Wordless Wednesday

Evaluation

Madison's evaluation went fine yesterday.  It really wasn't what we expected.  For one, we thought it was going to be the case manager/developmental specialist and an occupational therapist.  However, it was the case manager/developmental specialist (Melissa) and a nurse.  I really don't know why the nurse was there.  She had to weigh, measure, listen to her heart and lungs, etc.  It was really pointless, especially after she found out how healthy Madison was.  And, I thought that they were going to be watching Madison and taking notes on her, but no.  It was a series of questions and answers that they asked Jeff and me.  The questions were really strange, and it was hard to say that "yes, she does that" or "no, she doesn't do that."  A lot of what she does was in a gray area...meaning that yes, she might do that but not in the way they were expecting.  So, they didn't give her credit for it.  However, they both even said that they thought they probably should give her credit.  For her motor skills, she scored at 10 months.  And, the reason they told me is because she can't go from standing to sitting yet.  If she could do that, she would have scored much higher.  I'm guessing around 12 to 13 months.  But, they said since she just started pulling up that she will learn the sitting thing fairly fast.  She also scored at 10 months for her cognitive development.  However, they didn't believe that at all.  They thought she was fairly close to age appropriate on that, but again, it was all in the whole gray area.  They weren't concerned by it at all.  Everything else she scored right around her age or above.  So, she did qualify for the program, and she is set up for two 60 minute sessions a month.  They will be in home with lots of homework for mom and dad to help Madison with.  They really think in 3 months that she will be walking.  I think in about 2 months, so at 18 months...which is what my Mom and I have both said all along.  The therapy will be just with the developmental specialist, Melissa, and the first session is next Friday.  It will be more of a informative session, and what is expected, etc.  It won't count towards the 2 sessions a month, so she will still have 2 more in the month of May.  Melissa did give us some homework to try.  She wanted us to minimize open spaces.  Basically, create "islands" so that it is easier to walk to things than it is to crawl.  So, we moved stuff around last night a little bit in the living room so that she can go from one thing to the other, but of course, she hasn't.  Also, she said to get a hula hoop and hold on to one end while Madison holds on to the other.  I really didn't see how that would help, but we will do it.  And, they also suggested getting a wooden spoon for her to hold on to instead of our hand, but this is only when she can walk holding one hand.  It will be a little bit until we get there.  The program is of course voluntary, and we tell them when we are done.  At that point, they will re-evaluate her just so they can document it.  So, hopefully this therapy helps.  Jeff and I personally don't know if she needs this since she is progressing on her own, but we will do it and see what happens!

Easter Eggs...a little late!

Since we didn't get to dye Easter eggs for Easter, we dyed them this weekend.  Madison wasn't really into it, which I really didn't think she would be.  She's having a lot of issues with napping right now.  Since she has learned to pull up, she pulls up in the crib, but then she doesn't know how to sit back down.  So, she was rather fussy while Mommy and Daddy dyed eggs.  We had fun nonetheless!

Here are Daddy and Miss Madison!  She's such a ham!

And here's all the dye and eggs!

And, Miss Madison preformed another new trick for us last night.  She had been standing by the coffee table and kinda cruising around.  Well, she walked over to the side where the little step stool was (it's the one from our closet that she first pulled up on), and she put her hands down on it and got in front of the stool.  The next thing we know she's lifting her leg and putting her knee up on the stool.  She proceeded doing this until the other knee was up there.  And, finally she did the same thing to the coffee table and ended up on top of the table!!  She was sooo proud of herself.  She took off crawling for the other side.  Of course, she was laughing the entire time. 

Here she is after I caught her!  Like I said, she was very proud!

Tomorrow is the ECI evaluation.  I'm hoping we don't need any sort of therapy, but if we do, then that's fine too!  If she does need therapy, I don't think she will need it for long.  She's already trying to let go and stand by herself!

Madison's week

Madison and I didn't do a whole lot this week.  I mostly chased her around the house.  She loves going in the office now.  She can pull open drawers, and get books off the shelf.  Of course, Mommy wishes she would just stay out.  It's not very kid friendly.  I've been shutting the doors, and she gets really, really upset.  Last night she banged on the doors so much that she actually got one open!  

Here's some of what ensues when she goes in there.  I mean who needs a shredder when you have Miss Madison?!?!  She LOVES to rip up paper.  I had a stack of stuff to be shredded, and she went in there and shredded it for me!

And, another favorite place of hers is the extra bedroom.  I really don't want her in there either because the litter box is in there.  We tried putting a gate on the door, but it was such a pain that it only lasted a day.  She also likes to get into the trash can that is in there.  Here she is with me telling her no, that we don't get in the trash.  

And here she is going ahead anyway!

Another HUGE thing that has happened this week is that she is FINALLY pulling to a stand by herself.  She was very proud of herself too.  She doesn't do it all the time though, and she likes to do it when you aren't watching.  She likes to pull up on the bathtub and this little step stool that I had in our closet.  And, we have gone in her room twice now, and she's been standing in her crib!  She also pulled up once on her little laugh and learn table.  So, here are random pics of her where she has pulled up all by herself!

 

She's really starting to "cruise" more when you stand her by the coffee table or the ottoman.  And, she is walking if I hold on to her hands.  She walked to her Daddy that way tonight.  I'm very proud.  It will be interesting to see now what her evaluation says.

And, she got this stroller for her birthday.  She's supposed to walk with it, but of course, she's never been able to use it.  Well, I've been trying to get her to try and use it, but she never wanted to hold on to it before.  Well, she did, and she did walk with it a little bit.  She wasn't too sure at first, but eventually thought it was fun.

So, that's what Miss Madison and I did most of the week.  We all ran errands most of the day, and we are cleaning house tomorrow.  We are hoping Jeff can mow too, but it's raining so we don't know.  I hope everyone is having a fantastic weekend!

UGH!

As a lot of you know, things have been hectic around here.  Last week we had insurance look at our car.  They really wanted to total it.  We told them no.  In the end, it wasn't totaled, and it is getting fixed the middle of May.  On Wednesday morning, Jeff's Grandma passed away.  She has suffered from Alzheimer's for years.  She died very peacefully.  She went to take a nap, and she never woke up.  So, the viewing was on Friday night, and the funeral was Saturday morning.  Jeff, Madison, and I flew up to Indiana on Friday.  We came home very early Sunday morning.  My parents were very nice and actually came to our house to watch all the animals.  Otherwise, we wouldn't have gotten to go.  We are very lucky to have them in our lives.  Not too many people would do that.  So, I basically saw my parents for a few hours on Thursday night and a few hours Sunday morning.  So, all the Easter plans went out the window.  Jeff had to be at the airport bright and early today to go to Ft. Lauderdale for the week.  Madison is still waaaay off her schedule, and she is very moody.  I really think she is just really tired.  The trip was a lot for her.  I've already told Jeff that it will be a very long time before we fly with her again.  I won't fly with her while she's little.  It just was too much.  It's easier when they are a true baby or when they are older.

So, that's what has been going on.  Madison and I have a few things planned this week.  I don't know if we will get them accomplished.  I'm hoping to just try and get her back on a schedule and eating right.  Hopefully, things will go back to normal now.  I keep thinking that the big, black rain cloud that is over us will move on down the road!!

When it rains...

It pours!  I swear it has just been one thing after another this week.  I'm soooo glad that it's Wednesday.  It's just a few more days until the weekend!

So, Monday morning I went to wash my hands, and we had no water!!  So, I looked outside to see if I could see a break or something.  Nope!  But, I did see a work truck with flashing lights about a block away.  I called the water department, and they told me that they were working on it, and it should be back on around 3pm...but they couldn't guarantee that!  I was so mad.  It would have been nice to have had a little warning.  Then the HOA was having their fence stained.  Well, it was incredibly windy (like 30mph), and they got stain all over the house, the patio, the patio furniture, etc.  Jeff filed a complaint with the HOA, and the fence staining people came out yesterday and cleaned it all up.  

And finally, Monday night about 10:30, we had a horrific hail storm.  Of course, Jeff's car was in the driveway.  We didn't have time to get it in.  The hail was between golf ball to baseball size.  Yesterday morning Jeff went out to see the damage.  Yeah, it destroyed the windshield, broke a window in the office (luckily it was double paned and just broke the outer pane), our gutters are all banged up, half the landscape lighting is broken, and I'm fairly certain we are going to need a new roof!  And, that's just what we could tell.  I hope that is all.  Jeff ended up taking off yesterday since he was only going to be at work for a few hours.  The adjuster is coming on the 10th at 1:30.  It's just how I want to start out the Easter weekend!  

And, the last blow came yesterday afternoon.  Jeff had let Nacho out because our construction/warranty manager was coming by.  In the meantime, he went outside to clean up glass.  Well, the construction/warranty manager showed up.  He was talking to him, and Madison and I went out to talk to him too.  Well, Jeff has been having this tendency to not shut the back door all the way.  Yep, Nacho jumped on it so much that it came open.  I came in after being out there for 10 to 15 minutes to find the house full of mud, the back door open, and no cats anywhere!  I was panic stricken.  My babies don't go outside.  They've never been outside.  I ran to the door, and I saw JJ sticking his head out of Nacho's dog house.  I put Madison in the floor with her toys, and I tried to go get JJ.  Yeah, he ran.  I finally got him inside, but still couldn't find the other two.  I eventually found Abby behind the couch, and Annie finally appeared in the hall.  I was sooo relieved.  In the end, Jeff cleaned up all the mud.  And everyone seemed to be okay!

So today, the windshield repair people were supposed to be here between 8 and 12.  But guess what....they didn't show!!!  Jeff called and they told him that they knew he was still coming because the glass was on the truck!  I sure hope they show.  I hate being left here without a car!

I hope everyone is doing better than we are.  Please send good vibes our way!  We need them!