Dear Faithful Followers,
I do appologize--I have not been such a faithful blogger. It has been over a month since my last blog. Partly, words just don't flow so freely. Partly, it is easier to ignore than face.
With summer upon us, Brandt will be back at home with me! I am so excited to have all of the summer to enjoy him being my little man. I had been talking big plans for the summer, adopting a schedule of events to help us keep a fun routine. Perhaps, beach on Monday, park on Wednesday, pool on Friday, and daily walks around the neighborhood! Of course, then there is always backyard slides, basketball, t-ball, and the kiddie pool.
I had big plans for this summer--and it all sounded so good. That is, until I was faced with a reality check. Therapy. Somewhere in my schedule of letting Brandt be a crazy toddler, I have to make way for speech therapy and physical therapy. Pow. Reality hit my like a ton of bricks. I had completely forgotten about the weekly demands of therapy. How could I have forgotten. But, a quick reminder put my distractions back in check.
It all started with a simple text. The physical therapist texted me to remind me that we would need to setup a schedule to meet at my house over the summer. She also continued with the skills that would be working on--with special attention to Brandt's balance and walking.
True, Brandt is walking. In fact, he never stops walking. I cannot even get this kid to sit down to eat or watch a tv show. He just loves being up and exploring the world around him! Still, his walking skills aren't so great. He often loses his balance when walking on uneven surfaces or running. Over the past months of bloody lips and busted gums, I have noticed that his lack of balance is due to his uncoordinated movements. Instead of bringing his legs striaght out in front of him to take steps, he almost does more of a waddle. He slightly swings his legs around the slide of him to move forward. Even more so, he does not walk evenly on his feet. In fact, if he walks around barefoot on abrasive surfaces (sidewalk, concrete, etc), the balls of his forefeet get all cut up. I guess he tries to grib the ground with his toes, instead of letting his whole foot help with balance.
So, yes, definately have to make time for therapy. This is just a part of our reality. During the school year, it is one of those "out of sight--out of mind" things. I see that Brandt falls, but I dismiss it as him stumbling from overexcitement. And, honestly, the kid falls like 20 times a day, so we have kind of learned to ignore--what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger, after all.
I don't see the weekly therapy sessions and our communication is sporadic at best. I guess I have just came to terms with it all and accepted that HIS normal is OUR normal. Sometimes, it is just easier to accept things the way that they are, rather than to make yourself crazy in search of answers.
So, in acceptance, we have moved forward. No longer are we driving back and forth to Miami Children's Hospital. No longer are following up with specialists and seeking a diagnosis. I have decided that a diagnosis is not going to change things, nor is it going to make things better. The only thing that is going to make things better is family support and therapy. So, that is our route, our pathway to success. We just continue to work with him and have high hopes for the future!
