Speech. Just to document, Today Parker was mooooooing. I had an app with cow sounds and he proceeded to ooOOOoo and laugh and ooOOOoooo and laugh. He also repeated "ba" on command several times and said ba for ball! He would sometimes say ba inconsistently 2 years ago and then lost it and then nothing for 2 more years. That's why I love when I can capture stuff in video because he will mimic himself!  And he can say mmmmmmm and mmmmom and mmmamama. And he can say Hi! And he says hi appropriately. He can sing to the tune of I am a child of God "Aye aye aye aye aye". He loves to sing and can sing pitch perfectly. He now knows the tunes to I am a child of God, Happy birthday, Jingle Bells, Ode to Joy, Twinkle Twinkle, March on D E and F, and the Sound of Silence. And several songs from Trolls. And he signs thank you and blows kisses on command. He also still signs "more" and "go" and he is getting so consistent in nodding yes and shaking how head no. Speech last few months is finally taking off!!!! After 3 years of almost nothing!!!! Yayyyyyy!!!!

I read this on Facebook tonight and needed this. I figured this was a great way to save it.

WHY MOMS OF SPECIAL NEEDS KIDS ROCK!!!

1. Because they never thought that "doing it all" would mean doing this much. But they do it all, and then some.
2. Because they've discovered patience they never knew they had.
3. Because they are willing to do something 10 times, 1,000 times if that's what it takes for their kids to learn something new.
4. Because they have heard doctors tell them the worst, and they've refused to believe them.
5. Because they have bad days and breakdowns and bawl fests, then they pick themselves up and keep right on going.
6.Because they manage to get themselves together and out the door looking pretty damn good. Heck, they even make sweatpants look attractive.
7.Because they are strong. Who knew they could be this strong?
8.Because they aren't just moms, wives, cleaners, chauffeurs, cooks and women who work. They are also physical therapists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, teachers, nurses, researchers, coaches and cheerleaders.
9.Because they understand their kids better than anyone else does - even if they can't talk or gesture or look them in the eye. They know. They just know.
10.Because just when it seems like things are going OK, they're suddenly not, but they deal. They deal even when it seems like their heads or hearts might explode.
11.Because when they look at their kids they just see great kids.
This is to all the moms I know that ROCK!!!!!!

This marks our 2nd week of CIMT or Constraint Induced Movement Therapy.  No he did not break his arm.  The cast is intentional.  Because of the extensive damage to the left side of Parker brain, if left to its own devices Parker's brain would not even know the right side of his body existed. But he is not left to his own devices and he has an incredible team of therapists, teachers, and a family with a mother that will not give up on that right hand.

I have looked into this therapy for a long time and knew it was coming, but we had to be in the right place emotionally to take it on (something about 8 months of seizures, moving across the country and moving twice in one year...) And now finally we are here!  And it has not been nearly as bad or as stressful as my mind made it out to be.  The hardest part is that unfortunately we had to discharge from one of my favorite OTs ever (I have a few- don't worry if you are another of our favorite OTs) and switch his OT for 3 months to Gillette hospital for this therapy-- but this is what they do. This hospital is incredible and the whole hospital is designed and set up for kids just like Parker.  And we live 17 minutes away.  People travel from all over the world to come here, so we might as well take advantage of what they have to offer. But I really miss my OT.

So the idea of CIMT is that you cast the good hand all the way to his shoulder down past his fingers to constrict the good arm and force the brain to use the right arm.  A permanent cast for 4 weeks. (As opposed to a cast that can be removed for baths, etc) That is the premise. Unfortunately, my tricky adaptable child has adapted quite well to having a club for a left hand is still functioning quite well.  But we are trying!  And there is progress- and any improvement at all will be so worth it.  We actually plan to do this therapy once a year for as long as he will tolerate it and hopefully continue to see improvements.  Here are some pictures and videos for your info, entertainment, or however you choose to enjoy. :)

Hands down, meal time is the best.

This kid is highly motivated by food.  He is my child after all.

And don't you love his cheering section?

Sometimes when Mom is not feeding you fast enough, you have to take matters into your own hands.  

Or face...

And did you know that casts make great bats?  Especially when the arm is not actually broken?

I sure love this tricky adaptable child of mine.  I love him to pieces.