Day 537 | March 1, 2023

Good evening, friends. Today is March 1, 2023, of our new and grateful life. Things are starting to get into a more stable pace since last Monday; we have had consistent aides for Charlie, and our new nanny is doing great! This is very promising. Charlie is continuing to work very hard with PT and OT, both at home and outpatient, she now has her new tennis shoes, and earlier this week, she got fitted for braces and pads for the tennis shoe; it is fantastic to see how much better she can walk when wearing those shoes. She also had a minor procedure done at the podiatrist, cutting part of one of her nails; sadly, the burns have altered the bed of her nails, and they get ingrown very quickly, which is excruciating, even for someone like Charlie with superhuman pain tolerance. I have been struggling with my PTSD. The last few weeks were very stressful, and I have reached a new low in my mental health, and I am so grateful for Charlie's support. She has been there for me, it is not easy, and there is no shame in asking for help when we need it; trauma is trauma, no matter how big or small, direct or indirect, it affects people differently; I am grateful for the support system that I have, and I Know, all the difficulties that I am experiencing are temporary, and soon things will change to better, the future is exciting. I want to emphasize that it is ok not to feel happy or well, but it is essential to talk with someone and know that you are not alone; there is always someone there for you. I am happy that in the last week or so, I am out of the darkness; with the love and support of my family, and a few of the technics learned at therapy, I can be in a better place mentally; self-care has been of enormous value to be, thank you, Charlie, for giving me a break when needed. This is one of the reasons why I haven't posted in a while, I have been writing as part of therapy, but I was not motivated to write here and share our progress and struggles with you. Still, as I started to write this post, I realized how important it is to share the ups and downs because I will never know if one person here may be in the same dark corner that I was, and reading that this will pass, and it is temporary may give the encouragement needed at that time. The boys are doing so well and growing up so fast, and it is such a gift to see them discovering the world with their mommy by their side. I appreciate your continued support; thank you for praying for us. Have a great night, and may God bless You. André