Thumbs Up for Therapy

Today was Landon's normal day for his Monday evening therapy session at HSC Pediatric Center, which Dad normally takes him to and I meet them there, if I make it or just see them afterwards. However, Dad wasn't able to take him today, so I did.

As we arrived we had a seat, only for Landon to initiate the shoe-string game while we were sitting. He eventually stopped and got up to start walking around, right before his therapist came in to get us. As we headed around to the section where they normally hold his session, she needed to run back to get something. So we continued on to the area, but on the way we have to walk through this long hallway which he always stops to (what I think) stare at the elevator. So I figured what better time to pull out my phone and snap a photo! And what a great capture it was, as it looks like Landon is giving "Thumbs Up"!

But the truth behind this photo is he wasn't, he was actually standing there staring at the elevator as I stated while stimming (self-stimulatory behavior, also known as stimming and self-stimulation, is the repetition of physical movements, sounds, or repetitive movement of objects common in individuals with developmental disabilities, but most prevalent in people with autistic spectrum disorders); which is what I call "Happy Hands".

While we're moving forward into the therapy session his therapist mentioned she wanted to try him in the leg wrap (proper name Hip Helpers Support Shorts) today, so I follow them to assist with removing his pants, changed his pull up and she assisted with putting him into the wrap. Normally Dad & I step off to keep from distracting him while watching. So he's in the wrap and he's ready to take off--of course not as fast considering his legs are tightened together. She mentioned that these are made for correcting his thigh area with balance, some closure and better coordination when he's walking. But of course I immediately start to laugh because they remind of spanks--of course you know what I did next...snap, snap!

I eventually moved out of the area as he started to stimulate more on me walking up and down the stair-steps with him, then he did with doing it himself. After this session was over they walked to where I was sitting and his therapist give me the run down of today's session. She stated how she was very pleased with him this evening as he remained engaged with the activities. She also gave me a list of goals she created for him, which are:

LTG1: Landon and his caregivers will demonstrate compliance with attendance and home exercise program as provided by physical therapist, ongoing.

LTG2: Landon will amb 150 ft with appropriate BOS  and step length and without LOB or falls, processing.

STG2a: Landon will amb 50 ft with appropriate BOS and step length and without LOB or falls, progressing.

LTG3: Landon will ascend 4 stairs with 1 railing demonstrating reciprocal stepping with supervision for safety, progressing.

STG3a: Landon will ascend 4 stairs with 1 railing demonstrating step to pattern with supervision for safety, progressing - use of B handrails, requires assistance for proper LE form.

LTG4: Landon will perform floor to stand transition independently without UE support, progressing.

She ended with saying he has made a decent progress and she request that  I add/edit to the list of goals as needed and share with his physical therapist at school as well. And lastly we discussed purchasing some personal Hip Helpers as I mentioned would be helpful to have him use at home while he's moving and walking around.

These are the moments in the world of Special Needs that pleases us, just hearing how your baby has made some progress. But what would our world really be if right after that we get home, I prepare his dinner, put it on his chair top and he starts to eat independently to eventually start throwing, first the fork, then the food!!!! Yikes! Now I have a mess to clean. 

At the end of each day, whether it was a sweet smooth sailing one or a wild & rough day I wouldn't trade this journey for nothing; because it was made just for US!

'Tis the set of the sail that decides the goal, and not the storm of life.

-Ella Wheeler Wilcox

1.