Roller Jack

Hello everyone!

It certainly is getting to be cooler these days, isn't it? Jack loves to go for walks -- over the weekend we went to the park and Jack did the sliding board, the merry go round, the swings (of course) and the big climber (that looks like a spider)! It was perfect weather for fun outdoors. He's learning all about leaves and how fun they are to crunch in your hands and throw! We got a puppy dog costume for him so he can hand out candy this year!

We've had a few really busy weeks and it looks like its going to be even more of the same coming up...I am trying to manage our schedule so we get some free time but wow these weeks are just SAILING by!

Jack recently had a neurology appointment -- his neurologist is the BEST! He was glad Jack hasn't had any seizures and for now we're keeping his current dose of Tegretol. He was glad to hear all of Jack's new accomplishments! We had been on a waiting list at HMC for Botox but learned the doctor is leaving so for right now they aren't doing Botox injections. The neuro offered to personally contact his collegue at CHOP so Jack can get in as soon as possible!! I am glad because the sooner we help Jack with some of his tightness the sooner he can get better with his walker!

Jack's therapies are going well -- we do speech and physical therapy once a week, occupational therapy every other week and vision therapy once a month. We still regularly see an orthopaedic surgeon, a neurologist, a neurosurgeon, a developmental dr., his pediatrician, an eye doctor, the feeding team, orthotics, and hand spint therapists! Plus others I may be forgetting at the moment!

Jack is such a chatter box these days. We can get him to repeat so many different words...cup, up, ball, bubble, cat, go, bye, hat, door, ma ma, da da, puppy, diaper, ba ba, medicine, all done, uh oh, no no, light, and many more! Even though he can repeat so many words we are having a hard time getting him to USE the words...he knows what they mean, he can pick out pictures, go get the item but needs us to say the word first...then he'll repeat it. His speech therapist says this is common with kids who have CP. She is pretty sure he's got some form of Apraxia and we're working hard in therapy with him.

Physically Jack is ALL OVER THE PLACE! He uses anything and everything to get around. He mostly scoots on his bottom using his hand. At HMC last week Jack "took off" scooting down the hall and into a completley different waiting area. I was close behind but he wasn't looking back. Dr's were stepping over him and smiling at how determined he was! Jack makes friends anywhere we go -- it's possibly my favorite quality about him. He especially loves other children and will do well in preschool I am sure! Oh, yes, Jack will be starting preschool in March! I am not sure of the details yet -- we have a transition meeting set up on November 12th.

Jack decided the other day to use the computer chair to walk around the house! It was so cool -- I caught him walking across the dining room and just froze! I had tears in my eyes. Watching my "baby" using his two little legs to get across the room was amazing!!

Well, I should wrap this up for now. I am sure there's so much I left out -- but hey if I think of it I will update later.

Have a great afternoon!