I guess I'll start with Halloween. Zach had his costume picked out and purchased a month before. We had gone to see the movie Hotel Transylvania and he decided he wanted to be a vampire. He's a kid who knows what he wants when he wants it! Alex, yeah, I was out getting hers the day of! I wasn't even sure I was going to take her out - but Aaron said of course she's going! It's not that I didn't want to take her - she loves her early bed time - sun goes down and she's ready! Plus it was COLD - and quite frankly, she couldn't give a rip about Halloween as far as I can tell! And she can't eat the candy she gets anyway. I will say since I waited till the last minute it was by far the worst costume year for her - and I didn't even really take any pictures this year, which isn't like me.
Alex looks a little scary in this picture - guess that's her Halloween look! She was a girl vampire.
Zach "without his teeth"...
And with...
I got Zach's Fall school pictures back - he looks so grown up - but I think I say that every year!
I never got Alex's and couldn't figure out why - then come to find out, I never turned in the check with the order form. Ugh, Seriously?!? Tabitha had taken one of the pics the photographer took with her phone. I guess I'll need to call the studio and see if it's too late to order some. I swear I do not know where my mind is lately!!!
As I usually do, I got fed up and frustrated with her hair last week! She has always had beautiful hair - very shiny with gorgeous purple highlights. Ever since the lice episode back in the summer, her hair has been dull and 'icky' looking. The chemicals totally stripped her hair and it wasn't looking healthy at all....so we cut it all off again! It really is so much more managable this way. It's already starting to look healthier but I think it makes her look a lot older!
Heading off on the bus the morning after her cut :)
Now on to the BIG and EXCITING news.
Despite the seizures still being an issue (and adjusting her meds AGAIN), Alex has been making some pretty amazing progress.
Because of her low tone she's never been able to spend any time on her stomach holding herself up. Lately she is trying to get up on her arms by herself, and she's been tolerating the position for long amounts of time. And she is a LOT more focused on things. Not only is she supporting herself, but she's actually reaching out to activate her toy....HUGE progress for her.
Last week we were THRILLED to start working with our physical therapist Shannon again. It's been a long time since we've had her as Alex's PT and we couldn't be happier. I was really concerned with the tightness in Alex's legs - her hamstrings were so tight we could barely get her legs straight. Every time we would stand her up she would have her knees completely bent and she looked liked a hunch back. When Shannon saw her last week she agreed it was the tightest she had ever been. And she mentioned that if we couldn't get her to loosen up there was the option of serial casting both of her legs to get the muscles to stretch. I can barely carry her now - I can't imagine how heavy she would be with two casts on! NOT an option!!! We always stretch her out, but we now have a really vigorous stretching routine we do with her. It's been difficult for me because Alex is not a crier - and when we stretch her, she cries. I can only imagine how painful and sore she must be and that makes me sad for her. BUTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT, the stretching is clearly working. This weekend Alex WALKED in her walker WITH ZERO ASSIST for 15 MINUTES!!!!! She facilitated every one of her own steps. The first time ever!!! I uploaded a video of her walking on facebook and wish I could here, but the files too big. I'll have to take a shorter one. She's been walking every day in her walker since. We still have a lot of positioning and things to work on, but the motor planning of right foot, left foot, right foot, left foot is there and that is more than half the battle!! Definitely one proud Mama!!!
2 comments:
That picture of Alex up on her arms just made my whole day! She is such a hard working and amazing girl (hmmm...seems to take after her mom!). Thank you so much for continuing to post, for those of us who cant be as involved as we would like it is a great way to check in and see how everyone is doing. Your family is so loved!!!
Glad to see another post. Cary hates those her hamstrings stretched as well, but we have to do what we have to do as parents! Keep up the posting. I enjoy reading your blogs.
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