Month: June 2017

Madi and Jack woke up nice and early to wake Daddy up for Fathers Day! They each made him something special and wrote in his Daddy’s Day book that they share together each year.

Daddy and Grampa spent Father’s Day working on a project in the garage so Madi and Jack left for most of the day and went for breakfast and a play at the beach with Nate and to celebrate Papa and Uncle Mark.

When leaving the park a little girl followed Madison to a bench and the two girls visited together. She asked Madi why she had her walker and Madi told her it helps her walk. The little girl told Madi her name and that she had a baby brother. Madi then told the girl about Jack so they were the same. They giggled and then Madi said bye and walked out with Papa. That one conversation brought so much ease to Mommy’s heart for kindergarten in the fall. 

When the garage project was finished, Madi and Jack visited with Grandpa. 

Happy Father’s Day!

Madi and Jack had nowhere to be today so they hung out in their pj’s and had a late breakfast to start their day. Most of the day was spent hanging out as a family playing, crafting, biking, enjoying outside, stretching and working out in the basement.

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This morning Madison had her preschool graduation from Centennial Infant and Child Centre. Madison attended their program every morning for the past two years. The progress she made in that time was tremendous in all aspects of her life including her confidence and determination. We are so grateful to her teachers and therapists at the school who completely prepared her for kindergarten and beyond. Madi met great friends and had so many special moments that shaped her into the awesome little person she is today. They celebrated by watching a slideshow of pictures from the year, sang songs and had a presentation of diplomas. After they had a picnic with some yummy food trucks, got her face painted and danced in a sea of bubbles. Thank you to Nana, Suzanne, Janine and Grandma for attending!

After her graduation, Madi headed to Variety Village to work with Stephanie. The did some walking and worked on the total gym. Her standing was also awesome with engaged quad mus!

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After Physio Madi checked out the awRds hallway to see the plaque from the award she won last night!

Tonight Madison attended the Variety Village Athletic Banquet which recognizes athletes in various sports at Variety Village for their achievements this past season. Most of Mommy’s swim team was there including some of her BFF’s Ruby, Jess, Aly and Megan. Madi clapped and cheered as so many of her fiends won awards for their various successes and she ran all over the hall in her walker chasing Nina and “checking things out” as she called it. 

Mommy was so proud when one of the award winners of the evening was MADISON!

She won the Brendan Turner Memorial Award which is presented to a young athlete with a disability who exhibits cheerfulness and determination in life and towards sport. This award was extra special for Madison to receive as Brendan was Auntie Rachel’s brother so it is an honor to now have Madison’s name on his plaque that will be displayed in the halls of the Village next to his name for years to come. 

Madi finished the party dancing away with all the big kids until well passed her bed time. Congrats to all the award winners! 

Madi was so thrilled with her trophy she went to bed with it. Fingers crossed for a good sleep as its her preschool graduation in the morning!

Madi had a busy day checking in with various members of her team since returning from St Louis.

Her first appointment of the day was at Grandview with her developmental Pead. Madi played while Mommy filled her in on the plan for the next year, how the surgery went, issues in recovery and what the current focus is. Referrals will be made for hip X-rays, eyes checked and allergy testing to figure out all the swelling. We are still waiting on the medical notes that are being sent from St Louis and then if needed we will check in again. When we have time to process everything that happened while away, we will write a blog entry specific to Madison’s experience in recovery after surgery to reflect on how intense it was and to share our experience,  as we think it’s important  for so many of our followers who are researching the surgery for their child to know how tricky it was – but successful. 

Madi had an awesome session with Monika this afternoon. It was Madi’s last conductive Ed class until she starts camp the first week of July. Madi will be doing anywhere between 3-5 hours of conductive Ed for 7 weeks this summer! They did some activities for Father’s Day while practicing some independent standing, taking steps and using her pink canes!

Madi picked up Jack from daycare and headed home for some dinner. After dinner her and Jack had an early bath and then Madi headed to see her family doctor for a late appointment in her pj’s to check in and share all of the St Louis news. He confirmed that Madi is the same weight as prior to surgery but is close to 2.5 inches taller! He has worked with Rhyzotomy patients before and was happy with Madison’s results and the plan for the next year. He adjusted her melatonin dose and supported the plan for allergy testing. 

Madi had a great morning at school! She is confident and loving being back. She only has 2 school days left which is sad. 

She was a bit tired when she got home so she lied down to play on her iPad and stretch in her Gaitors before going to Grandview for PT. Her lie down quiet time turned into a 2 hour nap so PT was cancelled for today. Both Madi and Jack had great naps and Mommy was able to finish scheduling the summer!

When Madi woke up it was time to go visit Pam and Medford so Mommy could go to coaching. Madi told Mommy that she didn’t do much today so she wanted to use her scooter to get to Pams house haha. So Madi got in her scooter and pushed herself along the whole sidewalk and up Pams driveway all the way to the front door!

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Madison had a great day of therapy and took advantage of every activity put in front of her. The heat posed a challenge with her AFO’s and constant activity but she ate and drank a tonne which kept her going. Mommy was so proud to see Madi working hard and had smiles all day. 

Physio at Grandview:

Riding at WindReach with her new horse Ooma! 

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Madi got her new scooter today that is a super fun way of getting around the house, but more importantly will help her build some leg muscle!

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Her day ended with some good work in her basement. Treadmill walking, standing practice and walking on high knees. Jack loves watching his big sister and wants to try everything she does. 

Madi and Jack had Nate, Uncle Mark, Nana & Papa over for breakfast this morning to celebrate Daddy’s birthday. They had so much fun playing on the swings, with the water table, bubbles and in the playhouse.

Everyone has been feeling burnt out since being home with all the appointments and non stop work that is so very important for Madison’s progression, so it was nice to start the day enjoying family time outside. 

Madi has grown so much since the surgery- check out her length on the hanging bars!!

Madi had a good session in the basement tonight. She walked on her treadmill a little less than usual but she did a great job with her activities of choice and stood for 20 seconds!

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Madi & Jack were up bright and early and ventured into Aunt Emily’s room to wake her up. After some time lying around everyone ventured downstairs to breakfast, got some stuff done, opened some presents and then headed to Grandma and Grandpa’s for birthday celebrations. 

Aunt Emily and Daddy celebrated their birthday’s having a BBQ and playing in the backyard. No Physio today…just down time and enjoying the weather.

The kids were wiped out from the sun and slept for two hours when they got home. Aunt Emily helped Mommy re-organize both Madison and Jack’s rooms by sorting and boxing up all their clothes from the past year, cleaned out their closets and made Madison’s room much more accessible to promote independence and to help her develop some of her self help skills like getting dressed or brushing her hair. Thank you Aunt Emily for helping get the house back in order!

Madi had a great morning at school. She was so thrilled to see Tiffany after class and catch up! Thank you Tiffany for the kids gifts they loved them and loved seeing you!

Madi then headed to Variety Village for Physio with Stephanie. She had a rough start as she was super tired but turned it around and worked so hard! She did lots of walking in her Gaitors and near the end she took her first independent steps since surgery! 3 steps! ​​

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Madi and Jack then went to visit Nana who is now home from the hospital and feeling much better! 

Once they were home Aunt Emily arrived to visit for the weekend. Madi was super excited to play in the backyard and check out her new bubble machine.