Author: katherineambos

Madison had a great workout at VV today. She did lots of walking! She practiced walking holding a dolls hands, using the Kaye walker, holding and bouncing a basketball and more walking on the treadmill. She worked so hard that she passed out in the car on the way home.

When Madison got home she found some big boxes by the front door. Her calendars had arrived! She was so excited to open them and see what the calendars looked like. She pointed to her picture right away and wanted to see all the other pictures of the other kids. The calendar is beautiful and does a great job of spreading awareness with the images highlighting different as beautiful. Once all the calendars are organized she will start her deliveries. Thank you to everyone who ordered! Each month turned out great…but Madison’s favourite month is April! Here’s a peak:

After school Madison spent her day with her Daddy. They started their afternoon with a trip to the doctors for her flu shot. She was super brave and was in and out with no tears. They then headed to Home Depot to look at the Christmas inflatables and rode around in the cart looking for odds and ends for the house. When they got home Daddy made Madi her favourite dinner and they played with her new walker toy. She missed swimming tonight due to her stuffy nose. When Mommy got home from her appointment Madi was exhausted and had a long snuggle with Mommy’s tummy.

Mommy and Daddy also realized how much Madison understands about Christmas. After dinner we told her she is going to see Santa at the parade on Sunday and she will give him a letter of what she is asking from him for Christmas. She was then asked what she wants and she answered: Bubble Book, Elmo Colouring Book, milk, stickers, a cookie and a sleeping baby doll. She put alot of thought and time into each answer. It was really cute and pretty funny.

Madison continued to work hard at March of Dimes this afternoon. Janine and Suzanne reported that she is getting much stronger with her climbing and did a great job with her wall standing. She also did some fine motor practice by trying to pinch open clothes pins to take clothing off a line. In honor of Rememberance Day she also painted a Canadian Flag.

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Papa and Nana visited tonight. Madison and Papa spent some time on his laptop trying to fix his phone but Madison ended up finding Elmo and some other videos.

Madison loved all the meals delivered from today’s menu. Thanks Nana & Papa!

Today was Madison’s first missed day of school. It’s hard to believe that it is November and she has not been sick and needing to stay home (knock on wood). She missed her first day to go to the Oshawa Hospital to have an xray of her hips and pelvis. One of her specialists from Edmonton and another from Grandview wanted to see the anatomy of her hips prior to having botox to make sure her tone issues were from muscle issues and that her bones are developing and aligning as they should. As usual she was a rock star! She went right in with Daddy, lied down on the table and got 2 xray’s. One of her legs extended and one of her legs bent and rotated to the sides. Daddy said she pointed to the machine the whole time and said “machine – up!” And waved hello. No tears! She was in and out in 5 minutes.

On the way home Madison went to a used toy store in search for a push toy walker like she uses sometimes at physio. She lucked out and found a similar one and took it home with her. Latly she has not been interested in using her walker around the house to play so we thought we would give a toy one a try in the meantime to continue to encourage walking transitions from her different toys and places around the house. Success!!! She loves it!!! Daddy strapped on a few weights to help weigh it down and slow it down and off she went!

After a fun afternoon playing around the house Madison went to Grandview to visit with Kate for some physio where she practiced even more walking! She walked up a slanted ladder, walked to herself in the mirror, walked using a smaller/lighter walker and walked using a weighted vest on the treadmill. She worked her butt off today and we are so proud of how hard she pushed herself.

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Madison had a regular Monday which was much needed. After school she had a nap and lunch and then spent the afternoon next door with Pam and Medford.  She had lots of fun watching Elmo, playing with water, playing with her favourite balls and making some music on the piano. Mommy and Daddy were also grateful for the help as Mommy is back home resting. The other normal that we’ve noticed with Madi’s Mondays is it seems to be her stiffest day of the week. Everyday during the week she does some sort of therapy or activity and then we give her a break on weekends. It’s nice for her to have the break but we notice the consequences of that on Mondays with her tone. Perhaps stretching over the weekends will begin.

Madison and Pam Playing the Piano!

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Calendar Update:

The Happy Soul Project 2016 calendar order has been shipped and is on its way in many boxes! We should receive our order this week and can hopefully start delivering to everyone this coming weekend.

We are encredibly grateful that Madison is a part of a family who will drop everything to be with her, play with her and give her everything that she needs. Mommy and Daddy spent the day at the hospital and Madison had a sleep over with Auntie Em, followed by breakfast out with both sets of Grandparents. It sounded like a great morning. After her nap, Madison, Nana & Papa visited Mommy and Daddy at the hospital. The visit brightened up Mommy’s day! Madi got a new cow stuffie to take home with her to snuggle with at bedtime since Mommy had to stay at the hospital. Such a great visit! Thank you everyone for your help and for reaching out!

Our appologies for missing yesterday’s blog. Madison’s little brother has been pulling some funny business so Mommy and Daddy are staying downtown for a bit at Mount Sinai. Everyone is healthy and good and Madison is enjoying lots of attention from her Auntie Em and all her Grandparents. Posts may be limited in the next couple of days but here are a few cute pics of Madison and her new haircut to tie you over.

After a fun afternoon with Grandma and Grandpa Ambos,  Madison went to see Stephanie at VV for some physio.  Today was day #3 of no nap so we didn’t really know what to expect as she was exhausted. Madison also had a really busy week with lots of activities to keep her moving – 3 physio sessions, one conductive ed class and a swimming lesson. Her physio session today ended up being one of her best ones ever! She stood by herself! She stood up from a chair from a seated position by herself! She even took some steps by herself! It was such an exciting hour to see how much she was able to do and how much progress she has made especially just in the last few weeks. Madi worked so hard. You could see how focused she was on her face and how hard she was working with her deep breathing and grunts. For such a little person she sure does know the meaning of hard work and determination. Mommy was thrilled that she left the house and was able to see all the wonderful things that happened at physio today.

Tonight was Madison’s first parent night at school. Mommy and Daddy met some other parents, explored the classroom and were able to sit with Madi’s teacher to discuss goals, next steps and get a feel for how she is doing and how the transition has been. Her assessment report had specific goals that focused on areas such as gross and fine motor skills designed by her PT and OT at school, cognitive goals, social goals, language goals, transition and independence goals and using the potty. The items outlined in the report are directed from the lead teacher and then shared to each of Madison’s volunteers each day to help implement and monitor. Her teachers also spoke of next steps for next year and applying to places for specialty kindergarten programs (like Bloorview) and to start thinking about things that need to be lined up by this time next year. Mommy and Daddy were given a report to bring home with lots more artwork and a beautifully laminated placemat for home that has all of her classmates pictures with names and her teachers pictures with names to help facilitate conversation about school at home. Lots of great information was learned and it was a nice field trip out of the house for Mommy.

These pictures and activities were on display in her classroom

While Mommy and Daddy were at school, Madison was at Nana and Papa’s for dinner and then off to swimming at VV with Ryan. Aunt Suzanne went with Papa to swimming to see how Madison was doing. They reported that she did a great job with Ryan- lots of back floats, kicking and bobs under the water. The pool is really helping with decreasing her tone in her legs so we are so happy for her to be back in lessons. After swimming Papa took Madison home for bath and bed and of course play time with Carter and Stitch. Madison has skipped her nap 2 days in a row so by the time Mommy and Daddy got home she was out cold.

Madison and Ryan had the hot pool to themselves!

Madison stopping on the stairs on her way up to bed to snuggle with Stitch…

And to give her a good pat on the head

Madison requesting a baby book for her bed time read….she is obsessed with books that have babies in them recently

Madison and Papa saying Night Night!