Author: katherineambos

Madison made great progress with physio at school today. Her physiotherapist Suzanne worked 1:1 with Madison in the gym before the other students joined. They did lots of stretching followed by independent standing while watching her posture in the mirror. She is going to start working with Madison every Tuesday and Wednesday morning at school to keep the momentum of her growth going.

After school Madison had a fun afternoon with Nana. She had a great 2 hour nap followed by a big lunch. They played with number and shape puzzles before Mommy and Daddy picked her up.

Madison then went back to Variety Village for a physio session with Stephanie.  The focus today was lots of independent standing and walking. She did great work! Mommy and Daddy are super encouraged from the progress Madison had been making in the last few weeks – very exciting!

Today was an All Star day for Madison! Every moment about today was special for Mommy and Daddy who are bursting with excitment and are so proud.

The day started with Madison being only 1 of 3 kids who made it to school today. She had lots of attention from all the volunteers,  used her walker for everything and did a fantastic job with how different things were from the snowy day.

After school Madison went to Grandview to have a session with Kate. She worked on lots of walking, independent standing and her balance. She had another therapist sit in on her session to learn from her awsomeness!

When Madison got home she had a much needed nap. 2.5 hours! Yesss!

Madison helped make pancakes for dinner and then it was off to the pool for a swim with Ryan.

Madison’s swimming was the best part of the day! For the first time Madison walked all the way from the front door of Variety Village to the pool change room, got changed and walked into the pool for her lesson. During her lesson she worked on some walking on the ramp and learning how to get herself in and out of the side of the pool by herself. Ryan had a guest coach from Swim Canada shadow their lesson to plan goals for Madison. After her lesson she walked hy herself back into the change room, got dressed and then walked herself out of the building to the car. Madison took her time to get in and out of the building so her walking time matched the total time of her lesson – but the more she does it the faster she will get. Mommy and Daddy were so happy and proud to see how much she loved her independence and how she beamed with pride walking through the halls.

Madison had a fun afternoon with Grandma and Grandpa Ambos. She helped make Rice Krispy squares and took some home for Mommy and Daddy for an after dinner treat.

After dinner Emily worked with Madison is the basement. Madison stood for 20 minutes in her ski boots doing different activities. She also did alot of standing at her kitchen making food, practiced squatting to standing to shoot balls in her basketball net and practiced sitting in her chair while reading books. Madison and Emily are doing such great work together we are thrilled! Madison was also able to borrow a yoga block from her cousin Michelle to put between her legs while standing to keep her legs from collapsing. Thanks Michelle and Mary -Lou it is working great!

Madison helped Mommy prepare each of her meals today. Her day started with helping Mommy make eggs and toast for breakfast. She loves to scramble the eggs up as fast as she can while trying not to fall over.

When breakfast was done Madison went to play at Pam and Medfords while Mommy rested and Daddy and Grandpa worked on fixing the wall. Madison visited with Boggie  (Pam’s cat) and threw toys to him. She also played one of her favourite games “on and off” where she turns the lights on and off and asks where everyone is. She had some yummy snacks and then headed home for a nap.

Before her nap she had a quick play with Grandpa Ambos once they were finished with fixing the wall.

After nap time, Madison helped Mommy make lunch. She helped cut her sandwitch and cheese and peel her clementine.  She then had a fun afternoon playing with Daddy while Mommy rested.

Madison loved making a special sauce for her chicken dinner. She helped cut and prepare all the ingredients – even the sticky garlic, parsley and butter and stirred it all together. After dinner Madison helped Daddy make smoothies for breakfast tomorrow. She picked which berries to use and helped Daddy peel the bananas.

Madison loves being in the kitchen and helping to prepare food. The learning tower has been one of the best purchases ever! It allows Madison to participate and get to know food and her standing skills and balance have also improved. She is also an extremly picky eater. We have found if she is a part of picking her food and preparing it – she is more likly to eat it and try new things.

Madison spent the day with Mommy and Daddy having a relaxing Saturday, quite possibly one of our last weekends as a family of 3.  No appointments or therapies or places to be – just time together.

Madison proudly walked her own box of special Timbits around the house for breakfast. The box fit perfectly in her basket.

Madison helped Mommy bake cookies.

Madison watched her first full movie – Inside Out while playing with her Inside Out figures from Caitlin and Michael – thanks again she loves them!

While watching the movie she supervised/helped Daddy build her new art station from Nana and Papa.

Her art station has a white board, chalk board and poster paper for painting. She loves it – thanks Nana and Papa!

Madison wanted to eat her lunch in her tower today. She is a clementine machine!

After lunch she chased Stitch around the house in her walker.

Madison then spent the rest of her afternoon at Variety Village for a session with Stephanie. Emily joined Madison to see her use her ski boots and other exercises with her walker so that they can do them in the basement together on Mondays. Madison did a fantastic job in her ski boots. She did the longest standing she has ever done! Madison has a tendency to let her left knee collapse when trying to stand that effects her balance. Stephanie put a yoga block between Madison’s legs as she was standing and it was the perfect amount of support to keep her legs in line. Madison also practiced walking in her walker around a pilon to practice lifting it to be able to turn. She was a bit silly at first and then was able to figure it out and did it! Madison wanted to walk out of the building again after her session was done and was not as distracted as the other day.

Madison had a great morning at school playing with her friend Emma. They both have the same walker and have fun following each other around. Today during snack they were helping each other push their chairs in and shared their cheerios with one another. Madison also used the potty successfully at school.

After school Madison spent her afternoon with Suzanne and Janine having lunch, playing and then went to March of Dimes for a session with Monika. They worked on walking with 2 canes, jumping on the trampoline and walking up and down steps to work on bending her knees. Madison loved her session – she told us all about it on our way home. We are considering signing Madison up for the Conductive Ed March Break camp. It is everyday from 9-12 at the Toronto location. If you are interested in joining Madison at camp let us know and we can pass along the information.

Madison ended her night with a video chat with Nana and Papa on their iPads.  She loves seeing them through facetime and chatting about her day.

Today at school Madison enjoyed playing with the new toy piano in the classroom. During gym class she played with bean bags and the hop scotch board. During snack she used her big girl voice really well to ask for more of what she wanted. She had a great morning.

After school Madison went to Nana’s house. She layed down for a bit, had a yummy lunch, read some books and then had a nap again. Madison is starting to get really tired from getting back to her schedule and all her activities. She was very sleepy when leaving Nana’s but turned around when she got to Variety Village.

Madison did a great job at physio considering how tired she was. She walked in and out of her session in her walker. We now have to try and be early for things and have time after as it takes us a lot longer with Madison using her walker hy herself – but it is so worth it! Madison and Stephanie worked on standing in her ski boots, walking in her walker and learning how to lift the walker to turn and did lots of good stretches. She used Stephanie’s gators and got a good long stretch. Stephanie let Madison borrow the gators so she can do some deep long stretches at home. Madison stood by herself for 10 seconds and took 3 independent steps!!

After physio Pam stopped by to bring Madison some clementines. She LOVED them and has already eaten 3!

Today Madison started her new Tuesday schedule. Her day started with a fun morning at school. Her teachers wrote in her daily journal saying that she is using her walker for everything in the classroom and gym and that she is confident and beaming with pride. We are so pleased with how well she is using her walker.

After school Madison went straight to Grandview to have a session with Kate. They worked on squating to standing, walking using the wall for support and stepping up and down on a step.  Kate also incorporated basketball today which Madison  was a big fan of. Madison also walked into physio by herself and walked out by herself.

After an afternoon playing with Daddy Madison was back at Variety Village for a swim lesson with Ryan. After the lesson she told Mommy and Daddy she did bubbles and kicking with Ryan and had lots of fun in the hot pool. She also practiced her walking with him up and down the ramp.

It was a busy day but Madison was a rock star and worked hard at everything she did – and was all smiles!

Winter break is over and today Madison was back at school. It’s usually difficult to wake her up in the morning. She hides under the covers and does anything possible to not leave bed to get dressed. But this morning she got up right at 7, happily got ready and ate all of her breakfast because she was happy to be going back. All through breakfast she talked about her friends and her teachers so we knew she was excited to go back. Madison made huge gains over the break with the use of her walker so we talked to her teachers about that being her main goal in the next few weeks- using her walker as much as possible during play and transitions at school. She also had her AFO’S back on for the whole morning and everything went well and looked good with her feet after the most recent adjustments.

After school Madison spent the afternoon with Grandma and Grandpa Ambos. They played with a melting snowman, had chicken fingers and fries for lunch and watched birds in the backyard.

Madison spent her night with Emily working hard in the basement.  She did lots of sitting and reaching activities, walking and followed instructions really well. She also tried sitting in a butterfly position on the ground to play. She was also very happy to hear about her play time with Emily. Madison thrives with routines so we know she will have a great week now that everything is starting up again and she knows what is happenning each day.