Lessons in Bowling Green

We spent the weekend in Bowling Green for 3 days of lessons for Jay. He saw 2 different practitioners who travel down here about once a month to see kids. He did quite well during lessons! The twins went along with us as well, and by the 6th lesson they were sooo done!

On Saturday we headed to Nashville so I could walk through the exhibit hall at a homeschooling convention. But with 3 busy little kids in tow, I couldn't do much looking around for curriculum options. I did write several things down so that I could research them later, though.

After the homeschooling convention, we headed to the mall at Opry Mills and ate dinner at the Aquarium restaurant. Kaylen was enthralled and could have stood watching the fish all day! Cameron liked it too, but was very quickly side-tracked into dancing and singing and getting into other people's space... Jay did look at the fish for a little while several times, too.

Another day we ate at Chick-fil-a and Jay played in the play area for the first time ever!! He liked to watch the little wooden pieces spin, then would try to spin them himself!

On Sunday, our lessons were serenaded by the WKU marching band, who practiced outside our window almost the entire morning! Thankfully Jay didn't even seem to notice.

6 Weeks After Surgery

It has already been 6 weeks since Jaymin's surgery! It is hard to believe! I am very impressed with the continued lack of spasticity in his adductor muscles which previously pulled his knees tightly together. That would be the biggest reason we had the surgery and the main result that I see so far. Hopefully it will translate into a much better hip x-ray when we follow-up with the surgeon in a couple months! His knees and ankles are easier to straighten now than they were previously and he rests them in neutral positions more frequently.

I am still very sad that we had to cancel his lessons in Asheville, NC the first of this month, due to snow. I really wanted to get in some extra lessons right after surgery, but I couldn't do anything about it. I really wish we had an experienced practitioner closer to us! I feel like he could be learning so much more, but I'm just not able to get to lessons so far away more than once a month, due to lack of money (and time).

It's probably not a good day for me to be posting an update, as we have had some rough spots the last couple days. Jaymin seems to be tired of, and bored by, all the activities that he usually does during the day. I've tried multiple new ideas, but they've all been met with a distinct unhappiness. He wants and needs some new things to do, and I'm having a really hard time coming up with anything that he likes and is able to do, so there's lots of whining and fussing going on, which is hard for everyone to deal with. We sooo badly need a way for him to communicate!!

Tomorrow we go to Bowling Green for 3 days of lessons. We will be seeing 2 traveling practitioners whom we've never met, so hoping for good lessons and more learning!

Oh!! And before I forget!! I received a refund of $943.45 from the surgical center this week! I had paid the estimated cost up front, then a couple weeks ago received a bill for $4,000.00 more. So I called them multiple times until someone went into his account and straightened it out. I was very thrilled to receive a refund instead of owing more money! (I've changed the fundraising thermometer to show current totals)

I've got a long to-do list, calling people and places to find the special equipment we are looking for, looking into a different medical waiver program, and getting in to the speech clinic to see if we can find a way for him to communicate. And I haven't even started thinking about his birthday, which is sneaking up on me next month...

Casts Came Off Today

Despite the grim weather predictions of several inches of sleet and 6-12" of snow, we made our appointment in Clarksville this morning to get Jay's casts removed. It was fun to pack socks and shoes in his backpack again!

Jay didn't really mind the cast saw, much to the orthotist's surprise! 

They were pretty tightly fitted around ankle and heel, so it took some work to get them off. 

Some skinny little feet and legs need a serious soaking in the bath!! 

Then we casted his feet again briefly to make a mold for his ankle-foot orthotics and took multiple measurements for the hip brace the Dr. ordered for him. Because of Medicaid approval taking several weeks, these things won't be ready for 3-5 weeks yet. 

Also Jay received a box in the mail yesterday with a swing someone purchased off his amazon wish list!

And thank you to several people who have recently sent donations to help with his surgery expenses! I have received a bill from the surgical center, first saying that we owed another $4,000 something, but after speaking with them and finding out where the money I paid them had been applied, the latest decision is that I will be refunded a little more than $900.  So hopefully that is correct! 😊