Sure Stepping

Today was momentous in OT.  Today we revised Joy’s IFSP (individual family service plan).  No longer will Miss Carolyn be coming to visit Joy.  She has accomplished her ECI goals for OT.  Wow!  Miss Carolyn has been working with Joy for 2 years.   I remember when we started.  Joy was so tiny and couldn’t do a thing.  I was so nervous and uncertain.  Thank you Miss Carolyn.  It’s hard to say good-bye or to believe that it’s been 2 years!

Today Joy got her Sure Steps.  They keep her ankles and ligaments all aligned.  First socks, then the Sure Steps, then tennis shoes.  They brought her a new pair of shoes – thank goodness.  She wears a size 3, but now she has to have a 4 to go over the brace.  I never would have thought to get those beforehand.  

Here she is, so cool.  She wasn’t sure what to think at first, but she found her balance and is all over now.  We still have to work on that wide base she’s got goin’ on.  This is an improvement, but this is why she has a gait.  Hopefully with time we’ll improve there as well. 

 

 

 

 

She is a funny little duck – I had to include the next picture – Sammi had just given her a taste of a sour candy.  :)

Mama and Joy Playing

from this past Sunday…..

Busy Week for Joy

Jessi and Lizzy played with Joy and bubbles.

 

I wanted to show you some of her signs – so fun!  Her ability to communicate is growing so much!  She is learning new signs all the time.  I love baby and hat.  Here are some that she uses all the time.

 

 

The Itsy-Bitsy Spider

 

 

 

 

 

 

All the Little Fishes

 

 

 

 

And the sign I am most proud of – this is Joy’s version of “Amen.”  She folds her arms so reverently and then signs Amen at the end of prayers – yeah!

 

 

 

Helping Daddy vacuum

 

Physical Therapy – working on walking up the stairs

And finally her frustration for the week – hip huggers.  They are basically spandex shorts that have been sewn together down the middle.  It is supposed to help her walk more normally.  It is definitely more difficult to walk this way, and her therapist admitted it might be too late, but we’ll see.  We are also looking into horse back riding to help with her gait.  We’ll see.  The problem I foresee with the horse back riding is that my other girls might suddenly develop gaits so that they “HAVE” to have horse back riding too.  :)

Working on the Stairs

Joy is working on WALKING up the stairs – good for those thighs!  She is learning to crawl down the stairs.  She’s really nervous about coming down – which is fine with me right now.

 

 

 

She is going to be getting some hip huggers and some sure steps to help with her ankles and hips.

Silly Joy!  What a funny pose!

 

I wish that this had been a video and not a picture!  Joy is saying, “tickle, tickle".”  She was tickling her sister’s toes.  What a crazy, sweet girl you are Joy!