Age Appropriate

Age appropriate, age appropriate, age appropriate!

I don’t think I’ll get sick of hearing those words!

Occupational Therapy declared that … yes, you got it… Nick was age appropriate!

We had an assessment during Nick’s latest physio appointment. Our last block of sessions included both PT and OT and the two of them work very well together. And they both love Nick! So Sheka (our OT) likes to pop in sometimes to see how we are doing during this next block.

Nick decided to show off for her!

 

Coloring

Puzzles

Taking things out, and then putting them back in the tiny holes

stacking blocks

turning pages

feeding himself

She'd ask him to do something, and he would just go ahead and do the next step!

She said we must have been practicing. Not so much, but Nick really likes doing what his sister is doing - and really LOVES showing off, and if she is colouring, or playing with lego, or doing puzzles - well then he is right there wanting to do it too!

But
Sometimes I wonder, sometimes thoughts get the best of me. Nick isn't all that mobile yet (army crawling only), and not saying any words. I think of Katheryn when she was 16 months old, and my niece when she was 16 months old. And Nick just seems so behind them!

But wait a sec. How is he behind them? Well, first of all he's not running around. Well yes, I can't base all of my fears on something he is not going to be age appropriate in. And so much about being, (AHHH) a toddler, is about, well... toddling. Exploring the environment, learning limits, doing things and learning.

And talking. Talking. Well, we are working on that. We are going to speech therapy group - where all the other kids are older and running around and saying a couple of words (I think). And I KNOW in my head that when Nick is doing so much in his motor skills that his speech will come. I know it in my heart that he understands and that one day he will just pop out those words "Mommy, daddy, doggy, Katheryn" - or however he short forms it, probably banana will be high on the list too. I just wish we were there now.

BUT this is about AGE APPROPRIATE!!!
And everything else will come. I know it, Nick is super smart, and happy and healthy. He has definite opinions about a bunch of things. Not the least of which - if he doesn't feel like doing it, we won't.
Stubborn, stubborn child!
But I'm sure that is age appropriate too!

Toot my own horn!

This last week made me realize how well I did with fundraising last year!

I received a letter saying that I was a top seller of our SB&H calenders - with 68 calenders sold! Now I did not sell all of these calenders, my family helped alot and Centennial College has been a big supporter of my fundraising - with my mother Gwenda Bartley being a driving force behind fundraising in her workplace!

If you have no idea what I'm talking about - here is where I posted about the yearly TGIF calenders that the Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association of Ontario have been selling. All proceeds go to the association (which has helped me so much with information and support) and the calender sales made $50,000! Along with 2,500 calenders that help people to understand what spina bifida and hydrocephalus look like!
I am so proud to be a part of that!

I also received a new registration for this years Spirit Wheel Walk Run. I have a tab at the top about last years walk. This walk was the first time I'd organized something like that, and I was astounded by how much we personally raised ($2734) and how easy it was to do. Pretty much we got a group of people together and just walked somewhere. We had matching shirts and a banner and had a good time for a great cause. Of course I blogged about out day here

I really felt we were putting a face to spina bifida that day!
And I was written up in a local paper. This was also in a special edition of our SB&H magazine (where we were on the front page!) This covered the original article in the paper. It was followed up in the Winter 2011 issue. It covered alot of the stories of the walkers - but I'm tooting my own horn!
When we got our registration pamphlet for the 2011 SWWR - who's picture is in the pamphlet? That's right - our group picture!

There was never any doubt about participating this year. I'm already thinking of what date would be best. But it's really nice to see our pictures! I kinda feel famous!

|Accessible Parking

So today was the day. The day I decided to fill out the simple form for the parking permit. For the simple sticker that will go in my car window. But in truth it isn't very simple.

It was something that I always had in the back on my head, oh yeah one day we will apply. When we need it. I had thought in 5 or 6 years, you know it's for (lalalalala) wheelchair parking. Maybe we would never need it!

Then I started to learn more about it. It is for more than wheelchair parking, it isn't disability parking (like I had originally titled my blog - even though I didn't want to). It is accessible parking. A space that is closer and bigger to make things more accessible, easier.
It isn't supposed to be a token for a disability. It isn't supposed to be a sign saying someone in this car is different. But that is still something I am working over.

But I decided that today I needed help. Accessible parking would mean it would be easier to carry my 27lb (and only getting bigger - faster) child around. That there is that extra room for the stroller. And while I am still not sure if I will use it, or where, or when, I will have it. I will have it when all other toddlers are toddling with their parents into the store. I will have it when other children are tugging at their parents hands to run across the parking lot. I will have it when I am juggling my two kids and stroller (or full arms), because sometimes we do need things to be more accessible.

The application is still the first step. And I am still debating with myself about the need for it. But when I've talked to anyone else in the family (and friends) they are all glad I've applied and see the need for it.
I'm not quite sure if I'm happy that I've already stuck that letter in the mailbox...

A Little Boy and his Dog

Nickolas is FINALLY on the mend again.
We found out at the beginning of the week that Nickolas had an ear infection. And we got some antibiotics. I had really hoped that Nickolas would bounce back right away like Katheryn did the week before. But no such luck.
He continued to feel really lousy for the rest of the week.
Except today. Today he didn't want to cuddle all day. Today he was good moving around and sitting by himself and having some independence.

Today he was back to playing with the dog and eating and NOT dropping all of his food accidentally.
But Sammie can always try...

And instead of giving his food himself, Nick decided to wave it around before eating! Much to the disappointment of Sammie!

Now that Nick is starting to feel better, we have a whole bunch of new therapies lined up!

We do weekly speech therapy workshops for the next 6 weeks, and physiotherapy has started up again for our next block (8 or 12 weeks - I'm not sure). So there is lots of work to do in the coming weeks.

But today, Nick was just a little boy with is dog!

My Big Little Girl!

The title of my blog is the Ridding Family. So while I do blog about Nickolas, I talk about Katheryn as well. And I think she is quickly going to become of age to realize that sometimes Nickolas gets more attention and parent time than she does. Even though we try really, really  hard to divide our time.

But that is not the point of this post!

Katheryn is going to be 3 years old in April - in 6 weeks. 3!!! We've already talked about her birthday cake - which she picked out herself from googling children birthday cakes. And she went in a completely different direction than I thought she would.

Katheryn is really coming into her own, she has her own opinions, her own hobbies, her own favorite things to do. She doesn't want mom and dad to pick out things for her.

For example, that is how this outfit came to pass. She picked out what she wanted to wear, and then saw the purple skirt. Very, very specific. "Mommy, I want this shirt and this pant and this skirt!".
Acutaly I think it's kinda cute. In a let's stay inside today kind of way...

One of Katheryn's favorite things to do is colour. It comes out 'mommy, I want to tol-or' she loves colouring and drawing. Her favorite subjects are to draw mommy and daddy and Nick. Lots of circles and doodle - but she points out who is who.

And photography. If she can get her hot little hands on my little camera she is ready to shoot off all kinds of pictures. She started doing this in November, and for Christmas she got 2 children's cameras. But they are nothing compared to Mommy's camera.
She has actually gotten ALOT better.
Some of her favorite subjects are:
toys - specifically Dora and Boots

 Daddy (see the why do you have the camera face)

 Mommy (let's see what you can do)

 Nick (hi sis!)

One thing for sure that Katheryn is, is stubborn. Very, very, very stubborn.
Our current battle, that we keep calling a truce on, is potty training. But that final battle, the final defeat is coming soon. Katheryn has absolutely no desire to sit on the potty, and stay.

I was very surprised when I saw her sitting for 10 min on the potty. Then I turned the corner and saw this:

Just like with all of Nick's stuff I know that we will get there. With Katheryn I acutally do know that we will get there, that Katheryn will use the potty, that she will get out of diapers. So I'm not going to stress about it. She is very stubborn, just like her father.

Katheryn has been sick for the last little while. Very cuddling and staying close. Wants to be held and carried. Sick, better, sick, better ect. Now she's feeling so much better and she's bouncing off the walls! And TALKING about EVERYTHING!!

And starting to like some singing. Very slow. Katheryn doesn't like mommy or daddy to sing. But on one long car ride we started.