A very nice day

Ian and I had a lovely day today. Two of the three therapists were still out of town so no sessions. We had 2 weeks with just one session each week. I was so excited to just get up and go with him and Lila but sadly it didn't happen because we were all sick. Such a bummer!

But this morning I got his treatments out of the way before Lila woke up. He and Lila watched a sign language DVD while I made them breakfast. We dropped her off at preschool for an extended day (staying for lunch which is an option 2 times a week) and headed off to the aquarium. I just love that place and so does he. It was so nice being there with just him. I really felt like we were just a normal mommy & son. The only difference was his oxygen. It causes many to stare but I'm used to it. And little kids always walk up pointing at him asking what's wrong, how did he get hurt.

Overall, it was such a lovely trip. He actually really looked a many of the fish, the lorikeets and the sea lions. He stood often and pressing his hands against the glass. (Of course I sanitized directly afterwards ;-) I had him in the Ergo for some of the time, which we both love! He's so cuddly and loving. And he loves to bounce! (We went to see the Rose Parade floats on Monday and he rode in it most of the time. We danced and bounced all over the place!)

We picked up Lila on the way home and then he was down for a nap. After waking we went for a walk (Lila scooted and Ian rode in his little car) with Bella (our dog) and a couple neighborhood girls. It was just such a beautiful evening!

After bath and treatments again, our night ended with a pulled out gTube. Now that he's so much more mobile the cords really get in the way. I calmly replaced the tube while Mike held him somewhat still. The calm part was a first. I guess I'm getting used to it.

I've been spending my evenings before sleep doing research via a Facebook group on M-cm, Ian's latest diagnosis. It's quite amazing to connect with these people all over the world with kids similar to Ian. I had previously been checking out the Polymicrogyria group but those kids did not have as much in common as these M-cm kids. Just like everything else, there's a range with these kids too. Kind of hard to tell exactly where they all are but I'm starting to get a feel that they might be higher functioning. It seems there are many that don't talk but so far what I'm reading is a lot of them walk. You can tell by my recent posts I really feel Ian will be walking in the next few months.

While he's still very behind, I can just feel him catching up, slowly but surely. He's still got a long way to go but it seems things are falling into place for him. He still doesn't talk but babbling again includes ning and an occasional nana. Daddy is still strong but Momma is gone again. He often doesn't look when you call his name. A silent reminder of his delay. He's not pointing at anything and will not look when you point to something. But, he's just starting to follow objects passing him by that make noise. Not always, but sometimes. He followed a bird flying by yesterday which was so cool. And he followed more things today.

I feel if I can give him more days like today it would help him progress. I'm going to try to work out the therapy sessions differently so that we have a couple mornings free to go and just live. Like I did with Lila when she was little. We were always on the go. And that's what Ian needs to do... just go! Maybe so much therapy isn't the right thing to do. Maybe he just needs the therapy that life experiences can give him. Who knows.