Sunday, March 17, 2013

Fun and Motion


Abby has always been an active child. She was an early walker. She has always loved the out side and  just loves to keep moving.  This didn't stop when Abby become blind.   Abby actually learned to ride a bike without training wheels the summer she was losing her sight. (we had no idea at the time).  That's just how Abby's rolls.  This past few months have busy and  very active for Abby. Her dad has a lot to do with that. She is a lucky girl. I realized an important truth when it comes to Abby and activities. Only SHE know what she can or can't do. Sometimes she just needs to try. Here are some of the highlights of some her her favorite things the last 6 months.

This past summer she started kayaking. She loves it. She is a great partner for her dad.  I am sure in the not so distant future she will be ready for a kayak of her own.


Abby also played soccer this year with our local recreation department.  She did have times when she got nervous on the field when she couldn't see her team mates and lost track of the game. She did  love being part of a team.  She was great soccer player before she was blind and it was wonderful to see that while she couldn't see the ball she could still do pretty awesome   
Abby on the soccer field
Abby also ran her first 5k this fall with her dad in October.  It was a great first running experience and I am sure she will do it again. I hope to get a chance to do my 5k this year and I hope Abby joins me.
Abby right after her first 5k
 Abby has loved ice skating since she was 4. Ice Skating isn't an activity she has much issues doing at all unless she is in a big group. Last year there was no good outside ice skating weather at all.  This year she was able to go out a few times.
Abby ice skating
 A few weeks ago she went skiing for the very first time and LOVED it. She just has that personality where she loves to try new things.  The instructors at the ski area said she was a very fast learner. She is going skiing her her dad today. She has the bug. 
Abby skiing. 
 Abby has started to do after school activities.  She did Jump Rope Club this year. She has done it before and she enjoyed it. Its just a few weeks long but its lots of fun. She also joined her school dance crew.She worked so hard and they just had their first dance performance last week and she did great. She did a great job.  There was in a large group on the stage and she did wonderful. She did  great with all the moves.  I was able to find a clip that didn't include the other kids. Its posted it below. 

7 comments:

Anonymous said...


3-14-2013
Hooray for Abby good work.

Happy st. patricks day too!

Shayla

Heather BT said...

Hurrah for keeping her active. Did you know that Soccer is a Paralympic sport for the VI? They're blindfolded to keep things even. Also there's a game called Goalball which she may like a lot too.
I think there is a BLind sports Org near you, so Please, check it out. My Daughter is aiming for the 2020 Paralympics in goalball.
Heather

Anonymous said...


March 24th, 2013
at 3:57 pm. Alaskan time.

Please put up more pictures of abby and sam, they're so cute!!

friend,
Shayla

Faye said...

If Abby is still interested in Soccer after she's unable to continue to keep up with her sighted peer group, she may enjoy TOP Soccer. Paralympic soccer also sounds quite interesting... wonder what age that starts? ;)

Anonymous said...


march 29th, 2013

Happy Easter Duffy Family!



from: Shayla M.

Anna said...

Stumbled over from Thomas Marshall does it all. Our daughter was recently diagnosed as being legally blind while wearing her glasses, corrected vision. It was devastating for us since we adopted her 2.5 years ago and assumed her glasses corrected her vision to 20/20 like ours. She was scheduled for strabismus surgery in February and the Dr said that she wasn't a candidate for a lens transplant and that she didn't think any surgeries would correct her vision better than what it currently is. Thank you for your blog. I can't wait to start at the beginning, the same year we adopted Grace, 2010.

Anonymous said...

April 13th, 2013

Dear Mr. Mrs. Duffy, Abby and Sam Duffy:

Hello, it's Shayla, just wondering how you are all doing lately. I hope good and that it is a happy spring for you too!

Best Wishes for the new year 2013,
Shayla McCartney