OT Monday

Iz had OT yesterday and she was *so excited* to tell Miss J that on Sunday she ate all her vegetables and liked them!  One of the things they are working on is overcoming some of those aversions to the way things feel in her mouth so they work on different foods and different seasonings and Sunday night involved some roasted veggies, including things they've been trying raw in feeding therapy.  Roasted celery is a hit, she told Miss J that it tastes good when its cooked and its a new favorite (still can't top her number one favorite, steamed broccoli with butter).

They are also working on her core--she has low muscle tone, not bad enough for a diagnosis of whatever the medical term is for low tone, but significant enough that she had to do physical therapy and OT to work on it.  The PT ended last year but she's still working on strength with her OT.

A very busy day

We had a busy day yesterday and it felt like I was constantly trying to catch up.

We didn't make it through our homeschooling list as quickly as we normally do so Iz and I ended up doing her "research project" in the waiting room of the rehabilitation center the kids do things like PT, OT, and speech at :p  A couple times a week I pick a topic for her to search online for--we are starting young on the basics of research and reliable sources--so instead of me teaching her something, she's getting the information on her own (sort of, I still read it to her and help explain it so she can understand).  Yesterday's topic was "why things float" so we had a good discussion on density and buoyancy :)  Why, you may ask?

After the Busy Little B had OT (and we ran home for half an  hour to wait for the Super Kid to come home from school so we could go right back to the rehab center) and The Super Kid had both speech and OT, we headed for the gym for the next session of swim lessons!  They were so excited :D  Got there, got all changed, got down to the pool, waited for the teachers and other kids to show up......and nobody did.  There were adult classes in the pool and lap swim but no swim lessons.  OOPS.  Apparently I marked down January in my calendar but big kid lessons are in February.  Sorry, kids!  Baby W is the one who does lessons in January (starting tomorrow).  So my dejected kids got changed and we went home to eat and go to bed :p

OT day

The Busy Little B and the Super Kid had OT today.  During B's visit, they noticed his feet are beginning to roll inward like S and Iz.  His OT pulled in the PT and the orthotist and both agree he needs custom orthotics.  So I shot an email over to the pediatrician--he's pretty good about writing out a referral if I request it so I imagine it shouldn't take long for the rehab center to get the script and get him scheduled to have molds taken of his feet so they can make the orthotics. I have a feeling his OT is going to need to really work with him to get him to tolerate the orthotics, though!

Why are we up so early??

We were up way too early this morning :p  Well, early for summer hours anyway ;)

We had to reschedule W's physical therapy and met at 8am instead of 9:30 today.  Miss C and I both forgot about the issue of dew and by the time it clicked that the playground we met at was so wet, three of four kids were already all wet so we shrugged and kept on going LOL  It did make things a bit difficult once PT was over, though, as we had to quickly run home for people to change when I had planned on going straight to our next appointment.  We just managed to get to the next appointment on time.

Pretty much a repeat of yesterday morning's appointment only it was the Busy Little B getting an occupational therapy evaluation instead of Isabelle.  I'm fairly confident insurance will definitely approve his services as the OT evaluating him is recommending two times a week because his areas that need work are kind of severe--one time a week is pretty standard and it takes alot to get them to ask for twice.  I don't know if insurance will approve twice or if they'll knock it down to one but the fact that they have enough codes to request twice means it would be difficult for insurance to argue there are no necessary treatments. Then again, its an insurance company so *shrug* you just never know.

We had a wonderfully long break between appointments so we were able to go home, watch a cartoon together, eat lunch, play outside, and then head out again so the Super Kid could go to speech and OT (why,  yes, all four will be in OT and three in speech.  This stuff runs in families :p).

Tomorrow is an easy peasy day--only two appointments!

At least it wasn't six?

After yesterday's six appointments I could have used a break but, alas, it was not to be!

We started our morning with physical therapy for W.  We were meeting at a new park and ended up having to cut through freshly mown grass to get there while the guy was still cutting the big side lawn near the playground.  For most this would not be a problem.  For me, fresh cut grass is an asthma trigger.  Trying to climb a big hill whilst holding's ones breath is harder than anticipated......  It wasn't as bad as it could be--I had a lot of throat clearing but no wheezing so I got lucky!

It was actually an excellent park for W to work at.  Lots of variety in equipment, hills, ledges, stairs.  He got in quite a workout without even realizing it :)

We did a grocery run next (always super fun with all four under foot) and stocked up, especially on veggies.  My little bottomless pits will have plenty of snacks.  I did, however, hide my hummus because I'd actually like to eat some of it this time.  Once I've gotten some, they can have at it but I get to go first!

Then off we went for Iz's regular check-in with GI.  Everything is going well and she gets to go a whole six months before her next visit!  She was a bit disappointed there are no changes to her meds but better they stay the same than go up, yes?

We went home for snacks and quiet time and then we were off again to take the Super Kid (he can't make up his mind what he wants his nickname to be) to back to back appointments for speech and occupational therapy.

It was so tempting to do the whole dinner out thing again but I behaved and went home and made Taco Tuesday (and now you know how many days behind I am on posting about things LOL)

We got rained out!

For PT today we were supposed to check out a new playground but we got rained out!  Its been gray and rainy for a few days and the kidlets were getting a little stir crazy so instead of Miss C coming to the house, we met up at the nature center to play.  She checked his feet for me to make sure his pronation was at a normal level for his age (two of the other kids wear custom orthotics because their feet roll inward badly enough to throw the alignment of their knees and hips out of place.  W's feet roll inward a bit, too, but I was unsure at what age it is still considered normal and what age it becomes a problem.  Its nice to have experts to check these things without having to schedule an extra appointment somewhere!

PT day!

We tried out a new playground and it was a big hit.  Only problem was the different play areas were so far apart and we spent a lot of time crossing from one side to the playground to another whenever something caught W's eye.  It did give Miss C a chance to see how much improvement he's made running, though, so that's a plus!  Mr. Piper was able to come to this session but then he spent the whole time running kids to the bathroom because of course no one had to go at the same time ;)

We are seeing more and more improvements since starting the migraine medication!

PT is down to one

Now that Miss Iz has finished her PT, our PT day is short!  Just W in the mornings.  This week we went to the Early Childhood playground at our local school.  We've been visiting different schools with a preschool program lately so the equipment is a little more on W's level.  However, his balance and coordination has improved so much since starting the migraine meds that next week we are trying a regular elementary playground.  He likes those better because there is more to do but he was so unbalanced we stopped going to a bigger kids playground.  We've never been to next week's school so the kids are excited (they spotted the playground driving past and asked we visit during PT).

W update

We went on a trip and it just threw everything off :p

W is making good progress in speech therapy--he even put together two words independently (more water) instead of just repeating phrasing he's heard us use often.

OT is also going well--a little too well, in fact, because his fine motor skills have progressed to the point he can get my gate at the top of the stairs open :\

Our PT is at a bit of a loss, though--W continues to be all over the place in balance and coordination, some days he does so well and other days he's constantly falling and running into things.  The neurologist did a bunch of testing and nothing turned up.  She thinks he might be having some migraine activity that is effecting balance, coordination, speech, etc instead of causing pain so we've started him on a daily migraine medication.  So far, it does seem to help as his periods of unsteadiness are shorter and further apart.

He turned two recently and seems to be determined to show is he is most definitely two with the stubbornness and the "I do it myself" attitude LOL

And the other kids have discovered their favorite day!

Physical Therapy day!  We met Miss C at the kids' favorite park.  She said she's lived and worked in this area for a really long time and didn't know the park was there.  It was a good one to do PT at because there were several activities for  him to do to work on his goals and the three older kids had plenty to keep them occupied as well.  We arrived fifteen minutes early and W had worked out some of his energy so he was more focused on what Miss C wanted from him.

Miss C told us about another park near our house that we didn't know about with a good playset and a splash pad.  I bet we'll get plenty of use out of that one over the summer!

Miss Iz was supposed to see her GI after PT but we got the call that Dr N had a family emergency so we had to reschedule for August.

Miss Iz had her PT session in the afternoon and it was a little rough.  She was just so over all the exercises and activities.  Miss N got her attention by promising to show her something new if she did her work and that got her motivated and she got to try out two new exercises (rocket ship and dolphin).   Dolphin was too difficult but she had fun with rocket ship.  Miss N and I are thinking the last few sessions have been more difficult because she's getting bored with doing the same few things over and over.  There's not a great deal of wiggle room in what she can do but maybe if we change up the routines just a bit we can get her attention and cooperation back.

PT times two

Now that Miss Iz is out of preschool, she gets to be there at all of W's appointments this week.  First up is PT.  Now that the weather is nicer, we are meeting at parks to take advantage of all the equipment and the sunshine.  I picked one of Iz's favorite parks hoping that she'd be occupied with playing and not need (want?) to attempt to monopolize Miss C's time.  NOPE.  She was distracted briefly with playing but soon she was vying for attention and when she didn't get it she stomped back to the van and sat inside the rest of the session *sigh* I sure to hope it gets easier :p

After W's PT we ran some errands--this restored Miss Iz's good mood as she likes running errands.  We stopped at home to have some lunch and then off we went to Miss Iz's PT.  She was excited to go and then once we were there she was surly and uncooperative.  Miss N was very patient and managed to get Iz to get back on track and we made it through the session but man, was it a rough day!

The Nature Center

W's PT mentioned there was a free indoor area at one of the parks we like going to so the kids and I went to check it out.  We always loved going to the nature center back in Michigan and this one is a lot like it.  They have a play area with toys and games and a big fish tank, a reading area with a couple games and huge windows to watch wildlife, and a room with tanks of fishes and turtles.  They had a lot of fun and a few days later when it was time for PT, W went back again to explore with Miss C (it was raining so no playing at the playground for PT)

PT at the park

With the weather finally getting nicer, physical therapy for W has moved outdoors!  We met at the kids' favorite park and tried out the playground equipment.  I think, though, that that particular park is perhaps not the best choice when its just William--there are multiple play areas and we could not keep his attention because he was so busy trying to run from one area to the next.  He did complete a few tasks Miss C had set for him but most of the session was just him running around screaming LOL

After preschool pickup, Miss Iz had her physical therapy but she had a really awesome session.  She was a PT rockstar ;)

Let's take physical therapy outside!

The wind was a bit chilly today but overall it was pretty nice so we were outside this morning playing.  I had intended to bring W inside before the physical therapist showed up to get him ready but she came early and we just stayed out for therapy.  He LOVED it.  They played on the swingset and slide, she had toys to ride on outside (he doesn't even like to go near the ride on toys in the house but he climbed right on and pushed himself around on the patio), they did a balance beam (piece of wooden board flat on the ground :p).  He had fun and was much more cooperative than he's ever been so we are going to meet at a local park next week.  If the weather is iffy, that particular park has an indoor nature area we can visit instead and Miss C says there are activities and things he can do to get his PT in.  Once all the kids are out of school, we will meet at parks whenever we can so they will all have something to do while he does his PT.

After picking Iz up at school, we went to her PT as well and she is doing awesome :)  She's not quite there yet, still working on tone and muscle control, but she has made so much improvement and is trying so hard!

Time for physical therapy!

It is almost time for the meeting to re-evaluate progress and goals so we spent some time talking about what I'd like the updated goals to be.  I kinda hate this question because I've learned that those "normal" things with my other kids weren't so normal after all so I have NO IDEA where W should be or what he should be able to do.  Its really hard for me to pinpoint a goal when I don't know what he should be able to do at this age :p  And I've been telling all the therapists that and they still want to know what I want to work on.  Um, how about whatever you say we should work on?  :P

She's been trying to get W to stand on one leg to work on balance but he doesn't really want to so today she brought a ball and we worked on getting him to kick it.  He always wants to grab it with his hands so I held them and that made him use his feet.  His kick is more of a teensy tiny flick of his foot rather than a full on kick but its a start!

In the afternoon, Miss Iz had her physical therapy and her PT told her how awesome she's doing--she is picking up on her exercises pretty fast and making some good progress :)

Its a movie theater!

Tuesday is physical therapy day--W has it at home then I pick Iz up from preschool and we have a 45 minute gap until her PT at the rehab center.  Not enough time to go home, really, so we usually run an errand (today's was getting gas). It is unusual for me to run inside and get stuff but it was so worth it Tuesday!

I was super tired and stopped for a 99cent coffee (and this gas station has pretty good brewed coffee) and picked up a box of fresh popcorn for Iz, a cheesestick for W, and a snapple for Iz because my mom used to get them for me when I was little and Iz had never had one.  So we get our stuff and start our drive over to the rehab center--Iz says "its like I'm at the movies with my popcorn and my drink!"  I tell her that the windshield must be the movie screen.  She and I start making up movies based on what we see out the windshield.  There's an armored truck so I say maybe its an action film about a bank heist and she throws in that the truck will get into a big accident because action movies like to blow stuff up   We spot a couple walking together and decide they are starring in a romance.  A school bus goes by and Iz declares its a kid movie about preschool adventures.  And on and on.  We spent the whole ride making up movie plots and it was so much fun to see how her little mind works and how quickly she can come up with stories for a few seconds seen out the window!

PT day!

W was SO EXCITED to see Miss C today!  He could not wait for her to come inside and play with him....and then she came in and was wearing her glasses and he hid from her LOL  She has only worn her glasses once before and he didn't recognize her and was super nervous. I think he forgot what she looked like with glasses but the more she talked, the more he relaxed--took him a bit to associate her voice with the strange lady with glasses ;)

He was fairly focused on what she wanted him to do, even though he did try his best to outsmart her a few times to do what he wanted to do.  But eventually he just went and got her shoes and told her "bye" and decided he was done with the requests to show off his jumping and standing on one foot skills :p  Soon it will be nice enough out that we can start going to the park for sessions (which will make summer sessions when all kids are home so much easier since they can busy themselves playing while W works!)

This week's OT update

W was a little more focused in OT but not by much :p  One of his activities was very similar to one he did in PT (climb up and over a foot stool and then put a shape into the shape sorter) so he didn't even wait for Miss M to show him what to do--you could see his little mind going "I got this!"  Miss M made it a bit more challenging with two different stools with two different heights so he had to do it like stairs and then a big step down to get to the toy.

She worked on getting him to cross the midline, an activity that still makes him grumpy :p  She also had him getting down on his stomach and playing with the toys, a move he carried over to bathtime--he kept laying on his tummy in the tub and calling "looh!" (look) to me.  And then clapped for himself LOL

One activity he hates but we keep trying is swinging in the blanket.  He was a big NO at the beginning of the session but at the end he stood in the blanket and let us swing him and then he sat down and giggled and when the song was over, he asked us to do it again.  So we swung him again but he decided he was done halfway through the song :p  But, hey, the fact that he asked to go again was good!

Physical Therapy was a whirlwind of distraction

Apparently Baby W's distractability from speech carried over to the next day because he was all over the place at PT, too!  His physical therapist is very go with the flow, though, so she just kept pulling stuff out of her bag to see if anything interested him enough to stick with it.  Nothing did, really, so they just ran through a bunch of activities and exercises and we talked about some of the things he's been doing.  One of the activities she does with him is to get him to get up on his tip toes to reach for things to work on those muscles for balance--however, he has started toe walking so she's thinking we should back off getting him on his toes to see if he'll stop the toe walking. 

Week One of April, PT update

W was just not in the mood today--he ran to greet Miss C and even called out play! and ball! when he saw her but then just shut down and would not go near her and clung to my legs.  Sometimes he gets a little anxious and is clingy and then relaxes and starts to participate but he was just not having it today.  After multiple failed attempts to get him off of me and out to play, I realized the problem--Miss C was wearing her glasses!  W has never seen her in glasses, always contacts.  She took her glasses off and he runs over to her almost immediately, points at her and shouts "kiss!" (his version of her name).  HA! We had a chuckle over it and she was able to slip her glasses back on and they ran through some exercises and tasks.  He still wasn't the most cooperative but at least he would go near her again :p

In the afternoon it was time for Miss Iz to have her physical therapy.  She had a really great session--she is really focusing and listening and doing her best to follow instructions.  Her PT was so pleased with how quickly she is picking things up :)

We stopped at Panera Bread afterwards (its free bagel month for us!) to celebrate a good session for Miss Iz.  She split her bagel with her baby brother and talked up a storm the whole time we were there ;)