Skip to main content

Getting equipped

We ordered a gait trainer, seat for eating at the table with us, and bath chair today - all to be covered by medicaid!! So exciting! We are also likely going to get a donation of a stander for her. In a few months we will also order a car seat for her (she's outgrowing her standard toddler carseat) which will also be covered by medicaid.

This week Gracie saw:
- her gastroenterologist - she's 10th percentile for both height and weight!!

- a new orthopaedic surgeon who recommended that Gracie not wear her AFO orthotics all the time so that she can get sensory input through her feet AND build muscle in her lower legs.

- her neurologist - we are switching seizure meds still in an attempt to eliminate seizures. She's now gone through Trileptal and Keppra (and a brief initial course of dilantin), now we're on to Lamictal - please pray that this works and continue to pray that she outgrows her seizures and does not require long term anti-epileptic drugs.

- a physical therapist for evaluation to start hippotherapy (horse therapy) next week! fun!

In the next few weeks we'll see:
- a pediatric dentist who specializes in special needs kids - first visit to a dentist!

- a new orthotist

- her opthalmologist and will get new glasses as she has outgrown her current ones.

Busy time for us! We have also gotten the ball rolling to finally get diapers and supplies through medicaid... Time away from work is well spent with my daughters!

Ana is 7 weeks and cooing, smiling, and playing like crazy - she's such an expressive little baby! She's a blast - she and Gracie are gradually bonding! ;-)

Comments

Anonymous said…
You have been busy. Is she going to see Ken?

Popular posts from this blog

Family of Three!

We are in Liberia - the electricity goes in and out because the generator is having trouble keeping up these days! So hopefully it will stay on long enough to post and the internet connection will allow me this luxury! We were united with precious Gracie on Thanksgiving day - I will write more about this later. But, oh! is Gracie a joy! She is so beautiful, so joyfilled, and a bit mischievious. Her physical limitations do not permit her to accomplish much mischief, but we can tell that she is trying to push some limits already. If we were not in love with her already, she is irresitable and such a treasure and blessing from God. In our two days together, she has not cried once. She spends most of her days smiling, she loves to snuggle (good match for us!), and has the most contagious laugh! Life takes more effort for her - her cerebral palsy is moderate and every activity is a challenge and is clearly tiring for her. Meal times (which she loves) take a long time and much patience and d...

New Stage of Life

Gracie has entered a new developmental stage. She now is active and has been rolling all over the floor. We cleared out a little living room so that she would have room to roll around - she's rolling front to back, both directions. She also has been much easier to get up on all fours - it used to take 3-4 adults to cram her into the crawling position due to her resistance. She now even spontaneously gets into a semi-crawling position on her own. In the crawling position she's been weight bearing even on her right arm (but always in combination with her left arm). She also has been rocking a little in the crawling position as if she gets it that this is a way that you can move! It's been so exciting. But it also makes her much more eager to be down with other kids and moving around. She's in a very active active stage, always moving, and wanting to move. She's also taken, not just a huge interest in other kids, but also interest in toys a bit more. She's so fun!

Check out this progress!

A year ago, my friend Rachel http://josiecomehome.blogspot.com/ emailed a photo of her beautiful son standing on his own... I've since dreamed of having a photo to post of Gracie doing the same thing. It was always one of those wild-don't-think-it'll-ever-happen kind of dreams, a romantic, fairy tale type of dream. But this week, Gracie made another leap in development and muscle tone. It started when I leaned her up against the wall and planted her feet a shoulder-width apart. For the first time, she didn't lunge for the safety of my arms or hands, but rather, she allowed herself to stand steadily on her own two feet and she kept her center of gravity centered over her feet instead of wildly in front of her or to one side or the other. She even quickly figured out that she couldn't lurch around in excitement while standing on her own two feet with no support but a wall behind her back, but rather had to express her excitement over this new development with a gentl...