United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Well and every one else too but Carolyn seems to need it the most right now,

Every day bpi stuff, I am mastering putting my hair up with out having to lay down! I get it the majority of the time now. I use a wall and mirror and a comb afterward to comb out the bumps. Its so exciting!!!
Sorry I havent posted more recently, school has me swamped and when I am not at school, I am at home playing with my 6 week old nephew. He is one killer strengthening program for my arm! Such a cutie though.

Hope all is well with every one else!!!
Big Hugs,
Amy 19 ROBPI from MN

I have not been an active poster in the past, but have gained a lot of comfort from reading from others. I decided it was time for me to share as well....

Last Sunday, My daughter Peyton (who will be 7 in January) competed in her first gymnastics tournament. It was a 2 hour drive to the competition, and the whole way there I kept thinking to my self "what am I doing? is she even going to be able to compete close to the level of the other girls? is this going to be devastating to her if things go badly?" needless to say it was a long 2 hour drive.
her coach had already decreased her to a lower level in the competition as she wasn't able to do the skills at the tougher level without her BPI arm ending up doing something that would cause her to lose all her points.

Well, she did her practice tumbling passes and did a wonderful job. But, when it came time for the actual competition, she started her tumbling routine, then sat down and stopped in the middle of it and looked to her coach for what to do next.....the excitement of the competition got to her. She ended up placing 5th out of 7 girls.
Even though I felt guilty thinking it. Boy, was I glad that it was just a mistake any 6 year old girl at her first competition would make, and not that her arm got in the way.
So, as tough as it was on me, she came away from that knowing that she has the potential to succeed and she says next time she is going to do her whole tumbling routine without stopping and get a bigger trophy!!!

Congratulations to her!!! Job well done!! May she do better and better.
Sue

Yeah for Peyton!
I am so happy it was not her arm.
She'll do better next time but at least she tries.
I can't believe she is 7.
I remember when you posted more often and love hearing how well the children are doing as they grow up.

Kath (adult/robpi)

Woohoo Payton!
Good for her! And yes, that is a typical 6 year old mistake at a competition, LOL. Reminds me of a little girl that was at my figure skating club. RIght in the middle of her solo routine she all of a sudden she forgot what she was doing, and skated by where her coach was standing and shrugged in a "I-don't-know-what-is-next". It was cute and she still managed 3rd place! Hehe, too cute.
Marieke

HOOORRAY,Peyton!!! Thanks Mom for sharing. Exactly the boost I needed ...AND AMY, you are awesome doing your pony tail without hanging upside-down on your bed anymore! I always thought how tiring that was for you to do...fyi, whenever I did ponytails myself I always had to have somebody re-do it for me when I got to school it was m-e-s-s-y!.In college I kept my hair in a very short shag cut& I hated it because I wanted curls. Perms were horrid back in the 50's!

Thanks you guys for making my day!

HUGS all around,
Carolyn J
LOBPI, 68 & proud of it!

carolyn

I have been a poster and a lurker here for about 6 and a half years now. I recall those first few years (and sometimes even now) of despair and worry and HELP I need answers. But take it into consideration when everyday life takes precedence on the this board it means HOPE for our little children. Soon they will be posting like Hope or the other teens. Before this baord and those kids posting I could see nothing like that in my gal's future. So while you still need answers, let it make you feel a little better that soon our kids will be playing ball, doing ballet, band, etc.

And SMILE!!! We are strong and can get through anything now!

YEEESSS "Parent...",
We BPI-ERS ARE VERY T-o-u-g-h!!!
You are going to be amazed at what "your girl" can do AND accomplish!! We all are fighters & "prove-ers wrong" of all the "nay-sayers" that come around us.

Please come back more often, & lurk less. I learn sooo much from every message posted here on all the Boards.

Hugs are great!,
Carolyn J
Adult LOBPI,68 & proud of it!