The therapy went very well. Travis absolutely loved the experience and looked forward to going every morning. His days were spent getting a massage first thing that helped limber up his muscles. Then he would have OT time where he got to do stuff to really work his core muscles, like spinning a gyroscope while sitting on a balance ball, or "flying." Then it was suit time, where he wore the therasuit and did activities like obstacle courses, walking on the treadmill, stairs and pedaling a bike. After the suit was his favorite--the cage. They put this little weight-lifter looking belt on him, and hooked up 8 bungy cords to the sides of this big metal "cage" looking thing. He got to jump and jump and jump. I think he was remembering back to the days when he could fit in the jumparoo that he loved so much. The cage was awesome for him though, because it really helped to strengthen his legs and was also very good sensory input for his nervous system.
At the end of the three weeks, there was a marked improvement in the quality of his walking. He also learned how to pedal a bike. He's working on pedaling his tricycle, but it sits more in a recumbant position, so it's a little harder---but he's getting there. He can also do a small curb, or step nearly unassisted. I was so very proud of him because he was able to walk all the way from the car to his school, by himself, on the first day of school this year.
He still has a problem focusing on where he is going and is easily distracted by things around him, but he is doing very well. We are working on all of that, too, through the sensory integration. His therapist, Ms. Lauren, has really helped us with some tricks and activities to help him focus better. He's learned how to draw lines and trace letters with her, and can even make a T by himself. She has done a fantastic job.
He has had a great first semester at school, as well. I really like his teacher, another Ms. Lauren. She's been so interested in learning about him and things that might help him succeed. Travis loves Ms. Lauren, too and is always talking about her. When I say "it's time to go to school" in the morning he literally runs to the door. It makes me so happy to see him enjoying it so much. We're coming up on a huge challenge, however. He'll be turning 5 in June and will have to go to kindergarten. I'm still perplexed as to what to do. I am dead-set against the public school we are zoned for, so I'm researching other options like private schools and homeschooling. Please pray that the Lord will show us the way, and what will be the best for Travis next year.
We are still battling the oral-motor problems and Travis is still drinking Pediasure for his food. I stopped taking him to Beckman in August because we were going to be gone for 3 weeks with the intensive, and I wanted to concentrate on the sensory therapy for a while. I'm now searching for a new therapist who might have some different ideas of how to tackle the problem. I think we are going to try one of the therapists at UCP (where Travis goes to school) so we will see how that develops.
Emily turned 2 on November 3 and ushered in the "terrible two's" phase. Don't get me wrong, she is beatiful and sweet and I love her with all of my heart...but she has her moments. Not going to bed on time is one of them. I shudder to think that I'm going to have to give up "nap time." I've considered "nap time" such a gift...the chance for just one hour of quietness. I've tried to preserve it with everything I can. I still manage to get Travis to take a nap probably 3 or 4 days a week, and they both take their naps at the same time so it is my mid-day recharge to finish out the afternoon. But, if it means a few extra hours in the evening, it might be worth the trade.
Emily is a very sweet little girl, though. Lately, she loves to come up to you, out of the blue, and give you a really big hug and say, I love you, mommy. Those moments make it all worthwhile. She's so verbal now, too. You can totally have a conversation with her, and she is hillarious. A few weeks ago she grabbed a coupon from the table and announces "50 dollars." I said, "What are you going to do with $50?" She says "Buying things." I said "Where are you going to buy things?" She says, "The mall." No lie, my 2-year-old daughter is already dreaming of going on a shopping spree at the mall. We are in trouble!
Travis and Emily are both kind of hyped on Santa. Travis a little more so than Emily. Travis has memorized all the stories, and learned all the songs and (thanks to GiGi) is convinced Santa will be dropping down through the air conditioning vent return on Christmas Eve (since we don't have a chimney). I read about a neat idea where you give Santa a magic key to get in your house if you don't have a chimney, so I asked Travis if he would like to do that. He said no, he wanted him to come through that thing in the ceiling. Thanks, mom.
Emily wants a present, but she doesn't want to be anywhere near Santa when he brings it. She's such a scardy-cat. I think halloween traumatized her. We would see all the displays in the stores (which some are very scary, mind you) and she would say "ooo, spooky." Now, she still talks about seing the ghosts and we are trying to explain the ghosts are gone. She hasn't caught on to Santa like Travis, but she does say she wants Santa to bring her a present and she wants it to be some babies (she's really into baby dolls right now).
I am proud that they both know the Christmas story, and that it is not just about Santa. I got them a Little People nativity set, and they play with it all the time. I hear Emily all the time having the Mary and the Baby talking to each other and she'll say "I love you mommy, I love you baby Jesus." It is very precious. We went over to MiMi's house on Thanksgiving, and she has a life-size nativity of Joseph, Mary and Jesus in her yard. Emily loved it and wanted to play with it. She kneeled down next to the manger and says, "Wake up baby, Jesus, wake up!" Travis wanted to know all about the star on top of the tree, so I explained about the Angel and the star leading the wisemen and the shepherds to Jesus. He really liked that story and whenever we flip on the lights on the tree, he says the angel is telling everyone where to find Baby Jesus. I look forward to teaching them more and more about our Lord and the precious things he has done for us.
Sean's birthday is Tuesday. We will be going to Kobe's with his family. Mmmm, I can taste the white sauce now! I hope the kids enjoy it. You never know about our monkeys. We'll see what happens.
In case I do not have another chance before, Merry Christmas! We look forward to 2010 and all the wonderful things that we'll be experiencing and doing.
Take care,
Christy
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