Week 5 of physical distancing has recently begun which means week 5 of our home therapy program. All of James' therapies have been cancelled until further notice so it's been up to mum and dad to step up as James' therapists of all kinds - physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, etc. We have stayed in touch with James' therapists and tried some virtual therapy sessions (thank goodness for technology!). It certainly isn't the same but it's the best we can do for now. James responds WAY better to his therapists than his parents doing exercises with him. We've tried to mix in fun with his therapy and even better, try for him to not be aware he's working at all! We respect what his therapists do everyday with him so much - it is hard work!
We've been using all sorts of different equipment - stander, walker, creeper crawler, bench, peanut ball, stability ball, neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), leg gaitors and most recently we added a vibration plate to our home therapy equipment.
The vibration plate helps to improve circulation, body awareness, and balance while strengthening bones and muscles. The hypervibe vibration plate was recommended by Dr. Park in St. Louis so it's been on our list to purchase for James' home exercise program. Since we are doing so much home therapy, now couldn't be a better time to incorporate it into his routine. We will aim for two 10 minute sessions a day on the vibration plate with a variety of exercises Jo-Anne showed us today in our virtual session.
Since we are home so much like everyone is these days, we figured now is a great time to potty train - both James and Shae! It hasn't been easy but we're well on our way to have 2 kids diaper-free! James has taken longer to train than Shae because we've been waiting on a supportive seat for the toilet for him so we can leave James and know that he is secure while giving him privacy. He could sit on his own but all of his effort was focused on sitting upright instead of being relaxed enough to do his business.
We've enjoyed the time home as a family even though we miss our routines. Mike is doing his best to balance home life while teaching his intermediate students online. 2020 is a year to remember!
We got our official Campbell's Children's School acceptance in the mail today! We are so excited for James to start JK there in September!
