Anna's physical therapy activities this last week included walking up and down stairs with her crutches, completing more obstacle courses with her crutches (up and down squishy ramps are some of the hardest parts ... it's all about challenging her balance), more pulleys, playing balloon volleyball with her crutches (Kate and Ethan got to join in on this one at the end of therapy last Monday), playing scooter soccer (with siblings, again), and a 2.8 mile bike ride one day which included a stop at the playground to learn how to navigate different playground surfaces with her crutches. She was pretty wiped out that afternoon.
Measurements from the week included a new personal record of 530 ft. for Anna's 6 minute walking test with her crutches. Her self-proclaimed goal for the summer for this test is 800 ft.; quite a lofty one, if you ask her therapists. The other notable measurement was for a 10 meter walking test with the crutches. Kids (and adults, I suppose) are asked to walk 10 meters as quickly as they can. Back in May, Anna's best attempt took 45 seconds. Last Wednesday, she made it in 10 seconds. That's some pretty awesome progress. It sounds like Miss Anna may also be starting a 10 meter walking test WITHOUT any devices sometime this week. Whoa.
Anna's occupational therapy activities included some of the same balance and stamina basics (stairs, pulleys, etc.), but also making (and eating) pancakes, typing up the directions for making a lava lamp and then actually making the lava lamp, making cookie dough, and creating a splatter painting.
Anna was definitely more tired this past weekend than she has been in awhile, but she was still ready to go this week for another round of therapy. The staff at CI does a wonderful job making sure the experiences stay as positive as possible, even though these kids are really put through the ringer during their Advance sessions.
Kate, Ethan, and I spent our mornings in a variety of ways, alternating "fun" activities with "work" activities. One fun day involved a 5-6 mile bike ride on one of the local biking trails. That day I learned that a lot has changed on the bike trails since I lived near them some 15+ years ago :) Another fun day involved a bike ride for Ethan and scooter ride for Kate to the playground nearby CI. Our work days included running errands, grocery shopping, and gardening. My two helpers loved using the kitchen tools :)
Whenever there was any semblance of down time (which actually happened quite a lot), though, Kate and Ethan got to play.
Our afternoons were a bit more variable. Some days the weather cooperated for playing in the pool, but other days it didn't. Kate and Ethan are trustworthy enough these days that I can send them out there together, as long as Ethan has his floaty on. Without his floaty, though, this boy can now swim. Crazy child. First he learned to ride a two-wheeler when he was three; now he learns to swim when he is four. Who knew these genes were floating around in our family?
Thursday afternoon, a friend from CI who is only in town during the Advance session came over to our house to hang out. Part of the afternoon included creating a colorful tablecloth for the next few days. Kate and Ethan added to it whenever they felt like it, too.
Friday afternoon was a dully, rainy day, so we headed into town for a great game of bowling. The kids were asking to go again as early as Sunday :)
As if this all wasn't enough, Saturday morning was the first round of picking and freezing green beans and Sunday afternoon included some garden clean-up/preparation for the fall crops of peapods, beets, and broccoli. Sandwiched between those activities was the BCCN Summer Picnic at Little Amerricka. (No wonder I'm tired!)
This year we opted to go for go-kart rides right away, then several trips around on the wooden roller coaster before grabbing some lunch. Then a sight-seeing ride, the "not-so-fun" funhouse, some time on the ferris wheel, and a train ride around the grounds rounded out the day. It was a fun afternoon, but also pretty hot and uncomfortable as the day wore on.
This is the part of the year when life just keeps ramping up and it doesn't really settle down again until the second week of September or thereabouts.
Please continue to pray for Anna and her team as they work through the last two weeks of her intensive therapy session. Pray for her motivation, stamina, growth, and safety.
Pray also for the rest of us as we continue to make another six weeks of memories before the school year begins!
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