September 29th, 2010

Things are going pretty good for Kinnick and Carver. They both have colds, but have handled them much better then they have in the past. Carver is having some desats at night (without oxygen on), but he's been recovering on his own. Part of his problem is that he is a nose breather and when his nose is stuffy, he doesn't know to breath with his mouth. Kinnick's lungs are junky right now, but she's doing pretty good on her sats. We haven't had to increase her oxygen at night, nor have we had to put oxygen on her during the day. Her sats have dropped some at night, but typically it's when her cannula has come out of her nose. She's gagging on drainage and vomiting - which stinks. Her lungs are still too weak to help her clear the junk out of her throat and lungs. She makes that noise that makes you want to clear your own throat.

We have some great therapists this year from the school. The SLP has been doing some great things with the kids. She's "cooking" with Kinnick. They've made jello and pudding. She is really working to get words out of Kinnick, and we have actually noticed an increase in word attempts. I think it's just a matter of time before she explodes with words. The SLP has said that she wants to spend at least 50% of her time on language development (this makes me really happy). She's working on tactile things like finger painting, and they're going to start painting with food. She's working with Carver to ask for "more" by pressing a button.

The TOD has requested lots of switches, devices, and other equipment from the Deaf/Blind funding to help Carver learn to communicate. She works hard with Carver 3-4 times a week to teach him to communicate. She has gotten him to roll with purpose and has taught him a way to ask for "more" by scratching his tray. The SLP wants to get this changed to pushing a button instead. While this would be ideal, Carver still likes the switch/button way too much - he still wants to press the button over and over again to hear what it says or does. So, hopefully between the 2 of them, they can figure out a way to use the switch. She's also working on discrimination between two objects. For example, being able to make a choice between a toy and a shoe, or being able to find a spoon when you show him a spoon and a drumstick, then ask him to find the spoon. Kat continues to see Carver once or twice a month, and she has scheduled an in-service day at the school to coach all of Carver's therapists.

Kinnick's O&M teacher is still working hard with Kinnick to learn the meaning behind the mobility device. Kinnick is following sounds - which is important to a blind person. Sounds tell you a lot when you can't see. For example, you can tell by sound which direction a vehicle is coming from.

PT is working really hard to help Carver sit with less support and to hold his own head up. He's doing better, but still likes to arch backwards, stack (resting his head on his shoulders), and rest his head on anything he finds that he can rest his head on. She is working with Kinnick to ride a tricycle. Kinnick doesn't have the muscle strength to push the pedals. She's working with Kinnick to walk up and down stairs on her feet, and they're working on bouncing on a ball.

VI is using the light box with Kinnick to work on shapes, colors, sorting and stacking objects. She's also working with Kinnick on the brailler. They just type and feel the words. She's using the light box with Carver to get Carver to roll with purpose toward the light box. She's also trying different patterns and objects on the light box to get Carver to focus. There are certain patterns that seem to bother him - like colored dots. However, he seems to really like checkered patterns. She's helping Carver feel the braille in his books as she reads the books to him. She's also working on tactile issues like trying to get the kids to feel things like velcro, a soft puppet, play dough and bubble wrap. She tries to get them to pop the bubble wrap and squeeze the play dough. This is supposed to help strengthen the hands.

We have a new OT. She's been working a lot with PT and SLP.

Potty training is going pretty good. Kinnick goes pee in the potty several times a day. She's still going pee in her diaper, so we have a lot more work ahead of us. Luckily, she seems to like her potty chair.

I've started taking a sign language class on Monday nights. So far, I've learned my ABC's and some pronouns. I'm hoping to use some of the sign language to communicate with Kinnick and Carver. Obviously, they can't see me sign, but I want to teach them to sign to me. They can hear, so they don't need to see me sign.