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Well, I tried to keep up the blog but a few things went crazy. Gavin came down with strep throat had a problem walking. We still do not know why he is having problems walking but will be following up with a specialist. We had to spend the night in the ER one night to get his hip checked because it seemed dislocated. However, it either was not or went back into place. Still awaiting answers for that whole ordeal.
As far as the therapy went, I feel it was relatively successful! Gavin has absolutely zero fine motor skills when we started. His left hand was often tightly fisted and if he did use it he just pushed things with it. Now he can actually extend his fingers out and sometimes grasp things. With a lot of work he can even let go. You can check it out in my therapy videos.
So anyone who feels there is nothing to be gained from CIMT I must strongly disagree with! I am really surprised that people still think that there is no research to support it. There is a ton. I would never even dream of experimenting on my child and I just saw first hand results.
I want to give a full disclosure to other parents considering this therapy The one thing I will say is that there is a lot of hard work, sacrifice, and inconvenience involved. That is just for the parents. We didn't sleep well in three weeks! a lot of people think that their child is too stubborn for this. My little boy is the stone cold definition of the word stubborn and we made it work. In watching the therapists I learned that there are several keys to success. First of all it is important at this age especially, that he feels like he is playing. Secondly, it is important he is successful. What I mean by that is for example, when he is first being asked to do a task he needs a lot of help and praise. He has trouble with his hand and it is legitimate. If someone asked me to do calculus and then told me nice try I would be upset. I am incapable right now of that. If they helped me and showed me the answers and the steps well, now we are talking! Even if the therapist is doing 90 percent of the work initially he is becoming engaged and interested. He starts to build confidence. So by the end of the three weeks he was saying, "watch this mommy!"
In order to keep up his new skills I will be ace wrapping his right arm so he will again focus on the left. He is relatively cooperative right now with this. Of course we will continue to stretch and use botox as needed. Areic will do the therapy with him while I am at work.
Is it a miracle? No. A miracle is that Gavin survived his birth trauma. A miracle is how well he is doing. Well, a miracle / blessing! It is not a miracle therapy but with a lot of work it is a successful step in the right direction toward an even better quality of life. I would do it again. It is all worth it! We spent a lot of time making sure Gavin could still be a kid. Time at the park, zoo, etc. As long as he was using his left side it was all therapy!!
So my first day back to work after Gavin's therapy I was called to Phoenix Children's hospital by my husband. I just got off a two hour Haz-Mat call and rushed to the hospital. So on my birthday we spent the night in the ER. I was pretty depressed that I was worried about my little man. However, the best present ever happened today. Gavin scored in the 90% percentile for pre-school!! They confirmed what I knew. My little boy is very intelligent. Well, that and I got carded for alcohol tonight at my make up birthday dinner! LOL
Any questions please let me know for other parents who are considering this!
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Friday, February 4, 2011
2/4 Back on Track
Hello,
Sorry I have not written for a few days. Gavin missed only one day of therapy. He has been a tad under the weather. He is on an antibiotic and allergy medication and has a cough. Besides his feeling ill, he is still working very hard in therapy. He still fights us every step of the way anytime it is time to sleep. I am going to dedicate that Aeorosmith song lyric to him, "I don't wanna miss a thing!" LOL The talking is getting so much better too. He spilled some bubble solution on the carpet and I scolded him a little(I never feel mad at him so I have to pretend). So then he says,"I don't like that mommy." Are you KIDDING ME! The kid who said ten words total months ago and I could barely understand ANY of them! Now he is talking in sentences? All I can do is smile from ear to ear! It is like when he started getting into things because he started walking. I wonder if I am the only mom who staged things to get into? I used to open up the cabinets just a little to taunt him to get into them. I put really interesting things in them. It is amazing how you worry so much extra when you are told your child is delayed. When they finally are able to accomplish things you are grateful, humbled, ecstatic. You realize how lucky you are to have such a child!
Tonight for home therapy we played with a Nerf gun. He was cocking it with his left arm and hand and my help. He was very interested in this game and it lasted for 40 minutes. I can post video for other moms who want to try it!
Prior to this first time we did this therapy Gavin's hand was in a fist all the time. After that he just did not really use it unless asked and was very cranky about it. He could give us a high five. He could never grab or let go of anything. This time we are over half way through the therapy. He is trying so much to use his hand without being asked. He is extending his fingers, He is having difficulty letting go but is usually able to. I cannot believe how far we have come with this arm. Sometimes I think the possibilities are endless but , I am also aware that as he gets older it will be mostly up to him. We plan on restraining his arm for an hour everyday after this intense therapy. This will help keep up his new skills, muscle tone, prevent contractures. We respect that someday he will have to tell us what he wants out of his arm. We would like to see a successful helper hand at the least and a more functional hand at the most. All we can do is maintain and work on it until we can hand the decision over to him. my gut tells me his is all our kid. If I am right he will be stubborn, tenacious, and competitive. He will want to play sports and work hard. I don't have these feelings because that is what I want. I just see it in the boy's attitude and in his eyes. The first time I saw it was a month after he started walking. The neighbor bought his little girl over and her little three wheel toy, an OOkie Dog Fropper. So, he was watching her ride it all over the place and then her dad put him on it. He was so mad he could not work it. He was whining and yelling. So frustrated. I tried to take him off it but, he wanted to stay on. I was talking to the neighbor and looked over at Gavin. He stood up and grabbed the handle of the toy and took three steps on it while he growled. The look on his face was like a tiger! Just pure desire!! He then looked at me and gave me an evil little smile. I remember it was that day that I thought to myself," this kid has what it takes to do well for himself in this life. He is no wimp." I got a little off track but, everything is going well and we have the weekend off!
Sorry I have not written for a few days. Gavin missed only one day of therapy. He has been a tad under the weather. He is on an antibiotic and allergy medication and has a cough. Besides his feeling ill, he is still working very hard in therapy. He still fights us every step of the way anytime it is time to sleep. I am going to dedicate that Aeorosmith song lyric to him, "I don't wanna miss a thing!" LOL The talking is getting so much better too. He spilled some bubble solution on the carpet and I scolded him a little(I never feel mad at him so I have to pretend). So then he says,"I don't like that mommy." Are you KIDDING ME! The kid who said ten words total months ago and I could barely understand ANY of them! Now he is talking in sentences? All I can do is smile from ear to ear! It is like when he started getting into things because he started walking. I wonder if I am the only mom who staged things to get into? I used to open up the cabinets just a little to taunt him to get into them. I put really interesting things in them. It is amazing how you worry so much extra when you are told your child is delayed. When they finally are able to accomplish things you are grateful, humbled, ecstatic. You realize how lucky you are to have such a child!
Tonight for home therapy we played with a Nerf gun. He was cocking it with his left arm and hand and my help. He was very interested in this game and it lasted for 40 minutes. I can post video for other moms who want to try it!
Prior to this first time we did this therapy Gavin's hand was in a fist all the time. After that he just did not really use it unless asked and was very cranky about it. He could give us a high five. He could never grab or let go of anything. This time we are over half way through the therapy. He is trying so much to use his hand without being asked. He is extending his fingers, He is having difficulty letting go but is usually able to. I cannot believe how far we have come with this arm. Sometimes I think the possibilities are endless but , I am also aware that as he gets older it will be mostly up to him. We plan on restraining his arm for an hour everyday after this intense therapy. This will help keep up his new skills, muscle tone, prevent contractures. We respect that someday he will have to tell us what he wants out of his arm. We would like to see a successful helper hand at the least and a more functional hand at the most. All we can do is maintain and work on it until we can hand the decision over to him. my gut tells me his is all our kid. If I am right he will be stubborn, tenacious, and competitive. He will want to play sports and work hard. I don't have these feelings because that is what I want. I just see it in the boy's attitude and in his eyes. The first time I saw it was a month after he started walking. The neighbor bought his little girl over and her little three wheel toy, an OOkie Dog Fropper. So, he was watching her ride it all over the place and then her dad put him on it. He was so mad he could not work it. He was whining and yelling. So frustrated. I tried to take him off it but, he wanted to stay on. I was talking to the neighbor and looked over at Gavin. He stood up and grabbed the handle of the toy and took three steps on it while he growled. The look on his face was like a tiger! Just pure desire!! He then looked at me and gave me an evil little smile. I remember it was that day that I thought to myself," this kid has what it takes to do well for himself in this life. He is no wimp." I got a little off track but, everything is going well and we have the weekend off!
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
2-2 Sick Day
Gavin missed all of his therapy today because he was ill. He had a cough for a week but seemed o.k. besides that. Last night he sounded almost croupy. We took him to the ER because he couldn't sleep and sounded just awful. Apparently, it is hard to read a lung xray so initially the doctor was thinking pneumonia. After the specialist read it he found out it was clear. Thank god! So he is on some allergy meds and antibiotics. He has also vomited twice but is still trying to run all around. Kids are so stinking resilient are they not? I just sometimes feel like Gavin has to put up with so much with his challenges and then has all the additional things we all have to deal with like being ill. He is such a great kid for always doing it all with a smile!
So we will try to pick up and continue tomorrow given how Gavin feels when he wakes up.
So we will try to pick up and continue tomorrow given how Gavin feels when he wakes up.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Feb 1st.. The Sun Shines So Bright
Hello,
It seemed like January just blew by! Today, as usual, Gavin worked his little tail off! He was able to open a zipper when they places a huge loop on it. I was not able to see the rest because he just works better sometimes when mommy is not around. They asked to take his picture so they could place him on their website! I will keep everyone posted on when they put that on. It is adorable! He is smiling at the male therapist who helps him part of the day and the therapist is smiling back. Great picture!
Later that day we went to Target and Gavin said, "watch this mommy!" He placed his left hand on the handle of the shopping cart and gripped it! I almost started crying right there in Target! I told him good job while fighting back tears of joy! Amazing! He not only wants to use his left hand but he is so proud when he can! It is things like this that may seem so minimal to most parents but are so incredible to the parents of children with challenges! It is so bright and overwhelming to see him progress that it is like starring directly into the sun without protection!!
Gavin has been so delayed in speech. Over the last few weeks he has been talking up a storm. He found his voice and there is this sweet innocent little musical voice just brightening up our every minute of every day! We are constantly amazed by the things he comes out with. Sometimes it is so comical. He has such a personality!
When we initially showed up to therapy today two of the adult patients came over to us, They made it a point to tell me that Gavin is an inspiration to them! How he never thinks twice about trying anything and everything the therapists ask of him no matter how scary it may seem he just tries. I cannot explain how touched I am to hear that he touches other people's lives at only age two!
Once again I realize how blessed we are to have Gavin. It is us, not him who are the lucky ones. For all the people out there who still believe it is a burden to have a child with challenges, I challenge them to ever feel such unconditional love, to learn such patience, to be so inspired! We are so thankful for our Gavin!
Oh and I apologize to everyone, especially my father the school teacher, for my raw posts! My insane grammatical errors. My run on sentences. LOL Sorry I am too busy to run this by an English teacher and I am too blue collar to care! LOL
No pictures or film today.
It seemed like January just blew by! Today, as usual, Gavin worked his little tail off! He was able to open a zipper when they places a huge loop on it. I was not able to see the rest because he just works better sometimes when mommy is not around. They asked to take his picture so they could place him on their website! I will keep everyone posted on when they put that on. It is adorable! He is smiling at the male therapist who helps him part of the day and the therapist is smiling back. Great picture!
Later that day we went to Target and Gavin said, "watch this mommy!" He placed his left hand on the handle of the shopping cart and gripped it! I almost started crying right there in Target! I told him good job while fighting back tears of joy! Amazing! He not only wants to use his left hand but he is so proud when he can! It is things like this that may seem so minimal to most parents but are so incredible to the parents of children with challenges! It is so bright and overwhelming to see him progress that it is like starring directly into the sun without protection!!
Gavin has been so delayed in speech. Over the last few weeks he has been talking up a storm. He found his voice and there is this sweet innocent little musical voice just brightening up our every minute of every day! We are constantly amazed by the things he comes out with. Sometimes it is so comical. He has such a personality!
When we initially showed up to therapy today two of the adult patients came over to us, They made it a point to tell me that Gavin is an inspiration to them! How he never thinks twice about trying anything and everything the therapists ask of him no matter how scary it may seem he just tries. I cannot explain how touched I am to hear that he touches other people's lives at only age two!
Once again I realize how blessed we are to have Gavin. It is us, not him who are the lucky ones. For all the people out there who still believe it is a burden to have a child with challenges, I challenge them to ever feel such unconditional love, to learn such patience, to be so inspired! We are so thankful for our Gavin!
Oh and I apologize to everyone, especially my father the school teacher, for my raw posts! My insane grammatical errors. My run on sentences. LOL Sorry I am too busy to run this by an English teacher and I am too blue collar to care! LOL
No pictures or film today.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Jan 31st.
Hello all,
This weekend was pretty great. For therapy we blew bubbles Gavin was running around popping with lefty, used play dough with lefty, played musical instruments with lefty, you get the idea!
For fun we went to the farmers market, park, pop pop came over to play with Gavin, and the kids next door played soccer with him. Gavin is so good at soccer!! Too bad he will not let go of my leg long enough to actually play on the Pre-School soccer shots! LOL! Hopefully next year. Gavin really misses school. We drove by it to go to the park and he was upset. I told him he would go back soon. He loves it at Trinity Lutheran! He said , "o.k. mommy."
We have only had one major melt down since the cast went on. It was Sunday. It was no different than any other two year old tantrum really. However, he brushed his cast across his forehead in the particular toddler rage. He scraped his forehead with the cast and looks a like a cross between a war hero and someone who gets beat by his parents. Geez! Now everyone is asking what happened to him. It must look terrible. A toddler with a cast and forehead scrape, I can just feel people judging me and contemplating if they should call CPS! LOL
Today Gavin has another excellent day in therapy. He is so excited about going there to play. He really feels like that is all they are doing with him. It is so wonderful how willing he is to participate.
The hardest thing about all of this has been his ability to sleep comfortably. Such a small price to pay overall for all of us, We can lose some sleep for all the amazing progress he is making. Gavin is eating like a teenage boy! It is incredible! He may be the only person who has ever out eaten his mommy! LOL. Who knows where either of us stick it?
So with around twelve days to go we are going strong! I will have more utube videos posted!
This weekend was pretty great. For therapy we blew bubbles Gavin was running around popping with lefty, used play dough with lefty, played musical instruments with lefty, you get the idea!
For fun we went to the farmers market, park, pop pop came over to play with Gavin, and the kids next door played soccer with him. Gavin is so good at soccer!! Too bad he will not let go of my leg long enough to actually play on the Pre-School soccer shots! LOL! Hopefully next year. Gavin really misses school. We drove by it to go to the park and he was upset. I told him he would go back soon. He loves it at Trinity Lutheran! He said , "o.k. mommy."
We have only had one major melt down since the cast went on. It was Sunday. It was no different than any other two year old tantrum really. However, he brushed his cast across his forehead in the particular toddler rage. He scraped his forehead with the cast and looks a like a cross between a war hero and someone who gets beat by his parents. Geez! Now everyone is asking what happened to him. It must look terrible. A toddler with a cast and forehead scrape, I can just feel people judging me and contemplating if they should call CPS! LOL
Today Gavin has another excellent day in therapy. He is so excited about going there to play. He really feels like that is all they are doing with him. It is so wonderful how willing he is to participate.
The hardest thing about all of this has been his ability to sleep comfortably. Such a small price to pay overall for all of us, We can lose some sleep for all the amazing progress he is making. Gavin is eating like a teenage boy! It is incredible! He may be the only person who has ever out eaten his mommy! LOL. Who knows where either of us stick it?
So with around twelve days to go we are going strong! I will have more utube videos posted!
Friday, January 28, 2011
1/28 Finger Extension!
Hello all,
Today the therapist taped Gavin with Kinseo tape. For the first time ever Gavin extended his fingers fully out to use them and then let go of objects! As usual he is loving his therapy! I started to post video on utube! I only posted two so far. I will try to add the links. My FB friends can easily access them on my FB.
Not much more to say about today. All three of us hung out at the park for two hours while Gavin practiced stairs on the playground. What a beautiful day outside. We are still having sleeping problems but he seems to be getting enough sleep overall. He is eating more than we have ever seen him eat!
Gavin seems a little sad that he is not in Pre-School right now and maybe a tad bored with us. LOL. We try!
This weekend we will be doing a lot of at home therapy and some recreational stuff as well. We probably will not post on the weekend because we are out having fun between therapy. We may hit IKEA. Gavin needs a new dresser for his room. Love to all!
Vanessa
Today the therapist taped Gavin with Kinseo tape. For the first time ever Gavin extended his fingers fully out to use them and then let go of objects! As usual he is loving his therapy! I started to post video on utube! I only posted two so far. I will try to add the links. My FB friends can easily access them on my FB.
Not much more to say about today. All three of us hung out at the park for two hours while Gavin practiced stairs on the playground. What a beautiful day outside. We are still having sleeping problems but he seems to be getting enough sleep overall. He is eating more than we have ever seen him eat!
Gavin seems a little sad that he is not in Pre-School right now and maybe a tad bored with us. LOL. We try!
This weekend we will be doing a lot of at home therapy and some recreational stuff as well. We probably will not post on the weekend because we are out having fun between therapy. We may hit IKEA. Gavin needs a new dresser for his room. Love to all!
Vanessa
Thursday, January 27, 2011
this just in!!!
We went to Fisher Price online zoo game alphabet. Gavin immediately started outing his left hand on the keyboard and pushed the letters! Yay! Also, repeated them all!
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