Another amazing day with the team at TGH CMC. Nica got to go on her first bike ride, well trike ride actually but what a mile stone. She didn’t actually push the pedals all the but she did get a few pushes in there. the simple fact that she kept her feet on the pedals so well is amazing. Before, the scissoring was so bad you could barely get her on a bike let alone leave her there for so long. I had to post a video for this one. It’s a bit long, almost 10 minutes, but I am just so proud that I couldn’t edit it down any further. Not all of her dialog was audible but I tried to keep all that was. You could see the fun on her face. Even when that sessions was over all she wanted to do was get back on that trike, all day long. She did some more walking as well and this time I got some steps on video. She would’ve done better at walking but that came after the riding and she was distracted.
Following PT came OT. That went well as usual. She slid some more rings across the pole. She still wants to turn her wrist the wrong way when she grabs them though. Next came some piano playing and a diaper leak that paused OT. A quick change back in the room and it was back to work. She did really well with a shapes puzzle, only having trouble placing the diamond and the pentagon. Now it was time for crayons. She practiced drawing straight lines, down and up, and then circles.
One of the neurosurgeons did stop by during OT and looked at Nica’s back. He was a little concerned about the continued drainage and changing appeance. Nica was concerned that he kept poking and squeezing her incision and she made sure everyone was aware of it. He took some photos and sent them to Dr Storrs, who performed the operation. He decided to err on the side of caution and start her on some strong antibiotics that targets the skin as well as an antibiotic cream and bandages. She is showing more redness on her back and some slight puffiness as well. Her temp is also slightly elevated, 99.3 I think. If after a few days of meds she’s not looking better then they may have to go ahead and stitch her up a bit rather than risk her back reopening.
She actually took a 30 minute nap today before her afternoon PT. Afternoon was a little easier than morning PT. It mostly consisted of sit to stand exercises while reading a Dora musical adventure book and pushing its buttons. We rounded the work day out with a little more walking.
Rather than finishing her nap Nica and I, well mostly Nica, felt it was important to spend some quality time with the big dollhouse in the playroom. There are only 2 dolls, a blonde little girl that she calls Rapunzel and the girls dad who has been recast in the role of Flynn Rider. The lack of a chameleon in the playroom forced us to cast a brachiosaurus for the role of Pascal. All characters had a grand time taking baths and climbing stairs. Unfortunately, one too many falls on Flynn’s part required Nica to take him over to the Black & Decker work bench for some medical attention that involved a drill press, hammer, wood chisel, pipe wrench, miter box, and a chop saw. Needless to say, with such outstanding medical attention Flynn return to doll house where it is believed he is still recovering. The playroom doesn’t open again until Monday so he should fine.
The highlight of our day was visiting with Anne and Grandma. Unfortunately, Mommy got stuck working late and she won’t be here until in the morning. Grandma and Anne are staying in the Ronald McDonald house across from the hospital. This one is even nicer looking than the west house at ACH. This one also has SleepNumber beds but I was told that these will actually hold air. Lets hope so. When Mommy gets here in the morning Grandma is going to finally get to go to her house for the first time since before the operation. It’s just in time, too. Pappa is getting a cold and really misses seeing Grandma.
On the weekends therapy is relaxed a bit, it still starts early but the sessions are shorter. We can’t really go anywhere tomorrow, as Dr Kornburg wants to keep an eye on Nica’s back. He’s on call this weekend and will hanging around the hospital. Between that and atibiotics 4 times a day now on top of her other meds there’s not much point in trying to escape for any length of time. Still just having Mommy and Anne here all weekend will be more than enough.
Nica-1st-Bike-Ride-video Nica-walks-1-13-12 video
Nica-1st-Bike-Ride different format Nica-walks-1-13-12 different format
