This month we were very excited to meet Mya and her family.  Mya and Owen share the same physical and occupational therapists, and these therapists thought that it would be good for the two families to get together.  They were right.  Mya is a beautiful girl and her parents have come up with some really creative ideas to meet Mya's special needs. 

On the first visit Mya's Mom Beth came to our house to see all of the things that we have created for Owen.  Then a few days later Owen, Sammy and I went to Mya's house to meet her and to see all of the things that her parents had made. I came away with so many great ideas, and it was wonderful to talk to another Mom that understands the life of a special needs parent.  I think it was great for Sammy to see another home where it's *normal* to have therapy equipment and special furniture everywhere -it was a good perspective to see that her family is not the only one out there that has this different kind of life.

Neither Owen nor Mya are really verbal - but they did "talk" to each other quite a bit.  And Owen was intrigued to see someone else that can't walk and spends a great deal of time on the floor too.  They layed together on the mats and chatted.  Owen can get frustrated when he's with other children that can walk and run - I think he enjoyed not feeling that he was being left behind and could just relate on the same level with another kid.

We tried to get some pictures of the kids together.  Three children will never look at the camera at the same time, but it was nice to have a couple of shots to mark the occassion:

Mya's parents were also very generous with some of the items that Mya has outgrown.  I can't thank them enough for sharing these items with us.  The one that we have gotten the most use out of so far is a little green chair that fits Owen perfectly:

He can even kick back and relax when he has something to put his feet on:

But the best thing is that as soon as we put the chair in front of something that he could pull up on he reached out and just stood up.  All on his own and without months of therapy to show him how to do it!  We weren't even touching him, just standing by in case he fell.  How nice to have something just come easily for a change!  I took a video of him pulling up onto his ladder a few days ago.  He pulls himself up and then reaches up and grabs a book.  He needs a bit of help to sit back down, but it's an amazing jump in abilities!