Megan had her first appointment with her new Neurologist yesterday. He is wonderful and was wonderful with Megan. His first plan of action is to get Megan sleeping again. It has been 9 months since Megan's sleeping issues started and he is going to help her get back to sleeping. I am very excited about this - excited that he is trying something new for her right now and if this doesn't work he will try something else until she is better.
Megan has several new skills. She is able to stand still for 10-15 seconds at a time. She can walk sideways and backwards as well. All three of these items were next on the agenda for her PT in NC. Today while walking around Megan bent down and pushed a ball and then followed it and repeated the behavior several times. She was doing this with a large ball so she only had to bend down part of the way but she was showing great control and balance.
Friday, November 8, 2013
Monday, November 4, 2013
Following directions
Megan started really following directions several months ago. If we asked her to bring something to us or to not/stop touching something she would stop, etc. Today she followed directions given to her by her toys.
This morning she was standing up, holding onto the sit-n-spin trying to get on it when she pushed the button and it said "Elmo says SPIN" and Megan got a look on her face, stood back up and turned in a circle. She then got on the sit-n-spin and started playing.
Tonight she was playing with a toy that said "Can I have a hug please?" and she would squeeze it as tight as she could each time it asked.
This morning she was standing up, holding onto the sit-n-spin trying to get on it when she pushed the button and it said "Elmo says SPIN" and Megan got a look on her face, stood back up and turned in a circle. She then got on the sit-n-spin and started playing.
Tonight she was playing with a toy that said "Can I have a hug please?" and she would squeeze it as tight as she could each time it asked.
Friday, November 1, 2013
Walking up the driveway and progress report
Yesterday morning after school the kids and I were playing in the front yard. I was holding Megan's hand while she walked down the driveway because it is a pretty steep incline. When it was time to walk back up she let go of my hand and took off by herself. She walked all the way to the front door by herself. I was so impressed.
I received Megan's 9 week progress report today. To say that things are different from her previous school would be an understatement. All of the goals listed below have a target completion of the end of school, however as she masters them new ones will be created. There are a couple of goals that she hasn't started yet so I am not including them since there hasn't been any progress. Below is a run-down of her progress.
- Follow 2-step directions with 80% accuracy: 50% Megan is able to follow familiar two step directions (pick up the napkin and wipe your face) but she struggles with unfamiliar two step directions (touch your head then touch your toes).
- When provided with cues and prompts Megan will use verbalizations, signs and/or pictures to request activities with 80% accuracy: 10% with maximum cues and prompts (they just started introducing pictures)
Three of the next four Megan does at home all the time so it is a little frustrating that she is still not doing them at school, but at least she is starting to do them.
- When given a hand rail and close adult stand-by assist Megan will ambulate up 3 steps with a non-alternating pattern with 80% accuracy: 42%.
- When given a hand rail and close adult stand-by assist Megan will ambulate down 3 steps with a non-alternating pattern with 80% accuracy: 15%
- When given access to the preschool setting and adult supervision and no more than 2 verbal cues Megan will independently ambulate to transition from one learning center to another with 80% accuracy: 35%
-When given access to the preschool playground and close adult supervision Megan will independently ambulate up and down the crossing bridge with 80% accuracy: 40%
- String a minimum of 4 beads on a dowel rod or pipe cleaner decreasing in size as tolerated with 70% accuracy: Megan is able to place large beads on a dowel rod when given assistance for object orientation and occasional physical prompts. Progress is at 25%
- Complete a 4-5 piece inset puzzle with 70% accuracy: Megan is able to complete simple shape inset puzzles with large knobs when given prompting for choice limiting and visual cues. Progress is at 25%
- Stack a minimum of 4 items decreasing in size as tolerated with 70% accuracy: Megan is consistently able to stack large blocks on the floor when given a demonstration. She requires physical assistance to stack cups or smaller items at this time. Progress is at 25%
- Imitate vertical and horizontal pre-writing strokes with 70% accuracy: Megan has made great gains with this skill. She is able to imitate lines after a hand over hand demonstration and assistance to initially position her hand. Vertical: 30% Horizontal: 30%
- Squeeze scissors to snip paper with 70% accuracy: Megan is currently in the teaching phase of this skill. We are working on squeezing items to improve hand strength and increasing tolerance for hand over hand assistance. Progress is at 10%
I received Megan's 9 week progress report today. To say that things are different from her previous school would be an understatement. All of the goals listed below have a target completion of the end of school, however as she masters them new ones will be created. There are a couple of goals that she hasn't started yet so I am not including them since there hasn't been any progress. Below is a run-down of her progress.
- Follow 2-step directions with 80% accuracy: 50% Megan is able to follow familiar two step directions (pick up the napkin and wipe your face) but she struggles with unfamiliar two step directions (touch your head then touch your toes).
- When provided with cues and prompts Megan will use verbalizations, signs and/or pictures to request activities with 80% accuracy: 10% with maximum cues and prompts (they just started introducing pictures)
Three of the next four Megan does at home all the time so it is a little frustrating that she is still not doing them at school, but at least she is starting to do them.
- When given a hand rail and close adult stand-by assist Megan will ambulate up 3 steps with a non-alternating pattern with 80% accuracy: 42%.
- When given a hand rail and close adult stand-by assist Megan will ambulate down 3 steps with a non-alternating pattern with 80% accuracy: 15%
- When given access to the preschool setting and adult supervision and no more than 2 verbal cues Megan will independently ambulate to transition from one learning center to another with 80% accuracy: 35%
-When given access to the preschool playground and close adult supervision Megan will independently ambulate up and down the crossing bridge with 80% accuracy: 40%
- String a minimum of 4 beads on a dowel rod or pipe cleaner decreasing in size as tolerated with 70% accuracy: Megan is able to place large beads on a dowel rod when given assistance for object orientation and occasional physical prompts. Progress is at 25%
- Complete a 4-5 piece inset puzzle with 70% accuracy: Megan is able to complete simple shape inset puzzles with large knobs when given prompting for choice limiting and visual cues. Progress is at 25%
- Stack a minimum of 4 items decreasing in size as tolerated with 70% accuracy: Megan is consistently able to stack large blocks on the floor when given a demonstration. She requires physical assistance to stack cups or smaller items at this time. Progress is at 25%
- Imitate vertical and horizontal pre-writing strokes with 70% accuracy: Megan has made great gains with this skill. She is able to imitate lines after a hand over hand demonstration and assistance to initially position her hand. Vertical: 30% Horizontal: 30%
- Squeeze scissors to snip paper with 70% accuracy: Megan is currently in the teaching phase of this skill. We are working on squeezing items to improve hand strength and increasing tolerance for hand over hand assistance. Progress is at 10%
Friday, October 25, 2013
Going down stairs & check 2 off
Megan has learned to get down the stairs. She can now scoot on her bottom all the way down. She practiced on the bottom three stairs for a few days and then yesterday started from the top and she was so proud of herself (me too).
I get progress sheets on Megan each day that outline what IEP goals she worked on that day and how she did with it. They have been working on her OT goals each day, specifically threading beads onto a pipe cleaner and stacking foam blocks. Both of these are things I told them Megan could already do, but she needed to do them for the teachers for them to "count". Well, today's note said they had moved to working with using scissors because Megan "does good" with the other two items. She completed two of her 5 goals and gets to move to something new. Yay Megan! There are things about her new school that I am still adjusting to, but I am definitely pleased with it.
I get progress sheets on Megan each day that outline what IEP goals she worked on that day and how she did with it. They have been working on her OT goals each day, specifically threading beads onto a pipe cleaner and stacking foam blocks. Both of these are things I told them Megan could already do, but she needed to do them for the teachers for them to "count". Well, today's note said they had moved to working with using scissors because Megan "does good" with the other two items. She completed two of her 5 goals and gets to move to something new. Yay Megan! There are things about her new school that I am still adjusting to, but I am definitely pleased with it.
Friday, October 18, 2013
Recovering from ear infection and puzzles
Megan wasn't feel great this past weekend and then on Monday she coughed off/on all night. On Tuesday I got her in to see the doctor and they said she had an ear infection. That cleared up some things, on Monday we were in the car and she would just start screaming in pain for no apparent reason - her ear was obviously hurting.
She is doing better today, she started doing better yesterday afternoon. She feels good, but she is still really struggling to sleep at night because she is coughing so she is a little tired.
Megan is more interested in puzzles right now than she has ever been. She would play with one for a minute or two but then move on to something else when she couldn't get the pieces to fit. We have been playing with puzzles a lot the past 2 days and she is doing really well with them. I see her using a technique that I know they have been using with her at school. It is good to see progress and that things are sinking in.
She is doing better today, she started doing better yesterday afternoon. She feels good, but she is still really struggling to sleep at night because she is coughing so she is a little tired.
Megan is more interested in puzzles right now than she has ever been. She would play with one for a minute or two but then move on to something else when she couldn't get the pieces to fit. We have been playing with puzzles a lot the past 2 days and she is doing really well with them. I see her using a technique that I know they have been using with her at school. It is good to see progress and that things are sinking in.
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Possibly congenital trigger finger
The weekend before Megan's ortho appointment I noticed the ring finger on her right hand had started getting stuck. It was extremely easy to release it though Megan's finger can't do it under its own power it has to be helped. I talked to the orthopedist about it and this one said that no amount of buddy-taping would fix it; that is can come and go, etc. It is still very minor but something we have to keep an eye on.
He mentioned that this can be congenital, though I haven't researched it yet. It makes me sad to think that she could possibly have another surgery in her future.
He mentioned that this can be congenital, though I haven't researched it yet. It makes me sad to think that she could possibly have another surgery in her future.
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Catching up from our new home in Texas
Megan loves our new home; she loves all of the open space she has to walk and push her shopping cart, baby stroller and wagon. She will walk back and forth non-stop until we distract her with something else. She was also thrilled to see stairs again. The first time she saw them she climbed up and down them until we made her stop. Because we have spindles she can even walk up them when she wants to.
She can now climb on and off of her bouncy horse by herself. She can also climb her slide by herself, though she still needs supervision with it since she sometimes tries to skip a step.
She has also learned how to climb onto and off of all of our furniture. She had started trying to get on our furniture before we moved but she was only successful about half of the time.
Megan has been feeding herself for a couple of months now. She is even using the spoon with breakfast with Will holding onto it to keep her from throwing it - but she is doing all of the work herself. She is getting good with using signs or the pictures to ask for "more" food. We are adding more pictures into her day to help her communicate. Two nights ago she used her green sheep book to tell us that she wanted to go to bed. She found the page with the bed sheep on it and kept touching it until we figured out what she wanted.
A couple of weeks ago Megan was yelling to get my attention and I told her to use her words. She stopped, got a look on her face like she was really thinking about it and then she tried to say something - she opened her mouth and tried to say something but nothing happened; then she got upset and grunted and yelled at me. It was a great thing that she tried but sad that she couldn't do it and got so frustrated. She has started using more and more signs again.
Yesterday at Megan's ortho appointment she was identifying animals on the pages of a new book. I told her what they were and then would change the pages and go back and ask her to touch the animal and she would do it. She did great.
Megan has been walking a lot in public now. She was in the grocery cart the other day and was unhappy, so I took her out. She wanted to get down and then she proceeded to follow Will as he walked through the store. She then walked all over the sidewalk outside while Will was checking out.
Since being in Texas Megan has gotten new glasses (twice, because she broke the first pair) and new orthotics. Her new glasses a little stronger and she likes them. She still messes with them and will take them off but it is so much less than with her old ones. She looks so cute in them too. Her new orthotics just slip into her shoes to give her a little support, but she does great without them too. Her new orthopedist said he would never have guessed she had low muscle tone when he saw her. Her alignment is the same when she is barefoot. We did see a difference when she got them so we will keep using them, she seems more confident and she doesn't fatigue like she was without them.
She can now climb on and off of her bouncy horse by herself. She can also climb her slide by herself, though she still needs supervision with it since she sometimes tries to skip a step.
She has also learned how to climb onto and off of all of our furniture. She had started trying to get on our furniture before we moved but she was only successful about half of the time.
Megan has been feeding herself for a couple of months now. She is even using the spoon with breakfast with Will holding onto it to keep her from throwing it - but she is doing all of the work herself. She is getting good with using signs or the pictures to ask for "more" food. We are adding more pictures into her day to help her communicate. Two nights ago she used her green sheep book to tell us that she wanted to go to bed. She found the page with the bed sheep on it and kept touching it until we figured out what she wanted.
A couple of weeks ago Megan was yelling to get my attention and I told her to use her words. She stopped, got a look on her face like she was really thinking about it and then she tried to say something - she opened her mouth and tried to say something but nothing happened; then she got upset and grunted and yelled at me. It was a great thing that she tried but sad that she couldn't do it and got so frustrated. She has started using more and more signs again.
Yesterday at Megan's ortho appointment she was identifying animals on the pages of a new book. I told her what they were and then would change the pages and go back and ask her to touch the animal and she would do it. She did great.
Megan has been walking a lot in public now. She was in the grocery cart the other day and was unhappy, so I took her out. She wanted to get down and then she proceeded to follow Will as he walked through the store. She then walked all over the sidewalk outside while Will was checking out.
Since being in Texas Megan has gotten new glasses (twice, because she broke the first pair) and new orthotics. Her new glasses a little stronger and she likes them. She still messes with them and will take them off but it is so much less than with her old ones. She looks so cute in them too. Her new orthotics just slip into her shoes to give her a little support, but she does great without them too. Her new orthopedist said he would never have guessed she had low muscle tone when he saw her. Her alignment is the same when she is barefoot. We did see a difference when she got them so we will keep using them, she seems more confident and she doesn't fatigue like she was without them.
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