The weekend is almost over, and tomorrow starts week two of therapy. I hope we have a great week like last, if not better. It may not be starting off too well. I was playing with Austin, and I pulled a muscle in my back. Thank god I brought the medicine I've been given before for back problems. Lets hope it kicks in fast. We had a great weekend. Our friend Oula took Austin and I with her and her son to visit some of her friends here. What a great experience. We were welcomed with open arms. It was nice to get out and experience some of Santiago. Today Austin and I went to starbucks, and then to the park. It was a beautiful day, but a little warm. Nice breeze though. We are looking forward to another week of therapy and more progress. Will keep everyone posted. Thank you for following our journey!

Day 5: Excellente week, as Ramone said after our last session today. Wish Austin and I felt that way. It has been a very long week for us, but have to agree with Ramone that it was a very productive week in the therapy department. Austin and I are homesick and both miss the comforts of our own home, and of course our family, friends and routines. We know that this is a small sacrifice we need to make for the next month so Austin will have a chance at a new life. It is worth it!! Austin worked alot on balancing exercises today and was so scared he would shake at times, but his brain was accepting the input and putting his body to work. I wanted to cry and chant a cheer for Austin all at the same time. We hope to do some sight seeing tomorrow with anther family that stays at the same B & B as us. We are excited to do something other than therapy. What a nice break. First week done and doing well.

Day 4: Well it was a good/bad day for Austin and I. I beleive we are sleep deprived, hence Austin's fussiness. I hope it is that and not the beginning of an ear infection or something like that. Although I was assured by my friend Oula here that the doctors are very good if I have to take him. Lets hope it doesn't come down to that. Austin was very mad again at therapy, but him and his brain cooperated their best. Ramone said he is happy/satisfied with 75 percent of the exercises Austin did today. He said he is sending Austin's brain the messages and it is up to the brain to accept them or not! I'm rooting for the acceptance part personally. Austin did alot of exercises today with just the ankles being held, and sometimes only one needing to be held. Yeah!! That is very exciting. Ramone beleives that if the child can cooperate with just an ankle hold, the brain is doing 100 percent of the work which means... the ability to be able to walk on his own. Yeah Austin!!! Keep going. You can do it! The cheer of the day when we are at therapy. We went to the park today and walked around. Austin wanted nothing to do with sitting on the grass, so we walked and watched the soccer players and the boys riding their BMX bikes on their ramps. When we came back with went with our friends to a new mall to look around. That is our adventure for today.

Day three of therapy.....Austin had a very hard day, he never cried but he had alot of frusteration and anger at therapy, he did many new exercises today, and wasn't quite sure that he liked a single one of them. It was apparent that Austin's little brain wasn't sure what to do, whether to accept the exercises or fight against them. Ramone has a way with him and thank god for the gift he has to work with children and their immature brains. We ate dinner outside tonight, a real healthy meal of McDonalds. Thanks to my friend Beth who came here, she passed on some good advice. It was very easy to order, numero uno with coca cola light!!!! At least I'll be eating. We sat outside by the fountains and Austin really enjoyed watching the water going up and down. It is so fun to watch him smile and laugh at such simple things. Our living arrangements have become a little better. We got a big comforter for Austin and now he can sit on the floor and climb onto the bed. It's the little things that make the bigger picture so much better. So hopefully he will tire himself out so he goes to bed earlier than between 11pm and 2am. I realized today that every where I go and they are playing music, whether in the grocery stores or past houses, the music is American music. It is so funny watching them move to this music and sing it, and then if you try to talk to them in English they don't understand! That's our adventure for today.