Hands and Knees

Jessica seems to be stronger since having this procedure.  It's only been three weeks since her treatment.  We have been trying to get her to use her hands while she's on her knees.  She really tries to crawl when she sees something she likes on the floor...only she still can't seem to co-ordinate it.  She does the next best thing by sitting up and then rolling over, until she gets things.  I've found her dirty diapers all over her bedroom floor because she made her way to her garbage can...not so nice, but GREAT to see her get it.  You can only laugh when you walk into a mess like that!!

She's sitting up so straight and definately holds herself upright much better when she sees things that excite her.




Love to see her catch herself when she falls backwards!

These are my FAVORITES!  I love seeing her on her knees and hands!

Small strides makes for huge gains!

Something New

Jess and I had a 13 and a half hour day in Toronto for her seating clinic and to be fitted for her new back brace. We've had it for a couple days now and I have a LOVE/HATE feeling towards the hard brace.

LOVE the fact that when she's in her seat with her brace on she sits so straight.  She actually looks two inches taller!  As you can see it doesn't bother her...happy, happy!! 







HATE the fact that when I take her out of the seat and put her on the floor...she doesn't move :(  



It was a sad day seeing her just laying there and not moving especially after all the gains she has made to get where she is today.  After seeing her not moving, the brace will be off during tummy/floor time so she will be able to build her muscles and continue to move around on the floor.   

The reasoning for this brace is that last month an x-ray was taken which demonstrated a s- shape at 108 degree scoliotic curve along with a rotation of the spine.  The good thing is that Jessica's back remains flexible through the thoracic area. 
Jessica's x-ray of her pelvis shows adduction and subluxation of the left hip...basically the left bone is just sitting on the edge and not seated in the hip socket. 

Do we brace or don't we brace?  Well, just over two years ago, Jessica was at a 36 degree curve...now she's at 108 degree!!  Yeah...It still shocks me every time I say it.  Is she in pain?? Who knows...she doesn't show it, but then again, we don't know half the time that her ear drum has burst until we see stuff coming out and then she's crying.  She's one tuff cookie!  


An x-ray was done with the brace on and her back measured 48 degrees!  Big difference from 108!  So we give this a try and see if it helps.  We can only try...

Update on Jessica's Progress

Well, it's been just over a week and I must say we have seen some new strengths in Jessica that were not there before.  She appears to be stronger in the torso area, in that her sitting has improved.  When she gets excited while seated she is not falling back as much.  I have also seen her stop herself from falling over with her weak hand which she has not done in front of me before!  This is all very exciting for us.  In the past two days she has not needed a bib for her drooling and seems really dry in her mouth before bed.  I'm going to try and cut back her drool medication!!! I'm so excited with all these improvements all ready and feel the next couple of months will be very promising!!!!

Great to be Home!

Sorry it took a bit before I got back on the blog.  It's been a bit of an adjustment with the time change once again and the house hold things like laundry and shopping were a must!  The flight home was good.  We had some turbulence and unfortunately they had a computer glitch which effected the monitors to watch movies...harder to entertain Jessica.  


Jessica is doing great!  Smiles as usual and her puncture site and bone marrow extraction site are gone.  It was not invasive at all and if we start seeing things in the next six months there is no question that we would go back for a second treatment!


Thanks again to everyone and I will post updates on Jessica's progress!