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!

Precious

Joy – therapy and into everything!

Joy’s OT/PT   She is practicing walking over things, rather than crawling.  She also played with the big ball – she likes that.  We worked on kicking the ball – she likes to use her hands and even her mouth, but her feet were the preferred object to use on the ball.  :)

Joy is busy!  She wasn’t this busy six months ago!  :)  She wants to help me with everything, including Bella’s trach care and putting her hands in my sterile water.  Oh well.  :)  Every time I turn around she has found something new to get into – cereal, popcorn kernels.  Seems like it’s time for some cabinet locks!  :)  Love ya Joy!

Living Joyfully

 

Joy is always so happy!  We love you sweet girl!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In her developmental services, she is learning to match objects to pictures.  Here she is playing with Brown Bear, Brown Bear.

  

Joy getting to know her little sister, Bella.

 

 

Joy with her sister and Mama.

A New Love

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joy has found a new love - “ki-kat” (for those of you that don’t speak Joy that’s kitty kat).  I guess all those months of pointing at the picture of the kitty cat in the board book are finally paying off.  :)

Poor cat – and she just takes it!  :)  She grabs the cat and gives her a full on body hug by laying on top of her.  In the picture on the left, she is tickling the poor animal.  She was saying, “tickle, tickle, tickle.”  Jason and I were laughing so hard!  :)

We love you Joy – you bring us such joy!

Check it out!

too fun!

http://turpingirls.blogspot.com/

Oh Joy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was getting late.  Joy decided dinner wasn’t enough.  Mama was silly enough to keep the Coco Roos in the cabinet that Joy can reach.  Joy helped herself.  Who needs a bowl or a bag – the floor will do very nicely.  Shouldn’t that get her some points for self help skills?  :)

ECI Annual Review

Today was Joy’s annual review for ECI – all her therapies.

Joy is doing so well!  We made goals and set objectives for what we want her to accomplish over the next year.  June 1, 2010 she will lose ECI.  Probably around April, we will have her ARD with the school district.  Next year Joy will be in school!  Amazing to think about.

Joy will be going to play group starting in the Fall.  It is held once  a week for a few hours.  It will be a good opportunity for Joy to go somewhere with no family members.   She has to learn to go to others so her transition to school will be smooth.

In January we will add Speech therapy to her list of services.

Joy’s age equivalent scores:

Cognitive 16 months

Communication 12 months

Social-Emotional  20 months

Physical  13 months

Adaptive Behavior  16 months

Joy, you are doing so well!  We are so proud of you!!!

Sick!

 

Poor Joy is still sick.  She has had an ear infection.  The doctor gave her some amoxicillin.  Then since Friday she has had green gunk coming out of her eyes.    So today the doctor has given her Cefdinir and some eye drops.  Hopefully, she’ll feel better really soon!

 

We also did her normal 2 year old check up.  She is now 31 1/2 inches long and 23 pounds.  We are going to check her thyroid and iron levels.

Joy’s Book

Becca made Joy a little photo book about Bella.  We got it in the mail.

Here are the girls enjoying it!