Steps!

I owe you all a three week wrap up but I couldn't help but post this right now. 

Today after we picked Bryce up from camp we (my dad and Sharon are here visiting us - Hallelujah!!) took him and Gage to the play area at the mall just up the road. We've been a few times before because they really like it and it's convenient, free and safe. Oh and it's all breakfast themed, which I think is really cute. 

Today was special though because as my dad and I were watching Bryce watch another mom try to get her baby to walk we witnessed Bryce take 4 very deliberate, completely independent and controlled steps. 

He was standing leaning against the giant waffle, stood up and walked four steps before sitting down. And absolutely refusing to show the least interest in repeating it for me to video or G2 to photograph. 

It was amazing and I'm so glad my dad was standing there next to me to see it!  

We ended this awesome day with a world class sunset that pretty much sums up the way I feel about my little trooper, this amazing place and finally getting some much missed time with family!

Week 2 Wrap Up

 We had a great weekend last week, venturing out to the zoo, the lake Michigan beach in Holland and other local attractions. Everyone here is so friendly but the weather has been warmer than we hoped. From talking to family in Austin it sounds like we brought the hot with us and they got the weather we had hoped for here.

On Monday I was able to observe Bryce in the classroom during the morning. It seems the magic is in the consistency, routine and repetition. Which of course means there is no magic at all.

Bryce is one of the faster moving kids in the class so I was a little frustrated to see how much time he spends waiting. Waiting for everyone else to get to their spot or to finish a task. But since patience is not a virtue he was blessed with this I think this is actually a good thing for him. He's being forced to stop and wait and hopefully learning that it is possible to do. 

I'm sorry to report that the two of us have been butting heads quite a bit. I was happy to learn during my afternoon observation yesterday that his poor behavior - out right refusing to cooperate and repeatedly doing what he is told not to (like shoving Gage) - are not behaviors he demonstrates in the classroom. It seems that he saves this special behavior just for me. 

An example would be yesterday when they were eating lunch. Bryce had chicken nuggets and the conductor had helped him cut them so he could use his fork to eat them - something he is capable of doing with just a little focus. He correctly did so several times until the conductor felt comfortable letting me step in. Which is when he began refusing to use the fork and insisting on just picking up the pieces with his hand. No matter what I tried, I could not get him to cooperate. If I tried hand-over-hand he would use his other hand (use of his right hand = bright side) to pull his hand out of mine, push me away or actually pretend like he was going to do it but then grab the chicken with the fork hand when close enough. 

I don't think his conductor believed me when I said we'd been struggling at "home" (the hotel) with this until she saw it for herself. She said that sometimes she has to remind him of the right way but that he never outright refuses like that for them. Thank goodness!

On the other hand, at "home" and camp he's been doing great with his potty training.  I think it will still be awhile before we can expect him to be able to venture outside the house or school or go over a nap or the night without a diaper.  But we are already doing so much better than I truly hoped we would be even a year from now before coming here.  Yesterday he kept his diaper dry all day and went potty in the potty 7 total times!  We haven't moved to the underwear yet but I am hopeful we will before the end of camp.  As long as I keep up my end of the bargain.

At pick up everyday each kid walks out and the parent gets a short visit with one of the conductors.  Thursday Bryce walked out with the quad canes (a cane with four points at the bottom to provide more support than a standard cane).  I suspect we'll be moving to either a forward walker (Bryce currently cruises around pretty well with his posterior, or rear, walker) or possibly some sort of cane.  But both are very much different than his walker - a pushing motion as opposed to a pulling motion - so we'll have to see how it goes.  He is very unsteady with both right now and far from safe or independent, which he barely is with the walker we've had for the last couple of years.

During the Thursday chat with his conductor she warned me that we really need to work on completing tasks.  She is concerned that Bryce's inability to stick with something until completion will inhibit his ability to move forward at all with any of his skills.  I completely agree but this is something we've struggled with since he began therapy at six months old and will probably be something we always struggle with.  Her point was that if he can't stop to focus on something and put his mind to it until it is done he's going to have real trouble learning, making improvements and moving through milestones.

But at pick up yesterday his other conductor said that they have seen a steady increase in the time he can sit during class and pay attention to what is going on.  She said that on the first day of camp he couldn't sit still for more than a minute or two at the most but that yesterday he was doing so for 15-20 minute stretches.  He still needs a lot of improvement but this is great news because it means he's getting better and will be able to continue benefitting from the program.

I'm happy to report that Caleb is here now and we have a big day planned at the beach so I'm done blogging and off to enjoy this very special treat!  Have a great weekend everyone and thanks for checking on us!

Day Four Wrap Up

We've wrapped up day four at summer camp and are happy to be finally settling into a routine.  I won't lie - there are at least a couple of times each day that I ask myself, 'What have I gotten myself into?"  But then I talk to a veteran CLC parent or see the special, sparkly pride in Bryce's eyes and know we've made the right decision.

Immediately after dismissal yesterday I had Bryce's conference with his conductors (teachers/therapists).  The main purpose was for them to have a chance to get a full grasp on Bryce's (extensive) medical history, his current schedule and routine and our hopes and goals for camp.  I appreciated the one-on-one time and their genuine interest in getting to fully know Bryce.

While we were there, they showed me a new walker they are trying with Bryce.  Unfortunately he took a pretty good spill and so I didn't really get to see.  I'm hoping to have more on that soon.

They are also trying some orthopedic shoes that they had on hand.  They think he needs some more ankle support to keep from over-extending his calves/ankles back.  He has a tendency to lock his knees and extend his calves back behind his heels to help steady himself and make up for his poor core and hip strength.  The shoes, which look remarkably like a hiking boot, seem to help but they also seem heavy so I'm still waiting to see how they work out before we sink a couple hundred bucks into a pair of his own.

The last big thing they've been working, and working hard, on is potty training.  I remember when Bryce was two thinking oh, maybe he'll be potty trained by 3 or 4.  Last month on his fourth birthday, I honestly thought it would be another couple years still.  But they've got him on a potty routine, are working on earning "wishes" (isn't that a way better word than reward?  I mean, who doesn't want a wish!?) and insisting that I keep up with it at "home."

Let me tell you, potty training is exhausting!

It's way easier to just throw on a diaper and go.  But I know this will all be worth it for Bryce.  So we're constantly on the potty: picture me in a perpetual state of completely folded over whilst being climbed by a very mouthy little one-year-old and hefting 27 pounds here, there and everywhere.

We're all learning to be more patient.

Tonight was a great success too!  He kept his diaper dry from when he woke up from his nap until bedtime.  Apparently he also kept it dry all day at camp yesterday (not sure about today, no report).  He's doing so well, even, that they suggested we bring in some underwear for him to possibly try in the next few days.

Underwear, people - UNDERWEAR!

I happily drove us all to the nearest Target to get the smallest sized super hero underwear pack they carry.  And the day he starts wearing them successfully I will shout it from the mountain-tops.  Or at least the blogoshpere. 

They like for parents to observe one morning and one afternoon during the first week but since I didn't know that and have no one here with me (who's crazy?) I haven't been able to do this.  I'm really chomping at the bit to get in there and see what the heck is going on.  Fortunately, the vast majority of the families here have been here many, many times before.  Several have teens in the program that started at young as Bryce and many remember what it's like to be out here with little ones in tow.  To say they've been welcoming would be an understatement.  One such mom and former little one have agreed to watch Gage for me next week so I can do my observation time.  Yay!

So that's it for now.  It's going to be hard to compete with day two news, I know.  Trust me, I know.  But here's to appreciating the now and looking forward to the future too!

Thank you all for your support - we love and miss you!

Tears of Joy Today

Today was Bryce's second day of summer camp and I honestly didn't expect a thing. 

I most certainly didn't expect to peak around the corner to his classroom at pick up and see him WALKING!!

The look of pride and joy on his face was the most incredible thing I have ever seen. 

He was holding a loose piece of rope in both hands, I'm not clear on that method yet, and his conductor was walking backwards in front of him. She counted two steps and then gently touched his chest, reminding him to stop and find his balance. They did this for at least 6 steps before he got to me. It was amazing and I balled like a baby. 

Another mom put her arm around me, totally understanding the significance of the moment. She said it's hard to put into words the amazing things they do here and I said we could go home today and this would all be a success in my mind!

I can't wait to see what the next few weeks have in store for our Bryce!!

We Made It!

What a trip?!

We are officially in Grand Rapids and more or less settled in. Caleb is right now flying back to Austin, the boys are sound asleep in their "cribs" and I have a boat load of work to catch up on.

Just wanted to take a second to let everyone know we arrived safely and Bryce's first day of camp was great. He had a huge grin on his face when we picked him up this afternoon and the first thing he did was show off how well he can stand on his own for the entire classroom's parents.

I'll post more later but so far so good!