Sunday, January 22, 2012

3 down 2 to go!

Day 21 today and tomorrow we enter our fourth week! It feels so good to have the bulk of this behind us. I am trying my very hardest to keep positive and just take it all in. I am still really homesick but I am choosing to switch my focus.

Ryder is doing great and already, I can see so much progress. Today I watched his Ability camp application video, that I made just a few months back and I am shocked at how far he has come.  Since getting here he has gained a lot of balance, the first few days in their backwards walkers he needed someone to steer him around. Now he just takes off down the hall all by himself. He can steer into doorways and even throw his weight to completely turn himself around to go the opposite direction. He can even walk backwards!! lol I have also noticed he can stay up on his feet for longer periods of time. Before he would prefer to crawl and now if the walker is there he will crawl to it pull himself up and just go! His vocabulary has probably quadrupled and he often talks in sentences now too. I know Tyler is just going to be blown away when he sees him. Will be an exciting day for sure :)

Wish us luck for a great week!!

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Over half way done!!

Day 18 at Ability camp and we have now finally passed the half way point! I have been hesitant in writing a post because I am beyond homesick and I don't want to come across that we aren't grateful for this experience. Ryder is making good progress and I know this is worth every second. The days are hard and I am the only one here who doesn't get to have their husband here with them at some point. I am finding myself getting really mad at the whole situation and what we have lost then at other times I look around and am just so thankful for what we have. A lot of emotions, a lot of energy and for Ryder a LOT of hard work!!  We'll be fine and we will both come out of this stronger for sure but I will be very happy to finally go home.

Ryder has been having some really hard days in class during the beginning of the week but it seems to get better towards the end. I am finding his muscles in his legs and especially his arms are extremely tight right now. I am pretty sure we are having a growth spurt working against us. It's tough and he screams through all of his stretches and anytime he has to have his arms straight (which is a lot). It breaks my heart to hear him scream out in pain and I wish he could understand that I am only trying to help. After class however Ryder has a blast with all the other kids. I know he is going to miss this place when were home. He has a friend every where he looks :)

Oh and I must share the great news! Ryder has peed on the potty TWICE!! :) haha

I have been really bad for taking pictures but this is what we are working on right now...
Standing with Quad Canes!!! He can do this for about twenty seconds or so and he's getting better everyday and I am so proud of him!!


And because I know my mother will not be satisfied with a single shot of his backside... Here's a cheesy smile :)


 

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Day 10

Day 10 at Ability and I think we are finally in the swing of things. I know I have a lot more energy and Ryder seems to be happier too. Ryder's speech has improved so much since we got here. He is now making four word sentences, saying a lot more full words and can count to ten without skipping any numbers. His favorite thing right now is to talk about is what he "see's". lol He'll say " I see a tree or I see a cat" ect... He picked up my phone the other moring and said " I wanna call Dad!" It's so great to hear his little voice and the funny things he comes up with :) He has been doing pretty good with daily camp activities, still has his moments but really what two year old doesnt?!

He had a bit of a rough day today as he got himself so worked up during the parent break that he made himself throw up. Then he had to continue the day until lunch with an empty belly. Really hoping that doesn't happen again tomorrow but if it does I gave them his warning signs to watch out for so they can make a run for it if needed. Aparrently he's not the first one they have worked with that likes to pull that stunt, which makes me feel a bit better. Everything else has been going well. Mom left on Monday and everyone was sad to see her leave. She was a huge help and Im so thankful she made the trip out. Ryder still asks if she's sleeping everytime we go in our room. A toy lending truck came by today so we could borrow a toy or two for the next two weeks. Neat idea and Ryder was very excited about the little train mountain set we borrowed.  Not much else to say just that we are all working really hard and can't wait to see the end results :)

Even though we make it look fun, camp is A LOT of WORK!!

Ryder walking the hall

Practicing with the ropes

Friday, January 6, 2012

Week 1..... DONE!!

One down, four to go! Ryder had a good day and I finally feel like I have some energy at the end of the day. The past few days I have been in bed by 8 p.m. because I literally can not stay awake any longer. The days are extremely physically exhausting for the kids and mentally exhausting for the parents. Hoping Ryder and the others will all settle in to the routine for second week and we can start seeing some results for all this hard work.

Don't have much to say just that things are going well and I have a few video's to share that I couldn't upload the other day.

Day 2!

Day 5!

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Day 3

Day 3 at Ability Camp and we are all physically and mentally exhausted. Day one was really rough. The kids all screamed and I don't think there was a single parent in the room who didn't shed a tear or two.  It seems everyday gets a bit easier for Ryder and most of the other kids in the class. There are eight kids in the class and the families are amazing. It's a nice feeling to know your surrounded by people who just "get it".They have come from as far as Trinidad and Uganda! There is another mom from the states, me from New Brunswick then the rest I think are from here in Ontario. Ryder has made fast friends with a little boy named Dax. The two of them are the most mobile of the bunch and definitely the trouble makers of the group. Ryder will go up and down the halls calling for him. :) Things are done way differently here, they don't like any of our walkers we brought from home and have all the kids using basic walkers but backwards (bars in the front). Ryder was very confused at this and kept saying "turn around? turn? " lol... They also don't believe in using afo's or using high chairs while eating. All the kids eat at wooden plank tables with chairs and little wooden boxes for their feet to sit on. For the one's with very little trunk control they get a long bar thats bolted onto the table to hold on to. Everyone was given little orthopedic shoes to wear during our stay, not as fashionable as his Jordans but they do the job :) We also work on potty training and I swear Ryder is going to be traumatized from this experience and never use the toilet until he's 40! The kids also dont get any breaks for naps. The progam starts at 8:30 snack around 11:00 and finishes at luch for 1:30 then HBOT at 2:00 for those who are doing it.  I am really trying to keep an open mind but somethings just don't feel right. Like anything we have done, I will take what I believe is right for Ryder and leave the rest behind. The HBOT has gone well, it's done at the end of the class so the kids are usually crazy tired by that point.  I was a tad bit nervous the first time but now it just seems routine. Ryder slept the first two times but was wide awak for todays. After we get out he has crazy energy, probably  from all the oxygen. We have been heading back to the classroom to do our own thing and Ryder has a blast.

Well I need to appologize for any spelling mistakes as it's been a long day and I cant seem to get spell check to work! Good night all :)

We are not allowed to take pictures or videos in class but here are a few I took turing our play time after HBOT. :)


Sunday, January 1, 2012

Happy New Year!!!!

We arrived safely in Toronto. My flight was switched to a direct flight which I was extremely happy about. Unfortunately we had a four hour wait in the saint John airport but I was cool with that,  if it meant less travel. Everything worked out after that. Ryder did good on the flight. This was his first time flying with his own seat and he looked like such a big boy :) Next time I would like to try and bring his car seat, as it was tricky trying to get him to actually sit up in his seat with just the lap belt. My mom's flight arrived 5 minutes before mine and we met right at the baggage claim. Our car rental was the exact car that my mom drives back home which made the unfamiliar drive a little less stressful. Drivers here seem to be a little on the aggressive side but we managed to find our way. We are staying right down town and I can't get over how busy it is here! We went to the mall and you basically could not move,  PEOPLE EVERYWHERE!! 

Were on our way to Ability Camp! I am REALLY excited now!! We spent new years eve laying low in our hotel room so we could get an early start this morning. Hope everyone had a wonderful New Years!!