Finishing up Physiotherapy... for now

When we started physiotherapy in February, Nick could go around Grandview in his crutches in 5 minutes. This week he did it in 2 1/2 minutes!
He has also done great with his reps for his leg weights, going to 40 reps and 3 lbs (and we started at 10 reps with almost no weight)

This is our last physiotherapy session for now. We had goals of increasing crutch use and comfort, working on the stairs. And gaining strength in his legs.

He is working hard on the stairs, still working on going up and down and getting the rhythm.

We are going to be working on this at home.

Katheryn really likes helping as well (not that she can be the spotter at home), she is great for getting him to want to go up and down the stairs.

So after all of that pesky work was done. It was time for the weapons to come out!

Lindsay brought 2 more of her ninja weapons as a reward  

There was wooden swords

We got Nick to stop cheating, and do it standing away from the bed

He is having so much fun with these wooden swords!

And then he would sneak his bum back on the bed

(I love this picture... even though it is blurry)

Leonardo is ready!

Katheryn got to try them out too
This is her fighting stance

And she was trying flipping and twirling the sword

Next Nick wanted to try to nunchucks

Lindsay showed him how to turn his hand and make them swing around

And how to use them for defense

But he is a boy, really he just wanted to swing them around

And Katheryn got to try and swing them as well

This block of phsyio is done.

I talked to Lindsay about seeing neurosurgery next week, and my conflict in that I am seeing some loss in function, but then he has done so great with his crutches! She said that the physiotherapy and working on his leg strength helped. That maybe if we hadn't done this block then we would see a more profound decrease.

Physiotherapy Fun

Nick has been doing physiotherapy every week. And has been working really hard at it. Gaining strength and walking on his crutches. (We had to give up the goal of independent steps, he isn't as stable as he was in November). But we have goals for speed with his crutches and working on stairs and balance standing.

Because he has been working so hard today he got a treat.

Anyone who knows Nick, knows that one of his passions is Ninja Turtles. Yes he is also loving Avengers and Star Wars. But Ninja Turtles is his first love.

Well Lindsay, our physiotherapist, has experience with martial arts and has all of their weapons.

And she brought in her sai's today.

Nick thought that this was the best physio session ever!

He worked on independent standing, with his hands above his head, with the weight of the sai's.
And he didn't even know that he was working

She also taught him some of how to use the sai

Even though it looks like he is playing with something sharp, they aren't actually sharp. And while they do have weight to them, I will admit that the fighting pictures were posed.

And hey, he is a boy having fun

On days like today I shake my head and remember how he cried and screamed for every physio session for years! Now he has fun and is full of attitude

Ninja Turtles!... Day 3 and 4

We had some totally awesome surprises in store for Nickolas!

First there was some pizza from Antonio's, and some masks

And then they came out...

The Ninja Turtles!

Visiting from New York City

Nick was a little unsure at first. But they had a show with learning ninja moves, and all of the kids got to go up to their favorite ninja turtle and learn some ninja moves

   

While everyone was eating, the Ninja Turtles made their way around the room, visiting, posing for pictures and signing autographs

  The didn't talk, but Nick asked if Ice Cream Kitty was left in New York.
Mikey nodded yes

We had a quick visit with Nick's favorite, Leonardo, and afterwards he came back around to see Nick.

The kids got some time with every Ninja Turtle.

Nickolas was in heaven!

Nick wanted to pose for a picture in front of Antonio's!

Nick was so so excited that he got to meet the Ninja Turtles!

It was his favorite part of the trip

There was still some more surprises for Nick the next day

We stayed at Nickelodeon Hotel for 2 reasons, the first was to have dinner with the Ninja Turtles. And we rescheduled our whole weekend because they had one time for a meet and great before going back to New York.

We waited in line for about 45 minutes to get this picture!

And of course we had to make sure that we got everyone on the picture!

They remembered Nick from the night before and Nick got his own special little meet and great!

He was so happy! He got actually meet the Ninja Turtles!

The Ninja turtles were definately Nick's favorite part of the whole trip, he got to meet them and talk to them, he got to see what their weapons look like, he got their autograph and we got lots of picture!

He was sorry they would have to go back to New York, but we had lots more fun to be had in Florida too

Nick-angelo's Birthday Party

When it was time for planning Nick's birthday party he knew exactly what he wanted.
He only wanted a swimming party, and of course it had to be Ninja Turtle themed.

So we did both, Ninja Turtle Themed with an hour in the pool as well.

Masks for the kids (and maybe some adults)

Ninja turtle loot bags

 And a couple of games
Some bad-guys to knock down (with ninja turtle coloured Frisbees). I got old-ninja turtles and new-ninja turtle bad guys

Pin the pizza on the Ninja turtle

And a ninja turtle basketball game

We had some Ninja-Turtle food trays, and of course pizza

And a Ninja Turtle cake

Nick got to play with all of his favorite friends

Nick had a fantastic time. He got to run around and play (in his Shellraiser), go swimming, then eat pizza and cake and have everyone sing to him

And after all of that fun, he still got to open presents!

Surrounded completely by all of his friends, who each had a job to do, including present passing, card reading, music playing and garbage collecting

And everyone was excited to see what he was getting

Nick was loving it of course
(Ninja turtle Kraft dinner!!)

 Pretty soon 4 hours had gone by, and the party was over

Cowabunga!
Happy Birthday Nick!