It has been a pretty exciting month around here! Lots going on developmentally, some good doctor appointments, and some fun times! We celebrated my dad’s b-day and also got all dressed up for the MSU bowl game!
On the 13th we went to Chelsea Treehouse, an indoor playarea and met my friend Elissa and her daughter. The kids all had fun, I couldn't believe how easily Mady and John mastered climbing all the structures! Anna spent most of the time in the baby area, having a ball with Grandpa. I did take her to the big kid area for awhile and she did some good gross motor tasks there, even getting herself situated to go down the slide all on her own! As usual, Kate slept most of the time! : )
On the 16th the local fire department came to the house to install a strobe light in Johnathan's room (hooked up to the smoke alarm) and a special alarm system that has 3 different tones, volume adjustment, has a bed shaker connected to it, and it will serve as his alarm clock some day. I had heard about these systems and called the department to inquire and they mentioned they had just gotten a grant to install some of these in residences homes so we were the 1st! They brought one of their fire trucks and Mady and John had a ball exploring it! Granted, I had many txt messages and calls from the neighbors, concerned that something was wrong at the house!
On the 25th the trio had their dentist appointment. They ALL did so well, our 1st time with no one shedding tears! Mady and John both sat in the big chairs this time and they both had their 1st xrays done! Anna still sat on my lap but did great and even cooperated for 2 out of the 4 xrays, so proud! Everyone's teeth look great and Anna's do not show any wear as a result of the grinding she does, amazing!
Annabel - Anna continues with her behavioral therapy and I am so glad I got her started in it as it is paying off in so many areas for her! Her behavioral plan has been carried over with her other therapists, at school, and at home and although it is not easy she is definitely benefiting from it! She is so much tolerant of and wanting to learn new things. She is allowing hand-over-hand in so many situations and is even starting to do some pre-writing skills, drawing lines up and down! Between behavioral and Project Impact she has recently started playing more appropriately with various toys, stocking up to 5 blocks and then knocking down with leftie, using rightie and leftie to play with the animal popper game, beating her toy drum to make the lights go, reading her leapfrog books, playing with a baby doll and pushing buttons on our Thomas phone to hear the different engines. Just being able to focus on these things to realize cause and effect is HUGE!! Her speech also continues to develop, she is trying so hard! She was re-evaluated this month and in 2009 she came in at 9 months expressive and receptive and this test she came in at 1 year and 8 months, so although it's not as high we'd like her to be it is progress and if she continues developing like that she will get there! Hopefully even combining more 2 word phrases by the end of this year!! I pray this is her year for speech! She has been more interested in Kate and has been playing with John and Mady some (another thing we're really working on as she tends to want to play more with adults than peers, I think because the peers get frustrated with her and she knows it). Annabel will repeat CHAMPs (constraint therapy to improve the function of her left hand) in March. I can't wait as I think it's perfect timing!
Madelyn - Mady resumed gymnastics in January and has been doing a great job! This is the 1st time not having me with her in class and she has done so well, listening to and following instructions. I can't believe how much better her balance is from the last time she did a class! She has been working hard on her pre-writing (writing her M and A) and her pre-reading (she likes to "read" stories to you) and her imagination continues to soar! She has been wanting to help me more around the house, doing things for Kate, cleaning, and clearing the table after eating. I certainly welcome any help I can get!
Johnathan - John will hopefully resume speech therapy next week, keep your fingers crossed that insurance finally comes thru! Johnathan started Little Ninjas karate in January and is doing so well! There have been things he's been requested to do in the class that I wasn't sure if he developmentally could yet but he has surprised me numerous times, so proud! On January 27th, after a bit of practice he successfully wrote "JOHN" for the 1st time! He is very interested in identifying and learning to write letters. He is also loving to "read" books either to us, to Kate, or to himself and it is amazing how he knows the intro to tv shows, apps on the Ipad, etc., all great precursors to reading. He has been working hard on his coloring, staying in the lines and starting to use more colors. He still LOVES his puzzles and playing Uno and Memory Games. He continues to be very caring and helpful but is also very competitive with Mady, always wanting to be 1st. I guess it's good but sometimes frustrating too! It is amazing to me all that our little man has overcome thus far in his life, he truly loves life! He has his follow-up Pulmonary appointment tomorrow morning, I am glad he's getting his ears checked because I have a feeling he may have an ear infection in the one ear and for an aided kid that's not good and needs to be treated.
Katherine - Kate has had a huge month developmentally! She has mastered propping herself up on elbows while on tummy, rolling both ways and in both directions, moving a toy from hand to hand, is very curious of things and how they feel (including exploring people), enjoys watching herself in the mirror and "talking" to herself and anyone who will listen, loves any attention the other kids give her, enjoys her oatmeal (will be moving on to veggies and fruits soon), and just last night she sat up unsupported for a solid 5 seconds! It is amazing seeing her do all these milestones so quickly, how it is for a "typical" child! She continues to overall be a very easy baby. She is teething more (everything is in her mouth, she loves her teething ring) so we've had a few nights that she's gotten me up but overall generally still sleeping thru. I now have her on a schedule where she takes a solid 2 1/2-3 hour nap in the afternoon in her crib and in the morning she sleeps for short bursts of time wherever she can based on if I'm taking the others to therapies and in the evening she usually has one more cat nap from 7-8 before her nighttime bottle. She has struggled a bit with fighting thru colds this winter and has been placed on Pulmicort nebulizer treatments twice a day. We are praying she outgrows this but with family history of asthma from daddy's side only time will tell. She still has some cradle cap so I’m still using Selson Blue/baby oil and it’s almost gone. Her hair is really starting to come in now! She had her follow-up Audiology appointment on the 9th and she is hearing perfectly as I expected! She will only have a few more tests done before being discharged, better to be safe than sorry as I know how important early intervention is if there had been a problem. She is such a blessing and I am so thankful I am able to experience this "normal" experience!
6 comments:
Sounds like everyone is doing great! Kate is a cutie! That's funny you think of me when it comes to puking! What a thing to remember someone for :) But you're right, you are definitely not the only one who deals with it. It doesn't even phase me anymore!
Thanks about Kate! Yeah, doesn't phase us anymore either, kind of sad it's a "norm" for all of us but at least we can go with the flow, right? : )
Hi Jamie, this is Kate (Val & Conrad's mom from Milestones). I can't find you on facebook, so i tried a quick search & found your sweet kiddos here! Hopefully you still check this, I'd love to get in touch again! I'll leave a message at Milestones with my email-- hopefully we can connect.
Hi Jamie, this is Kate (Val & Conrad's mom from Milestones). I can't find you on facebook, so i tried a quick search & found your sweet kiddos here! Hopefully you still check this, I'd love to get in touch again! I'll leave a message at Milestones with my email-- hopefully we can connect.
Hi
My name is Jenna, you Kids are a brave, courageous fighter and an inspiration. They are hero's and earthly angels, I love their smiles. They are handsome, adoreble, sweeties, cuties, and beautiful.
I was born with a rare life threatening disease, and have 14 other medical conditions, and developmental delays.
I wrote this poem
Each of us are Special
Each of us different,
No one is the same
Each of are us are unique in our own way,
Those of us who have challenges, we smile through our day.
It doesen't matter what other's say
we are special anyway.
What is forty feet and sings? the school chior
http://www.miraclechamp.webs.com
Hi Kate, so glad you found me!! I tried to find you on FB too and couldn't. I had asked the desk at Milestones to give you my e-mail/name to contact me. We are actually done there for awhile. If you get this, either search on Jamie Guenther Buckley on FB or feel free to e-mail me. Look forward to hearing from you!
Jamie
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