Beach Walker: Golf Cart Wheels How-To

THIS POST IS LONG.
You may have noticed that in some of the videos, E's Beach Walker has different back wheels. That's b/c my Dad was trying to see what "type" of wheels might work best. Below are shown two types.

TYPE 1.

When we were at the beach, my Dad said that the wheels he had fit perfectly--but they were on a golf cart (or caddy, I'm not sure of the right term) that he got used, and he hadn't seen that type again. Anyway, here is that cart and the wheel, shown front and back:




In order to mount this wheel to our Beach Model walker, you'll need 4 things: a screw (cut short with a hacksaw--and I don't know the diameter b/c Dad just used one that he already had, that happened to fit into the wheel axle), two washers, and a 1"-to-1 1/2" PVC adapter piece.


1. Put the adapter piece flush with the inner part of the golf cart wheel, with the lip against the wheel (if you reverse this, the wheel won't mount). This part just happens to fit right on this particular wheel just right.


2. Put on the washers--large first, than small.


3. Place the screw through the washers, into the golf cart wheel fitting and turn until tight.




Voila! This adapter piece fits right into the bottom 1 1/2" piece of the Beach Walker. FYI: I have not cemented in the bottom pieces, all shown in the above picture. That way, if E suddenly gets bigger and we need to add a section, or we have to change a wheel, we just take it off. With enough pressure, the bottom wheels stay on just fine without cement.

TYPE 2.

There is another "standard" golf cart wheel, my Dad says these are what he sees in stores. You can still use them, but they can be a little tricky. All you need for this model is a 1"-to-1 1/2" PVC adapter, and a file. Here is that model, shown front and back:


1. To get this wheel off, all you have to do is flip open the wheel lock (shown open, by Dad's thumb) and it comes right out. (Note: the white PVC part, though shown below, isn't part of the normal golf cart assembly.) The portion that attaches the wheel to the cart looks like a black rectangle with a little jut sticking out on one side (the part that locks the wheel in place).


2. The adapter piece (again, lip-side toward the wheel) fits over this black box. It is an extremely tight fit. Most likely, you'll need to file down the edges of the black rectangle to get it to fit into the PVC adapter. Don't file down too much; you want to file it down just enough so that you can force it into the PVC adapter. Make sure the adapter is facing the right way, b/c once you get it on, it isn't coming off. The best way to force the PVC over the rectangular piece is to hammer a flush "buffer" over the PVC adapter (we used another PVC piece and a washer to get even pressure while hammering--shown below).


hammer assembly: place another piece of PVC, then a washer; turn wheel-side down: hammer away!


Just fit this wheel into the bottom of the Beach Walker as shown in the previous example. These wheels roll extremely well, are very lightweight, and are pretty big. I haven't seen golf cart wheels for sale separate from the golf cart; it could be b/c I'm looking under the wrong search term. Either way, I imagine there's a way to buy these wheels (ahem; cheap) without having to buy the cart. I imagine a pro shop or a secondhand store (craigslist even) may help.

Weekend at Pen Park

This past weekend we went to Pen Park. They have two different-sized playgrounds; one for toddlers, and one for the older kids. They are separated by swings (for both babies and older children).

Until last year, Elena only played on the toddler playground--the smaller size made independent navigation more of a reality. Today, she can do the toddler playground almost completely by herself! She can go up the steps (it has a handrail), go over humps and dips (she can hold onto the side of the structure), she can go down the slides. She can get up off the bottom of the slide, and walk around to get on again. I still worry about her falling out of "holes" in the sides--where kids can slide down a pole, for instance--so I don't leave her alone on the structure. The good news about that, though, is the falling danger is true for any of the kids. I also don't trust Elena to climb down a monkey-bar-slat-dome thing...she can go up, but I don't think she can go down safely. Again, typically developing kids may have the same problem.

The big news is, E is now trying to conquer the big kid playground. There's a lot there that she's not tall enough to attempt--pendulum steps (platforms that are high off the ground and tethered by a rope), large hanging structures--but she can go up a rope ladder, climb the steps around the structure, go through tubes and down slides and then start over again.

Here is E getting up from the slide on the big kid playground:



I love it when we visit playgrounds now--because every time we go, she seems to be able to do so much MORE.

Like WALK FROM ONE PLAYGROUND STRUCTURE TO THE OTHER.



When we were done (after an hour of playtime), I asked if she would meet me at the walkpath to the parking lot. I asked if she wanted to walk herself, or with her crutches (we always bring them). She said she wanted to try herself. This is slightly uphill, bumpy grass, with some small sticks and some small rocks near the playground.



Awesome sauce!

Taming Tantrums: Professional #1 says...

Earlier this week I met with someone about E and her (for lack of a better word) separation anxiety. The day before this meeting, E had screamed for FOUR HOURS--from 9 pm until after midnight. Yeah, rough night.

WELL. I know a lot of you out there have tantrum issues, or sleep issues...and while there are differences between our children, if we have any similarities PLEASE TRY THIS.

Here are the highlights:
Me: E keeps us from sleeping. I think she's mainly a normal kid with motor issues. She realizes these motor delays, and is becoming more aware of her differences. I think this has something, probably not everything, to do with her acting out.
B: E doesn't have much in her home life (with Mom and Dad there) that sets her apart from her baby sister. She needs Big Girl time/activities that make her feel special. She especially needs this as her sister eclipses her in motor function. She's a smart girl. Talk to her like one.
Me: I tried--during an episode, she just screams, there's no reasoning with her. The next day, if I bring it up, she's like "yeah, my bad."
B: This is a family issue. Make it a family discussion. Problem-solve as a family--E included, but not Vivian, b/c she's the baby.
Me: OH.

B suggested structuring the discussion like so:
When I get home, tell E after Viv goes to bed, we need to have a family discussion. Don't say anything else about it; let her "stew".
When the Family Discussion starts, begin with:
"We have a Family Problem."
"No one is getting a good night's sleep."
"This is because Elena is screaming too much".
"Let's work as a team to fix this."
Then open up the discussion, asking questions to everyone (especially E) related to why she screams, what she's thinking, what SHE thinks we should do to fix it (being reasonable, of course). Make guidelines ("E needs to stay in her room") and consequences for improper actions, letting E think of the consequences.

So we did, and put it on paper. I DID give her one child Benadryl chewable to try to tire her out, to try to ensure success (FULL DISCLOSURE). We read it over several times. Everyone agreed and signed their name.

We had Big Girl Time, including staying up 30 minutes later (B said that couldn't hurt--especially if she was crying for hours at her normal bedtime, anyway) to further accentuate the fact that she was older than Vivian. (THIS WAS A HUGE WIN--E's eyes just fired up when we mentioned Big Girl Time and Big Girl Activities that Vivian wasn't allowed to do.)

Everyone slept ALL NIGHT.

For the FIRST TIME in I have NO IDEA.

I feel like this is how most normal families must feel in the morning--reborn. I'm serious--it was a rainy muggy day, a bad hair day, a frumpy clothing day, a still-in-pain-from-wasp-sting/back crampy day, a rush-around I have work/E's PT/home life day--and I felt like I was all sunshine and rainbows, smiling like I just won the lottery on my sweltering mile walk to work.

WOW.

Now, I don't have super-high hopes that all nights will be like this. And that's okay. But to know that it can happen, and that we can be successful, if we have the right strategy (and luck?)--priceless.

Update:
2nd night in a row, everyone sleeps.
3rd night in a row, everyone sleeps--E woke up a little grumpy once, but our AC just broke. She still didn't scream, so that's in the 'win' column.
4th: some screaming. E came out of her room--but that's b/c she needed help in the bathroom. Overall, didn't last long. It's not a win, but it's still a far cry from the meltdown. (is my good fortune waning? uh oh...)
5th: good night.
6th: good night.
7th: bad night.
8th: EXTREMELY bad night.
9th: Started off badly; after 7 minutes of crying and discussion, E asked for a "do-over". Rest of the night was good!
10th-14th: fantastic.
15th--no longer updating.

The Sprayground: The Beach Walker Strikes Again!

Last year, we went to one of our local spraygrounds (sprinkler + playground) for a birthday party. It was heartbreaking. All the kids were running around like crazy, having a fantastic time, and I'm unhappily wet, holding my girl's hands, trying to have her enjoy the fun while the other moms chat and eat cake. It was a rough day.

Well, one year and one Beach Walker later, how about THIS!!

Plowing through the sprinkler


Wet Face


E and mom in "mushroom fountain"


E runs through the sprinkler


Viv is soaked


E on the fountain before it erupts


E sprayground run


V sprayground


Without the Beach Walker, E would need one or two hands held at all times. She's so stimulated, and on her toes, that I'm sure she couldn't balance upright for more than two seconds. She wouldn't be safe with her wrist crutches either, for the same reason. I don't want her to wear her AFOs, b/c she can't stand in them without shoes, and we only have one pair of shoes. Before the Beach Walker, I hesitated to use her DME (walkers, loftstrands) in wet conditions b/c I was afraid they would rust (and most were loaners), and/or they would get slippery and dangerous when wet. And NOW--I can play with both kids at once! It's a miracle!

So far, my only complaint using the Beach Walker is that if she's going down a steep-ish hill, she can't stop herself--especially in bare feet. FYI--she also used it in the mulch playground, next to the spray area (picture not shown). She has not rolled it up curbs--I think a stronger, older child might be able to.

Swimming?!

E loves the pool. We'd spend more time at our local pool, but it's really difficult to coordinate getting home from work, cooking and serving dinner, eating, and then bathtime, stretches, and bedtime ritual without the swimming stuffed in there somewhere.

Well, today we did it! And it was fantastic, b/c we got to see a lot of our neighbors. What a great time!

I also brought a new thing to the pool tonight; Elena's swim vest. I confess, I'm not a big fan. I figure that it would be better for kids to learn to swim without one, as to have a healthy respect for the water and realize the danger and then conquer it without having a swim vest or arm floaties. And, more importantly, I tried a swim vest before on Elena--and was surprised, when wearing the vest, that she could not right herself in the water. I didn't want her to get a false sense of security while wearing the swim vest--and that goes for any adult working with her, too.

WELL. While I still feel residual anti-swim vest sentiments, I admit I am a changed woman.

ELENA SWAM BY HERSELF. While wearing the vest, of course. I was shocked!! We started out by just having her try to stay upright with me letting go: 4 seconds before her face was in the water and she was as stiff as a board. Later, after being at the pool for an hour, we worked on her doggie paddle. We do this every time in the pool--I remind her of her 'fish hands' (closed fingers) and to 'kick her legs', which she does reciprocally, as if she were crawling (we have not mastered a "straight-leg kick", from the hip). I pinched the back of the vest to keep her from tipping.

Then I let go--and she kept on going! Not fast, but as long as she moved her arms and legs, she didn't tip. The message started to sink in--that when she straightens her legs like immobile toothpicks (and her arms fold into her torso), she loses her balance and her ability to swim. Wow. Just WOW. Her muscle recruitment to balance herself in the water was really remarkable tonight--I need to get her in the pool more often!!

She made it 5 feet or so, swimming by herself, from the middle of the pool to the edge and then got her hands on the lip of the pool. Several times, too. Lots of times she tipped over, but we just started again--E laughing the whole time. Both of us were SO PROUD!

Separation Anxiety (?) or Here We Go Again

E had Kindergarten Camp this week.

It's basically a 3-day, 2 hour/day stint to introduce rising kindergartners to their teacher, school, classroom, and potential classmates. Normally it's for kids that are new to the experience. Elena has been in public pre-K for the last two years. Last year, she was in this same school, across the hall from her new classroom. She even knew the teacher, and some of her classmates.

The first morning, it was A NIGHTMARE. It started the night before...

"Mommy, I'm going to miss you!!" and then crying/screaming/MELTDOWN ensues.

We've been through this before...each year when pre-K started, some unexplained times during the school year...for a while there, we had this at bedtime. *sigh* It doesn't get easier. I am so confused...WHY NOT?!

She even did it WORSE the second morning--that was after she admitted she had a great time the previous day at camp.

Now...you can tell me that she's nervous, or acting normal, or just isn't sure what to expect. I believe that...some if it, anyway. But E is a smart girl. SHE KNOWS. Part of her behavior is a power play. I'm not kidding.

Another part, a potentially large part, is related to her growing awareness (and vocalization regarding) being different around her able-bodied peers. And her able-bodied sister, who can now physically do everything she wants to (run, jump, snatch toys, carry large objects, climb up stairs, stand in the bathtub, etc.). This is bound to embody itself into some sort of (negative) behavior.

So I called a psychologist. Eight of them, actually, b/c I wasn't sure if anyone would get back to me (especially since no human being would answer a telephone!! ARGH!!) and I would like some advice/coping mechanism ideally before school starts at the end of August.

I think Elena is essentially a pretty normal kid in a disabled body. And that's okay. But I have a hard time believing her physical condition has zero to do with this kind of behavior. And if we end up seeing a psychologist, and they label her with some disorder--I will probably lose it. Mostly b/c I don't believe it, but also because I do NOT want another label on my kid. I mean...it's hard enough as it is. Typically, I wouldn't say that. But these past few days have been pretty tough. And honestly, today (the third and last day) it was MUCH easier. But it'll happen again...and again, probably.