Acquire: Week 4

Since Maddy is much older than the last time she came, Reggi wanted to make sure we spent plenty of time helping Maddy figure out how to use "two hands" for anything she needs to do. So on Monday morning, the cast came off for good. I still have Maddy's three-year-old cast stored in my closet at home, I felt so sentimental about it. The stinky six-year-old cast....not so much. It went directly in the trash. Disgusting!

 

This week was more representative of what Maddy's normal life is like. They worked on the bike for a little while (though Alabama in July, in the sun = not fun to be outside exerting oneself!)

 

Making her bed at home is one of Maddy's jobs, so Reggi showed her how to make it a "two-hand" job.

 

They finished the day with a game of UNO. Left hand holds the cards, right hand draws...or vice versa. It doesn't matter as long as everything is a "two-hand" job.

 

It's so amazing to see Maddy playing games and having fun using both hands. This month has been so great for her own self-confidence.

 

On Monday night we gave Maddy a special present for all her hard work this month, her own digital camera. So first thing Tuesday morning, Reggi taught Maddy how taking photos can be a "two-hand" job.

 
This week, no longer having the cast to contend with, Reggi and Corey introduced yoga as part of Maddy's weight bearing exercises. Maddy and I will have to keep this up when we get home. All these planks are making her so strong!

 

They have been sprinkling games in throughout the day...

 

...but the big focus this week has been making sure all of Maddy's functional tasks become "two-hand" jobs. Like brushing teeth. Right hand holds the toothbrush, left hand squeezes the toothpaste.

 

And Maddy folded some laundry.

 

I'm totally going to cash in when we get home while still thinks this is fun!

 

Then we went outside to practice with the baseball bat and the tee. After Reggi left for the day, we practiced some more and Maddy even hit a ball that I pitched to her. All the strength training has really improved her aim!

 

Maddy's right-handed eating (which they still keep up during therapy) has come an amazingly long way since she started. She hasn't needed any assistance for a while now, so by Wednesday Reggi decided to move on to teaching Maddy how to cut her food with a knife and fork.

 

Before getting dressed they played a game... but Reggi had Maddy earn the pieces of the game by pulling them to her on a sheet.

 

Maddy is dressing completely independently now! This was one of our big goals!

 

On Tuesday, Maddy earned points throughout the day for every time she made a task a "two-hand" job without being prompted. The goal was 15 points (she earned 16!) which earned her a special (disgustingly messy) activity having something to do with quicksand. I didn't really understand it, but apparently it was fun.

 

Before the end of the day they worked on another goal, putting on swim goggles...success!

 

By Thursday, it felt like the goal meeting was coming fast and furious. After what seemed like millions of repetitions shoe-tying finally clicked!

 

As well as doing her own zipper.

 

After all that tedious dressing stuff, Maddy was so ready for some soccer. She did lots of kicking with right foot...

 

...and catching...

 

...and throwing overhead like she'll need to do when she plays soccer this fall.

 

And for the last activity of our last full day of therapy, Maddy chose the rockets (again...). It's a good way to get her to stomp with her right foot, and squatting down to pick up the rockets helps to strengthen her right knee.

 
Friday was our last day, and it was only a half day of therapy (the rest of the day was exit testing at the clinic.) Still, they managed to do a lot in just a few hours. Daily dressing and undressing will remain a big part of maintaining Maddy's strength, so they tweaked the way they want her to take off her socks to gain another opportunity to strengthen Maddy's grip.

 

And they squeezed in a little more yoga. When they say "down dog" Maddy knows just want to do.

 

After they dressed (and Maddy showed Bob her awesome shoe-tying and rocket stomping skills) Reggi and Corey packed up and we followed them back to the clinic. They tested all of the things that Maddy worked on all month, including some functional range of motion tasks.

 

However, I would have to admit the pudding-related tests seems to go over with the most enthusiasm!

 

Reggi saved some time at the end for one more special activity. Maddy iced some cookies. (She's really mastered the "pile of icing" technique, which is just the way she likes it!)

 

And then she decorated the cookies. Left hand put on some sprinkles, right hand put on some M&M's.

 

It was a nice way to finish out a very successful month. We are really going to miss Reggi and Corey, I wish we could bring them back to Boston with us!

 

I feel so lucky that we had a chance to do this program for a second time. Bob and I are so grateful to everyone who helped make this possible. Thank You!

Acquire: Week 3

I can't believe that week three is over! Time seems to accelerate the longer we are here, and I know next week will be a blur! Maddy definitely sees the light at the end of the tunnel She's so ready for the houseboat, but her focus and determination are holding strong.

Reggi is making a big effort to help us figure out ways we can help Maddy maintain the strength in her right hand, without necessarily taking time out of our day to do specific "exercises". I know from experience that it's really hard to find time in the day to work on these skills (especially with a two-year-old in the house!), even when we have the best of intentions. Chores are a great way to do this and since we've been here, we've had Maddy set the table every night using her right hand. Using the dish sprayer is another way to get in some weight bearing or to practice squeezing, depending on which way she holds the sprayer.

 

Most days this week, bike practice was part of our day.

 

Moving game pieces around are a great way to work on her pincer grasp.

 




For the end of the day, when motivation is waning, Reggi usually whips out the big guns, literally. Maddy very willingly loads this ball cannon...

 

...because it's so much fun when it goes off.

 

On Tuesday, Corey had a cute idea for a painting activity.

 

And now Maddy has a nice piece of art for her bedroom.

 

Later on in the day, Maddy was very excited that Reggi and Corey finally agreed to play "restaurant". Little did Maddy know, as creative as they are, they found dozens of ways to make "restaurant" a great right hand activity, in addition to working out her core (stomach) muscles which will help her as she tries to learn how to ride a bike. Maddy had to do a sit-up for every single patron at the restaurant. And being that "Maddy's Super Pizza Restaurant" is a very popular place, that was a lot of sit-ups!

 

And helpless patrons that they were, Maddy had to open the menus for every single one of them! Despite all the work she was doing, Maddy had a great time.

 

Thursday was cast change day this week as it's coming off for good on Monday. But before the cast came off they did some weight bearing.

 

And Reggi had Maddy build a bridge out of markers as a way of getting her to lift her wrist many many times.

 

After breakfast they took the cast off. Stinky!

 

After a quick shower, they practiced getting dressed. Now that Maddy's a little older, we want to get her completely independent including putting on her own shoes and brace.

 

With both hands available, Reggi and Maddy practiced shoe-tying. It's really hard, but Maddy is so proud of herself when she gets it right. Our mission this weekend....go buy some new (non-velcro) sneakers so that we won't lose this skill when we get home!

 

Then is was time for some super-fun two-handed activities like batting practice!

 

Poor Reggi forgot that Maddy is a lefty batter and put herself right in the line of fire. I don't think she'll make that mistake again!

 

With two-hands free to grip the handlebars (and after all those sit-ups) Maddy really cruised on the bike on Thursday. She's learning how to shift her weight from one training wheel to the other which made pedaling a lot easier!

 

Back inside for some practice zipping her own zipper....boring! (But I was so proud of Maddy's ability to focus, even on something so tedious and hard.)

 

But all that effort paid off as she earned five minutes of soccer. (I think I need to start a donation fund to cover all the lamps we are bound to break.)

 

As our month is coming to an end, once Maddy gets the hang of something (like sit-ups) they make it more challenging, like making her reach for objects and twist as part of the sit-up. Sometimes it feels like Reggi is running a bootcamp! Though commands given in a sweet Alabama accent do tend to go over just fine with Maddy.

 

Apparently, Friday was tie-dye day here in Birmingham. Maddy was so excited when Corey showed up wearing tie-dye.

 

Again, once Maddy gets the hang of something Reggi and Corey switch it up to make it harder. Reaching for stuff...easy peasy. Reaching for stuff on a balance board...much more challenging!

 

At snack time, Maddy had some cereal and showed off her pincer grasp.

 

This week, Maddy's Friday special treat was to make a pizza. She had such a blast...she loves anything having to do with cooking. Today they broke down the tasks in the easy steps and Maddy made the whole pizza by herself. She got the crust out of the refrigerator, opened the bottle of olive oil, spread the oil on the crust, scooped the sauce, spread it on the crust.

 

And the best part...spreading the cheese. And miracles of miracles, Maddy even found this pizza acceptable for eating (she's pretty picky about her pizza) so this became her and Audrey's lunch AND dinner. Score!

 

At the end of every day we have "circle" time where Maddy tells us what she was proud of herself for doing today. Reggi, Corey and I also tell Maddy the tasks that made us the proudest of her. And she gets a sticker and a treat (usually a Reese's Cup). It's always interesting (and often surprising) to hear the things that Maddy is proudest of. This experience is clearly something that is giving Maddy a better idea of all that she's capable of. Her pride in her accomplishments is something that she is definitely enjoying. And the candy doesn't hurt either! This week, there has been no shortage of things that I am proud of!

 
Next week is bilateral week. Then onto the houseboat!