Archive for June, 2009

Playing catch-up…

June 30, 2009 | Updates

Just FYI, this post was writting about the beginning of May…that’s why it may seem a bit out of context…

April came and went pretty quickly.  We did have a fun Spring Break together with the kids.  We didn’t go out of town or anything, but we did find some fun things to do locally.  We went to Baby Animal Days and saw tons of fun things from chickens to pigs, oxen to goats.  The kids had a good time.  Highlights were the snakes that Wes loved and the Easter Bunny that neither Samuel or Nathan were too sure of.  Plus, it was pretty funny when Nathan jumped on a little “bouncy horse” (sort of like a bouncy ball) and bounced right out of the little market they were showcasing them in.  Kaylee went to “fetch” him, but the guy manning the store didn’t realize anyone had gone for him and looked pretty worried that a 2 year old had just shoplifted his $40 horse.  Good times!

We also went to see Monsters vs. Aliens.  Samuel was his usual self in the movie and paid attention (while wiggling), but also took a small catnap halfway through the picture.  And we ended the weekend with colring eggs, Easter Egg Hunts and candy filled baskets.  It was a fun weekend.

Otherwise, April was fairly uneventful.  Tanner did attend Junior Prom.  Besides running out of gas and ripping his pants, I think he had good time :).  Oh, those teenage years.

Samuel’s IEP was held in April and it was interesting that his Occupational and Physical Therapists said they saw improvements in his rolling.  They said that at the beginning of the year, it was more “flopping” around and now, they could see some “segmented” rolling and they were really impressed with that.  They seemed more inclined to help and support ABR given the positive change, so that was good to hear.

May also brought a big change for us as my sister, Kaylee, who has been working with Samuel daily over the last 3 years decided to go home for the summer.  That means I’ve been searching for a replacement, which is pretty well an impossible thing to do.  I do have a few candidates, however, and am hoping that one of them will get us through the summer until Kaylee returns.

In good news, Samuel was able to try out the new Dynovox Eyemax system which allows those without the use of their hands to communicate through eyegaze.  Samuel was pretty funny about it.  I think he thought it was some kind of therapy session since his school teacher and therapists were all there.  He acted afraid to even look at the screen and would squint his eyes if he did.  And pretty soon, true to form, he closed his eyes and dozed off to dreamland.  Ah, the perfect way to avoid any kind of therapy!  About the time we started to leave, he perked right back up - stinker!  But we did schedule a 12 day home trial with the device within the next month, so I’m excited to see if he can learn to use it.  I tried it myself and it did sync well with my eyes, which was a nice improvement over the last eye gazing system I tried.  Wouldn’t it be great if he could learn to use it?  Here’s to hoping for that!

I’ll leave you with a picture of Nathan’s swollen eyes.  I think he has allergies.  They showed up about the time it got warm enough to play outside.  They also came at the same time as a cold (I think).  Anyway, the doctor agrees and we seem to be good if we keep him on a daily dose of zyrtec.  Otherwise, he’s miserable.  Hopefully it’s just a springtime thing.  Hopefully…

Here’s to hoping you’re all doing well.  I LOVE the spring weather.  I LOVE letting my kids play outside.  I LOVE these few weeks when the weather is nice and the canal if OFF.  As soon the they turn it on, I will have to be completely neurotic again.  Not looking forward to that…

Love,

The Jewkes

The very vicious viper…

June 24, 2009 | Updates

We’re coming back. I promise. And then you may be sorry. Have you ever been home alone for a weekend and then the first person who shows up has to listen to you babble on incessantly because you haven’t had anyone to talk to for days? I can hear all the men scratching their heads. But you women know what I’m talking about.

Well, that’s how it’s going to be, I’m afraid, when I find my voice on this site again. But I’m not quite back yet, so enjoy this short post for now.

Samuel is well. I have a video to post of him using the Eyemax. But I’m not posting that just yet.

For today, I’ll leave you with a cute video of Nathan. You have to have a password to view it. The password is viper.

Love you all,

Teresa