This morning after breakfast we loaded the kids into the stroller and walked to the playground. Megan got to swing for about 20 minutes and then we walked back home. She loves to swing so her day started off great (actually breakfast always starts her day off great).
When we got home Megan and I loaded into the car and went shopping - another thing she loves to do. She loves riding in the cart over the bumpy parking lot. She loves looking at everything in the store and just hanging out alone with mommy. After we finished shopping we came home and it was time to get Sam up. Megan and Sam played together for a little bit and then it was time for lunch.
After nap we put the kids in the new crabby spray pool. After an initial adjustment to the cool water Megan had a great time. We played in the pool for about 45 minutes before coming inside for dinner. While she was getting used to the water Megan held onto Sam's hand - it was very sweet. Sam had been in the pool for a while before she woke up so he was used to the water - but he wouldn't move around until after Megan got in. So he helped her be okay with sitting in the water and she helped him be okay with moving around and playing. They had a great time together.
Megan went until about 6:30 without any shoes on and without me trying to get her to stand up. We just had a fun day. Around 6:30 she grabbed her shoes and I asked if she wanted them on and she said yes. After putting them on she walked with the wagon several times, even pushing it herself. She stood at the coffee table several times for several minutes each time and she cruised side to side at the table. I had to hold her hips the first couple of times (it has been a while since she has done it) and then once she got her confidence back she was off and running. She was even transitioning from the table to the wagon and then walking with it to the couch. Will was playing on the exercise ball with Sam standing at it and Megan wanted to go over to him. I helped her stand up using the ball and then she took a couple of steps forward and a couple sideways to get to where she could touch Will.
Right now she is laying in the floor with Will and he is blowing raspberries on her tummy and she is giggling. She is holding her shirt up so he can get her again and again.
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Friday, June 8, 2012
Overpronation
Overpronation is when you stand on the inside of your feet instead of in a neutral position. Once Megan started putting weight on her feet it became obvious that she overpronated - really really badly. Until we met with someone about it we were afraid to let her keep standing that way because it looks so painful, though she never acted like it hurt. We were assured by her orthopedist that it was fine for her to stand/walk barefoot if she wanted to, and that it wasn't hurting her. In order to correct the overpronation Megan has been wearing orthotics, most recently the custom ones that provide great support.
There are times when Megan is standing in her orthotics that it looks like she is still overpronating with her right foot. It is nowhere near as bad but she is not quite in neutral with that foot. I pointed it out to Mandy a few visits (weeks) ago and she agreed that it was still overpronating but that she thought it was okay. She said that once Megan starts walking her core and leg muscles will strengthen and that will pull her feet back into the neutral position. I was happy to hear that because I don't want her to have to wear the orthotics, I want her to be able to wear all of the girly shoes that she wants.
Today is Friday, Megan started cruising behind the walker wagon on Sunday, so 6 days ago. By the end of the day she has probably taken 300-400 steps (15ish steps per trip across the room), some days more and some days a little less.
This afternoon Megan was standing barefoot and I noticed that her left ankle wasn't turning in. At first I thought it was just the way her weight was balanced but every time she stood up it looked pretty good. Tonight Will and I took some pictures of her standing barefoot, not an easy task when she is not interested in participating. We have about 7-8 photos. In a couple of them both of Megan's feet are only about 5-10% off of neutral, in a couple one ankle is almost perfect and the other one is about 15% off. I would rate her previous positioning at 50%+ off at least. This is so exciting to see that they are correcting after such a short period of time, and that her muscles are getting that much stronger.
There are times when Megan is standing in her orthotics that it looks like she is still overpronating with her right foot. It is nowhere near as bad but she is not quite in neutral with that foot. I pointed it out to Mandy a few visits (weeks) ago and she agreed that it was still overpronating but that she thought it was okay. She said that once Megan starts walking her core and leg muscles will strengthen and that will pull her feet back into the neutral position. I was happy to hear that because I don't want her to have to wear the orthotics, I want her to be able to wear all of the girly shoes that she wants.
Today is Friday, Megan started cruising behind the walker wagon on Sunday, so 6 days ago. By the end of the day she has probably taken 300-400 steps (15ish steps per trip across the room), some days more and some days a little less.
This afternoon Megan was standing barefoot and I noticed that her left ankle wasn't turning in. At first I thought it was just the way her weight was balanced but every time she stood up it looked pretty good. Tonight Will and I took some pictures of her standing barefoot, not an easy task when she is not interested in participating. We have about 7-8 photos. In a couple of them both of Megan's feet are only about 5-10% off of neutral, in a couple one ankle is almost perfect and the other one is about 15% off. I would rate her previous positioning at 50%+ off at least. This is so exciting to see that they are correcting after such a short period of time, and that her muscles are getting that much stronger.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Tiny Trike
Mandy had a cancellation this morning so she was able to see Megan today. Megan was walking to the front door with it when Mandy arrived so she got to see her on the move. As usual Megan gave Mandy a difficult time but eventually she came around and showed off some of her new moves.
At one point she was pushing the trike across the kitchen floor and Mandy asked me if she liked to ride on it. I told her that last night was the first time she would even sit on it but that she didn't go anywhere. I put her on it to give it a go and after a couple of minutes Mandy had her on the move. She went forward and had a little smile on her face but when she went backwards she looked over her shoulder and had the biggest grin. She loves going backwards.
She walked back and forth across the kitchen and into the entry for several minutes. At one point she went over to the table and played the piano before taking off again.
Tonight I put her on it so Will could see. We were on the carpet and she was in her pjs so she moved a little slower and had to work a little harder but she still had fun. Mandy said it is good exercise for her muscles so she will be spending time on it as much as she wants.
At one point she was pushing the trike across the kitchen floor and Mandy asked me if she liked to ride on it. I told her that last night was the first time she would even sit on it but that she didn't go anywhere. I put her on it to give it a go and after a couple of minutes Mandy had her on the move. She went forward and had a little smile on her face but when she went backwards she looked over her shoulder and had the biggest grin. She loves going backwards.
She walked back and forth across the kitchen and into the entry for several minutes. At one point she went over to the table and played the piano before taking off again.
Tonight I put her on it so Will could see. We were on the carpet and she was in her pjs so she moved a little slower and had to work a little harder but she still had fun. Mandy said it is good exercise for her muscles so she will be spending time on it as much as she wants.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Various
Megan is a great sharer of food - she will take a bite and offer you a bite of pretty much anything she is eating. We thought she would share anything until she had some cherries. She doesn't want to share her cherries and she doesn't like it if you pretend you are taking a bite.
Last night before bed Will was brushing Megan's hair and when he was done he put the brush on the couch (they were sitting in the floor). Megan got up on her knees, grabbed the brush and sat down and brushed the front of her hair. She did this several times.
This morning Megan took 6 steps behind the walker wagon completely by herself - I wasn't holding the wagon to regulate the speed I just let her go and she did great. She also took several steps behind her lion toy with me holding onto it.
Last night before bed Will was brushing Megan's hair and when he was done he put the brush on the couch (they were sitting in the floor). Megan got up on her knees, grabbed the brush and sat down and brushed the front of her hair. She did this several times.
This morning Megan took 6 steps behind the walker wagon completely by herself - I wasn't holding the wagon to regulate the speed I just let her go and she did great. She also took several steps behind her lion toy with me holding onto it.
Monday, June 4, 2012
Another great day with the walker wagon
Megan has done incredibly well today walking with the wagon. She walked across the living room 10-12 times this morning and once into the kitchen. Her afternoon didn't go as planned due to a weird nap - she didn't go to sleep until 3:30 so she didn't get her session with Mandy. She woke up a little after 5 so she didn't get any time with me working before dinner.
A few minutes ago Megan was sitting in Will's lap on the couch. She is already in her pjs so she doesn't have her orthotics on. She reached out and pointed at the wagon which was in position across the living room. I asked her if she wanted to walk to daddy using the wagon and she smiled and shook her head yes. And then she shook her head, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. So I carried her over to it and she got right up and walked all the way to the couch to Will, without stopping. I put the jack-in-the-box beside Will as a reward and she asked for it after the hugs.
I put the wagon back in position on the other side of the room and after a couple of minutes I asked her if she wanted to do it again and she said yes. So she did it again - all the way and stood there waiting for Will to pick her up. She ended up doing it once more and we decided that 3 trips without the support was probably enough; though if she asks to do it again before bed we will be right there to help her.
A few minutes ago Megan was sitting in Will's lap on the couch. She is already in her pjs so she doesn't have her orthotics on. She reached out and pointed at the wagon which was in position across the living room. I asked her if she wanted to walk to daddy using the wagon and she smiled and shook her head yes. And then she shook her head, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. So I carried her over to it and she got right up and walked all the way to the couch to Will, without stopping. I put the jack-in-the-box beside Will as a reward and she asked for it after the hugs.
I put the wagon back in position on the other side of the room and after a couple of minutes I asked her if she wanted to do it again and she said yes. So she did it again - all the way and stood there waiting for Will to pick her up. She ended up doing it once more and we decided that 3 trips without the support was probably enough; though if she asks to do it again before bed we will be right there to help her.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
If you ask God He just might tell you - UPDATED
I started a new, thankfully temporary, medicine yesterday that caused insomnia. I was still awake at 5:45 am. Anyway, since I was laying there wide awake I decided to use the time to pray for Megan. I was praying for wholeness for her brain, strength for her muscles, speaking over her that she is walking, that she is talking and that she is potty trained (not even something we have tried but it was on my heart). After about an hour of praying God revealed to me that He has already taken care of all of those things for Megan - He took care of them on the cross and that I was praying for the wrong things. We have been saying for a long time that Megan is capable of all of these things but that she just didn't want to do them. AHA! Desire.
So I started praying that Megan's desire to be on her feet and walk is so strong that she can't fight it. That she is compelled to walk. That she can't help it she just has to do it. I prayed the same things for her talking and potty training.
This morning I told Megan about last night and I told her that it was time. She has walked across the living room using her walker wagon multiple times by herself. I have to get her started and I am pushing the wagon for part of it but she is walking by herself. She is trying to fight it and get down and crawl and I tell her she doesn't have a choice her desire is so strong that she is compelled to walk and eventually she just takes off. She has taken more consecutive and total steps this morning than she has to date. She is doing all of this despite being awake from 3:30 - 5:30 and waking up again at 6:45. She is tired but it is not stopping her because she just can't help it.
She used her wagon to walk across the living room into the kitchen all the way to her chair for snack. She stopped a couple of times on the way but she did it. And she even transitioned to standing at her chair until daddy put her in it.
It is almost lunch time and then it will be nap time so we will get back to work this afternoon. I setup the tripod and am using the remote to record her walking with her wagon.
UPDATE
Yesterday afternoon there was plenty of steps with the wagon, standing at tables and walking between me and Will. Megan did great.
I forgot to mention that from before I even got up yesterday morning that Megan was being incredibly verbal. It kept up all day and has been going non-stop this morning. She can't help herself she is just trying to talk and talk and talk
So I started praying that Megan's desire to be on her feet and walk is so strong that she can't fight it. That she is compelled to walk. That she can't help it she just has to do it. I prayed the same things for her talking and potty training.
This morning I told Megan about last night and I told her that it was time. She has walked across the living room using her walker wagon multiple times by herself. I have to get her started and I am pushing the wagon for part of it but she is walking by herself. She is trying to fight it and get down and crawl and I tell her she doesn't have a choice her desire is so strong that she is compelled to walk and eventually she just takes off. She has taken more consecutive and total steps this morning than she has to date. She is doing all of this despite being awake from 3:30 - 5:30 and waking up again at 6:45. She is tired but it is not stopping her because she just can't help it.
She used her wagon to walk across the living room into the kitchen all the way to her chair for snack. She stopped a couple of times on the way but she did it. And she even transitioned to standing at her chair until daddy put her in it.
It is almost lunch time and then it will be nap time so we will get back to work this afternoon. I setup the tripod and am using the remote to record her walking with her wagon.
UPDATE
Yesterday afternoon there was plenty of steps with the wagon, standing at tables and walking between me and Will. Megan did great.
I forgot to mention that from before I even got up yesterday morning that Megan was being incredibly verbal. It kept up all day and has been going non-stop this morning. She can't help herself she is just trying to talk and talk and talk
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Catching up
While mom was visiting Will decided to let me sleep in and the four of them went to Denny's for breakfast. Will ordered french toast for the kids to share and he ordered an egg white and vegetable scramble. He said that Megan wasn't really into the french toast but that she LOVED his veggies. After the first bite of his broccoli Megan put the arm he was using to feed her in a "head lock" and wouldn't let him go to get more food. He said she was so excited that she could have veggies for breakfast.
Radio Flyer Rocking/Bouncing Horse - along with the new/used trike I got a few days ago I also got this pony. It is bigger/taller than the one she already has and it has a safety seat attached so that Sam won't fall/dive off onto his head, plus in addition to rocking it bounces. The first day that we had the new horse Megan asked to get it on several times. If she slides off center her toes can reach the floor on one side and she can bounce and she loves to bounce. As I have said before Megan knows a lot of sign language but she picks and chooses when she wants to use it. Well, new horsey equals usage of sign language. One time she did the sign for more and pointed to the horse. She rarely uses this sign but it was in full action that day. She also pointed to the horse one time and when I asked her if she wanted to get back on she shook her head yes. This has also been in short usage lately - instead of shaking her head yes she has been smiling and tilting it to the side. The pony that Megan already has plays music and talks when you squeeze its ears. She has tried very, very hard to get this horse's ears to talk. She is squeezing the life out of them to no avail. The crinkle, but no music.
When Megan is in her jump-jump she likes to play with the toy table that is also in the entryway. There is a piano on this table that has pages to change it from each key playing a song to each key playing one note. She usually prefers to have it on the page that plays music but lately she has been putting it on the one that just plays notes. There have been several times that she was playing with it that either Will or I thought it was a song we hadn't heard before and it took us a minute to realize it was just her playing the notes. She has been doing such a great job of playing the keys that it sounds like music.
The orthopedist said it was fine for Megan to stand up barefoot, that it wasn't hurting her and if she was okay with doing it then it was okay. She definitely needs the orthotics, they stabilize her so well; but there are times when she is barefoot because of what is going on. Well this afternoon she was barefoot because she was with the sitter and they weren't going to be working on standing. When we got home we didn't put her orthotics on her because it was almost dinner time and it just wasn't worth it. Being barefoot didn't keep her off of her feet - she was standing at the couch, at the kitchen chair, at the toy table and just in front of me. She has been continuing to spend time on her feet even though she didn't get to ride Daisy this week. I am so very happy that she is keeping it up.
Radio Flyer Rocking/Bouncing Horse - along with the new/used trike I got a few days ago I also got this pony. It is bigger/taller than the one she already has and it has a safety seat attached so that Sam won't fall/dive off onto his head, plus in addition to rocking it bounces. The first day that we had the new horse Megan asked to get it on several times. If she slides off center her toes can reach the floor on one side and she can bounce and she loves to bounce. As I have said before Megan knows a lot of sign language but she picks and chooses when she wants to use it. Well, new horsey equals usage of sign language. One time she did the sign for more and pointed to the horse. She rarely uses this sign but it was in full action that day. She also pointed to the horse one time and when I asked her if she wanted to get back on she shook her head yes. This has also been in short usage lately - instead of shaking her head yes she has been smiling and tilting it to the side. The pony that Megan already has plays music and talks when you squeeze its ears. She has tried very, very hard to get this horse's ears to talk. She is squeezing the life out of them to no avail. The crinkle, but no music.
When Megan is in her jump-jump she likes to play with the toy table that is also in the entryway. There is a piano on this table that has pages to change it from each key playing a song to each key playing one note. She usually prefers to have it on the page that plays music but lately she has been putting it on the one that just plays notes. There have been several times that she was playing with it that either Will or I thought it was a song we hadn't heard before and it took us a minute to realize it was just her playing the notes. She has been doing such a great job of playing the keys that it sounds like music.
The orthopedist said it was fine for Megan to stand up barefoot, that it wasn't hurting her and if she was okay with doing it then it was okay. She definitely needs the orthotics, they stabilize her so well; but there are times when she is barefoot because of what is going on. Well this afternoon she was barefoot because she was with the sitter and they weren't going to be working on standing. When we got home we didn't put her orthotics on her because it was almost dinner time and it just wasn't worth it. Being barefoot didn't keep her off of her feet - she was standing at the couch, at the kitchen chair, at the toy table and just in front of me. She has been continuing to spend time on her feet even though she didn't get to ride Daisy this week. I am so very happy that she is keeping it up.
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