Constraint Induced Therapy

Here we go, as if it weren't crazy enough around this house lately.... P.M. is now on day four of her constraint induced therapy. She did very well with the casting and the first night asked twice to have the cast "off". She settled with the answer that is was stuck and hasn't asked again since. She has been much crabbier the last few days, but I would be too. It seems to come and go, depending on what we're trying to do. Puzzles I dread. P.M. can't quite manipulate the pieces and it is difficult to even grab the little pegs to pick them up. Once she has them where they belong she is too frustrated to turn the piece and slide it into place. Also, I gave her a sippy with handles to make it easier to use since the sippies are too wide to get just one hand around them. She still has a lot of trouble lifting them all the way to her mouth and will assist with the casted hand. The same goes for eating, her biggest trouble is utensils. Finger food isn't too bad, she can cram things into her mouth, but aiming a spoon is much harder. We help her when we can, but really try to encourage her to do it herself, with our support. My plan Monday is to bring a frozen Kids Cuisine meal to therapy and have her eat it there.

I am going to miss my parents. They came for a week and it was so nice to see them again (my dad hadn't even seen P.M. in person yet!!). It was fun to have them to help out and get the kids to school, dressed, fed, etc. I enjoyed having my mom fill me in on Days of Our Lives :) and keep me company when Daddy was gone at work. I miss adult interaction!!

It is going to be a long month, but I know it will be worth it...... also, that cast HURTS when you are accidentally in it's way!!! I will be posting updates on P.M.'s caringbridge site, and later when it's done I plan on posting some video I've taken from different times during the month.

Keep us in your prayers for patience, P.M. as well as mom and dad!!

He's Here!!!

Announcing J.C. Fraase. He was born Friday, September 12 at 7:34 PM. He weighed 6 pounds & 11.7 oz and was 20 1/4" long. He has the cutest sandy brown hair. Daddy was promoted to Sargeant at just after 6PM. We stayed for the ceremony, then headed straight to the hospital. We checked in at about 6:45 PM....good thing we didn't wait any longer I guess. I was 8 cm when we got there. My midwife was already in the building and hung out in my room knowing she wouldn't have to wait long. Becky, my friend and co-worker was able to be my nurse and doula and Abigail, another friend and co-worker, stayed to help and took all the first baby photos (including me cutting the cord!!) I am so thankful to everyone who helped!!

The kids love him, and M.D. can't put him down.

Here's some photos.....

Hubby arrived at 8PM thinking I'd still be in labor!!

Abigail does J.C.'s footprints

A.M., M.D., P.M. and

J.C.

He'll have some hospital photos here soon. Yep, I helped take them ;)

Support Make-A-Wish

I just got an e-mail from a friend whose girl, "Super C" was able to be granted a wish through the Make-A-Wish foundation. C is even featured on the Make-A-Wish website. She appears on the homepage in a blue swimsuit & red chair. You may have to refresh it to catch her. C's story is shown in the Recent Wishes section ("I wish to go to Walt Disney World Resort" ).
The flyer below is for a Gala in our area supporting M-A-W and not only that, C's mom Abigail is a guest speaker to let guests know what their trip meant to their family. The beautiful Super C earned her angel wings this March. Please support Make-A-Wish!!!

Therapy with P.M.

I thought I'd post some of P.M.'s recent session. This was July 30th. She was recovering from the Kinesio tape rash, so she has nothing on her right arm. We usually use at least the tape during the sessions. Her OT has fun toys and good ideas for making her feel she is still playing while she does her therapy...and she's very patient! Since P.M. has become comfortable here, she exerts her will more often, deciding when she's done with a toy or cleaning up. Maybe thats just her being two.
Her hand strength has improved quite a bit along with dexterity and the ability to open her fingers up. The problem is that unless prompted, she will not use that hand.

This one is good for seeing just what she still has to work on. Her large motor skills are getting better, but her pincher grasp is still very weak. At the end of the clip I look up to talk to her OT and she quickly uses her other hand to pick up the beans!

Nursing Bras....

I found something I need to get! Problem is these super cute bras apparently only come in A-C cup sizes...what nursing woman is an A cup?!?!

Would I not look awesome in this bra? Ok, ideally I would immediately loose all baby weight plus an additional 15 pounds and numerous stretch marks....but cute, right?!

Here is the link to the store:

http://www.llliclothes.com/Bras/Nursing-Bras/Wrap-N-Snap.html

The bra has snaps along the bottom to let you adjust the size as you lose weight after baby. Cool! I'll have to order and post what I think. I love the colors, it's nice to find cute nursing bras that don't look like your grandma's undies!

Belly shots!

I had some requests for photos of me.... I have no idea why :) SO here they are! Yes, A.M., with some direction, was the photographer. Yes, I photoshopped out some stretch marks...no one needs to be subjected to that! I thought they turned out well, anyway!

Kinesio Tape Dilema

Our OT ordered Kinesio tape for P.M.'s hand for us. We received 3 rolls and they showed us how to tape her hand to help with wrist extension and to bring the thumb out of her fist. I at first didn't see any difference. With more time, I think it is helping. I actually think it does more good than the Benik brace does as it doesn't restrict her movements, especially since a big part of her OT is getting a good pincher grasp developed. The Benik seemed to be in the way and keep her thumb and forefinger from meeting easily. THEN I found a video on YouTube that showed a more extensive tape technique (more tape mostly) that seems to provide more encouragement to keep her wrist up. The technique involved more stretch placed on the tape across the forearm (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KD3xrQPqj6g). It really has been working well. BUT it seems P.M. is getting a rash from the tape :( Her wrists are prone to eczema anyway, but this was definitely from the tape remaining on. I'm disappointed. She never had a reaction to the original tape we were using, a flesh colored Kinesio tape (the backing only said Kinesio with some Japanese characters along side). The pink tape is Kinesio Gold and I'm wondering if there is a difference in the adhesive OR if it's the dye. My only other guess is that it's just to darn hot these last few days and it's just a heat rash exacerbated by being under tape days at a time. I am going to let it heal up, then try the pink tape again. If the rash returns, I'll talk to OT about some alternatives, or try out plain old flesh colored and see if anything makes a difference. P.M. doesn't seem too bothered by it, it was a little itchy for her, but not too uncomfortable. She's such a trooper. She likes her "stickers" and will sit nicely to let me apply them.

The pink Kinesio tape in action.

The lovely rash after 2 days.