Peeks of PT

I shared on Friday about Ivy's donut dates with Dan before her PT sessions. Since we did absolutely nothing this past weekend due to endless rain from topical storm Ophelia, I figured I'd swap our usual weekending it update for and update on Ivy's physical therapy.

Ivy has been in physical therapy for about nine months and doing awesome. Her running is improving and she has moments of catching real speed and stride. We have her wearing shoe inserts to give her foot more stability and that seems to be helping as well. This past summer she started jumping with both feel off the ground while holding onto someone's hands. She also progressed to going down slides and climbing up independently. She now goes to PT twice a month instead of weekly.

I also feel like her participating in PT is giving her great social exposure as well. Working with other adults, doing an activity independent of Kip, and listening and responding to instruction.

So much of Ivy's needs surround building confidence to try skills that challenge her. The muscle laxity causes her to feel unstable so attempting to run or jump or step over something without support is scary. In the PT setting she gets to test out these skills in a safe space so that when she encounters them in real life she has some muscle memory to go back to and the confidence to give it a try. We are seeing slow but steady improvement!

Donut Dates With Dad

Ivy loves a pink frosted donut with sprinkles. She will call out to Dunkin Donuts anytime we drive by one. On days when Dan takes her to PT, they often stop for a little donut date.

She enjoys eating them frosting first!

Kip had so much special one-on-one time with Dan before Ivy was born so I am grateful she gets little moments like these just with her and Dad.

 Yum!

Summer Skills and Abilities

Back in the summer I mentioned we had the kids participate in the summer reading programs at the local libraries. It was a really challenging program requiring the kids to log 1,500 minutes to complete the program. We tried our very best but never made the goal. Kip logged 1,000 minutes and Ivy logged 500 which I was very impressed by all our efforts. And technically, combined, they finished.

As a reward we gave the kids each a small Lego set, bookmark, and a book for participating.

When we were in Kansas, Aunt Kandi gave the kids each a T-shirt and coloring bag that the Chanute library gave out for their summer reading program since technically the kids completed those goals even though they weren't in the program. Here is Ivy sporting her cute shirt and coloring her bag.

Kip also stuck it out and finished-up the majority of his bridge workbook by the end of summer. It was a struggle to get him to do the work every day but ultimately he did it and was quite pleased by the certificates and tiny trophy Mandy got him. 

I'll add, Kip has always referred to trophies as "piston cups" since that is what they call it in the movie Cars. We've never really corrected him because it is just the cutest thing ever.

Weekending it

We're back at it!. Swapping summer weekend adventures for fall commitments. The adjustment is not always a fun one. 

Kip is back at soccer and in the next age division. He has had two practices (both he missed due to one cancelled and one inconveniently relocated). He has attended both weekend games but is not loving it as much as last year. They keep putting him in the defender position but he wants to run so that frustrates him. 

The weather on Saturday was absolutely gorgeous. Dan and I took the kids to the field in the afternoon to fly kites. Kip had his kite line all the way out (felt like 1,000 feet). They both did really well controlling the kites. I never successfully flew a kite as a kid but I'm glad we have the space to do it here. 

On Sunday we had church in the morning and then midday we participated in the Healthy Kids Running Series. Kip just loves to run and doesn't necessarily want a team sport involved in that activity. But there is no cross country or track teams for his age group so these limited engagement events are our next best option. The series breaks kids into age groups and has them run their event for 5 weeks. They get points for each week they participate and extra points for being in top 3. It is a volunteer run series and a bit disorganized this first week but eventually the kids got lined up for their races. I did not register Ivy because I was certain she wouldn't want to participate and she said so when I asked. But, she changed her mind on the day-of and we quickly threw her in for the 50 yard dash for her age group. 

Girlfriend surprised us! Because of Ivy's hypotonia, running is very difficult for her and she only started doing it consistently about 6 months ago. She ran her little wonky run and crossed the finish line! We were all SO proud. She said she had unicorn speed!

Kip's age group runs the quarter mile. This is the longest distance Kip has ever run in one shot. It was on grass as well which he isn't quite used to it yet. He ran the whole distance and never gave up even when he was passed by nearly everyone. He is my lil pip squeak and I was worried he would be crushed that so many people "beat" him but we cheered our hearts out and encouraged him like crazy and he was pleased with his performance and excited to go again next week.  

Proud Dad at 2 o'clock!

 So proud of both of them for trying new things!

Happy soggy Monday!

Peeks from the Week

Phew! Busiest week of all! I've been going, going, going. Monday was the 9/11 anniversary commemoration and I had to be in the city by 6 AM which meant Dan and I had to leave the house by 4:15 AM. Fortunately the weather held for the vast part of the day and it was nice to be on the Plaza for the ceremony. 

Tuesday I was a virtual visitor for a history class at my undergrad. I was nervous but it ended up being a good conversation and I enjoyed the experience.

The first PTO meeting of the year was on Tuesday night and I am officially not a class parent this year. I am both grateful (it is a lot of time and money I really don't have) and devastated (I do LOVE being part of Kip's classroom). But, I'm placating my mom-guilt by doing my best to get more involved in larger events at the school instead of just the class parties. 

Kip is having a hard time with the transition back to school. The days are long and first grade is a lot of work in his opinion. He got kicked by another boy in his class on Wednesday so we are already having to manage those experiences as well. Breaks my heart. No shared photos from his classroom yet which bums me out but who would have time to take photos when you have 23 kids half of them are rambunctious boys in the business of bullying? Yikes!

I was in the city again today which is not my typical day to commute so that change threw our whole routine/system off and made the kids really irritable in the morning. But, my week is done and I am off Friday for some retail therapy/girls club with Mandy and Ivy.

Back to School!

Kip started first grade yesterday in the 95 degree scorching heat! He was nervous leading up to the day but excited by the time we were ready to leave for the school.

I did his traditional porch photo which he was exceptionally compliant for. Love that! 

Ivy was moody and refused to sit next to him for a photo and then melted down in tears requesting just a hug. Kip was super sweet with her. She is feeling the back to school emotions too!

Dan, Ivy, and I all got to escort Kip to school and we waited in the mass crowd of parents for the doors to open.

It's so hard to send them into the building not knowing where their classroom is! I'm not the only parent that wants some sort of "meet the teacher" ahead of the first day. Fortunately, Kip went inside with a friend he knew was in the same class and another teacher led them to their classroom and carried the heavy school supply bags.

Normally, the first day is a half day but this year it was a full day. When we picked Kip up he was happy and chatty for the first 15 minutes.

He was excited to show us his folder and his special assignment notebook where they write down their homework. But then after a few minutes after being home, he burst into tears. The trigger was his pumpkin bread snack was too hard to pick-up but the root cause was that exhausting pressure of the first day of school. I feel for him! It's A LOT to ask of a little kid. I'm proud of Dan and I as we navigated the emotional afternoon with Kip. Despite the protests, we got both Kip and Ivy ready and out the door for swim lessons at 4 pm. Fortunately, swim seemed to help Kip regulate and he was in a much better mood the rest of the evening. 

Unfortunately, Kip's teacher did not share any photos. Trust me, I am beyond sad about this but I'm giving some grace and just hoping for a picture here and there. 

Now, what we all came for, some scuttlebutt from first grade!

Kip reports there are 23 kids in his class and mostly boys (yikes!). They each get their own "square table" (desk) and the tables are grouped in 5-6. He gets to keep his pencil box with supplies and his headphones for computer in his desk (he described it as a drawer without a drawer. lol!) He is sitting next to a girl from his class last year and across from a boy who refused to tell Kip his name and covered his name tag up so he couldn't read it. There is a "good kid having a hard time" (my term for a kid who generally gets in trouble) also at his table and apparently that boy had to leave early due to wetting his pants, twice. Kip volunteered to take that boy to the nurse's office. I HOPE the teacher saw that as hero of the week behavior!! They will have gym on Mondays and Tuesdays (much to Kip's distaste), Music on Wednesday, Computer/World Languages on Thursday where they will learn ASL, and Art on Friday. 

Kip sat with two friends from last year at lunch and he said no one wanted to play with him at recess so he ran around alone. It was blazing hot so he said he got really sweaty. He saw both his kinder teachers and they said hi to him. He is most stressed about how "long" the day is and that he has to remember his square on the rug for the entire year. He cannot fathom having to remember something that long and cannot be convinced that he in fact remembers things for much longer than he realizes. Oh, the mind of a kid. So innocent. 

I expect the next couple of weeks will be rocky as we all adjust to the school routine again. Thank goodness it is already Friday.