Madi Moves

Madison was looking forward to her first full day with her class. She was up early once again and ready to go.

At school today she raised her hand to share her ideas at calendar and story time, she chose the house centre to play at again and played at the sand table, listening centre and with Mr Potato Head. She also had her OT/PT from CCAC do a school visit to assess her change in needs since the last time they saw her was in April, before her surgery. 

When deciding to fully integrate Madison, we knew that decision would come with some challenges. One of them has been helping Madison navigate the physical space in the school. Last week the kindergarten playground was dug up and updated. Unfortunately it was left with some holes in the asphalt. When Madison was playing at recess today in her Walker she had a big fall. She wasn’t able to use her hands to stop her fall and hit her head. Her team of people were wonderful in helping her settle, ice her head and then go back to class. She was very brave and resilient for joining back into the day. Here is a video of her telling us about her fall.

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Madi was awake bright and early this morning, super excited for her first day of school! She got dressed in her special first day outfit and talked non stop through breakfast to Jack about where she was going. 

When she arrived at school she was happy to see Nana, Papa, Grandma and Grandpa who were waiting for her to wish her good luck. She showed everyone the school entrance and office and took some pictures before making her way into her classroom. 

Once she got to her class, she went right in and said good morning to her teacher. Her ECE was also there to say hello and she also met her EA. Her teacher welcomed everyone, went over some logistics with the parents and then showed everyone the first activity. Madi and her classmates traced their footprint, put their names on them and decorated them for their class board. Then they went on a scavenger hunt around the classroom to see all the different learning areas. Madison was most excited to see the “house” centre and the “listening centre”. It was then circle time and for all the parents to leave. Madison was happy and excited for her first day.

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When Daddy picked her up she was all smiles. She told Mommy and Daddy that she loved her first day and wants to go back  tomorrow. She loved running around at recess and told her class about her Walker. 

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Mommy and Daddy were very impressed with the communication book. She was able to sit independently on the carpet, use the washroom with no accidents, chose the house centre for free play, used her Walker during recess, chose to colour and use stamps during the second free play, and asked for help several times when needed. It was a great first day!

We still haven’t fully been able to process what tomorrow will be…Madison’s first day of kindergarten! How did we get here? How is she going to be 4 years old next week? Madi is super excited for her first day. She wants to play at recess, eat her snacks, play at the kitchen station and do the calendar on the carpet and make lots of new friends. Those are all the things she tells us she is excited for. She told us tonight that if she sees someone alone she will ask them to play and she will try her best to use her big loud voice to speak up for herself and ask for help when she needs it. She also said if someone asks about her canes or Walker that she will say “this is how I walk” or “they help me walk”. She promised us she will try and eat her lunch and will be polite and caring. She is more than ready for school and we can’t wait to see how much success and life experiences start for her this week. We promise to post pictures and updates tomorrow to fill in all of our loyal followers on how she does – it’s thanks to all of you, our family and friends that’s she ready to rock school! Thanks for all your continued support!

Madi spent her last day of summer getting things organized. Nana and Aunt Emily were at the house helping get things ready. Madi and Aunt Emily worked on Madi’s birthday party details. Invitations and loot bags ready! 

After dinner Madi worked on some planks and practiced some standing with no support. She was never able to stand barefoot before her surgery and she is slowly building the ability to try. 

Good luck to all of Madi’s little buddies who will be starting school tomorrow and all of Mommy’s teacher friends – good luck and have fun!

Madi & Jack had a lazy morning, tv in bed as a family and then a late breakfast was the perfect way to ease into a crazy week ahead.

When they were ready to head out the door, the ‘to do’ list started. First up was school haircuts! 

After, Mommy was on a mission to find shoes that fit both AFO’s & SMO’s. Madi’s braces from St Louis are extra wide in the ankle, so it’s been tricky finding shoes since being back. Madi needs both indoor and outdoor shoes for school. After a few days of research online Mommy went to Carters/OshKosh and brought Madi’s braces to wiggle them into a pile of different shoes. Huge success!!! Three pairs of shoes fit her braces with no extra velchros or any modifications needed! Another amazing tip that one of the stores employees shared was that they are carrying a new style of Sorel commander winter boot this coming season that fully comes apart and can fit braces. They are calling us when the store has them in stock to try on.

Later in the day Madi visited with her friend Emily. She is going back to school tomorrow so Madi stopped by with a present to thank Emily for playing with her this summer. Emily also had a birthday present for Madison. Thanks for everything Emily and good luck at school!

Madi ran around all morning picking up last minute things for school.

She then met up with Tiffany & Ben at the Zoo for her last visit of the summer. She said her favourite was the girafffes.

Madi & Jack then headed to Nana and Papa’s for an end of summer BBQ and roasting marshmallows!

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Madi was up bright and early to get some exercise in before her adventures at The Ex! 

First up was NeuroChangers. She did some great work initiating the walking only needing a bit of assistance. They also focused more on stairs today so she was pooped!

Madi then headed to do some Physio with Stephanie. She tried out her SMO’s today and even though there is a clear difference in ability from AFO’s to SMO’s, she did pretty good. 

​​​After some work it was time to head to The Ex! The kids had a blast! It took Jack a few rides to warm up to the whole thing but once he did, he loved it! Madi was a great big sister and helped him out. It was a great way to spend the final days of summer.

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Today was Madi’s last day of summer camp. She did a total of 7 weeks of camp this summer at March of Dimes. It was one of the best decisions we made to send her right after her surgery to help with her recovery. They worked every day on very specific goals, practiced lots of walking and had a blast doing different traditional summer camp activities. She is stronger, walking more and is potty trained – it was a wonderful summer of growth. 

Madi was sad to leave her instructors and friends but was excited to go check out her new school! Madi visited her JK classroom and met her classroom teacher and her support teacher. She LOVED her classroom! She played at the kitchen centre, found her hooks and cubby, checked out her washroom and then spent some time on the carpet looking at the calendar and other things with her teacher. It was a positive visit and everyone is excited for Tuesday!

After some down time at home, Madi went to work with Jo-Anne and to show off her hard work to Daddy who watched her for the first time. Daddy was super impressed!

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Madison had a fun time at CE camp today. She did lots of walking and crafting. She made and painted a parrot for pirate week!

Madison and Nana then spent the afternoon together doing different things.

They made cupcakes, made a thank you card for Melissa, had some lunch and had some quiet time. Then they went to see Melissa at Variety Village for a workout and their last summer class together. Thanks so much Melissa for working Madi so hard this summer- she had a blast!

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Jack had a great day with his buddy Owen at Jackie’s! They made their own crafts which was super cute! 

Madison and Monika were thrilled to report that Madison achieved 100 independent steps at CE camp this morning! Woo hoo!

After camp Madison spent her afternoon with Janine and Suzanne. They had lunch and did crafts and played with her baby doll. They also went to visit Great Grandma Gregoire and Madi jumped all over her bed and showed her cane walking.

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​While Madi was visiting, Mommy & Daddy had a meeting at Madi’s new school. It was extremely positive and everyone is on board with the plan for next week! Everyone was updated on how her surgery went, the diagnosis of nephrotic syndrome, glasses, potty trained, new equipment, new mobility – lots has changed since the last meeting in April. We spoke about the importance of this window of opportunity that Madison has in terms of the surgery and the theory behind neuroplacticity and learning new movement patterns and the importance of working on correct form and gait even thought walking with her canes is slower. They are in support of her using her canes indoors and Walker only outside. We are trying to phase her Walker out. They will offer her lots of transition time and she will have an EA for all of the transitions of the day and all self help tasks like the washroom and getting ready to go outside. Their Ea will follow a schedule that changes each week as the needs of the students in the school change but will be with Madison for the first few days to see how things go. 

Later in the day Madi went for a session at Neurochangers. She loves her facilitator Bri – the two talked about Halloween costumes and Thomas the Train! That was then followed by a massage with Shannon. She was super silly but was relaxed and Shannon could do different releases which was new. 

 She was exhausted at the end of the day but made more gains!

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Mommy had her first day back to work today after almost 2 years! Daddy was on his own this morning getting the two crazies dressed, fed, hair done and out the door on time. So much thanks is owed to so many friends and family for helping these past two years, but that’s going to be saved for another day when things settle and arnt so emotional.

Daddy dropped Jack at daycare and then drove Madi to CE camp. The theme this week is pirates! Madi had so much fun decorating a banana like a pirate and she did awesome independent walking – 48 steps!!

Nana picked up Madi from camp and then went home for some lunch. She visited with Papa over lunch and told him all about camp. Nana and Madi then went to a special craft place called Crockadoodle to do some painting!

Madi chose a cupcake shaped jar to paint that she could later put hair clips or elastics in. She had a blast painting!

On their way home, Nana took Madison to her new school to check out the playground. To say she was excited is an understatement. Madi told Nana that she was so excited and that today was the best day ever because she got to see her school. Thanks for the great day Nana!