Robbie is a Swinging along

Below is a three picture sequence of Robbie after two weeks twice a week. Robbie before starting the therapy was unable able to extend his arm or open his hand to the extent that he is in the first picture. He is fully supporting his weight I am only preventing his right hand from slipping from the bar. Robbie does a one on one session with Stephanie and Yuji and they have adjusted their program due to Robbie not being able to stay in one place very long. For Robbie they have stations set up around the space where he does different exercises at each exercise. They work on Robbie at different times during the hour start/middle/end to relax the right side tension and get a free movement in his arm/ (what they are focussing on) and his right leg (less work needed). Robbie has been able to do several basic yoga poses, cat, table, plank, downward dog for short durations under his own power. Grip strength in his right hand is almost no existent but it gets a little better each session and his motor control is also getting better. Since starting his toilet training has started on a path towards success. I do not want to oversell the program however this is proving to be the right program for Robbie, so far.

Where does the time go?

Robbie has been busy since the arrival of his little brother. Trips to the cottage, field trips at daycare, doctor appointments, Saturday morning trip to the dump and the hardware store. he has handled every new challenge with a smile and cheerful disposition. the road this summer has not been without its challenges. his behaviour towards other kids has had his parents at their wits end, though a reward system for.good behaviour seems to have dramatically curbed the bad behaviour. Robbie had started senior kindergarten at at new school. there were the first day jitters for him a his parents, however he seems seems really like his new class. there are only 8 in the room, all with additional support requirements. it is hoped that a year in this class will help get Robbie over th hump developmentally with regards to social skills and independence physically. then we'll be back at his home school, which we really love. Bussing has been an initial challenge, however in true Robbie fashion he has risen to the challenge and seems to b excited about his daily bus ride.

Welcome Morgan!

It has been ages since we have posted about our Munchkin's adventures here.  Life seems to have gotten very busy and we have been lax in posting about how our Munchkin is doing.  But we do have big news.  Our Munchkin became a big brother at the beginning of July to wee Mr. Morgan.

He loves his new little brother and is super excited that he is home with us.

My little Sunshine

I have quite often since our Munchkin was born, sung to him the You are My Sunshine song.  Especially when he was so little in the hospital and I was so worried about him.

Our little Munchkin has been singing for awhile now, often missing parts of songs but still singing.  Last night at bedtime he asked me to sing Sunshine!.  So I started and to my surprise, he joined me and sang all the words.  He never sings along with me, especially the whole song.  It was so super sweet and melted my heart.  We sang it a couple of more times.

Look Ma - No more drugs!

Today is a day that we have been waiting a very long time for.  Today is the first day since our Munchkin was seven months old that he hasn't had to take an anti-seizure drug.  We've been weaning him off his last anti seizure drug for the past few months and yesterday was his last dose.   This is cause for celebration!!

There is also so much more that has been happening in out little guy's life since we last posted.  I'll have to make a catch up post.  But amongst other things, out little boy has started kindergarten and has made leaps and bounds with speaking.  More to follow.

Robbie knows how to do cute.

Here are a couple of videos from this past week showing just how far Robbie has come in such a short time.

At bed time we read robbie a couple of different books. Goodnight Moon and one called Doggies. Doggies has become the new favourite  and when we are done reading stories he wiggles his way to the bottom of the bed where Tabitha the cat is curled up sleeping and he reads to her. Usually the doggies book. This night he read two books to her, though her patience was not all there tonight.

This evening when we came home I showed Robbie how the cat toy was used and then handed it to him. He and Tabitha began to play and he goggled madly at her antics as she lunged repeatedly for the mouse at the end of the string. Unfortunately this is just the tail end of the playing that i was able to capture.

A Very Happy New Year to Everyone!

I've been bad about keeping up with writing down the adventures of our wee Munchkin.  So much happens all the time and the pace of life can get in the way of post everything our little man has been up to.

I'll promise I will write a catch up post soon all about his birthday and Christmas and his progress with learning how to talk.  But for now I just wanted to share that tonight at dinner Munchkin tried really really hard to use his right hand to grab ahold of the two handled cup he was drinking his yogurt drink out of.  We were so impressed and proud.   He did such a good job.  We did end up helping him get his fingers around the handle but he tried to use both hands to bring the cup up to his face.

I can't tell you how much love and pride I feel because of how hard he tries at doing things even when we don't ask him too.  He has come so far with all of the challenges presented to him and I know he's going to push himself even farther.