Week

I know I keep saying this, but I am sorry that I haven't been better about updating.  If it isn't one thing it is another! 

Michael attend a men's conference last weekend - based upon the book Wild at Heart.  He really enjoyed it and was thankful for the opportunity.  That meant that we were on our own for four days.  It made us realize just how much Michael really isn't home. 

Chad has had an incredibly rough past few days.  Definitely his worst in a year.  Maybe his worst since starting therapy.  It came on suddenly and seems to have left suddenly.  We are very puzzled by all of this but just praying that we will use this calm time to prepare for the next rough patch. 

Kaylee talks non-stop about her friends Ryan and Parker.  When asked if she has an girl friends she answers no.  We are just thankful she isn't 13!  At least both boys come from very good families - one boys is one of our pastor's son and the other is the son of friends of ours from college. 

Cole is working on "impulse control".  It is getting a lot better but he is a determined little man.  As soon as he gets in trouble, he starts blowing kisses.  No kidding!  He knows how to lay on the charm.

I will try to do better about updates and pictures. 

Picts

Chad has wanted me to take pictures of him doing different things.  Of course I oblige! 

If you are my "friend" on Facebook, you have seen this on video.  Very fun!  Cole immediately gets on Daddy's back when Cole sees Daddy start to do his pushups.

Peabody

The Peabody Developmental Motor Skills test is the second test that Chad has taken throughout his OT.  This is an area that we will continue to work.  I guess I don't have a copy of this older test but these definitely have improved!

Skill A - Grasping -
       Sept 2009 Raw Score 44 - 99%
       Feb 2010  Raw Score 44 - 99%
Skill B - Hand Use -
       Sept 2009 Raw Score 51
       Feb 2010 Raw Score 52
Skill C - Eye Hand Coordination -
       Sept 2009 Raw Score 80 - 2%

       Feb 2010 Raw Score - 86 - 20%
Skill D - Manual Dexterity -
        Sept 2009 Raw Score 29 - 11%
        Feb 2010 Raw Score Raw Score 32 - 31%
Total -
   Sept 2009 Raw Score 204 - 3%
   Feb 2010 Raw Score - 214 - 15%

I don't understand how the scoring on this tests work but this puts Chad at a 5 month delay.  We will keep working!

Update

I realize that it has been a while since I posted.  I apologize.  I have been working every free moment on updates that I am making to the ABCJLM curriculum. 

Cole finally got two more teeth in.  The top cuspid teeth came in after months of already having his 1st set of molars in.  There is nothing Cole can't get.  For a couple months now he has been able to open doors  - even those with the safety cover on them.  This has made it a challenge as I struggle to keep in out of things.  Timeout is not going well but we will prevail!  He has added "Momma" to everything that he says.  "Uh, oh, Momma." 

Kaylee has reached a "sweet" stage.  Everything is "okay, Momma.  Mommy that was Fruit of the Spirit!"  Of course we will have our sassy times but not near like she was having.  She has no problem reminding Mommy when she doesn't have the Fruit of the Spirit.  Having kids really humbled you!

Chad is growing taller and taller.  He is really trying to figure out this new baby cousin.  Whether it can go on a our annual hotdog roasts.  Can the baby have hotdogs?  The questions pop up when you least expect them.  It has been fun to hear them.  For a few weeks, his favorite comment was "Oh, come on Mom!"  Thankfully that one has passed.  He is getting very good at making things out of legos.  It is fun to see what he comes up with.

Think that is about it.  We are all sick of this winter and ready for spring.  The kids can't wait to get the pool ready!

Test Scores!!!

Ms. W. tested Chad today for his quarterly check-up at Occupational Therapy.  We are about a month late testing but with all of the snow we have had very little therapy this month!!! 


Visual Motor Integration - copy geomentric figures
Sept 2008 Scores - Raw Score 11, Percentile 55%, Age Equivalent 4 yrs. 3 months
May 2009 Scores - Raw Score 14, Percentile 65%, Age Equivalent 5 yrs. 2 months
Sept 2009 Scores - Raw Score 14, Percentile 58%, Age Equivalent 5 yrs. 2 months
February 2010 Scores - Raw Score 17, Percentile 79%, Age Equivalent 6 yrs. 3 months
-----A 13 month gain over nine months.

Visual Perception
Sept 2008 Scores - Raw Score 12, Percentile 32%, Age Equivalent 3 yrs. 8 months
May 2009 Scores - Raw Score 20, Percentile 97%, Age Equivalent 7 yrs
Sept 2009 Scores - Raw Score 18, Percentile 81%, Age Equivalent 6 yrs, 6 months
February 2010 Scores - Raw Score 22, Percentile 98%, Age Equivalent 8 yrs.

-----A 1 year gain over nine months.

Motor Cordination
Sept 2008 Scores - Raw Score 8, Percentile 3%, Age Equivalent 2 yrs. 11 months
May 2009 Scores - Raw Score 14, Percentile 42%, Age Equivalent 4 yrs. 6 months
Sept 2009 Scores - Raw Score 15, Percentile 42%, Age Equivalent 4 yrs. 11 months
February 2010 Scores - Raw Score 19, Percentile 82%, Age Equivalent 6 yrs. 6 months

-------A 2 year gain in nine months!!!!

We are thrilled with the scores.   But we also remember that he went down or stayed the same on the test in September last year.  So we will continue to work!!!  But right now we are celebrating!!!

Drawings

This is going to seem really silly to some but this is a huge breakthrough for us. 

Chad has never liked to draw. Up until a couple of days ago, if you asked him to draw something, he scribbled. I looked in the magazines that we receive and saw these great pictures that kids Chad's age drew. I knew that the problem stemmed back to his fine motor skills but we had to turn the tide.

Along with the Visual Perception Activities on ABCJLM, I started using a "How to Draw" book during our school time. Each day we drew one animal. Suddenly he started realizing that the animals contained shapes and figures that he already knew. He realized that a cats head is just a circle. The mouth is like a "3" turned sideways. Basically, it clicked! After a couple of weeks of this, he is drawing the animals by himself with only the assistance of the book.


Yesterday, I pulled the easel from the corner of the playroom and asked Bubs and Sweet Pea to draw. Bubs called me over to look at his creation. I was prepared for a mess of colors. This is what I saw:

It is a real picture!!!! He explained everything to me and I understand exactly what it was.

Then this morning, I asked Chad to draw his family (since this is part of the lesson on ABCJLM). This is what I received:

For some of you, this isn't a big deal but to have a 5 1/2 year old who can not draw ANYTHING it was concerning.

We are very excited for this breakthrough for Chad.  This is really big!