Casting Call

Nico is quickly outgrowing his current brace, so we went to visit a different orthotist this time. I took Maya along for the ride, and it turned out to be a fun time for her. The orthotist let her "help" him with his plaster work.

Nico's new brace has arrived, but I didn't get a photo yet. It is blue with rocket ships this time and goes up almost to his knee. We are trying de-rotation straps again. Last time the belt kept turning and rendered the belt ineffective after a little while of wear. This time we are doing 2 straps, even though his right foot is the only one that turns in. The left leg's strap won't pull on his toes. It is going to take a little adjustment to get used to, especially with potty training going on.

Nico at The Little Gym

We signed Nico up for the summer for a Saturday morning class, after he watched his sister go for 2 years. He has played a bit shy at the beginning of each of the 3 classes we've attended, but by the end he is running around having a blast. The class is almost all little boys and Miss Charday is a super-fun teacher.

Potty training

To save my son from future embarrassment this post will have no photos! However, I do have one tucked away for blackmail purposes.
Last week Nico peed in the potty several times before his bath. This was a first! So on Saturday morning, we went and picked out a nice sturdy, comfy green potty. Right after we got home he used it, and several more times that day. He has continued to use it some each day, and even pooped in it once. We are suddenly well on our way towards becoming a diaper free household. How exciting!
Nico gets an M&M for using the potty. Maya gets one when she helps him or encourages him. And I get one for cleaning the potty. We all win.

Therapy

Some people may wonder what physical therapy looks like for a 1 or 2 year old. Obviously it doesn't involve big weights and fancy training exercises. And most of the time you don't get 10 or 20 reps of anything. We work with the therapist at our home every other week for an hour on simple things. On the opposite weeks, Miss Angela goes to Nico's daycare to work with him there. She likes to bring fun things with her, like dinosaur magnets that Nico can  practice picking up off the floor and putting up high on a fridge or cabinet door. Or a squishy ball to stand on or sit on and bounce, to strengthen leg muscles. Or a big ball, bat and a sloped ramp "base" for Nico to stretch his leg muscles on while he is distracted playing baseball. It's all about distractions, making it seem like a game. Once he realizes you are trying to make him work (or it becomes too uncomfortable for his legs), usually he is done with it and you get to move on to a different game.

I've learned how difficult some of the simplest things can be and how much as a "normal" person I take for granted most days. For example, if I want to wiggle my toes back and forth, I just think about it and it happens. Or if I want to pick my foot up high, I don't lose my balance. 

Nico has progressed so much in the last year, from walking to running and now he is jumping. I know he will continue to learn new things as he grows. He just has to work a lot harder than most to get those legs to do what he wants. We are so thankful for his therapists that work through the state program and come to us! They have given us so many ideas and tools to help Nico. 

Putting the foam blocks together to get ready

Practicing stepping over with Miss Angela