Author: katherineambos

Today was a special day for Madison. She didn’t go to camp or therapy…she went to Queens Park! Madison was asked by Variety Village to be one of the ambassadors for the Lieutenant Govenor’s Games coming up this October. “Youngsters of varied abilities will be coming together at Variety Village in Scarborough for the Annual Lieutenant Governor’s Games in October. The one-day event offers children from schools across the GTA an introduction to sports, training and fitness for youngsters with special needs (physical, developmental, learning and socio-economic).”-insidetoronto.com. For more information visit http://www.varietyvillage.ca/events. 

Today Madison met with the Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell and three other children from Variety Village to take the traditional photo for the games poster. Before meeting with the group, Madison visited her friend Debbie who is the Legislative Clerk. Debbie showed Madison around her office and let her explore all her treasures and gifts from visitors over the years. Madison loved the candy Deb gave her and it did just the trick for getting her energy up before the photos.

After a nice visit, Debbie brought Madison to the Lieutenant Governors office to meet Archie and the rest of the group from Variety Village. Madison worked her way around the room introducing herself to the other kids and their families. They all then lined up to greet the Lieutenant Governor as she entered. Madison did a great job of saying hello. She stuck her hand right out to shake hands and said “Hi I’m Madison”. They all then gathered to take a bunch of pictures. Madison chose a yellow Variety Village shirt for the pictures. It was a dress on her and sooo cute! She is already so comfortable and knows how special Variety Village is to her and was so proud to wear her shirt and represent such an amazing place. 

Mommy was so proud of Madison! She was so great at following instructions and doing everything that was asked of her. She was beautifully behaved for an almost 3 year old. When the photos were done, Debbie took Madison on a small tour of some other special places like the Legislative Assembly and then to lunch! It was a wonderful day! Thanks Archie and thanks Debbie! 

Jack had a great time with Pam and Medford while the ladies were downtown. Madison was happy to pick him up and play ball with Pam before it was time for a nap. Jack is on the move! Madi is the greatest teacher!

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Madison started her day at March of Dimes camp. They have a zoo theme this week and today they went on a bear hunt. She walked on different textures like grass and sand on the search for a bear. She also did a bear painting during sensory time that she painted with her hands and forks.

After camp it was time to see Joe! She worked on hands high in the air to practice her balance and they went for a long ride out back on the trail. Her posture is really improving!

After giving Joe his apple and carrot and putting her gear away, she went to see Shannon. They did some more active massage and got some new tape on the backs of her legs to allow some muscles to relax and get support. Her muscles were tender, sore and extremely stiff today.

Madison is participating in a special photo tomorrow (stay tuned) so she went to get a haircut to get her bangs out of her eyes.

Before bed, Madison went over to Emily’s house for a swim! They did lots of kicking, chasing different toys around the pool and did some good stretching. Her legs always respond so well to water – they felt much more relaxed when she got home. 

Madi was wiped out at the end of her day but at bedtime she told Mommy and Daddy she had a great day and feels happy. The best part of the day was snuggling in PJ’s after bath time and reading books together in bed. 

Madison stopped by Nana & Papa’s this morning to drop off a card from her, her brother Jack and her cousin Nate to wish them a happy 40th wedding anniversary! Mommy tried to explain to Madison what an anniversary is and she later explained to Daddy that Nana and Papa had a special day today and that they are getting married! Hahaha 

Congrats on 40 years Nana & Papa!

Madison and Mommy then went to Variety Village for a swim and to get a good long stretch in the hot pool. Mommy can’t keep up with the stretching Madi needs lately, she continues to get tighter by the day.  Thanks for lending Madi your floaters Nate! She liked trying them out to swim a bit more independantly. 

Madi also liked supervising Daddy in the backyard this afternoon while he cut the grass. It was a low key afternoon before the start of a busy week. 

Mommy was thankful for Madi’s massage today. The Botox has pretty much left Madi’s legs and she is up on her toes again and when trying to stand is in a crouch position. She is up more in the night and has been complaining about her feet. Shannon tried a new approach to massage today. She tried active massage where she targeted specific muscles as Madison was standing and her muscles were fireing. Madi didn’t love it at times but it really helped. Thanks Shannon! 

Madison and Jack helped Daddy shop for some things to install the air conditioner in Jacks room so he can move in, and out of Mommy and Daddy’s room.

Madi was a great big sister and entertained Jack while Mommy and Daddy worked on Jacks room.

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Madi had a great week at camp. She was tired today so they did more games and camp activities and will pick up the physical curriculum again next week.

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Madi asked Mommy if she could go into Jacks Pack and Play to do her exercises. Mommy had no clue what that meant. This is what happened hahaha

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The Three Musketeers were in fine form tonight with Nana.

Ryan and Mommy were so proud of Madison tonight. She tried swimming in the deep end with a life jacket for the first time! She kicked her legs and did 25m with Ryan. Swimming with a life jacket will help her learn to start feeling the water herself because it’s a different feeling then when being held. Great job Madison! 

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Jack is on the move! He and Madi were playing around at Nana & Papa’s and he decided to chase a beach ball all over the place. He is feeling much better now that he has his ear drops and some sleep. 

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Madison had a great morning at March of Dimes camp. She continues to make such great progress and is starting to show some consistency with the potty training skills they are teaching her and seeing them transfer to home. She has been especially stiff in the mornings when she wakes up, but when Mommy picks her up from camp, she is always looser and more relaxed in her AFO’s.

After camp Madison spent the afternoon with Janine and Suzanne. They went to visit her Great Grandma Gregoire to celebrate her birthday and have some birthday cake. 

After dinner Papa and Suzanne picked Madison up and went down to the Blue Jays game. 

Mommy is a part of the Three To Be online Facebook group of parents and caregivers of children with neurological disorders. They posted that they had the opportunity to offer tickets to a suite on behalf of the Jays Care Foundation and Northbridge Insurance. Mommy put Madison’s name into the draw and she was one of the kids that was picked! 

THREE TO BE aims to create infinite possibilities for children with neurological disorders and their families through education, support and empowerment. Madison was thrilled to have the opportunity to attend the game hosted in the accessible suite of Northbridge Insurance. Thank you to Amanda from Three to Be and Dan from Northbridge Insurance for giving Madison and her Papa the opportunity to see her favourite Jays and have such a wonderful evening together. The suite was an amazing experience for Madison to use her walker and not have to deal with crowded hot seats. 

Madison was spoiled with lots of treats! Hot dogs, cookies, popcorn and an ice cream sandwich and lots of swag! She loved watching all her favourite players but commented that “Jose had the night off to sleep and Edwin didn’t bring his parot tonight” haha

Madison and Papa sang ‘Take Me Out to the Ball Game’ the whole car ride home. Madison had an amazing time!

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Madison started her day at camp with all smiles and giggles in her new Conductive Education shirt. She was thrilled to wear the same shirt as Monika! She worked hard on her walking and has improved so much with her confidence and independence going up and down the accessible ramp outside of the building. 

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While Madi was at camp, Mommy and Jack went to pick up his helmet to start his cranial helmet therapy. The helmet will help to shape Jacks skull in the right position as he continues to grow and change the flat spot that has developed at the back of his head as a reault from his torticollis. He will wear the helmet for 22-23 hours a day until he is one. The helmet did not fit so great and some adjustments had to be made to insure there was space where the head needs to shift. Mommy and Jack left without the helmet and went to Grandview for some side neck stretches and rotation stretches. Later that afternoon the helmet was ready for pickup and it fit great! Madison loves “Jack the Blue Jay”. Jack is not a huge fan of it but is tolerating it ok. 

It was fitting that the only book in the evaluation room was “The Little Engine That Could” which defines not only the determination and willpower of both Madison and Jack, but Mommy’s push to get through a very long, emotional, tough day. 

While Mommy and Jack were out, Madi spent some time with Pam and Medford. She didn’t nap for Mommy today so she was tired and liked taking it easy on Medfords chair with their iPad. 

Madison started back at March of Dimes Camp this morning for another two week block. This week the theme is circus! Monika noticed Madison’s stiffness which has changed in the last 2 weeks due to a growth spurt and Botox that is slowly on its way out. Stretching is going to be Madison’s friend for the next month to help until the next Botox appointment. 

After her morning at camp it was time to see Joe! It was a beautiful day up at WindReach. Their inside arena is now updated and repaired so they started in it today to try and stay out of the hot sun. Madison practiced transitioning from a slow walk to a fast walk.,she also held a cup in one hand and then switched. The cup also got placed on and off poles. For the last part of the session they went on a nice walk on the outside trail to say hello to the other horses. 

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Mommy and Jack had some fun hanging out on the grass watching all the horses and cheering on Madison. 

Madison and Jack started their day at Nana & Papa’s house. They went out for breakfast and then went down to the Bluffs to watch the boats and to feed the birds. Madison loved feeding the swans and ducks but did not like the seagulls. 

Jack is on the move! Wherever Madison is, he tries to go no matter what is in front of him. 

After Mommy picked them up, everyone headed to the zoo. Madison made a list with Nana of all the animals in Africa she wanted to see. Madison made sure Mommy followed the list and nothing was missed. 

When she got to the zoo she met up with her friend Ben! They were finished their visit for the day but had tickets for Madi and Ben to ride the carousel together before leaving. Madi also had a special gift for Ben to wish him luck with his surgery this week. Ben told Madi last week that the doctor is going to give him super powers to help his leg muscles, so Madi got Ben a cape to remember his special day.

Madison is usually nervous to ride the carousel. Some of the animals frighten her so she likes to sit on the benches on the ride. But today Ben gave her the courage to try one of the animals that move up and down. She held on tight and was a bit scared but after the ride started to move she loved it! She cried when it stopped because she didn’t want it to end. Bens Mommy had extra tickets so they went a second time together. Madison rode the monkey both times. Mommy was so proud of her for trying. 
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After they said their good-byes, Madi and Jack went to visit Africa with Mommy. They saw the zebras, white lions, monkeys, giraffes, penguins and hippos. Madison loves to talk and wave to each animal and likes to know “how they feeling today?” and “how’s their summer?”. She would go to the zoo everyday if she could.