"That's it," the physio therapist cheered, "come on Everly."
"You've got this princess," Allison cheered, "good girl."
"We've been practising this," the physio turned to Allison, "you've really been working with her."
"She's loving the gait trainer," Allison said, "she's asking for it. She crawls to it and asks to play and pulls her self up on it."
"It's been a month since I've seen you and I'm seeing great things," the physio said, "Allison your putting the work in with her. Keep going with the gait trainer. How much is she using it?"
"A couple hours a day," Allison said, "a lot of floor time. Still using the carrier when we're out so she gets that vestibular stimulation we talked about."
"What does her day look like," the physio asked, "from when she wakes up? How is she eating?"
"She's still nursing a couple times a day," Allison said, "we're in a not offering not refusing when she asks phase right now. Usually she wants it first thing in the morning. I get her up, change her diaper, get dressed and braces on, snuggle with milk, if Asher gets her up he brings her to me at that point. After her milk we do her first round of stretches and physio, then breakfast. Play time, story, either swimming or a walk, she loves the swings in the park. Snack, story, creative things she likes crayons and finger paint we're just starting scissors and paint brushes, she likes stickers. More physio, play time with toys, she loves crawling with the cat or going upstairs to pet my parents puppy. They got a labradoodle 2 weeks ago and Everly loves the puppy. Then usually lunch another story nap for 2.5 hours. Some days it's only 2 hours, some days it's 3 if she had a rough night. After nap, another snack, sometimes milk if she asks, outside time if we had swimming that morning, physio, more play time or errands. Dinner, physio, bath, story and snuggles, milk, song, and tucked in."
"She sounds like she has a good day," the physio said, "you mentioned rough nights?"
"A couple times a week her legs seize up," Allison said, "she cries, we massage her legs, we've made kid sized rice bags to heat up in the microwave that work to put some heat on the muscles."
"Medication," the physio asked.
"We alternate between tylenol and ibuprofen," Allison answered.
"I can show you some more stretches to help," the physio offered.
"That would be good," Allison said.
"Today seeing her in the gait trainer and scooting around like that. I want to try a walker," the physio smiled.
"I'm in," Allison said, "can she do it?"
"You'll come twice a week again for a while and practice then we'll send one home with you," they physio said.
"Can we do it at home," Allison asked.
"Do you and your husband feel confident doing it," the physio asked, "can you show him?"
"I'm happy to show Asher," Allison replied, "he'll be so excited she's walking."
"It will take a week or two to get a walker in for you," the physio said, "we need to adjust it to her needs."
"Of course," Allison agreed, "she'll walk?"
"For sure with a walker," the physio agreed, "I'm hopeful that we will be able to progress to crutches and hopefully one day she won't need them at all. Are you ready to see your baby walk mama?"
"Yes," Allison smiled, "I've been dreaming of first steps for a couple years."
"This won't be smooth or easy," the physio said, "a lot of kids with CP fight it at first and it's painful. She might be tired or grumpy afterwards."
"I can do tired and grumpy," Allison said, "that's what cuddles and stories are for. We went to the library this morning."
"Are you okay," the physio asked, "I know you're young."
"I just turned 20," Allison said, "I was 18 when she was born."
"Her dad," the physio asked.
"We're together," Allison said, "we live in my parent's basement we have a lot of support."
"Okay," the physio smiled, "I usually see you with her."
"I'm pre med at UW and Asher is an electrical apprentice," Allison said, "he's working and I do a lot of my classes in the afternoon and evening so I can be with Ev and we don't need as much babysitting time."
The physio therapist got Everly set up in the walker showing Allison how to do it and explaining each step of the way.
"Okay mama step back and get ready to film," the physio said.
The physio guided Everly's movement to pick up her right foot. After guiding Everly through a few steps and several months of using the gait trainer Everly took a tentative step. Then another. The physio stepped back.
"She's walking," Allison beamed, "Everly you're walking."
"She is," the physio agreed, "two more steps Everly come on you can do it."
Allison crouched a few feet ahead of the walker, "come on Princess come give mommy a hug."
Everly took a couple more steps forward as Allison recorded her. Reaching her mom Everly tried to take her hands off the walker balancing for a moment.
Allison hugged her baby, "I am so proud of you princess. Your walking, you took your first steps."
"So come back next week and we'll fit her for a walker," the physio said, "we can loan you a temporary one for the week."
"Please," Allison smiled, "we'll practice every day."
"I know you will," the physio smiled, "I just want to check her range of motion."
While the physio was doing her final exam Allison sent the video to Asher first.
Allison, "I know your like 80 feet up working but she's walking! I'm bringing a temporary walker home then we come back in a week to get measured and fitted for a permanent one."
Asher, "we're having coffee. She's walking! Give her a hug and a kiss for me and I'll walk with her as soon as I'm home."
Allison, "we have to practice as much as she wants to. 7 more days."
Asher, "babe she's walking."
Allison, "she is. I'm crying."
Asher, "I know you are. Our baby is walking."
When she got the video Teddy cheered, "Owen look at this. Ev is walking!"
Owen smiled watching the video, "I'm relieved."
"I am two," Teddy smiled, "I was getting really worried she wouldn't. I don't know how Allison would have survived that."
"It would have crushed her," Owen agreed, "but they would have gotten through. I think Allison is our strongest."
"She is," Teddy agreed.
Allison had sent the video to her closest friends needing to share the good news.
Eden, "wow! She looks good. How are you?
Allison, "I cried and hugged her and cried some more. She did it."
Eden, "I cried when he took his first steps. Are you happy?"
Allison, "I'm so proud of her."
Ava, "look out here comes Princess Everly! Tell her auntie Ava is so proud of her and hug her for me. Do you get to keep that?"
Allison, "we come next week to get fitted for her own."
Ava, "do I need to decorate it?"
Eden, "I'm in for that."
Olivia, "she walked using a walked. All kids do."
Ava, "but this is big it was only 50/50 if she would. Ev looks good."
Olivia, "she's a kid."
Carmen, "go Everly go! She looks good, Allie!"
Allison, "she's going to walk. Maybe even on her own."
Olivia, "isn't that a given. She's almost 2."
Ava decided to text Olivia separately, "hey! Why are you so down about Everly walking?"
Olivia, "I'm tried of Allie only talking about Everly. I thought once she had her she would be Allie again."
Ava, "she's a mom and her daughter is the most important thing to her. She's still Allie. She's going to school and doing the things shes always liked."
Olivia, "it's always I can't go out I don't have a baby sitter, I don't want to drink my baby sucks on my boobs. I wont take a shot because I have to go home and face my parents."
Ava, "she chose that for Everly. You pushed her to drink that wasn't cool."
Olivia, "Eden and Carmen had more. They have kids."
Ava, "Allison has a couple other health things going on that she can't really drink. She's pretty careful about what she eats."
Olivia, "I miss the old Allie."
Ava, "I do sometimes. This one is pretty cool though. She's awesome. She's calm and pretty chill."
Olivia, "I just wanted her to come party and let loose and have fun."
Ava, "she was. Allie was relaxed and having fun. She danced and played games."
Olivia, "she got mad when I offered shots."
Ava, "she doesn't like to drink. I have a lot of fun with her. She's actually more fun sober."
Olivia, "what did you do that was actually fun?"
Ava, "I slept over last weekend. Asher is working out of town for a few weeks and I stayed last weekend with Allie because her parents were out of town. We had lots of fun. Yes Ev was with us and I helped with some of the kid stuff. We baked and did a bunch of crafts, had a Harry Potter marathon."
Oliva, "no boys?"
Ava, "I'm single. Just talk to her. Go to Allie. Asher is gone for work for the next week or so. He's been gone all month."
Olivia, "why can't she just come out with me. Use a fake and go for drinks."
Ava, "she doesn't have one. She doesn't have the money for one."
Olivia, "how does she have no money ever?"
Ava, "her and Asher support their family with very little help. The only thing her parents pay is her tuition and his family gives them nothing."
Olivia, "maybe she could use Kristen's fake for the night?"
Ava, "just go to her house after Ev goes to bed. That works best."
Olivia, "I'll bring drinks."
Ava, "cookies or chips."
Allison walked through the hospital with Everly on her hip, "lets go find Grandma and Grandpa."
As Allison walked onto the surgical floor Annie found her.
"Hey bean and miss Everly," Annie smiled.
"Nee," Allison shouted, "she walked. She took her first steps."
"I saw the video," Annie said, 'she did it."
"She did," Allison smiled, "Nee I was scared she never would. We've worked so hard for that. She walked. I know its a walker."
"Bean she's walking," Annie smiled, "Everly do you want to come see Auntie Annie?"
"Nee," Everly smiled reaching her arms to Annie.
"You are your mom's daughter calling me Nee," Annie laughed while taking the toddler.
"Nee Nee," Everly yelled.
"Hi Everly," Annie said hugging the tot and kissing the top of her head, "I miss them being this little."
"She's getting too big," Allison said.
"Wait till your 11 year old out grows you," Annie laughed.
"Matt hasn't," Allison asked.
"This morning," Annie groaned, "at least Ellie is still my height."
"She's sleeping over tonight," Allison said, "I know school on time in the morning."
"She has a pro D day tomorrow that's why I said okay," Annie said.
"That's why she offered to baby sit," Allison said.
"Up to you if you want her to," Annie said.
"What's easier for you," Allison asked.
"Her to baby sit," Annie admitted, "Heather has an ENT appointment and Henry goes to the dentist."
"Ellie can babysit," Allison said, "Ev will like it. Ellie is always fun."
"She likes it and that you trust her," Annie smiled, "you okay? You look exhausted bean."
"Asher's away, Ev didn't sleep well last night," Allison said, "but I'm hoping we get a good nap today. She's tired."
"Walking will do that," Annie smiled, "but she does look sleepy."
"I was just going to say hi to mom and dad then head home," Allison said.
"I paged them," Annie said.
"Look who's walking," Owen smiled joining them and taking Everly from Annie.
"Dad did you ask," Allison asked.
"No," Owen admitted.
"We ask Ev if she wants a hug or wait for her to reach for you," Allison reminded.
"Ev do you want to stay with Grandpa," Owen asked Everly.
"Mama," Everly replied.
Allison took her daughter back.
"Do you want to go down," Allison asked seeing how everly was squirming.
"Yes,' Everly replied.
Allison set Everly on her feet and held both her hands. Everly tried to take a step forward.
"Go princess," Teddy cheered seeing Everly try to walk.
Allison held Everly as she took a few tentative steps.
"She did it," Teddy smiled.
"She's walking," Allison said picking up her daughter, "mom she'll walk!"
"She will," Teddy smiled, "are you happy?"
"I am," Allison said, "I just wish Asher wasn't out of town still."
"7 days munchkin," Owen said.
"7 too many," Allison complained.
"Last time," Teddy asked.
"June," Allison replied, "before our trip."
"Thats a lot," Teddy agreed.
"We need to after his month in school," Allison replied, "and I'll work 40 hours a week then but it's still good for us for him to do it. I hate him being away and not being home but we need the money."
"We'll help how ever you need," Owen assured.
"We know but we don't like using it," Allison said.
"I hated telling Mama I needed groceries," Annie said, "I felt inadequate and stupid."
"I never minded you needing food," Teddy said, "I wish you would have more."
"We made it work," Annie smiled.
"You and Steph did," Teddy agreed.
"I have to go scrub," Annie said, "Bean I'm happy for you and so proud of you Miss Everly."