Using utensils

This is an area where we are spending lots of time and energy in OT sessions (occupational therapy) and at home. It requires lots of wipes and lots of baths to get the food out of Lucas' hair or any other area it manages to find it's way too.  I will say he is making good progress with trying to get his food on his spoon or fork but like any toddler gets frustrated when the food won't cooperate! He is really trying hard and slowly getting the hang of it. Soon enough more food will make it's way to his mouth instead of the floor!  Below he is eating his favorite spaghetti and meatballs. YUM!

Spaghetti face

"Easy does it!"

Friendships are forever

We have been out and about vacationing with our east coast family and out of all the super fun and cool stuff we did, watching Lucas and Luna play together was my highlight. There is something special when you and you best friend have a child at the same time and you watch your kids play together and share that special little bond. It's pretty magical.

With the Cousins

We try to get to see our family as often as we can and sometimes it isn't very easy with family spread all over the country but this past weekend we went to Michigan for a little family getaway.  Lucas loves being around his cousins and enjoys playing with them so much.  He is so eager to be part of the group and enjoys all the special attention they give him. They are wonderful older cousins who love and care for Lucas so much.  What an awesome family we have!

Lucas being pushed on the hummer by Liliana (Look at his smile!)

Amazed at the steering wheel

Lucas enjoying time with Liliana and James

The two little guys (Lucas and Isaiah) after swimming. They were exhausted!

Swinging with Rosko standing guard

Getting pushed by cousin Mariah! She is loving this.

In flight!

Making a masterpiece

I love that on any given day at our daycare Lucas gets to start with enriching activities that enhance his development. Today we arrived and within minutes Lucas was undressed and making a yellow and orange masterpiece.   He was showing off his skills of holding the handle and making nice strokes. Love this kid!!

Painting like a pro!

Smiling with his masterpiece!

Mom of the Year

I am always amazed and inspired by reading other blogs and learning what other mom's have to say or are doing with their little ones.  Of course Lucas is my inspiration each and every day but it is nice to hear simple words that let you know that you are doing a good job or that you are amongst mom's that just get it!  I meant to post this on Mother's Day but I am a few days late but nonetheless it is still worth sharing.  Sometimes reading things like this builds you up and gives you the additional push to keep on moving forward!


Dear You,

We are pleased to inform you that you have won the title of Mom of the Year. Congratulations! After carefully judging and evaluating all the moms in the entire universe, including but not limited to Gwyneth Paltrow, Snooki, Octomom and Tanning Bed Mom, we have selected you.

This award is given to you...

☆  For tirelessly escorting your child to the doctor, therapist and specialist—sometimes all in one day.
☆  For juggling the scheduling of these appointments and demonstrating super-human feats of memory, patience and sweet-talking receptionists into fitting you in.
☆  For always knowing what your child wants to say, even when his speech isn't clear or he can only express himself through his eyes.
☆  For surviving the sensory-induced meltdowns in public places, especially the airport security line.
☆  For your mastery of medical terminology; heck, you deserve an honorary MD.
☆  For the nonstop coaxing you do that other moms know nothing of: encouraging your child to pull to stand, grasp a spoon, push a button on a toy, climb a step, make eye contact, say "Hi."

☆  For the outstanding "WOO HOO! YOU DID IT!" enthusiasm.

☆  For filling out more forms than you ever thought humanly possible.
☆  For regularly doing the exercises the therapists recommend. Well, usually doing them. Well, OK, some days doing none of them but you happen to be human.

☆  For staying strong, so strong, when you've watched younger children doing stuff your child isn't yet up to and your heart felt like it could implode.
☆  For all the hard, back-breaking labor: lifting your child in and out of the car, in and out of the bathtub, into the chair, up onto the changing table.

☆  For your uncanny ability to not look like a sleep-deprived stress mess.

☆  For your open-mindedness to trying new tactics, strategies, gadgets, equipment—anything and everything that might help.
☆  For the extreme hope and determination you have that, yes, your child will accomplish that.
☆  For your nonstop efforts to get others to see the ability behind the disability.

☆  For keeping your cool (well, on the outside) when people stare.

☆  For paving the way for your child at the playground, at the birthday party, at the bookstore or wherever kids aren't quite sure how to interact with him.

☆  For valiantly doing battle with the insurance company to reimburse you for claims.
☆  For not acting on your insurance company revenge fantasies.
☆  For powering on even when all you want to do is hide under your comforter, sleep, cry and/or generally lose it.

☆  For pushing for the services your child needs at the IEP, then pushing some more.

☆  For always remembering to give the medicine/put on the braces/bring the headphones/pack the EpiPen/get the blood test/[fill in the responsibility].

☆  For repeatedly and patiently explaining to family that he's not going to "grow out of it."

☆  For being your child's best champion every single day of the year.

Congratulations again on this honor! Nobody deserves it more than you.


shared from blog:  http://www.lovethatmax.com/2013/05/congratulations-youre-mom-of-year.html

Walking for the kids

We are fortunate to have Lucas attend a full inclusion daycare that creates a loving and educational environment which nurtures and fosters his development.  He has made many friends, blossomed into a social butterfly and benefits from an "typical" curriculum which continues to challenge him as he grows into an "on-the-go" little toddler.  We cannot say enough great things about our daycare and their amazing teachers.  The Lily Garden Child Development Center at Easter Seals provides Lucas not only an amazing learning environment but he also is able to have all his therapy in his classroom or heads to the other side of the building to the clinic.  His fellow classmates offer great motivation for Lucas while he is in his therapy sessions and this has been a pretty awesome benefit for him.  We also try to do as much as we can to stay connected with this great organization and participated in our second Walk for the Kids which is one of their fundraisers.  We joined the Lily Garden Team this year and had a blast.  Here are some photos from our fun day! 

 

The Super Hero and his dad

 

Demi and Lucas

Along the walking tral

Kristen, Justin, Lucas, Mel and Demi (Great teachers!!!)

  

So what's in a PT session anyway?

These days are filled with lots of therapy session for this or that so today I decided to highlight and share our PT sessions (physical therapy).  This will give you an idea of that this like for Lucas and how hard he works.  Also, I wanted to show some photos of him in action with some of the tools he uses at Easter Seals. We try and change it up a little each session but still working on the same concepts of strengthening his core, building up his hip and leg muscles, practicing taking steps with everything building on each other toward our overall goal of walking and eventually running.  Below are photos from our last two PT sessions.  I will say that I am happy to have even taken any photos since I am a very active part of every session.  I usually come out of these sessions almost as tired as Lucas! What you don't see or hear (which is a good thing) are all the songs I am singing, all the bubbles I am frantically blowing, or all the movements I am doing in front of Lucas to help keep him engaged and motivated.  At the rate I am going I think I may need new material soon but I absolutely love every minute of this time we have together. (and not to mention working with our wonderful PT!)
  

Holding on to the treadmill bars! (FINALLY)

"This is hard work!"

  

"Hi mom, why are you on the floor?"

Getting set up! Lucas supervising in the cage!

We are up! (He was moving sorry for the blurry photo)

Talking to his friend Elmo

Going shopping

"Elmo, what snacks should we buy?"

Looking to Big Bird for words of wisdom

Crawling to push the big exercise balls

One tired little boy!