We finally got the doctor sign-off for all of Rhys's equipment. The medical supply rep is coming this week to measure for his gait trainer. I'm so super excited to get this puppy! I don't think it's going to be easy to get Rhys to focus his attention on it, but the potential of mobility for him has me all aflutter.
We are also purchasing Rhys a seating mobility system. These systems are normally used by those who can't utilize a typical stroller, which Rhys can and does, however we do not know whether Rhys will be required to have one to go to school next year. So since we are going through the rigmarole of ordering the other various things we are ordering this as well. If you've not had to go through this process with your insurance suffice it to say that it is a drawn out lenghty process you do not wish to repeat unnecessarily. While Rhys maybe not strictly need the mobility part of it he will certainly gain some benefit from seat positioning. Rhys's unwillingness to sit is a result of his torso not being properly positioned above his hips. Make no mistake, he can do it he just doesn't want to. It is easier for him to lean back and use his "tone" pattern so he takes the path of least resistance. The idea in this case isn't to make him comfortable in the seating system. It is to force him to align his body properly, break out of his tone pattern and strenghten the muscles that will allow him to sit properly.
We are also purchasing Rhys a seating mobility system. These systems are normally used by those who can't utilize a typical stroller, which Rhys can and does, however we do not know whether Rhys will be required to have one to go to school next year. So since we are going through the rigmarole of ordering the other various things we are ordering this as well. If you've not had to go through this process with your insurance suffice it to say that it is a drawn out lenghty process you do not wish to repeat unnecessarily. While Rhys maybe not strictly need the mobility part of it he will certainly gain some benefit from seat positioning. Rhys's unwillingness to sit is a result of his torso not being properly positioned above his hips. Make no mistake, he can do it he just doesn't want to. It is easier for him to lean back and use his "tone" pattern so he takes the path of least resistance. The idea in this case isn't to make him comfortable in the seating system. It is to force him to align his body properly, break out of his tone pattern and strenghten the muscles that will allow him to sit properly.
Last piece of the puzzle for now is his AFOs. We go in two weeks to get his foot molded for these braces. I hope they help in the way I think they will. Rhys's feet are more often in a slightly pointed position than not which is a result of his tone. The AFOs will force his feet into the proper position, again, to make his muscles break out of the tone pattern so they can strenghten and be used properly. When Rhys stands flat-footed he is obviously much more stable than when he tries to stand on his tip toes. Hopefully all these things together will significantly help his motor skills.
Overall, Rhys's development is moving right along. He really is a clever little guy. His comprehension level is high, he just doesn't have a great ability to verbally communicate yet. Though the speech pathologist says the mouth muscles are getting stronger, which will help is speech. Speaking of the SP, part of that whole effort is to get Rhys to suck properly from a straw. He has been closing his lips around the straw as he should and he can actually drink from a straw, but it is mostly accidental at this point. He still hasn't made the connection of sucking to get liquid. We'd previously been using the sippy bear cup, which allows you to squeeze liquid out much like a juice box. But as you can imagine that is only confusing in this instance as Rhys isn't having to work for anything, it just appears in his mouth. So we've quit using that all together and he only gets an open cup or the straw presented to him for liquids other than milk. He will figure this out, it is just as with everything else - this is going to be something he has to do on his own. No amount of prodding is going to make him get it more quickly.
And speaking of drinking from a straw, Zoe figured that out yesterday. It is amazing to see what a quick study she is in all things. Cody and I can not believe how quickly she picks things up. Not to sing the praises of my child, I do not feel she is any more gifted than another, it is just a comparison to Rhys's learning process. She also can almost feed herself a bottle. She can't quite support the weight when it's full, and she doesn't quite get the raise/lower concept, but she isn't far off. Rhys still refuses to give himself a bottle, so imagine having to do that for 2+ years. :) Oh, and Zoe is sort of turning herself when she's on her tummy, but she hasn't quite found anything interesting enough to make her move forward. She is still trying to figure out how to get those legs underneath her, but she's just recently become interested in wanting to grab and touch everything she sees. We are currently at that in between stage where she is is incredibly inquisitive, but not yet mobile.
1 comment:
We started out with the sippy bear for Elle too - once she figured out she didn't have to do anything and we were doing all the work - we had to stop using that too. We kept putting a sippy cup in front of her and eventually it just clicked for her. I hope it clicks for Rhys as well - I know it will!!
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