One month after leaving the hospital
Wow – I can’t believe that it has been one month since we left the hospital – time flies when you are running around like a mad woman! Upon our return everyone was pleased with what they saw in comparison to how she was when we left. I am not sure if I mentioned it before but brooklyn’s fine motor skills have blown us away. She didn’t have much of them before we left and they didn’t do much therapy – really none – while in china. She is pointing now with one finger and folds her other fingers up while doing so. She is using a pincher grasp all of the time and is able to pick up small things with little problems. She just started occupational therapy a week ago this past monday and she is at about a 16 month level on most fine motor skills but a little lower, 14 months, with things that are more visually oriented.
Her physical therapists here are amazed at the progress she is making. She has PT monday afternoons and then has OT immediately following that. During OT the therapist put her down and she was in four point and crawled – we couldn’t believe it. The therapist worked with her on that during PT but she fought her the whole time. This Wednesday she did it again by herself. She is starting to get herself into 4 point to crawl now – not the army crawling and if she falls and starts army crawling if you tell her get up – she will usually get into 4 point and go again. We just need to get the pattern down a little better. Right now she is moving her arms and then moving one leg and then the other – but the fact that she is isolating those legs and moving them independently is HUGE!!!!! Today her therapist told me they were so excited when we left Wednesday – they can’t wait to see what she is going to do in the next few months. She is really wanting to get up and walk and is doing a good job of pulling herself up into standing with minimal help! I am amazed at what she is doing and the motivation she has will get her much further!!! We have gotten the walker ordered for her and I am not sure when it will arrive; I am worried that she will be all over the place once she gets that thing.
She is also trying to figure out how to cruise on the furniture – a little patterning and she should be good to go the way she has been moving. They are very encouraged at her therapy with everything that is happening. The director of the clinic even stuck his head in and said she is doing really well!!!
Sydney has been great with her – wanting to help her get up to stand holding onto something but of course it usually winds up with two girls crying as I am washing the shampoo out of my hair. She really loves her sister and can’t wait for her to get up and around.
Brooklyn is also in speech therapy now. We have noticed she is saying up and something that sounds like yes! I am hoping the speech thing would move along as fast as the therapy but I don’t see that happening. It would alleviate some frustration if she could tell me things – and let me tell you by the end of the day we have both had our share of frustration.
I should get going – I wanted to let you all know how wonderful she is doing!!!! Thanks for everything – it has meant the world to us!!!!
Love – the hall’s – heather, scott, sydney and brooklyn
Add comment July 14th, 2007
