Sweet caresses

We are just a few days from our complete wean from Keppra, her seizure drug.   We haven’t noticed any increase in her movements or any other activity that would indicate she is experiencing seizures.   She has her EEG on September 29th, so we will see if she is having anything going on.

As a matter of fact, as I have shared over the past three weeks, we have seen an actual improvement in her fine motor skills, gross motor skills, personality, and cognition.

Three weeks ago, when she would cuddle with Daddy when she hears me call her from just a few feet away, she would just sweetly smile.   NOW, she will actually throw her body open, visually connect with me, and grin really wide and lift up her shoulders as if she is trying to tell us that she wants me to pick her up.   It is so awesome!

One of the best gifts we have received from this wean, however, is her ability to give real hugs.   She will actually work really hard to put her arms around someone she cares about (us, her nurse, her grandparents, the kids, etc) and give real hugs.   I mean, arms around the neck and squeezing hugs.  Even before the chaos of last year, she never really gave us hugs.   We always gave them to her, but she never reciprocated.

Now, not only does she reciprocate hugs but she seeks them out!   Abby just melts all the time now because Hannah will reach out and put her arm over Abby’s neck when Abby is laying next to her, face to face.

My absolute favorite thing is she now will caress my face when we are lying together cuddling.   She puts her hand, open palm, on my cheek and leaves it there.  Then she just smiles.   We will just stare at each other, very lovingly, for 10 to 15 minutes.   Just smiling, eye gazing, and caressing.   Weeks ago, it was me always doing the caressing.

Now, she caresses my face.  I really can’t describe how amazing I feel when we have these moments.  These intimate, sensitive, and just pure moments.   It is just pure love.  Sweet, innocent, true love.

She truly is one of the best things that has EVER happened to me.