Month: April 2016

Madison had a great ride with Joe this afternoon. It was a beautiful day so they opened up the outdoor riding ring. Madison spent most of her time with Joe there and practiced moving up and down as Joe walked overtop of some poles on the ground. She then finished her ride out in the back trail holding a foam sword pretending she was a knight. They had her hold the sword so she would only be able to hold onto Joe with one hand and have to use more of her core strength. Madison’s friend Bonnie watched Madi and Joe and gave Madi a new horse stuffy at the end that she is currently fast asleep with. She named it Jo Jo. 

   
    
    
 After some down time at home, Madison went to the dentist. She was so brave and did amazing! The dentist counted her teeth, did a full cleaning and a fluoride treatment. Madison got a balloon at the end. Her teeth are healthy and all of her baby teeth are fully in. 

   
    
    
 

Madison had a great afternoon with Grandpa and Grandm Ambos. She napped, had a good lunch and lots of raspberries and then played and played with Stanley all afternoon. She loves spending time with Stanley and watching him fetch his ball.

When Madison got home she ate dinner and then played more with Carter and Stitich. She loves all her pets. She loves playing with them, feeding them and chasing them.

Madison also has been talking daily about how she wants to “save the bees” after seeing the new Cheerios commercial a few weeks ago. Lisa and Pat helped Mommy find the link to the Cheerios campaign so Madison will be planting and saving the bees this weekend. Join Madison in planting some wild flowers to help save her little bee friends. 

Madison had a great session with Emily in the basement tonight. She beaded necklaces, practiced walking in the harness and practiced sitting in her chair. Madison was happy to see Emily wearing her TShirt for CP awareness- thanks Emily!

  

Madison had a great morning at Papa and Nana’s enjoying the sun. She practiced walking in her walker and holding things in her walker while helping Papa put all the Christmas decorations away from outside. She also went on a long walk to the top of the block and back in her walker. After her walk, she played picture dominoes with Nana and threaded some necklaces with beads. Madison is happy that spring is here!

   
    
 
Enjoying a timbit while listening to a classic

 

 
Playing dominoes 

 

 
Watching the sunshine 

Madison had a great afternoon with Nana. She had a long nap (which was much needed this week) and made fruit kabobs. She also practiced reading her new bath time book. She was then off to work with Stephanie.

Madison did a fantastic job with Stephanie today. She loved balancing on the swing and trying to make it move all by herself. They practiced lots of walking with a stick, walking with some leg gators on and walking on the treadmill. Madison walked 30 steps holding the bar on the treadmill without Stephanie holding her! She worked so hard that she fell asleep as soon as she was in the car. 

   
    
    
 
 

 
  

Madison and Suzanne had a great afternoon together. They had a big lunch and some down time before heading to March of Dimes.

  
Madison was a cowgirl with Monika today. While practicing her floor ladder walking, she sorted stuffies of cows and horses. She also made a cowboy craft, walked with her canes and practiced jumping when using the parallel bars. She also walked with the standing ladder with a beam on the floor. The beam encourages her feet and knees to stay apart while walking forwards. Monika also prepared a wonderful end of winter term report for Madison. It outlined the goals worked on, those that were achieved and the ones being worked on still. Madison is thrilled with her progress- she is very proud of herself. 

   
    
    
    
 
  

 

Madison had a great ride with Joe today. 

Madison’s routine before starting her work with Joe is to sit on the physio ball to stretch out her legs and then put her helmet on.

  
  
Today they worked on strengthening her core and posture. They had her lying down on Joe to feel him move when on her back and then sit up and turn her upper body side to side. This helped her continue to bond with Joe to build trust, and to do some hard work with her core muscles. She also touched his mane and tail more and talked to him to continue to get comfortable with him. 

   

  

 
  
The sun was shining so they headed outside for a ride. Riding on the back trails is much harder then riding in the indoor ring because the ground in uneven and there are more hills outside. Madison got an excellent workout and thanked Joe by giving him an apple and a carrot after their time together. 

   
   

 

Madison had a great session with Kate at Grandview today. They did various activities to work on some new goals this block. They worked on climbing up objects by lifting her knees high and pulling so she can better get into her own bed by herself. They also worked on using a bench to help pivot and turn herself around to sit down which will help her with sitting on the potty independently. They did lots of stretching, reaching and core building activities.

   
    
 Madison went to Variety Village tonight. On her way in she was asked if she wanted a new membership badge as her old one was from when she was just under 1 years old. She was thrilled to get a new picture taken and a new badge to scan at the front desk. Mommy put her first badge in a special place to keep as a little momento for Madi to have when she is older. Variety Village holds a special place in Mommy and Daddy’s hearts and they know how important of a place it will be for Madison as she grows – she will be a member for life!

   
    
  
 Madison did a great job with Ryan at the pool tonight. They spent more time working on back floats and rolling from her front to back. They also practiced sitting on the wall and then pushing off with her feet. After her lesson, Madison played with Ruby for a bit in the hot pool which she always looks forward to doing. 

  

Madison celebrated National Volunteer Week at school this morning. Her school would not be the unique and exceptional program that it is without the volunteers so this whole week they are being celebrated and thanked. 

Here is a thank you wall created by all the kids. Each family wrote one thing they are thankful for and all the messages are on display for the week in the lounge for all the volunteers to see.

  
After school, Madison spent her afternoon with Grandma and Grandpa. They had a fun afternoon at the park on the swings and Madison loved watching Stanley jump and Grandpa swing too. Madison also practiced her walking with Grandma by using the same pole she uses with Stephanie at Variety Village.

After dinner Madison visited with Pam and Medford while Mommy and Daddy had a visit with their new case manager from Resources for Exceptional Children. Madison had been on the wait list to access the organization since she was 12 months old. She is now off the wait list and Mommy and Daddy met with the case manager to discuss options for support. After a long conversation of Madison’s history, therapies, programs, school etc. A priority list was established for support. In the next two months the focus for support will be researching and finding funding for better transportation with a new and larger vehicle, looking into programs in the community that are inclusive to provide more group social opportunities, other funding options for equipment needed for the home and school visits to start researching possible school options for kindergarten. Madison’s case manager will also provide school readyness lists specific to gross motor and fine motor skills that will be communicated to her team at Grandview to help guide goals for treatment over the next year. It was a wonderful and very resourceful meeting that encouraged Mommy and Daddy that everything is on the right track. 

Before bedtime, Madison used one of her new bath bombs that she got from Ruby’s fundraiser for bath time. She chose the orange creamsicle scent and loved it!