Owen loves having physical therapy at the Gym!! I still can't believe it's been a full year since we decided at home therapy was no longer motivating. We got a spot at the gym with a great therapist and he loves going to "gymbtastics!!" He counts down the days and just loves it so much! It has been so good for him and he has progressed a ton! Looking back a year ago, he was JUST starting to walk and had zero leg strength. Walking from the floor to a mat was a difficult task and walking on a trampoline was really hard. Now he is learning to jump, walks faster, and isn't afraid to transition to the different gym surfaces (ie: Mat to tramp).
Owen wanted me to videotape him today to show off how well he's doing. Here's a video of him learning to jump!! He still only does slight calf raises, but he is putting everything into it!!
Then he jumps with his PT helps so he can lift his feet up off the mat. Look at that air!! Way to go Owen! He still lands with stiff legs instead of bending since he is trying to protect his legs.
As a reward for doing 20 reps each, he gets to jump with Michelle, or whomever he chooses. As you can see in the video, he's holding his head and trunk support so much better. He used to just flop around like a ragdoll. He still has a little strengthening to do with his trunk and neck muscles, but he's come so far!
After the trampoline, he loves to run around on the tumble track and push us all in the pit. Michelle and Yesenia were the lucky volunteers for today! Daddy and Kam took over last Friday. Oh he just giggles and loves this part so much. You can hear how winded he is in the video when he walks by me. We are constantly trying to get him to take breaks, but he says.."I can do this!" He is determined, you gotta give him that!!
After three times back and forth, when his lips were as blue as those foam blocks, Michelle pulled him in the pit with her. He laid there for a whole 30 seconds and rested. You can see how tired he looks. He was right back up and ready to work on the balance beam, climb up mats, then the stairs to play hide n' seek.
We are so proud of Mister Owen for working so hard!! He WILL catch up to the other kiddos eventually. Maybe he won't have the stamina that they do, but he will be strong and hold his own. Good job buddy!!
4 comments:
Ok I just fell even more in love with your sweet boy. I just watched each of those videos twice. He is the sweetest thing and I'm so glad he enjoys gymnastics so much. <3
I just love him so much! Love the video's! Especially hearing him say "this is the best day EVER!" Too cute.
"You can't keep a good man down" Genesis 40-41
farmer sympathized with the dog but decided that neither the dog nor the well was worth the trouble of saving. Instead, he planned to bury the old dog in the well and put him out of his misery. When the farmer began shoveling, initially the old dog panicked. But then it dawned on the mutt that every time a shovel load of dirt landed on his back he could shake it off and step up. This he did blow after blow. “Shake it off and step up, shake it off and step up, shake it off and step up!” he repeated to encourage himself. It wasn’t long before the dog, battered and exhausted, stepped triumphantly out of the well. What he thought would bury him actually benefited him—all because of the way he handled adversity.2
Andrea,
As a follower of your blog, these videos are so incredibly awesome to see and hear that cute voice! I am so proud of him and your whole family for being such positive influences on this cute little person! Keep up the great work!
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