Paula and Our Newest Addition

Paula is one of my original eight, and I’m very glad we had that time to get to know each other a little better before I got so spread out.  At 12 years old, Paula is just what you would expect from someone at her age: she teases frequently, she pretends to hate bedtime kisses, and as much as she loves building with MegaBlocks and coloring—no activity is better than getting to play on the computer or tablet.

I know the whole “Love Language” book is pretty common.  I only know what people tell me because I’m too lazy/uninterested to go read or learn more about it myself.  But I know that Paula’s love language is the one that has to do with “big things.” While she won’t always pull away from me if I sit on the floor near her, it’s more common than not; unless, I have done something special for her and/or her sisters.  If I have given someone a gift, if we have had birthday cake, if we shared a pint of ice cream with 25 people, if I turned on a Telugu movie, etc., then she is one heck of a cuddlebug almost instantly.  Her size combined with her cerebral palsy doesn’t exactly make the cuddling position as easy to get into,  but it’s way worth it after we’ve adjusted 20 times to make it happen.

Since I’ve been in Ongole, Paula has gotten around the house pretty much on her own. She learned how to crawl up and down the stairs, and does well at that unless her blind sisters come charging down at full speed when she’s in the middle.  She crawls/wiggles through the apartment, chases the ayahs on occasion when doing so, and can independently pull herself up onto the bed or couch—although it takes a minute or so.

Paula’s world has recently been rocked though; because of YOU, Paula has a wheelchair now, and it’s GOOD. Real good! This girl’s muscles are ridiculous, and although she still needs some practice, by her second attempt, she could pull herself up from the floor and turn around to sit in the chair properly.  All I had to do was tell her where to put her hands to make the turning around possible without pinching her fingers.  Driving is another challenge.  She thinks my obstacle courses are silly since—well, since she’s 12, and I’m her mom. 

I was upstairs for her first meal in the chair, and when I came down at the end of the meal she was in tears and looked miserable.  After asking what was wrong, the nurse told me that Paula wanted to sit on the floor and eat with her sisters.  I let them know she could sit wherever she wanted to eat—it was up to her. Since then, she typically chooses to eat while in the chair, and she thinks it’s funny to wheel around and barely miss her little sister’s toes.  We both love the laptray as it makes her feel secure and gives her opportunity to do fine motor activities with both hands, whereas before she would be using one hand to support her balance almost at all times.

By the end of this week, I am hoping to take Paula to a performance/function at her school and to go to school with her for an entire day. I want her to see that her wheelchair is so much more than just another way to get around the house, which she was already doing.  So, to sum this all up: thank you to everyone, for your prayers as well as your financial support and individual fundraising to make this happen.

You also funded Jessie’s chair, which is in the next batch coming, and some of you also contributed to Sam’s chair, which was fully funded as of today.  Thank you so much!