[tri-med] The Long Hot Summer--Chapter 1

I thought it might be time for a little update on what
has been happening with Morgan over this summer.  I
might as well begin at the beginning.  Starting in May
Morgan started lite gait training.  It isn't actually
the lite gait setup (therapy dept. doesn't have enough
money in their budget to get the "real" equip.), but
it is a similar set up.  Morgan is placed in a
Mulholland walker over a treadmill.  The treadmill is
set at .2 and Morgan is suspended at a height so his
feet will just touch the treadmill.  The idea is to
make the "pattern" for taking steps.  Morgan has been
doing this for 20 mins. twice a week during his
regular p.t. sessions.  The p.t. says he has
progressed, but he is inconsistent.  Some days he is
quite cooperative, other days not at all.  He will
take independent steps (without much weightbearing)
around 50-75% of the time.  If he doesn't move his
feet the therapist moves them for him.  Some of the
time he steps and bears weight, but not often.  The
idea is to get him to take 100% of the steps without
much weightbearing and then lower the walker so he
will start stepping and weightbearing at the same
time.  We intend to continue this for the next 9-12
mos.  Morgan goes to p.t. on Tues. and Thurs. mornings
at the local children's hospital. 

 In May he also had a 6 mo. checkup with the ortho.
and she said that he has developed mild scoliosis.  I
was unhappy with this, but felt it was probably
inevitable considering his low tone.  She said if it
doesn't get any worse they won't need to do anything
about it.  I can't remember if she said it was 7
degrees or 17 degrees.  Otherwise she thought he
looked good and very flexible.  Of course, flexibility
has never been a problem with him.  In May he also had
his kidney u/s which was normal.

  He has been continuing his o.t. at the hospital,
once a week for an hour of o.t. and half an hour of
feeding.  Feeding is a slow process, but it is a goal
we have chosen to set for Morgan.  In June he started
therapuetic horseback riding.  It hasn't been his
favorite thing, but we are going to continue.  I was
so sure he would love it as he needs lots of sensory
stimulation to get going, but the movement of the
horse seems to put him to sleep sometimes.  The
therapist there has chosen the horse with the livliest
gait for him and there have been moments when he
seemed to get into it, but for the most part he's not
too thrilled.  But I know it will benefit him in the
long run so we are going to keep going weekly for a
year. 

 During June Morgan had his 12 month eval. for the
TES.  This, again, went very well.  He had reached
most of the goals the p.t. set for him and even gone
beyond.  The TES is long term and we continue to use
it 6 nites a wk.  I have his pacer at home with us and
we tried to use it daily in June.  He would move it
all around our driveway.  But as the weather heated up
we have been outside less and less.  Morgan doesn't
like the heat.  He wilts like a flower.  LOL 

  In July I started taking him swimming, indoors,
twice a week, on Mons. and Weds. for an hour.  He
absolutely loves it!!!!!!!!!  He goes all over the
pool on his own.  He puts his head under the water, he
kicks and paddles.  He is amazing in the water!  His
p.t. has suggested we might want to try the Wet Vest. 
Has anyone had any experience with this? I checked it
out on their website, but it didn't have a lot of
info. for me.  I want to be sure it is worth it since
it costs about $100. 

 The first week of July Morgan had eye surgery to
correct strabismus.  This was his second surgery for
that, the first was a little over 2 yrs. ago.  We are
hoping that it will be the last.

  Morgan had his 5th birthday July 14th.  We had a big
party for him and he got lots of presents, as usual! 
We had the opportunity to meet Jude, Kammie, and
Kelsey the week after his bday.  It was a short visit,
but I'm so glad they came.  It is the first time I
have met another trier that is Morgan's age. 

 Last week Morgan's speech therapist decided she would
like to have his therapy on a day separate from other
therapies (we were doing it after p.t.) because he
seems to tired or just too "too" after p.t.  So
starting the middle of Aug. we will have 45 mins. of
speech on Mons.  She is going to start focusing on
choosing between sensory activities rather than toys
and objects.  The feeling is that when give a choice
of toys and Morgan chooses nothing it isn't that he
can't make the choice but that he doesn't like the
choices given him.  Rather than choosing the lesser of
two evils he chooses nothing.  So with pictures of
things like the sensory ball or the tickle bug, etc.
next to switches Morgan will choose what activity he
wants to do by hitting the switch.  I, personally,
think switching is going to be Morgan's way of
communicating for now.  He really seems to understand
it. 

 Preschool starts back up on Aug. 19.  He will be in
the afternoon class.  I will take him to school and
pick him up.  It meets for 3 hrs. 4 days a week.  I
have probably missed a bunch of stuff, but this is
already too long.  Be watching for Chapter 2--Mommy Burnout!

=====
Holly- wife to Mike, mom to Morgan Jubal (5 now!!) PT18q & Bonnie Blue,  
australian shepherd/corgi mix
Des Moines, IA USA
http://www.geocities.com/hmmmcormick/index.html

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