School's Out For Summer

Bryce has now completed his second session at the Conductive Learning Center of Greater Cincinnati. We are amazed at the results from this session. The biggest change, has been the way that he uses his hands more and more by keeping his hands open and not as fisted. He is able to stand flat footed (instead of on his toes)... this is probably a combination of school and the Botox he got a few weeks ago. Bryce has become more aware of his mouth, especially his tongue. By the end of the second week, Bryce and I really started working as a team. Many of the tasks that we found difficult to do, we were doing (with little to NO assistance from the conductor). I was proud of both of us!

It has been an absolute GREAT four weeks. I had the chance to focus on my boys and not have the added pressures of work. As Bryce gets to now start his summer, I have to return to work. Back to the real world some would say, as if we haven't been in it all along. Bryce will start his next session in September. He has a few appointments scheduled and some in-home therapy... other than that. He has a few months of just being a kid.

Fourth of July Celebrations

We had a very busy holiday weekend, but we all had a blast. Swimming, picnics, s'mores and of course FIREWORKS. We are all exhausted and still trying to catch up on rest. We are at the start of the last week of Bryce's CLCGC session, which means very close to the end of my leave from work. It has been so great to be able to focus on the boys, especially Bryce's therapies/appointments. I will be heartbroken next week when I go back to the other part of my "real world."

Tomorrow Bryce will be starring in his first ever Video Debut. We have been asked to participate in a research video for Cincinnati Children's Hospital. I have been asked other times but turned them down. Bryce was chosen because he met all requirements.... 2 year old, born at least 28 weeks or earlier, low birth weight and has to have CP. No doubt he can check all of those off, but what might just surprise these researchers is that he is TOTALLY blowing the theory the medical professionals had. He is far from the very low quality of life and basically vegetative state that everyone warned us he would be. I wouldn't let this video pass us by, of course we will do it!

Never lose HOPE!

CLCGC Session 2 ends...

So Week 2 of the session has come and gone. It was an eventful week to say the least. Bryce missed a few days because he got sick -- beginning stages of pneumonia. We caught it early enough so he didn't get as sick as he could have. No hospitalization required- thanks goodness!

We have seen so many improvements up to this point. He has much better trunk control, keeps his hands open more and his head control is improving greatly. He can sit independently for seconds at a time. He gets through the 3 hour therapy session with less crying each time. In the picture above you can see Bryce with the Conductor standing and she doesn't have a finger on him! This again, is for seconds at a time..but I don't count. You see people say baby steps -- these aren't baby steps for Bryce -- these are HUGE STEPS!!! I couldn't be any more proud!

He is doing WONDERFUL! I absolutely LOVE this place and Conductive Education. We 100% believe in what they are doing and I know that Bryce will be the best he can, in part, because of this therapy!

Cohen is doing great as well. He talks and talks and talks. He has something new to say daily. He is really becoming such a sweet little man. You can see that twin bond come out in them more and more all the time. Cohen always tries to involve Bryce whether is be when playing, snack time or a simple drink from a cup- it is true that he steals a lot of his toys and gives him a lot of "love taps" every now and again. He seems to be gaining the understanding of Bryce's limits, which amazes me since they are so young. Cohen is such a great motivator for Bryce - I can't wait to see what the future holds for these two miracles!

CLCGC June Session Week 1

Week 1 of the June session is close to an end. We have finally made it to Friday of an extremely busy week. Bryce has already started tolerating the three hour a day (5 days a week) intense therapy program. I am so excited to see what progress he continues making over the next three weeks. He is going to be ending the week with a much needed massage right after class tomorrow. I would say Lucky Bryce, but if you could see all that this little guy has been through this week--- all I can say is it is much deserved!

The run-down of this week... 15 hours of therapy, roughly 7 hours of appointments, 15 (maybe more) Botox injections, a consultation for AFOs, trip to the zoo, picnic and a quick stop at the playground.

We look forward to slowing the pace down for the weekend.

Back to School and much more...

Things have been crazy busy for us lately. Bryce has had a very bad double ear infection for weeks now. His health had improved so it was surprising to hear that his ears were still infection. This news after weeks of being sick, breathing treatments, a long list of various antibiotics. Now we are scheduled to meet with an ENT Doctor at the end of the month. Bryce has also started a new four week session at the Conductive Learning Center. This session he goes 5 days a week from 9am to Noon. I have taken a 4 week leave from work so that I can go with him... It is nice to be off and to focus on Bryce and his therapies, but we have been busier than ever. This week we have had therapy in the morning and appointments in the afternoon. Hoping next week we will have a few afternoons to enjoy.

We were able to take a break yesterday and take the boys to the zoo after therapy and a quick Pediatrician appointment. We all had a blast! The lion roared while we were there... Cohen roared the rest of the way home. It was the most amazing sound. We then went to the park for a picnic and play time at the playground at Sawyer Point. It was a great day!

Cohen is doing great. He is my "chatty Cathy"... He doesn't stop talking and we LOVE it! He talks and talks and talks. It is amazing to hear him. He has gotten very demanding with his new talking skills. SIT MOMMY SIT has become a regular. Maybe I should listen to him more. He has also been going on the potty --- standing up!!! That's our boy.

The next few days consist of more therapy, a second round of Botox and massage therapy. We can't wait for the weekend!

2 Years Old!

Happy Birthday Cohen & Bryce!

It continues to amaze me when I think back at how far the boys have come and how far we have come as a family. We were told on more than one occasion that Bryce would not make it and if he did he would be like a "vegetable." I refused to believe everything they told us, but I would be lying if I didn't say that I never wondered what kind of future we had chosen for him. Fast forward 2 years.... Things are not exactly a walk in the park, but they are far from the grim future that some had described. We live life to the fullest and we will NEVER take the little things for granted. My life has forever changed and I am so very proud of my little family. How lucky we are that our eyes have been opened and we know now the true meaning of LIVING.

We went to the Museum Center today, it was a blast! Cake and presents at home just us!

Saturday we will celebrate with our family and friends. It is so much more than a birthday party, but a celebration of life - 2 lives that we were very close to losing.

So Happy Birthday to my little miracles, may you always be happy and live life to the fullest.

April Session ends - Trip to the Krohn Conservatory

We have had a very busy April. Bryce just completed his first four week session at the Conductive Learning Center of Greater Cincinnati. He has made a some amazing changes over the past four weeks there. He is now using the potty quite often. He probably goes 80% of the time that we put him on it. I have to be honest, potty training was far from my mind and I hadn't yet considered trying with him. Now we just have to work on a sign for him to start letting us know when he needs to go. I hated to see the April session come to an end, we absolutely love this program and it is going to be more than amazing for Bryce and his progression. He will have a break for the month of May and will start back in June. Everyone needs a little vacation. This will give him time to just be a kid - and of course, to celebrate turning the Big 2!

Cohen is doing great as well. He is running around like a little wild man. He is more destructive by the day and talks talks talks. He sure does keep us on our toes- typical 2 year old. We are working on potty training with him as well, but he isn't as fond of it as brother. Still a long way to go, but I guess we will get there in time. Cohen is starting to include Bryce more and more in anything that he does. It is so amazing to see their bond getting stronger all the time. I am so thankful that they have each other.

To end the April session we all went on a field trip with some other kiddos/conductors/assistants to the Krohn Conservatory to see the Butterfly Show. We were able to all four go and we had a wonderful time. That is until Cohen decided to have one of the infamous (2 year old) tantrums.... it was way past nap time for him.