Summer Start-Up: Massive Recap Edition

We've been busy here!

We said goodbye to third grade.  We are still waiting on results from Elena's SOL tests; she took it paper-pencil (instead of computer).  It has to be "hand-scored"; regardless, I don't know why it is taking so long for us to get her results.  Her attitude was good (which is really all I cared about) and I am glad they are over.  We were really looking forward to summer break!

Viv and I "sunbathed" while we waited for E to get off the bus

Water fight!

We went strawberry picking!  We look forward to this every year.  Unfortunately, we missed the major picking time (!) and ended up with only enough for eating (not enough to make homemade strawberry jam).

Berry Pickers

I went to Chicago for a long weekend.  I went to the Spring Awakening Festival with a good friend, and spent some time with my sister.  Vivian had a rough emotional time right before I left; she made me a card (before her hours-long meltdown) that said "Have a good time".  I brought it with me to show her that I was thinking of the family, and enjoying myself at the same time.

At Lake Michigan

At Yoga with Sis

Love The Bean

 Elena came home from week-long sleep away camp.  I know she had a great time.  I don't know exactly what she did, b/c the only thing she elaborated on was the camp songs.  At pickup, counselors that know me mentioned all the great things she did (climbed the rock wall without help, for instance) and we hear from time to time "I did that at camp" or "when I go next year".  So, I guess that was a win!

E and counselor Skyler

Elena had another gait lab done.  I haven't received the results yet, so those pictures will be in another post.  But, the hospital was moving into a new building, and they didn't want to haul everything--so they gave us a new stander.  I had to improvise a bit to get it working (and I think it's fine--we'll see).

Gecko--front view

Gecko--side view

Thanks to a recommendation from our PT, Elena is finally taking swim lessons!  Jason and I have been able to spend time teaching E a few things, but it is difficult for E to build on a skill.  As in, she can kick fine, but as soon as you add arms (or blowing bubbles) her form falls apart and she sinks.

E's lessons are in the warm-water pool at our gym.  They are private lessons; very expensive, but I think it's money well-spent.  She is teaching E skills and giving her a LOT of confidence in the water.  Elena has been able to practice her skills in the neighborhood pool, which is outdoor (cool water--she is more tight than in the warm pool).  Being able to move more freely in the outdoor pool is new for us.  Also, since Elena (and Vivian) can now comfortably stand in 3 feet of water (standard pool depth), this means neither child needs a hulking adult presence when they are playing with peers.  That's a big deal.

Patient Megan

With me home, we go to the pool several times a week.  It's really been wonderful.

Pool cuties

 And that's just the beginning!

The Wooden Maiden

A week ago we got a new piece of equipment, a "Stander". I wasn't too excited about another giant thing in the house. The stander helps Elena passively stretch her legs--her tendons, I think, are our big problem right now. If we can't get them stretched, she'll need surgery sooner rather than later in order to get her heels down so she can bear weight properly.

My initial reaction to the Stander: it looks like a mixture of a magician's box and a torture chamber. We call it The Wooden Maiden.

Back view, open, where I fitted it for Elena:

The platform can be raised to fit E to the upper planks. The first plank should hit E right at the knee, or right below the knee, so she can't bend there. The second plank hits her at the hip, so she can't bend there either. Basically this box keeps her standing tall, hips and knees neutral, and keeps her there, with her ankles at 90 degrees (or as close to that as we can get). We give her something to play with on the podium.

The best part: E is a GREAT SPORT ABOUT IT.




We're supposed to have her in it once a day, for 10-30 minutes. So far we have her at 10 minutes or so, twice a day, almost every day. It's been a week...and maybe I'm imagining things, but I already think I see a difference.