Feeding Therapy Update

Colin has been at the feeding therapy route this time around for awhile now.  While I can not report on any significant gains, we do occasionally see little glimmers of hope that there might be a change coming in the future.  Overall, Colin seems more interested in different foods, it's just that if they get close to his mouth he suddenly realizes he doesn't want it (or necessarily know what to do with it).  Miss Josie has been working really hard with him, however, her philosophy is never to force anything, so it is a slow process.  

At Miss Josie's suggestion, we had an OT eval done at the same rehab facility and just today, Colin started OT prior to his feeding therapy session.  While it is a lot at once, he has been really receptive to working with new people and his new therapist today that he was a good listener and did what was asked of him.  She is going to continue to work on the same things he does in school OT (handwriting, hand strengthening, isolating digits, particularly the pointer, etc.) but add in some sensory components as well.  I REALLY liked her approach in the fact that she set up a  little picture "schedule" for Colin so that he knew exactly what he was going to be doing while with her.  He was really  hesitant to go with her and let out a small cry when it was time for me to separate but when I peeked back, he was happily walking with her.  

It's crazy though...how often do I send my child off with "complete strangers" when it's time to start these new therapies.  I guess it's just something that we get used to in this realm of the world.  

Overall, we are really happy with how things are going and stick to the philosophy "slow and steady wins the race".  

Climbing the Bus Steps

I got a voice message from Chris that was absolutely adorable because it was filled with excitement as he told me that  Colin walked up to the bus and climbed the bus steps ALL by himself today!!  This is such a big accomplishment because the bottom step is a tough one since it's so much higher up.  He has come such a long way between gross motor skills AND his confidence to leave Daddy to get on the bus for school by himself!!  

It's the little things we celebrate around here!

Throwback Thursday

I just went digging around for some oldie but goodies of the kids for "throwback thursday".  Happy almost weekend!!

A Little Runny

Now that Colin is feeling better and has his appetite back again, we are seeing a little flourish again in some of his skills.  Over the week and a half that he was sick, he really didn't want to do much, including talk.  We had a very whiny, mopey and in some ways lethargic little boy.  However, this week we had a note from his teacher that said he is becoming more and more perky with each day that passes and at home he is back to his talkative, dancing, silly, happy (mostly), and fun little boy (oh thank goodness...that week was miserable!).  

One of the skills that has sort of been "shining this week is his ability to match shapes appropriately and put puzzles "together".  I have often been frustrated thinking that this is something he still hasn't been able to do because when you take out REAL puzzles, he doesn't seem to have an interest and I can't get him to sit there for more than a few minutes.  However, the iPad is a huge motivator for him and the other night while we were sitting on the couch I happened to look over while he just kept matching shapes correctly over and over again.  He has also been doing really well with taking puzzle pieces and putting them in their correct places in one of his apps as well.  It's exciting to see!

  

Unfortunately, even though he is feeling better, he still has awful diarrhea.  When I saw awful, I mean the pure liquid, runny kind that always leaks.  We have to make sure we send at least 2-3 pairs of pants with him among his travels to both of his schools because he has had some really bad accidents (poor thing!).  He has still gained a pound since his appetite is back and is drinking plenty/eating a lot but we can't quite figure out why this is still going on.  If this continues, we are supposed to be visiting the lab to collect a sample (I hope we don't get that far!).  Since he doesn't eat binding foods, we are trying rice soy milk (surprisingly he dirinks it!) and culturelle for kids to add some good bacteria back to his stomach.  

Love to see these happy smiles!!

Drib Drab Winter

This winter wasn't going too badly until we hit a very big snag in the illness department.  It certainly doesn't help that it's been cold and we've been stuck inside.  However, we are doing what we can and hope that now that everyone is feeling better we can have some playdates again soon!  That always makes us feel better!

Unfortunately this past weekend Chris was away a lot so the kids and I had to get some things accomplished...

There were LOTS of snuggles to go around...

We got some cleaning in...

...and got to play in the snow together for the first time this year (and really ever!). 

While I've been pretty hesitant to do a whole lot out in public with the kids by myself just because of the fact they both try to get away from me in opposite directions, I have been able to work with them to get it so that I can go on short outings where I don't need to rely on a stroller or the wagon.  For instance, I've taken them a few times now (including this weekend) to the pizza place because both of them love it so much.  To get in  and out out of the store (as well as other places now too), I've gotten it so that they will happily hold each other's hand (they just don't want to hold mine).  I think that works well because in both of their schools, they hold hands with the other kids when they go places in the hallway so I think that helps!

Mmmmmmm, pizza!

And just like I feel on Monday mornings, Kailey had the Monday morning blues and did not want to get out of bed this morning.  

And just as a random side note, I love when Colin pleasantly surprises me with a skill that he has accomplished that I thought he was still working on.  Every night that I am home alone, I give Colin the iPad while I put Kailey to bed so that I know he is occupied.  While he does have shows on there too, I often find him working on some of his educational apps too.  Recently I was pleasantly surprised to find him working on a "puzzle" on the iPad where he was easily putting pieces together.  Getting him to work on a real puzzle is like pulling teeth, but I was so happy to see that it was something he could do, just prefers the technology I guess.  

Tonight, I looked over and realized he was sorting shapes.  There was a good variety of shapes that he had to match up together and he was just dragging those pieces over and over again correctly matching them up! Most of the mistakes he made seemed because the piece "slipped" off of his finger earlier than he intended.  There were hard shapes on their too!  I was so excited because I thought this was something he was still working on, especially since he won't usually try to hard for me with flashcards and such.  Love when he surprises me!!

He's Back!

Progressively through week we have seen some signs that Colin was improving.  When he started the week his stamina while at school was not very good but today I received a note from his public school teacher saying that he has gotten better each day.  In addition, his teacher at daycare told me that he was his happy giggly self again.  And, at feeding therapy today, he did exactly what Miss Josie asked of him.  

His appetite is improving....

Most especially?  His happy, loving personality is re-emerging again!  I love this little boy so much and it killed me to see him so sad and miserable!!  

There IS a Light!

While Colin still is not 100% yet, I am seeing this little light way at the end of the tunnel that says we are at least headed in the right direction.  Yay! for progress!  Colin returned to his normal schedule today of his preschool program in the morning and then his daycare in the afternoon.  I was able to touch base with his teacher today and then some of the other staff this evening at a talk we went to and they all said the same thing about him; he was happy to be back and there were no general issues like crying or lack in doing anything, but, was clearly not himself, seemed tired and a little "weepy".  I know it will take time to get back in the routine again so hopefully things will turn around pretty quickly!  He ate a bit more today but it just turns my stomach that the only things he eats are dairy products coming off of the stomach virus.  He made it through the day until ugh, his poor teacher at daycare had to clean up a MASSIVE explosion that included his sneakers!  

Baby steps are just as good as any other kind of step...