Let's Do Lunch

It's been about 5 months since my last lunch with girlfriends. It feels equally long since I've been present on this blog. Phew, where to begin. Time to update the family info because we are a family of FOUR! Welcome baby David!

At Home Together!

Two in diapers (but one only at night now!), two non ambulatory (not walking), two crying (but only when tired or hungry), two boys=brothers.  It's been two months of this chaos. PHEW! The grands have literally saved my life on several occasions, especially the night we ALL had the flu and a very selfless grandma stayed on our couch all night so I could sleep.

That couch was my comfortable prison the last 11 weeks of my pregnancy. Yes, that is almost 3 months. And, the last two I was in somewhat active labor, on medication to stop contractions. It was quite something. I watched to many shows to remember and thanked God for our public library where I could download books without leaving my couch!



Painting at School

The Walking Wonder

 

 

 

While I was confined, contemplating what Liam feels like most days, he started to push obstacles out of his way. The distance he is able to walk has probably quadrupled. And, the amazing potty trained boy is decreasing his accidents weekly. He started playing with blocks without a therapist (blocks are a big assessment tool in OT/PT and education)! And, he likes it. He's figuring out the purpose of toys is to play not "work." What a gift to give him a little more normal childhood.

Normal until Dad taught him the word FIDUCIARY. Yup. And, they're working on money matters with the birthday money. But that's a story for another post.

Growing Pains

We are six months into our year at CLC. Here's a look back on some of the highlights and hopes for the remainder of the school year.

We knew from the two month trial before the official school year started our goals of potty training and independent walker were attainable. It took about a week for Liam to "Dry All Day" at school . He was SO proud to walk out carrying the big green "Dry All Day" star. At home we have on average one accident a weekend. And, usually that's because we forgot to ask or are out in a new setting. And, those are becoming more rare because he started telling us when he needs to go. After, several months of being dry at school and over the weekend his teachers increased their expectations. He giggled so hard he could barely walk the day he received the "Pushed Pants Down" star.

Let me take a step back and explain why potty training, of all things, is so important and such an accomplishment. Liam, like a person who has had a stroke or has paralysis, has difficulty feeling his and controlling his lower body. While he's 3, 4, or 5 it's not really difficult to find diapers that fit or change him. But, what about when he starts school, his friends are no longer having accidents. Incontinence is a large barrier to social function. Imagine sitting in the board room and having a diaper leakage issue. It was one of the most difficult areas for my grandmother to overcome. She didn't want to go out and have an accident. My adult friends with Spina Bifida told me not to push this issue to hard because it really isn't a moral failing it's a physical deficiency. Matt and I have worked hard on our attitude not to push or scold just to give the opportunity (and make sure he takes it) and encourage. This area will open so many social doors for him. We are grateful for CLC's approach which has mirrored and helped form ours at home.

And, once the doors are open we want him to run through them! Liam takes his power chair to school everyday. It sits patiently in the hall way waiting for him to finish class. He uses it mainly to independently move in and out of the van, school and home. And, when he gets home depending on his level of fatigue he may drive around the house in it or use it to play outside. Imagine my shock when he came home three weeks ago asking to walk instead. I unbuckled him and he slid out of his chair into the waiting walker and tried to run away!  That was a welcomed first. Where did he want to go, the bathroom.

Movement creates movement or so I have heard. For Liam his independence has created and attitude of discovery. He wants to know beyond what he has been able to reach. He wants to read and create stories of his own using imaginative play. He wants to act out what he discovers at school or church or in community. His increased overall strength is enabling big things and small wonders like writing letters. And, his favorite, playing video games, a once frustrating therapy tool. He wants to stand and play and walk with his dad. He tells us when his brother is born he will be responsible to take care of him. That means he will carry the baby. I have to admit I can't quite imagine that yet. But, he has come so far in six months why not hope for the next to be just as exciting.

Swinging Through Life

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Progress in Practice

CLC called last week to ask about a new piece of equipment for Liam. A much smaller, lighter, way more independent walker. We've noticed how much stronger his upper body is and apparently his walking just taking off. Without the walker we haven't been able to practice much at home, he's not really motivated in the big bulky Pacer (that we were so thankful for a year ago, just to get him standing and trying). He's really making progress!

And, surprisingly it's not just the gross motor function (that's the big movements like sitting and walking). His school skills are coming along nicely too. He's been working on tracing his name since he was about 3. Not independently and frankly not very well. But, in the passed two months he's been independently tracing or writing his name. He know 95% of the alphabet, upper and lower, along with their sounds. And, as he learns the letters he either colors, traces or uses and IPad app to trace them with his finger.

Chopsticks are Tricky

Here's a little sample of his fine motor skills. We're so happy he's trying. He probably won't be the fastest writer but at least he can learn how.

Getting so Good