rude lady! I can't believe how senseless people can be! Hoping you have a great experience tomorrow and I want to see that swing!
that's some good ol' Canadian bluntness for you!
Glad to hear things went well today!
I am glad the training is going well.
I cannot believe that lady said that! People will say just about anything without filtering their thoughts. Too much!
Glad the first day went well! Kelli, you responded perfectly to that stranger.. .honestly, that was perfect.
I'm sorry but Matt and I are laughing at Mark's suggestion ;-) I'm always, always amazed at the things that come out of people's mouths in regards to children. And I always wish I had good zingers but I never do...until later when the shock wears off. I'm so happy to hear things are looking positive so far!
oh my word. that lady was nuts. why are people so amazingly stupid?? I think you said the right thing to her...maybe she'll think again before opening her mouth next time! wow. seriously obviously you can tell i got a little riled up by that...
WOHOO!! SOunds like this is going to be such a beneficial experience for you all!!! Continuing to pray!!!!
Children aren't like packages! How strange is that?
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