Finally on a roll...

We finally have all of C's therapies set. He had his last session with Daren last Tuesday, Feb. 2. It was a lot easier than I thought it was going to be because Connor was in a ridiculously good mood. He shouted and smiled the whole session. We took a few pictures of Daren and Connor together and exchanged email. I will send him the photos I took and will also go ahead and send a video of Connor once he starts walking. I feel it is the least we can do considering with out him, Connor would not be where he is now.

Con started PT with his new therapist Thursday (I cant remember her name for the life of me right now) and also finally began OT. He LOVES his occupational therapist, Leslie. She is so sweet and he is smitten on her. His new physical therapist is also very nice and I like how she works. Daren was all about getting Connor to walk but now that he is almost there, it is time we start focusing on his very stiff joints and muscles. Once he is actually walking she said she will let us know weather or not she feels she needs to recommend braces or supports for his knees and legs.

His occupational therapist says that as soon as he gets more mobility in his arms and is able to rotate them more, he will be able to start feeding himself (with silverware) and using crayons and markers.

The one thing that has taken us so long to get through our insurance is Speech therapy. They wanted to deny Connor sessions because in order to get speech one would have had to suffer a stroke or some other debilitating disorder or have a birth defect. I guess our insurance company didnt considering missing genes to be a form of a birth defect. I had to send all of his genetic paperwork to the insurance to prove that he was indeed born with a missing chromosome and does indeed have an underdeveloped frontal brain all causing him to be delayed in speech. After that and after his doctor changed the prescription to chromosomal deletion, we got approved. He will be starting speech Monday. I am the most nervous about this one. I just cant see how leaning to talk will be fun for him. PT and OT are fun because they manipulate his little muscles while he plays with toys. He will have to pay attention to his therapist for speech which, if anyone has a toddler, knows they don't pay attention for long.

I am so excited though to here him learn to speak.

Connor is also continuing to get play therapy through the regional center and that also seems to be doing wonders. I think the play therapy is just enhancing all of his other therapies making it that much easier for him to learn.

Now that we have all of his therapies in order, my next task is to figure out how to keep my baby a baby a bit longer. I cant believe I am planning his second birthday already. YIKES.

Time to say Bye Bye...

We will be losing Connor's current physical therapist next week. He has been seeing Connor twice a week for about a year now.

Connor simply adores Darren. If you even mention his name he goes crawling into the living room to look for him and quietly sits by the door to wait for him.

I know he does not understand that we will be losing him but we are trying to explain that Darren has to go bye bye and we will start going to the hospital for out patient services. I am sure once we get to the new therapists office he wont care. They have toys, what can be better than that.

I just feel so bad that Darren will not be able to see Connor actually walk across the room. He is the one that got Connor this far in the first place.

When he started seeing Connor last year in April, he categorized him at being at a 4-5 month level physically. He has since taught him to roll, crawl, pull up and now take steps. He is now at a 11-12 month level physically. WOW, that is amazing to me in less than a year to get him so far. Now if we can get him to a 22 month level all will be perfect.

Connor will be seeing his new therapist as long as the insurance allows which is 20 sessions. Once we expire those, we will go back to the Regional Center and cross our fingers that we will be able to get back Darren.

I wish I could write the state of California a letter stating how horrible I think there budget cuts are and that they should have re-thought where to make the cuts. This has been such a long process for us setting up three therapies through the insurance just to have the regional center pick him up once again after insurance is up.

Oh well, what ever is best for my son is what I am going to do.