I was hoping to be better about writing in here, but things are beyond busy most of the time, and I guess I just don't make the time for it that I should...so here I am, trying to catch up.
Kegan has had three occupational therapy sessions now, and I'm really starting to see improvement. He is much more content, spends more time "chillin" now doing things other than hyper/destructive/aggressive activity. We still have incidents, but they are definitley decreasing. But hey, he's only 4, and a lot of his behavioral habits have to be retrained, but I am so excited that he is "with us" so much more...I'm more able to reach him every day, and he is also more aware of himself within his surroundings (physical objects, people, etc.) I know it will take time before he develops full age-appropriate self-control and physical ability, but I'm amazed at the difference. And the greatest thing is that it's not just me. His teach took me aside a couple days ago to tell me how much improvement she is seeing in his being calmer and able to sit, decreased aggression, better listening, and even better fine motor skills (his handwriting is improving). Also, today was my surgery to have my wisdom teeth pulled, so my mom took care of him. She took him to her quilting group for four hours!! Anytime she has ever tried to take him there, they have had to leave within a half hour...he would climb on stuff, grab stuff, generally not listen, and be destructive, and not to mention the fits and crying...Today, she took her portable DVD player down, and he watched a move and colored and did kiddy worksheets "homework." She said he was also polite and respectful to the ladies, helping them and saying "thank you." =) I'm so proud of him!!! I know he is going to be an amazing man one day, and I feel so blessed to be a part of his life...sometimes I just cry when I think about the fact that he would most likely have died within another month if CPS did not remove him, and now look at him go!!
I'm also so proud of Ariel. She started back into physical therapy last week and has had three sessions so far. Even though it's painful for her, she's going and making the most of it, and she's been great about doing the home exercises. For those who don't know about why Ariel would be in physical therapy, she had heart surgery in June 2008 and had some sigificant complications following surgery. It has beeb a long recovery for her, physically and emotionally (but probably even more emotionally). She also has scoliosis in her back and significant hunching in her back as well as knee, ankle, and elbow joints that allow for too much movement of the bones within the joints (joint laxity). We have been told she has a nonspecific connective tissue disorder, whereas most of her bodily tissues tend to be too thick and also affecting her spinal alignment and joints. In physical therapy, she is workking on strengthening of her back due to muscle atrophy. She generally has poor muscle tone, but it is also common following open-heart surgery for people to develop kyphosis (hunching) because of the trauma to the sternum and long healing time where those muscles are not in use. She is also working on strengthening of her low back and hips as well as knees and ankles. I just very proud that it was her idea to start back into PT and that she has been dedicated to it thus far, as she has been emotionally unable to handle these things since surgery. I can't wait to see her get healthier and healthier, and to flourish into who God intends her to be!
Oh yeah, and I have changed my major to occupational therapy...I want to work with kids with special needs to cope and overcome those things that hold them back from their potential...EVERYONE is special to God!! I was going into social work, hoping to do attachment therapy with adoptive and foster kids because I really wanted to share my experience with other families, but the more I work to heal my babies, I realize that I don't have the emotional stamina to spend my work days see and hearing so much bad and then come home and be everything my kids need emotionally and mentally. I'm so excited to go into OT, especially the sensory end of things, and be able to work on the happier side of things, to have fun with the kids and see them progressing in their goals. As a bonus, there's also a lot more money in it and better hours!!! Yay! Life is so good right now!!
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