Saturday, May 8, 2010

Smile Away

Some very exciting news from the Hodder household!! In the past week, Aviana has started to smile at us. She has done this a few times in the past, but it was not consistent and we were perplexed as to if it were a real smile or not! Poor baby, I am so overly analytical about her every move!

This past week, she had given me about 3 little grins. I didn't say anything to anyone except Dave. Then my Uncle Roger came to visit and when he arrived she was asleep. Once she awoke, he walked over to her, and he and Michelle saw her smile. They were both ecstatic!

We then took Aviana in to pattern, and her face was turned toward Michelle and I. Michelle said something crazy and the hugest smile washed over Aviana's face. It was the most beautiful sight I have ever seen! I have waited since the morning of June 17, 2009 to see such a sight!

Do you guys want to wander on back to 1989 with me? Ask anyone and they know, there is a certain song that just unnerves me, you may know it. It's "When I See You Smile." So corny, so cliche', so I don't know what!

Against my will, those lyrics just keep traversing back and forth across my mind. I really listened this morning, and just have to post them. Bad English was the 2nd cd I ever purchased, the first being Milli Vanilli :o) My 14 year old self could never have fathomed how much these lyrics would apply to my 35-year-old self!

Flash back Friday!
(I know it's Saturday, but that just sounded much better!)

I can't believe I am really going to do this..... here goes =)

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15 comments:

  1. What an amazing piece of news this is. Your little doll is waking up from her long slumber - I just feel uplifted, so much joy for you. You're going to be pulling out the clown hat and the feather boa to perform for her, anything to make that little princess smile! You go girl! :-D

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  2. WOW! What wonderful news! She is really making such great strides. Her smile is a gift from God, no doubt. Her smiling says so much for her progress both physically and emotionally. So awesome!

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  3. I got chills reading your post! That has to be the BEST Mother's Day present ever! All that hard work is beginning to pay off. Happy early Mother's Day!

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  4. That my dear friend is the best news I've heard in a long time. I just read that post 3 times just to be sure. I love your little girl so much and can't wait to see that pretty smile grace her beautiful face in person. Once again happy mothers day!!!!!!!

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  5. Amazing! I can't wait to see pictures of that sweet smiling face! I'm so happy for you. Happy Mother's Day. :)

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  6. That's fantastic! I would love to see some pictures! :) What a great Mother's Day present for you.

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  7. Oh, I can't wait to see photos of your precious girl with her new smile!! This is soooo wonderful.

    Jen, I remember the first time Audriana smiled after her brain injury. It was a few weeks after her accident and she wasn't able to communicate. I was trying to get her to hold up one finger for YES, and two fingers for NO. I would ask her questions like, "Do you have a sister?" and see if she said yes or no. So I remember one day I was sitting by her hospital bed, and I was helping her to hold up her little fingers, and I had been doing it for hours with not much response from her, and I was feeling a bit sad and defeated. For some reason I parted her two fingers into the "peace" sign and I said in a low man-voice, "Peace, Baby..." and she made a grumbling sound in her thoat, and her mouth turned up on the left side (her right side was paralyzed at that time due to the injury, much like a stroke victim) and I was shocked. I said to her, "Are you laughing?" I wasn't sure. So I did it again with her fingers and said, "Peace, Baby" again...and there it was! She half-smiled and that grumble of a laugh came from her throat. It was the most beautiful sound. I did it again and again and she did it again and again...and I cried and cried. It was my proof that she was "still in there" -- if she could find the humor in my saying "Peace, Baby" then I knew things were going to be okay. It was the best day. That was a little more than 13 years ago and still this memory makes me choke up when I think about it.

    I'm so happy to hear that Aviana is smiling for you again! The progress might seem slow -- oh, how I know it's hard to be patient! -- but this is HUGE! There's more to come! Keep up all that you are doing with her. It's working!!! It's working!!!

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  8. Now that is a ray of light that shines through the rain isn't it?!?!? What a wonderful gift for a mom who has given everything and then some for her beautiful girl!!!! I am so happy for you - this is the beginning of many more hurdles being overcome for both you and Aviana! I am so so so so thrilled I just want to scream!!!!! Can't wait for you to capture that on film and post it !!!!!

    Have a beautiful Mother's Day Jen!!!!!

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  9. That is wonderful news! What a gift, to see her smile! You are making such a difference in her life...and she in yours.

    Nancy in the Midwest

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  10. I am so excited for you I could jump up and down!!! So happy for you and Avi - how amazing!

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  11. I am so excited for you! What a nice way to fill up that tank of love in your heart. :)

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  12. PS - We need some pictures of that sweet, sweet smile!

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  13. that is amazing!!!! and I love those songs we slow danced to in jr high! sounds like the perfect song to me!

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  14. I remember your 14 year old self!! I can't ever see a bit of Dirty Dancing without thinking of you. So glad to hear the wonderful news about the smiles. I think of you guys often...still sending love from Ohio!

    Stacie

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