(Miss Belle working on her smile)
When we arrived, I realized that three other preschool classes were joining us. It was controlled chaos, but chaos no less. I was pleased to see that Adeline knew who her classmates were and naturally gravitated toward them. Since Miss Belle is spread across two different schools and has missed numerous days of school already, I fear that she doesn't know the kids in her classes. Apparently, this fear is unfounded.
Soon we were moving toward the barn. While walking into the barn, Adeline had to walk by a large tractor that was sitting in the very dark entry way. To put this in perspective, part of her Hippotherapy session is to ride past a tractor and touch it. Can I just say that Adeline really dislikes tractors! She loves them from the safety of her car but being up close to one makes her panic. Well, Miss Belle walked by that tractor today. Her pace quickened and her grip tightened but she walked past it in such a normal fashion that no one knew how difficult it was for her.
Once in the barn, we were surrounded by flies. They were every where. There was also a cow that was very close to all of the children. Adeline demanded that I hold her hand but I was able to pawn her off on her friend Lauren for some hand holding which worked. I was pretty sure that Adeline was pushed to her limits by the flies and the moving cow and straw underfoot. At this point, I was confident that all of her energy was put into just being in that barn. I was wrong! Adeline was listening and was answering questions. In fact, she was the first one to answer, "What do cows eat?" I just have to say it again. Adeline was the FIRST response! Her voice was quiet and went unheard (she suffers from the raspy preemie voice), especially since all the other kids were chiming in right behind her, but she answered first. I was so proud. In the middle of a very challenging sensory experience, Adeline was still on her game. I was amazed.
Next we moved into the room with the robotic milker. Again, noisy machines throw my little girl off of her game. But. . . she held it together and fit in with the group. No one would have know that she was initially terrified of the monstrous machine on the other side of the glass.
We moved on to the other animals. Adeline pet a chicken, goat and calf. She navigated very rough terrain and continued to battle bees and flies along the way. Miss Belle didn't let me leave her side but she walked the entire way. If we would have been anywhere other than with her classmates, she would have begged me to hold her. Thank goodness for peer pressure.
The day ended with a hayride. And what pulled the large carts covered in hay? A big and noisy tractor. Not to worry. Adeline climbed up the steps and sat on the hay. I wanted to take a moment and point to all around how brave my little girl was being but, instead, swelled with pride quietly on the inside. Seriously, Savannah doesn't even like hayrides because of all the poky hay. To the contrary, my Adeline put a smile on her face and enjoyed her ride. The tractor took us to the pumpkin patch which was one too many battles for Adeline. Walking over thick vines with bugs and leaves biting at your legs, wasn't Adeline's idea of fun. She solved the problem by quickly choosing a pumpkin. It wouldn't have surprised me if she didn't step foot in the pumpkin patch. She didn't like it but she completed the task that was expected of her.
So once again, my little Belle takes the high road. She overcomes her sensory fears (which are VERY real) and finds a way to enjoy herself. As we drove home, I couldn't help but think that all of the hard work is paying off. I remember when Adeline was one, her occupational therapist would make her touch a certain ball that she couldn't stand. Soon after, she was forced to have part of her sessions sitting in grass. When she could walk, multiple therapists would incorporate walking in grass and many other sensory noxious experiences into each session. Adeline would fight it every time but always powered through in the end.
I am so pleased to report that it is working. Therapy works. It becomes a way of life. Four years down the road of prematurity and my little girl is touring a farm with very little additional support. This is the same girl who would not touch grass for the first two years of her life. Her brain is being retrained and Adeline's coping skills are getting better each day. I can't imagine where we would be if we didn't meet this head on when she was released from NICU.
Adeline Belle - I am so proud of you baby girl! You make my heart sing! You make me want to work harder, be better, and complain less.
