Warm November Weather

The joys of living in Oklahoma...you never know what the weather will be like.  We had several days of cold weather and then suddenly, the past few days have been in the 70's....just beautiful!  So yesterday we took advantage of it and spent some family time outside.  Keely got to enjoy some great play time in her stander watching us hang Christmas lights.  We were so proud of her, she hit an all-time high in her stander, managing to stay in it for over 2 hours!!!  (This is huge considering it was always a struggle to keep her in it for 20 min).  She was just enjoying herself being outside, playing, watching mommy & daddy be goofy, and visiting with the several neighbors that stopped by.  We decided this year we wanted to be more in the holiday spirit since last year Tiny Kidd was in the hospital over Thanksgiving from her G-tube surgery and then in the ER over Christmas, and she was so drugged from all the seizure medications she was on she couldn't enjoy much of anything. So, last year, the whole season was just full of stress; this year will be different, she is more alert and able to enjoy life a little better.  So we started by hanging a few more Christmas lights this year thinking Tiny Kidd would enjoy them....And She DID!  Her face LIT up and she got so excited when she saw the lights!  It made us feel so good because she is enjoying something normal kids enjoy and she's able to show her enthusiasm like a normal child. 

The good weather continued so we decided to have therapy outside this morning.  She got some more time in the stander and got to play with Lindsey (Occupational Therapist) and Jill (Speech/Language Pathologist) using a communication device that allows Keely to understand and make choices.  She got to explore her environment while she played games, using the buttons on the device to tell the girls specific commands.  On a side note, I have been teaching her more sign language and last week she picked up a couple more signs that she tried to mimic back to me, even using the 'All Done,' sign in relevant situations!!!!  Tiny Kidd is sooo smart and she is trying sooo hard to show us!! Good Job Tiny Kidd!!

                         Being an Excellent Christmas Light Supervisor

                      What do you think Mom....Should we keep him??

                                 
                               Darn Cute Daddy!!  Two Thumbs Up!!

             Bad picture....Still a work in progress but you get the gist

 

THERAPY

                                             Playing in the Leaves

GREAT Week

Well, it's been a very busy but productive week.  Nick and Tiny Kidd got to spend Daddy/Daughter time while I was out of town.  They went and spent great time with friends....they are my social butterflies.  Keely has been showing some amazing progress this week.  She has been exploring her face more when the mirror is in front of her, touching her eyes, nose, hair, ears, and even trying to put her finger in her mouth!  Her aim has always been way off and now it is looking much better, a little more accurate. We have seen great movement from her left hand, she is trying so hard.  Two mornings in a row we have watched her on the video monitor, when she wakes up and is laying in her bed (this is when her hand is the most relaxed), she is opening her fingers and trying to touch her bumper or trying to bring her hand to midline and touch her right hand with it.  This is amazing activity for her left hand and we just pray that it continues to progress!  She has also gotten some great time in her stander, she seems to be tolerating it a little better.  Her head control is getting better so the stander is not as tiresome.  For those that don't know, the stander helps to build strength in her legs, balance, and placing her body in the proper positioning when in the seated position(the stander goes from standing to sitting).  The stander allows her to stand or sit like a normal child, playing with her toys on the tray while building strength.  YEA For Our TINY KIDD!!!

                                             Daddy/Daughter Day

                 Fun with Friends....Love the Prego Shop, thanks Jenny!!

                                       Playing with her Dough Ball

                                           "Mouth, Mouth, Mouth...."

                                   Standing & Playing Like a Big Girl

                           "NO Pictures, Please...My Hair isn't Fixed..."

Macaroni Play & More Pictures

The other day, one of Keely's therapists brought over a tub full of dry pasta and other assorted treasures for her to explore and play with.  Last time she brought it, Keely wasn't too interested in it, she was going through a lot of medication changes which were effecting her moods so she just wouldn't play in it much.  This time, she was alert and excited to put her hand in it.  This is how smart she is, her speech therapist picked up the shovel, scooped up some pasta and then put in the little bowl.  Keely watched her one time and then reached into the bowl, grabbed some pasta and put it back on the shovel.  The next day, I pulled out the tub of pasta and she got so excited immediately knowing what it was.  She loved sticking her hand in the pasta but she kept spilling it out all over the place.  Once again, Keely watched me picking up the pasta and putting it back in the tub, and somehow I overlooked one piece, Keely reached very deliberately, picked up the pasta in her hand without struggle and dropped it into the tub!  For those of you that don't know, Keely struggles tremendously with her motor skills and this is a huge achievement for her.  Her right hand is becoming more deliberate and precise with reaching and playing and fighting through the tremors.

The other day we also met with our new resource coordinator from Sooner Start.  Her job is to help transition Keely from Sooner Start into the school system by age 3.  We went over several options for continued therapy, and how we can start her in a 3yr old program at the nearby elementary school.  I'm not gonna lie, mentally, I am not prepared for this....I'm glad we have several months to get used to the idea.

                             Tiny Kidd & Cousin Myla (2 mos. apart in age)

                                                       Kisses!!!

                                  (Above) Cousins Myla & Mina

                                  (Below) Trick or Treat

                                    Sooo Tired...Man she looks tall!!

                                           Thumbs Up! Good Job!

 

 

                                                  Macaroni Play