Hide and Go Seek

We finally figured out a way to motivate Daniel into getting more independent and walking around in his Pony walker. Well at least for a few days we have!!

Hide and Go Seek with Elmo!

We count to 10 and look the other way while the other one of us goes to help Elmo hide!

It is so cute to watch him scan the room(s) and then when he finds Elmo he gives off a little squeal and off he goes to "get" him. Then we start all over again!

This does a few things that I'm glad about.

1) He can scan and seek out things (does good for his eyes)

2) He gets the concept of "hiding"

3) It gets him to move independently to the object, and at a fast pace!

4) It makes him laugh and he is having fun like a "typical" child!

April Birthdays

You know you're old and your birthday is a "non-event" when everyone in the house is in bed and asleep at 9:30 at night!

Whew..........what party animals! :)

But some notable special days this month:

Uncle Jeff

Aunt Ann & Uncle Mike's 35 Anniversary

Cousin Maya

Cousin Michaela

Sister Brittany

Sister Victoria

A Pterodactyl?

Nothing is worse then sitting quietly feeding your child, when you hear from afar the wings of what you thought didn't exist anymore.....the mighty wings of a pterodactyl flapping in the air. Imagine the fear? OH MY GOSH! Me or my child?? My first instinct is to run for cover, but no, stop Melanie, what about Daniel? You are his protector, save your child.

Well let me tell you I was beyond startled to hear the flapping of wings in my house....WTFrick? I seriously panicked. Besides running for cover, I grabbed the phone to call Lonnie. I don't know what I expected him to do from 20 miles away, but I asked him to come home at lunch to capture this creature. There were some tears, I know this might sound stupid to some of you. But note, I have stated all the way along, I HATE BUGS-I HATE INSECTS.

I closed Daniel in the safety of his bedroom, and I went out to protect my house and my family. I could hear the wings flapping, I just couldn't locate where the sound was coming from. UNTIL I got divebombed.....and I am not ashamed to admit it.....I screamed and ducked down, and the words that exploded from my mouth, I cannot share here. Our little butterfly which was small in the box, had escaped and grown, oh so very LARGE!

Laugh if you must, but it is NOT funny when you are the one with the bug fear experiencing it. This will be the LAST time we will perform a butterfly/pterodactyl experiment in my house! We left the house within minutes (we really had to go to therapy, but I would have left anyways!) Lonnie came home (AFTER WORK) and caught it and it is now back in the box.
Our family and house are once again safe.

Q & A

For the people that have stuck it out and keep checking back here on Daniel even though I as his mother haven't' been keeping up on the blog because of my own "blah-ness" that is hanging around too long....We have our Questions and Answers Day! LOL, there have been emails or questions within your comments to posts so I will answer a few here.





1) Yes that is Daniel's bellybutton!


Brittany: And no I don't think its gross, its his belly button for gosh sakes, not like it his privates!


Amy: Oh his little feet are really cool too! I can't imagine anyone painting his feet for a project......oh my that must tickle (I'm thinking of my own feet here!) but I would bet they are precious! Trying to picture someone painting his chubby little tummy to get a bellybutton imprint! now that would be cool!





2) Butterfly


Stacey: believe me it has totally creeped me out that the bug/butterfly is in the house.....UUUGH I can't imagine crickets....what if it got lose? HOLY CROW I'd have to move out! I don't' think that in my writing I have expressed how terrified I am of bugs...I don't know if I should say terrified or just grossed out by the whole bug population. Yes I know they help the environment and all that....but YUCK! And the butterfly is still alive......they say its only a butterfly for one to two weeks and then it dies.





3) Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk


Brittany: Yes its $2,200 per person not the team. So if there are 5 people on your teach EACH of you needs to raise $2,200. If you do not raise that amount by the time the walk is, then you still have raised the amount of money you just can't walk. And I really really really want to walk so if there is anyone out there that would like to donate...please do so, even $5 would help! Thanks a tons. If you'd like to donate or follow my progress, click HERE or send the following link to friends and family and they can donate


http://08.the3day.org/site/TR?px=1875539&fr_id=1185&pg=personal





4) Back From Nowhere


C: Its funny, but you commented that Q is a lot like Daniel. I think the exact same thing. Actually I watch the video on your blog of Q using the button for his mobility chair. He is identical almost to Daniel.


In regards to Daniel being a swim junkie.....we had his first swim therapy session last week. It didn't go as well as I had hoped it would, but when I got home and thought about it I can understand why.


1) Its a new therapist he has never met


2) He has never been in an indoor public pool, there is an echo and I think it
was freaking him out a bit.


3) I wasn't in the water with him


4) it was a new experience for him and he cried........and cried...........and cried.





Did I mention he cried? But I did good, I told the therapist to do what she needed to do, and she was excellent with him. Didn't' force him to do anything (except go into the water). She sat on the steps for a long time singing to him, comforting him, kicking his legs for him. Towards the end of the 45 minute session she had him pushing a ball in the water and kicking a little bit. So hopefully this Tuesday will be better.





Also, Q can come to play on the ramp anytime!





Amy: I hope your recovering from your funk. I know its not a good place to be in for long and it really really sucks big time.





5) Augmentative Devices:


I can't remember from who, but I do remember reading someone asking about the eye gaze device that we tried out for augmentative devices. This was a really really cool concept. The only problem we had with it is that Daniel is small, his eyes aren't as "OPEN" as a teenager/adult is and that is mainly what the device is for. The device itself seems very cool. They tried it out on me but again Daniel didn't do as well because his eyes were small. His gaze is awesome and it is definitely something we will try again in the future if he isn't able to gain better use of his arms. There is also another thing we use with the computer at therapy. They place a reflective dot on his forehead and there is a laser so it tracks here the dot moves and if he holds his gaze on a certain object on the screen it will select it. If you read this and you want more information on it please send me an email and I'll answer it as best as I can.

Just a cute little picture of Daniel relaxing

Love it!

My new favorite picture.

Can you see what it is?

and we have........a BUTTERFLY!!

I was almost ready to give up hope that our cocoon was going to become a beautiful butterfly.
I had just told Lonnie that I thought maybe it got too cold in the house or it just wasn't strong enough to make it.

We woke the next morning and Lonnie said that it looked a little different so maybe take some pictures. I mustered up enough courage to open the box and take a couple shots, but they mistakenly got deleted so you can't see those!!

But hours later on the same day we came home from therapy and voila', we have a butterfly!!!

If you want to see them really close and personal, double click the photo and it should open up larger........and you can really see the detail......like the beady eyes, and the fuzziness of the yucky head. UUUUUGH.........I am such a good mom....a brave mom.......I AM A GOOD MOM FOR LETTING THIS BUG STAY IN MY HOME!!

Breast Cancer 3-Day

As many of you already know, I lost my mother, Betty Tamm, to breast cancer just a few short months ago. My mom fought a long and hard fight for over 22 years. She left behind many family members and countless others who loved her dearly. She passed away shortly after last years' 3 Day walk. She patiently waited for my sister-in-law to pass by her during her 6th year walking.

Sadly, last year was not the first time my life was touched by this disease. I also lost my sister Liz, who died at only 43 years of age. My father also lost his battle against cancer. His was lung cancer. Watching my mother, sister and father fight for so long was very sad. But at the same time, their determination was, and still is, a great inspiration.

Now that my mother's journey has ended, I truly hope this is the last time my family has to be exposed to this horrible disease. I have many sisters, daughters, brothers, cousins, and friends who I would hate to see endure the pains of cancer. If raising $2,200 and walking 60 miles in 3 days will help find a cure and prevent me from watching another person I love suffer and die from cancer, then count me in. I am proud to be walking in memory of my mother, father and sister. And to walk with some of my other family members makes it extra special. This is for you, mom. This is for you, Liz. This is for you, dad.

This is also for my daughters, sisters, brothers and family. May we never have to lose another one of us to breast or any other form of cancer. Please send this link onto your family, friends, co-workers or anyone who you think would like to help us find a cure.

You can donate by clicking here. Or just click the widget at the top of the page. You can also call 800.996.3DAY to donate over the phone.

Thank you for your support!!

~Melanie