WYATT'S ADVENTURES IN THERAPY ! LEARNING TO BE THE BEST ME I CAN BE !
Hi Friends! I wanted to share my journey of discovery and what I am learning each step of the way about my abilities, my challenges, and what can be done to fine-tune the gifts I have been given. I will add new adventures continually to the BOTTOM of the page. We would love to hear about the adventures of other Chromosome 3 kids and what therapies have worked for them! The more we share...the more we learn! Peace Out!
I LOVE TAMMY! SHE HELPED ME WITH SO MANY THINGS! HERE WE WERE PRACTICING SPEECH. MOM SAYS SHE IS AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST AND THAT SHE'S TRAINING ME TO GET A JOB! I THINK SHE'S TEASING BECAUSE BEING CUTE IS MY JOB RIGHT NOW.
AT THE MEDICAL THERAPY UNIT IN HOLLISTER, I HAVE A WHOLE TEAM OF AWESOME THERAPISTS WHO TORTURE ME SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK! JUST KIDDING, IT'S FUN TORTURE! HERE WE ARE STRETCHING MY ARMS AND FINGERS. MY FISTS ARE STUBBORN SOMETIMES AND WANT TO CLOSE. I'M LEARNING TO OPEN THEM AND BE ABLE TO USE MY FINGERS TO GRASP THINGS PROPERLY INSTEAD OF USING A PINCHER GRIP.
WHEEEEEEEEEE ! ! !
LEARNING TO CRAWL PROPERLY. HERE ARE THE LADIES KEEPING ME ON ALL FOURS.
MY "STANDER"! OH BABY..I DID NOT LIKE THIS TORTURE DEVICE AT ALL AT FIRST. THE IDEA IS TO STRAP ME IN AND TEACH MY HAMSTRINGS TO STRETCH OUT PROPERLY. OVER TIME, THEY ARE TIGHTENING AND INCREASING THE STRETCH. THEY WANT ME TO HANG OUT IN HERE FOR LIKE AN HOUR A DAY. YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME. I HAVE BETTER THINGS TO DO! SOMETIMES LEARNING TO BE A FANTASTIC ME IS A LOT OF WORK.
AUGUST 2012 22 MONTHS:
HEY, I'M GETTING PRETTY GOOD AT THIS! IN FACT, I AM REALLY ENJOYING ALL MY THERAPIES! AND YOU KNOW WHAT....IT'S REALLY WORKING! I WENT FROM NOT BEING ABLE TO CRAWL TO ALMOST WALKING! I CAN TAKE SEVERAL STEPS ON MY OWN NOW! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? IN TWO MONTHS I WILL BE A TWO YEAR OLD AND I BET YOU I WILL BE RUNNING AROUND! I CAN ALSO CLIMB OFF THE COUCH NOW AND CLIMB UP AND DOWN GRAMMA'S STAIRS. MAN, YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN THE LOOK ON HER FACE THE FIRST TIME I DID THAT! IT WAS PRICELESS!
HEY, I'M GETTING PRETTY GOOD AT THIS! IN FACT, I AM REALLY ENJOYING ALL MY THERAPIES! AND YOU KNOW WHAT....IT'S REALLY WORKING! I WENT FROM NOT BEING ABLE TO CRAWL TO ALMOST WALKING! I CAN TAKE SEVERAL STEPS ON MY OWN NOW! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? IN TWO MONTHS I WILL BE A TWO YEAR OLD AND I BET YOU I WILL BE RUNNING AROUND! I CAN ALSO CLIMB OFF THE COUCH NOW AND CLIMB UP AND DOWN GRAMMA'S STAIRS. MAN, YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN THE LOOK ON HER FACE THE FIRST TIME I DID THAT! IT WAS PRICELESS!
FEEDING TIME AT THE ZOO!
Check out these cool videos Mom took while I was learning new techniques to feed myself. The bent spoon really helps and Mom learned how to guide my elbow to keep me on track. The best part is that these spoons are easily made at home by heating up a regular spoon briefly with a lighter or other heat source and bending them!
The next video explains how to wipe my mouth. Sounds silly but I REALLY hate it! This routine will help me feel comfortable with having it done.
The next video explains how to wipe my mouth. Sounds silly but I REALLY hate it! This routine will help me feel comfortable with having it done.
THE STAIR MASTER!!
Hey! Check it out! I'm learning to support myself with two hands on a wall or rail and WALK up and down stairs instead of crawling. My quadriceps are somewhat weak, but with practice, they will be strong enough to zoom me up and down! Here is a video of CeCe working with me at therapy!!
APRIL/MAY 2013 - WORKING MY FINGERS AND GRASP - FINE MOTOR SKILLS
Since my hands tend to want to make a fist, we work a lot on opening them and learning to use my fingers correctly. Here are some of the fun things we do to practice.
Pull the mouse out of the cheese. A little creepy since it looks sort of real but I have to use my finger and thumb to get the little guy unstuck!
Mom found this at Michael's craft store for $3.00
Dropping blocks into an empty wipes canister. One of the great things about my therapists is that they offer suggestions for tools and games that are easy to find and affordable.
For example, good old Mr. Potato Head (photo below)! I can learn about parts of the body and use my hands to choose and help place the pieces!
For example, good old Mr. Potato Head (photo below)! I can learn about parts of the body and use my hands to choose and help place the pieces!
MAKING CHOICES AND LEARNING TO COMMUNICATE WHAT I WANT
Here is an excerpt from Mom on my Facebook page:
4/10/13
"Took home our schedule check today! I'm going to put Velcro on his high chair, bath tub, closet door, book shelf and bed. That will be our going to bed routine! We also got a sheet of choices we will start off with a choice of two and eventually move to 3. Pulling off the squares will also help with his fine motor, pointing and vision as well as the other pluses like speech! Very excited!
He has also been wearing his glasses like a champ! Although he is very used to using his other senses to move around today in therapy he actually looked down and watched the stairs rather than using touch and sound to go up and down(had glasses on)! We have to train him to use his vision as well now that he is wearing his glasses more! Very long post but very exciting things! Taking on each new challenge head on!"
4/10/13
"Took home our schedule check today! I'm going to put Velcro on his high chair, bath tub, closet door, book shelf and bed. That will be our going to bed routine! We also got a sheet of choices we will start off with a choice of two and eventually move to 3. Pulling off the squares will also help with his fine motor, pointing and vision as well as the other pluses like speech! Very excited!
He has also been wearing his glasses like a champ! Although he is very used to using his other senses to move around today in therapy he actually looked down and watched the stairs rather than using touch and sound to go up and down(had glasses on)! We have to train him to use his vision as well now that he is wearing his glasses more! Very long post but very exciting things! Taking on each new challenge head on!"
SOMETIMES THERAPY CAN BE JUST PLAIN TIRING
There are some days when a little guy like me works so hard, and then they say, "C'mon Wyatt, lets do that one more time". Being the best me possible can be really tough. Thank goodness I have the best teachers and therapists in the world, like Cece, who always knows when it is time for a break and a hug!
Never ever underestimate the power of love in therapy! Some of the best times aren't about doing anything significant, but enjoying the love and support of my awesome family, my friends, my team of wonder workers, and of course, my best buddy, Cole the lab!
Never ever underestimate the power of love in therapy! Some of the best times aren't about doing anything significant, but enjoying the love and support of my awesome family, my friends, my team of wonder workers, and of course, my best buddy, Cole the lab!
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Most days, I have a lot of fun learning! My big brother, Carter, has been helping me at therapy. We have been working on jumping with two feet, kicking a ball, doing the slide by myself and stairs, stairs, stairs.
Hey, down there....ready or not, here I come......
Hey, down there....ready or not, here I come......
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9/13/13 WORKING MY MOTOR MOUTH - WHOOPS, ORAL MOTOR SKILLS
One of the things we work on at therapy is increasing my muscle tone and muscle strength in my mouth and throat. I have trouble swallowing normally, which is part of my aspiration problem and sometimes kids like me have trouble with speech so the stimulation of these muscles helps a lot. It can also help with drooling! I'm all for that!
How did I know I needed to do this kind of therapy? There were several signs that the doctors and teachers look for in my everyday behavior. Biting on utensils, drooling, refusing some textures of foods or cold foods. This article by Lisa Geng on the Pursuit of Research site has a lot of information about Oral Motor Dysfunction, signs and symptoms, practical helpful hints, etc. Awesome!!
http://pursuitofresearch.org/2012/07/22/oral-motor-dysfunction-exercises-and-therapy-for-autism-and-apraxia/
How about you guys? Anyone else have ideas to share for revving up the old motor mouth?
One of the things we work on at therapy is increasing my muscle tone and muscle strength in my mouth and throat. I have trouble swallowing normally, which is part of my aspiration problem and sometimes kids like me have trouble with speech so the stimulation of these muscles helps a lot. It can also help with drooling! I'm all for that!
How did I know I needed to do this kind of therapy? There were several signs that the doctors and teachers look for in my everyday behavior. Biting on utensils, drooling, refusing some textures of foods or cold foods. This article by Lisa Geng on the Pursuit of Research site has a lot of information about Oral Motor Dysfunction, signs and symptoms, practical helpful hints, etc. Awesome!!
http://pursuitofresearch.org/2012/07/22/oral-motor-dysfunction-exercises-and-therapy-for-autism-and-apraxia/
How about you guys? Anyone else have ideas to share for revving up the old motor mouth?
10/7/13 ADJUSTING TO BRACES - LIKE I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH GOING ON, RIGHT?
So, my theory is that when all the adults get together to discuss my progress, they sit around and vote on new ways to torture me! Seriously! I do a great job at school or therapy or my EEG comes back great and they CHEER and GIVE ME A HIGH FIVE and then say, "Ok, now what can we do to Wyatt?" I know, I know, they are all working hard to help me physically and developmentally, but YIKES, sometimes a kid with a rare deletion can feel like a GUINEA PIG, probably because we are!
Now that I have vented. I have acquired new braces to help my feeties and my gait. Here is what Mom said on her Facebook page:
"Wyatt had a great walk at the slough..he is handling his inserts much better now (he got inserts for his shoes to stop his feet from folding inward). At first he started walking very pigeon toed as if to compensate for the inserts assumingly because he was so used to walking the way he was before. He was also a little sore but I think we are getting them down!"
It is getting better, but man, did it feel weird and make me tired and grumpy. I will try and suck it up if what we are learning helps me walk better and maybe helps another little kid who can learn from what we experience, too. But HEY! How about a little break now and then? I have things to see and things to do! Like hunt for crabs!
So, my theory is that when all the adults get together to discuss my progress, they sit around and vote on new ways to torture me! Seriously! I do a great job at school or therapy or my EEG comes back great and they CHEER and GIVE ME A HIGH FIVE and then say, "Ok, now what can we do to Wyatt?" I know, I know, they are all working hard to help me physically and developmentally, but YIKES, sometimes a kid with a rare deletion can feel like a GUINEA PIG, probably because we are!
Now that I have vented. I have acquired new braces to help my feeties and my gait. Here is what Mom said on her Facebook page:
"Wyatt had a great walk at the slough..he is handling his inserts much better now (he got inserts for his shoes to stop his feet from folding inward). At first he started walking very pigeon toed as if to compensate for the inserts assumingly because he was so used to walking the way he was before. He was also a little sore but I think we are getting them down!"
It is getting better, but man, did it feel weird and make me tired and grumpy. I will try and suck it up if what we are learning helps me walk better and maybe helps another little kid who can learn from what we experience, too. But HEY! How about a little break now and then? I have things to see and things to do! Like hunt for crabs!
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10/8/13 MAKING A FIST AGAIN! HOW MY PEEPS ARE HELPING ME OPEN UP TO HAPPY HANDS!
Here are Mom's notes from therapy yesterday. What a fun day!
"Going back to those fisted hands. Still a lot of grasping..control..opening of the hands..issues. We put him on his belly first and had him come get me while he scooted with his hands (right hand was closed although he did open it a few times! ..) Great for his winged shoulder blades as well - hitting two birds with one stone! Woop Woop! Then we had him sit on it and we tried to get him to hold a rope and we would pull him. Don't think he grasped that idea (excuse the pun) but we will keep introducing it. Smiles at therapy = a great day!"
Here are Mom's notes from therapy yesterday. What a fun day!
"Going back to those fisted hands. Still a lot of grasping..control..opening of the hands..issues. We put him on his belly first and had him come get me while he scooted with his hands (right hand was closed although he did open it a few times! ..) Great for his winged shoulder blades as well - hitting two birds with one stone! Woop Woop! Then we had him sit on it and we tried to get him to hold a rope and we would pull him. Don't think he grasped that idea (excuse the pun) but we will keep introducing it. Smiles at therapy = a great day!"
10/28/13 DESPERATE MOM THERAPY IDEAS!!
"Give Wyatt a bowl of water and bubbles = cleaning my floor, cleaning Wyatt, working on posture and balance, working on keeping hands open, and distracting him so I can get some serious cleaning done! Success.. killing many birds with one stone!"
Wait a minute, isn't there some sort of child labor law? Oh well, it was pretty darn fun! My mom is really cool sometimes!
"Give Wyatt a bowl of water and bubbles = cleaning my floor, cleaning Wyatt, working on posture and balance, working on keeping hands open, and distracting him so I can get some serious cleaning done! Success.. killing many birds with one stone!"
Wait a minute, isn't there some sort of child labor law? Oh well, it was pretty darn fun! My mom is really cool sometimes!
MAY 2014 GIFTED GAMES - HOW THERAPY HAS HELPED ME BE A TRACK STAR
Run like the wind! I loved running at the Gifted Games so much that I didn't do anything else! I wanted to share this video to show gait and how my muscle movement is a little different for me. Perhaps if we all share ideas and therapies, we can help each other move better and enjoy days like this! I recently had a hip X-ray to check out how I am put together in there, I am supposed to be doing alot of stretching but I hate it! Next up is therapy on horseback to stretch my legs! I wonder what that will be like?
THE FINE MOTOR SKILLS CHALLENGE - BUDDY UP!
Therapy, therapy and more therapy. Is it worth it? The driving, the appointments, the bad days when Wyatt is just sick of all of it. Or when Mom is sick of all of it. You bet it's worth it! Don't give up...EVER!! Finally getting the hang of buttons, one of the trickiest things for fingers that don't cooperate. Big brother lends a hand.
The boys at Therapy today..helping Wy learn how to button. I love these moments. Carter truly has such an amazing way with Wyatt! He knows right what to say and how to say it. He doesn’t fully understand his brother's diagnosis yet..he just knows he loves his brother and wants him to succeed. He is determined to be a game warden but he would make one heck of a therapist.
