New Year's Goals 2013: The Recap

I always like to review our goals that we had set for this year.  We review them with Elena too, so she can see how far she has come.

New Years Goals for Elena:


1.  Complete the Blue Ridge Marathon.  CHECK!  E ran her fastest mile, approximately 17 minutes, on the day of the marathon.  It was awesome.

2.  Catch a frisbee.  CHECK!  I may not have a video of her best catch, but she did it!

3.  Put in her own earrings.  Untested.  She can get them out herself.  It would help if she had a mirror that she could get close to so she can really see what she is doing.

4.  Play mini golf by without help.  CHECK!  Jason also took the girls later in the year and said Elena did a great job!

5.  Get ready for bed by herself, in 10 minutes.  CHECK!  When she is really motivated, she can do it.  It takes focus and she has to be in the right mood to be efficient.

6.  Leave the house, with her own backpack on, and get on the school bus while we watch.  CHECK!  Well, I'm giving it a check.  She left the house, went down the stone steps (with her backpack on), to the bus.  She needs a small boost getting on that first step onto the bus.

7.  Stretch with the Dynasplint 3x week.  Nope. We are using it more than we used to, mostly b/c we are looking at stretching options because she is so tight.  We need more stretching, or something, b/c spasticity/contracture is a problem--especially on her right foot.

8.  Do CME exercises, or similar type balance play on playgrounds, 3x/week.  Nope.  Granted, this was ambitious.  There just wasn't time to get this going.

9.  TAKE SWIM LESSONS  UGH this is my biggest disappointment in myself regarding this list.  I just couldn't fit it in the schedule.  I don't know how to make this more of a priority.  Elena wants this.

10.  Ride bikes!  CHECK!

11.  Sleep in a tent! CHECK!  We got a new tent for Christmas, so hopefully we won't get drenched next time.

12.  Take the kids to the movies.  Nope.  We've had some movie nights at home, but we haven't been to the theater yet.

Elena's own goals:

1.  Climb the rock wall at PT by herself.  CHECK!
2.  Take piano or voice lessons.  CHECK! (piano)
3.  Have an Easter Egg Hunt outside the house.  Nope.  It rained on Easter.  We did have hunts inside, though.
4.  Spend time in the snow--sledding and skiing.  CHECK!

Bonus Vivian goals:

1.  Roller skate  CHECK!
2.  Make her own toast  Well, we tried.  She ended up almost sticking her hand right in the hot toaster, so we'll have to try that again sometime.
3.  Play frisbee with a dog (E likes the addition of a dog too)  Untested.
4.  Write a letter (she can write her name)  She wrote a note to me, the first day after I left work, wishing me a great day off.  CHECK.

And goals for me:

1.  Spend more time with grown-ups.  CHECK!  Not as much as i'd like, but yes.
2.  Continue to do something after the kids go to bed.  CHECK.  It's much better now that I am home.
3.  Run/bike some races around town.  Well, I did some with Elena. Half-check.
4.  Paint the foyer of the house.  No, but I did paint the playroom, which is probably better.
5.  Learn how to use my new sewing machine!  CHECK!  Halloween!
6.  Find a babysitter.  Nope.  We still need to do this one.


Overall, I think we did a pretty good job on these.  Being home is going to change a lot of things, one being structuring homework so we can fit in more activities--or less of them.  Elena is having some school challenges, which brings academics to the forefront, competing with motor skills--it's hard to find the time (especially when her everyday activities take her longer to accomplish than her peers).  I'm not sure how well we balance school/home/exercise/therapy/rest/down time, but I do know that me being home will be an improvement in a lot of these areas.

Next up, 2014 Goals!