Family - Flesh and Fur!

Does anyone else love pictures of their hubby and baby as much as me?

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Last Saturday, my cousin Love'e and her husband Gary came over to visit. We haven't had pics of her holding Eli in a long time...so we got this great pic!

My cousins took my mom's dogs after she died 3 years ago. It was such a blessing for me. I didn't have to worry about them during that most difficult time of my life. But, their life situation has changed and it was time for my "baby brothers" to move in with us!

I'd like you to meet HARLEY:

and BUDDY:

Harley needs a forever home where he will be spoiled rotten. We hope we can find one for him soon.

Buddy is fitting in really well with our dogs, and we are thinking we might keep him around. We'll see.

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Eli has slept on his tummy, all night, for about two years. He now likes to go to sleep on his side...and I flip him over after he's in a deep sleep. Well, last night he decided to roll onto his back...and he stayed asleep!

My boy is growing up before my eyes, I tell ya!

For now, we can't leave him this way, because if he starts to stir, it will scare him...so not long after this picture was taken, I put him on his tummy.

Then at 1:45 am when I got up to give Eli his meds, his tummy was wet. G-tube/Extension malfunction of some kind. Haven't had that happen before. I had to change his layers on his bed, change his clothes, underpants, re-dress his stoma, and put a new guaze wrap on his belly. That last thing finally woke him up....luckily I was done...so I scooped him up and put him back in his bed, layed down with him and he went right back to sleep. Whew. Poor guy. I hate it when that stuff happens.

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Today, he looked particularly fabulous while long sitting with Tina (his caregiver/therapist).

Of course, I had to grab the camera!

Have a great week everyone! We are starting our countdown to Eli's 4th birthday!

6 MORE DAYS!

The Green Gazelle

Finally!

After more than six months...we have a stander in our possession!
This is the Gazelle by SnugSeat. Size 2.

It's a little bit big for him. But, when purchasing a $5000 piece of equipment, you want it to grow with them for a while!!! He needed this size for his heighth.....but his weight makes some of the straps too big. We'll make modifications as needed. As the parents of a disabled child, I think we get used to stuffing foam and rolled cloths into nooks and crannies to get things to work, and fit, for our children! :)

Karla, his PT, and Lonnie spent over an hour getting it all set up to fit him.

Isn't this hilarious? I just love his "evil eye"!

He spent about 15 minutes in it before he started a really sad little cry. I hope it's not hurting him. It's going to take him time to get used to it. It forces his legs into a position he's just not used to. So, dear family and friends, keep praying for our Eli. We want this to be successful for him. We want his hips to stay in place. We want it to help with digestion and BM's. We want him upright... looking at the world in the right way. He can use his arms to play with toys in front of him. God is good, and we pray for success. :) Many good things will come of this....I hope!

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Here is Eli 'walking' with Tina. I just love watching him!

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Finally, I leave you with the beautiful Bleeding Hearts I planted last week:

How can a person doubt the existence of God, after viewing such a beautiful creation as this?

Have a BEAUTIFUL day everyone!

Gazelle Stander

Yesterday we went and had Eli fitted for a stander.  It's called the Gazelle and it's made by SnugSeat.

We are doing a little more research, but I'm pretty sure we will be ordering this one.  Soon! :)

Eli was in a great mood, and did very well in the stander!  I have some video I'd like to share, but I see that blogger doesn't allow you to upload it directly like they used to.  Bummer. 

I'm going to have to figure out another way to add it here.

This is the large size. Too big for our boy!

He'll be getting the medium, and it's green!

DANG, I LOVE THIS BOY!

Physical Therapy Fun

Last week in PT, Laura and Eli sat in the ball pit and played.

This is a swing, believe it or not.

It's a large platform base with an innertube on it.

There's a boppy and a seat base in the middle,

which is then covered with a sheet.

Eli LOVES swinging in this.  The faster the better!

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Any idea why our cat "Little Girl" (I DID NOT name her!)

likes to sit on this tote and face the corner?

What a weirdo!

Goodbye, Janelle - A New Kitty - Sunset - and BRONCO RIDING!

Janelle, the intern PT, had her last day on Friday. We'll miss you!

She grew to love Eli, (like everyone who meets him does!), and she shed a few tears as she said goodbye.

Eli was so tired during therapy, but rather than fuss...he was Mr. Complacent. :) It was a good day.

(sorry if I spelled your name wrong!)

Eli walking in the KidWalk Gait Trainer again. He does SO GOOD in this! It just doesn't have enough (or any) head support for him.

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The newest addition to the "Berkheimer Bunch":

Holly Hobbie Kitty - makes 14 again!

We did put a sign up at the mailboxes on our road...

we'll see if anyone claims her? She's still just a kitty and sweet as can be!

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Not a great pic - just a pretty colored sunset!

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BRONCO RIDING WITH DADDY!

It was a beautiful sunny day on November 29th!!

(the black cat is Stanley - so nosey and so friendly!)

(yes, that's his DVD player attached to his Bronco!)

Everybody Dance Now! - Eli in a KidWalk Gait Trainer

"You Do the Hokey Pokey and You Turn Yourself Around...That's What It's All About!"

"I Want To Rock & Roll All Night and Party Every Day"

"Shake Your Groove Thang, It's a Funky Thang"

"Bust A Move"

"Jump Around, Jump Up, Jump Up and Get Down"

"Everybody Dance Now"

"I Want To See You Belly Dance"

"The Rhythym Is Gonna Get You"

Help me out everybody - what are some other great songs and lyrics I could use for this awesome photo of my boy walking in a KidWalk Gait Trainer? LEAVE A COMMENT WITH YOUR IDEAS! I'd love to hear them.....

We were so proud of him...he did AWESOME in this...even better than in his Bronco! We are looking at getting one, but want to try him in it a few more times before we spend the money.

Treadmill Therapy

On Thursday, October 30th, we were part of a seminar held at Childrens Village (http://www.yakimachildrensvillage.org/). Ginny Paleg (http://www.ginnypaleg.com/) is a Neuro-Developmental Treatment Physical Therapist from the Washington D.C. area, who specializes in kids with severe physical challenges. She came and spoke to a group of local therapist from the Village, Schools, and other facilities.
Part of the program was to show examples of kids using the treadmill. They asked us to bring Eli as one of their subjects. :)

As you can see, Eli is suspended from a harness, and then held by therapists. They moved his legs like he was walking...and then would give him the opportunity to do it by himself.
HE TRIED SO HARD...AND HE COULD DO IT!

After our very disappointing October full of appointments, where we felt no one had anything to offer us regarding helping Eli - we felt Ginny Paleg was a gift. A huge blessing to us! She saw things in Eli that others don't take the time to see. She noticed it took him about 8 minutes to respond to a request (very typical for CP kids). She saw that he still has the raw reflex of 'walking'. When he's put in a standing position, he'll lift his feet off the ground. It's slow, and intermittent...but it's still there! She could see how hard he was trying by watching his face and his body language. SHE GAVE US HOPE! She was awesome. :)

When a Doctor sees him for 30 minutes once a year - they cannot get a good idea of who our boy really is and what he can do! He has potential....he just has severe physical limitations.
So, we are very THANKFUL for people like Ginny who have made it their life's calling to help these kids have a chance at a more fulfilling life.

We aren't sure what we will do next regarding this kind of therapy. It would be great to have it available at home....so we'll see how it all works out....

Eli the Pirate

Eli had swim therapy today, so I dressed him up in his costume and took him to Children's Village this way. (well, he didn't wear the bandana in the car!)

So, that was the extent of his costume wearing :) And I think he was glad!

HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A CUTER PIRATE, MATEY?

Here he is in therapy, with an intern, Janell. We just LOVE her!

First Day of Pre-School!

Today was Eli's first day of special ed pre-school! He's not really attending the whole class...we decided to start out slowly. He'll be going for his 1/2 hr of scheduled OT (occupational therapy) on Thursday's at 10 am. After OT, we'll go into the classroom for him to watch the other kids, and let them get to know him, too. There are only four boys in his class right now! :)

ON OUR WAY TO SCHOOL

THE CLASSROOM

PLAYING WITH FROGGY IN OT

ON OUR WAY HOME...

HOME! WE DID IT!

This is why I posted pics of Eli at birth yesterday.....to show how far he's come!

I find Wordless Wednesdays hard - because I like to talk...LOL...and I don't get to comment!

Horse Therapy!

We are very lucky to have a horse therapy program here in Yakima. The Tumbleweed Ranch and Pegasus Project provide "Hippotherapy" for children with special needs. And riding therapy for older kids.

Cowboy Eli did GREAT! His body was so relaxed on Tumbleweed, the POA seen in the picture. Karla, his PT is in white. The other two work at the Ranch or are volunteers. He rode side saddle, laying on his back, laying on his tummy, and sitting up!

The greatest part of all, is when we got him home....he was in such a good mood! He just laughed and laughed and laughed for about an hour. Lonnie and I were beside ourselves.....with JOY! He was such a hoot. We are very thankful for this experience, and cannot wait to see him next time. The session lasts 8 weeks....so, you'll see a lot on the blog in weeks to come.

Riding Side Saddle

More video..... :-)~

Eli slept so well last night! AND he slept in this morning!

Woo Hoo!!!!