Summer Update

    Pool therapy is so fun! Leo loves it. We got one of those innertubes that goes around his neck. It is the most free and relaxed I have ever seen his body. It's been so fun to see his body after spending time in the pool, too. The therapist asked me if he seemed any more relaxed after time in the pool. Well, the two times he spent his whole time in the pool with that innertube around his neck, he was so relaxed that evening. He has seriously slept so well after being in the pool. Some friends of ours have also said that we can come and enjoy their pool whenever we want! Such a kind answer to prayer. When Leo and I have free time and it's hot, we can hang out in the water! 

    We've also had one PT session at Schreiber and that was really fun, too. I feel like having therapy outside of the home has been fun in a way I didn't expect. After struggling so much with feeling like I have the responsibility for Leo's developmental outcome, the therapies outside of home have been so fun and not dependent on me at all. 

    So, with Early Intervention, they use a coaching model of therapy. The therapists come into the home and do therapy with the kid and parent in a way that parent can do throughout the week--incorporating therapy into daily routines and such. A medical model--which is what doctors might recommend--is much more in terms of "do this exercise a lot". That's a really bad way to describe it, but therapy is more like something they prescribe which means he should get a certain amount of it. The coaching method looks at ways to incorporate therapy into routines so that all that extra thought doesn't have to go into it. All that to say, taking Leo in to Scheiber and sitting to watch while Leo works with someone else! Wow, that's been nice! And the other thing is I just have this thought in my head that I just need to go to the pool with him and hang out and that's so good for his body and his therapy. It's just such a freeing thought to me. It's less scary than the equipment which involves a lot. Got to get boots and vest on, get him in the stroller, figure out why he's screaming while trying to help him calm down. I also am trying to keep myself calm and determine when to push him to do hard things and when is this equipment too much for him. I'm constantly trying to evaluate what of this can he control and what can't he control. Why is he reacting so strongly? How do I help him adjust? Do I just leave him be? Yeah, the equipment is much more daunting. Pool is so fun and we're loving it.

    Other than therapies, we're fairly chill around here. As a family, we are working on habits around our home. We are looking for all the social opportunities we can during summer. We don't have big trips planned. God is providing for Brad's job and we are thankful. We continue to have help watching Leo on Friday nights so Brad and I can play frisbee. We are continuously thankful for community. We're not made to do life alone. 

    The last thing I wanted to talk about is just how much we're seeing that Leo understands us. We are beyond ecstatic. He is doing things like raising his hand above the water in the pool when she asks him to, pushing the button on the toy that plays Mommy's favorite song, turning his head and reaching toward the right person, and getting excited when talking about the pool. He's a really smart kid. It's so exciting to be growing in how we can communicate with him and learning what he's trying to say to us. He's got a lot to get out. And he's figuring it out. I know all parents say it, but he really is a real smart kid.