So she went back to school again today.  The day went well.  Much better than last week.  She is stronger and did more walking around than she has for a very long while.  She has pretty much been on the couch or in the bed for over 2 months!  And this is the girl who has always been on the go and has gotten bored so very easily in the past. She even ate her lunch today.   It looks like I am repeating 8th grade, since I am staying the whole day with her.  Once she is comfortable with me doing so, I will drop her at school and then stay at home (and clean my house!) for a few days or until she is comfortable with me returning to work.  School is a tonic for her.  She thrives there.

One of the teachers at ArtSpace, Ms Tara, is married to a man who makes medical equipment for a living.  He met Rinnie at school today, looked at her body and at Theodore, measured her and saw how she is unable to sit.  Then he and his business partner designed a chair for her to sit in at school.  We went back up to the school around 4pm and took the chair for a spin.  It is constructed of PVC pipe, so it does not look like a wheelchair, is constructed for her small size, and is very lightweight.  It does have wheels and will allow for her to sit at a desk, roll from class to class and after he makes some adjustments she will also be able to lie back in it and rest.   For free.  We give it back when she no longer needs it.  We are so blessed!  Once we get the chair on Wednesday, I’ll be sure to take a picture of Rinnie sitting in it and post it to the blog!

So how is Rinnie doing?  Very well, I believe!  I put my foot down on the eating thing and we both did a juice diet all weekend.  (I never ask her to do something that I’m not willing to do myself.)  She had not been eating much at all, but all of a sudden she had amazing cravings, which have happened to me in the past, but not this time at all.  I stuck to it and she had juice for 3 days.  When she wanted to eat more or to have something warm, she had broth or potato soup.  She is stronger and I believe this weekend has something to do with that.  Today she ate more solid food, (peanut butter sandwich and applesauce for lunch and then chili for dinner) eating with a better appetite than she has in a long time.  I’ve still given her juice twice today and will continue to do so.  I’d love it if she would let a vegetable pass her lips, but until that time, I will continue to give her freshly juiced fruit.

We are so grateful for our community.  We have received donations from many of you to help with medical expenses, food, gas, clothes for Rinnie and even a short trip to the beach (Meyer Baba Center in Myrtle Beach) this summer.  If you wish to help us, you can go to Rinnie’s website (www.rinnierocks.com) and click on the “donate” button for paypal, or you can mail a check directly to Rinnie.  Our home address is 540 Buckeye Cove Rd, Swannanoa, NC  28778.  Please do continue to remember us in your prayers.  We can feel you out there…..