It has been both a really, really good week … and an overwhelming one. Kiran went back to in-person therapies at Childserve. Both days wore him out completely (and me, too). I knew that it would be important for both him and me to ease our way back into the world, for many reasons.

It’s been a year.

A big decision was made this week. After one more session next week with the beloved physical therapist he has been working with since he was just over a year old, Kiran will be taking (at least) a three month break from physical therapy. He has been working SO HARD for over four years, and hitting the walking milestone has been a huge accomplishment. She wants us to just let him walk and walk and walk – and really enjoy and understand this new mobility. And increase endurance. Other than that, the only home programming she wants us to continue is standing practice. Otherwise, we have been very firmly instructed to let him have a break.

I am beyond proud of my boy.

My logistics brain has not stopped running in circles since the day he walked last week. I am now thinking through all of the different scenarios and when it will be appropriate to take the pacer and when he will need the wheelchair – and when he needs both. Both is no easy feat. I did figure out safely transporting everything in my vehicle, because we needed both pieces of equipment for therapies yesterday, but it involves taking the wheelchair completely apart, and I can’t have anyone else in the car besides him and me.

Kiran continues to keep me on my toes. I can’t help but continue to grow, being his mama.

I am still experiencing minor disbelief that he is able to move independently with his pacer. I knew (I hoped) he would get there, but I had no idea it would happen so abruptly. So much of his progress has been in tiny steps, blurring the ability to really say “On this day, Kiran accomplished this.” But this was truly like a switch got flipped and the stars aligned, and his body and brain said “It’s go time! Let’s do this!!!” … and he hasn’t stopped being proud.

And I am pretty sure I will never stop being proud.

Now, we continue on. It’s exciting that now when I say “It’s a long road ahead, but we journey together”, I get to actually journey BESIDE my boy. He can take his own steps now, and I get to walk alongside him.

This year holds a lot for us. The challenges looming are plentiful, and I never pretend anymore to have any idea where we will be at year’s end. But I’m showing up for it. I’m here. And so is he. Working harder than ever. Moving forward, together.