It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

We are getting excited for Christmas we pulled out all of our decorations and toys a couple of weeks ago. We decorated the house outside – Katheryn says it is beautiful! We pulled out all of our Christmas movies.

We had our annual family Christmas parties. I think there was 40 members of the Ridding family there, all of the kids (all 2nd cousins) loved playing together and running around.

The dancing Santa is always a hit with the kids – I did have Nick out, but for these pictures he was too busy eating. I actually had the chair and Nick's walker out - but he didn't want anything to do with walking.

 (This was before the CE party where he was much more comfortable walking in his walker with a group of people.)

Getting ready for Christmas also means getting our Christmas tree. Every year we go and chop one down. This year is was too wet and rainy and warm to go out and cut one down on the weekend we had available.

But we still got a pretty good one.

And Nick thought it was great riding in the cart above his head!

Yes I'm aware that I look a little crazy taking pictures in Home Depot. But I don't care. Look at that look! It's just asking to snapped in a photograph!

It took us about a week to decorate the tree.

Katheryn really liked these snowmen and kept bunching them together.

Nick liked playing peek-a-boo with his! He’ll pull the hat down over the eyes, then back up and say ‘boo’.

 

When daddy came home from work it was time to put the star up. Katheryn tried to help but got scared.

But it was up!

Now that the tree is up, and we are feeling suitably Christmassy, it was time to bring on Santa.
We talked about Santa and that we were going to go and visit Santa. We had it all planned with my in laws to have the 4 cousins all go to the mall and visit Santa. Both kids were excited. Santa is one of Nick's new words. (As well as tree)

Katheryn was very excited, waiting in line and waiting because she’s going to see Santa.

Nick kept saying ‘Santa, Santa!’ He might not look very excited - but he was.

We got up to him. Nothing.
Katheryn would have nothing to do with him.
We did get a family picture of the cousins – with my leg in the picture. I kept trying to move farther out of the frame and move Katheryn closer and she stops and looks at me “Mommy! Stop pushing me”

She has her model pose!

Katheryn and Nick are actually supposed to be matchingish, with their sweaters - but do you know how hard it is to find cute boy sweaters?!!!

When it was time for Nick and Katheryn and Santa, she just ran.

But I was getting a Santa picture for 2011 – and if Katheryn doesn’t want to be in it, that is fine. So my picture is just with Nick.

Both of them still get excited to see pictures of Santa – just not ready for the real version yet.
Katheryn has told me that she wants a hippopotamus for Christmas, so maybe next year she can ask Santa for one.

The next couple of weeks are going to be a little less busy. So we'll finish up our shopping and spend more time a home as a family, instead of on-the-run as a family. Maybe get some cookies baking or some of the fun homemade things I've been reading about. Have Christmas music on

And some snow wouldn't hurt either!

Party, Party, Party with our Conductors

We got to go to our first Christmas party at March of Dimes.



Nick even had a date!

Yes, Nick and Alejandra had better get used to all of these cameras! Do you remember the picture of the 2 of them back in June? And of course we've spent the last 3 months every week working together.

The party was a great opportunity for Nick to be in a room of people and see how he moves with his walker. The perfect safe environment, with other kids and adults with similar abilities and assistance. And he did great!

We were even able to catch up with some old friends. Zachary and his mom were with us in August and Nick and Zach were paired off. They worked really well together and Barb and I were able to connect together. (She's the mom that runs Zach's List)

Nick had the opportunity to play,

and draw some Santa pictures.

Nick was not too sure about Frosty. He wanted to go and see him, but once we got close - he wanted to go away again!

But this guy!
As soon as Santa came in, all Nick could say was Santa, Santa, Santa!

It's too bad Katheryn missed it. She was upset that we went to a party without her. But we had our last conductive education class before the party, and there wasn't enough time or purpose to drive home and pick her up.

We did so much this semester of conductive education. I'm definitely going to miss it, and can't wait to start up again in April!

Cool New Shoes - and Braces

We had a whole day of appointments! But really, what else is new?!

I brought Nick to a committee meeting at work - where he charmed everyone - of course! Then another quick visit and off to mom and baby group, where we left early for our Orthodics appointment and new AFO's.

This wheelchair thing is alot better than the stroller. It lets Nick have some independence, and it is also easy to for me to walk with. I have been trying to actually walk beside Nick with my hand steering, instead of behind. I couldn't do that with the stroller.

So we brought Nick's new Alfie with us for some entertainment.



It took about 1 hour in total, for adjustments and fitting.

We did a little bit of testing it out.

The end (toe) is still too long for what I'm liking. But not any longer than his last pair of AFOs.

Nick's new design is completely his own idea. The Backyardigans are his absolute favorite! He points to all of them and says each of their names.

Nick didn't have any problems adjusting to his new braces.
I was a little worried that there might need to be some adjusting to the length of the brace - or that he wouldn't like them.

But no, no problems at all.

We got Nick some new shoes as well - these one light up when he walks - but he can't see the lights...

And I already have plans for the old ones. When we are swimming in the pool, Nick likes to stand up against the side, and of course his ankles makes me cringe.
So with some swim socks and his old braces, maybe it will help.

Walker Tune Up

Nick's walker got a bit of a tune up this week.
We had it in last week and both Sheka (OT) and Megan (PT) were really  happy with how he's moving, and his lower body, but weren't happy with his upper body.

So out came the tools! And Katheryn's help.

Bringing Katheryn to physio is somewhat new.
We tried it initially last year and Katheryn was more distracting than helpful, but we gave it another try and see how she is
Katheryn found some distractions for herself!

Nick thought it was interesting what they were doing.

Not necessarily when we wanted him to keep going, and going, and going.

But it was all to see how we could get him to hold his wrists in neutral.

Nick has been putting alot of pressure on his wrists, so the idea is to build up the forearm support so he will use his whole arm to help him, and not just his wrist.

And also to keep his wrist from bending too much.

So it was adjusting the handle bars, building up, moving things up and down. And lots of different trials. And then wrapping it all up.

 We left the walker for 1 week and then had another appointment (the one where these pictures were taken) to make some more adjustments and get us ready to send home. And out PT is going to be off for maternity leave, and she wanted our walker to be the best it could be for our new PT in January.

We got him up and running well.

Nick actually really likes the new look!

See you in the fast lane!

Speaking about Our Life

Growing up I never thought I would enjoy talking to a classroom full of people. I hated public speaking, and in elementary school I would do anything not to have to talk in class. It didn’t really get better in high school or through my various degrees.

But put me in front of a class and let me talk about our life with spina bifida. I don’t even need my notes! Or PowerPoint slide full of informational and very cute pictures.

I’m lucky that I have this opportunity. (I hope everyone knows Milo - my ninja seal)

My mother works for Centennial College in the RPN program (where I have also had a placement – and where I might eventually want to work when I’m sick of hospital life). But through this connection I have been offered various opportunities to talk to classes about spina bifida. I’ve talked to PSW and RPN classes as well as OT/PT assistant classes.

And I love it!

I’d do one (or two) every semester if I could. I’d talk to different schools, different classes. Anyone who is interested.

I also ask if anyone has heard about spina bifida before, or knows someone who has it. I say it is the leading permanent birth defect in North America. I say that it is what folic acid helps to prevent (very quickly followed by not 100%, but it helps to decrease).

I start of talking about our D-day, how we were told the diagnosis. Then Nick’s birth. I talk about what spina bifida is, as well as hydrocephalus, Chiari, all those other pesky diagnoses. I talk about the surgeries (closure and shunt) what the lesion level might mean to walking, our team, our equipment, what walking aids there are and what we are using. I talk about our family and where we are now.

I answer questions. I hope I’m not too medical or scary. That’s why I like pictures so much.

I always have Nick with me; sometimes I have Katheryn with me as well.

I hope the students get something out of it. I hope that if one of them gets a similar D-day (or knows someone) they will think of how great Nick and we are doing and not be afraid.

So even with my busy schedule I always make time for these classes. I have ideas to approach other schools – or maybe even my own hospital/doctors about talking. If anyone is interested – please don’t hesitate to contact me
I wish I had a picture here to put with me and Nick talking in front of a class – maybe next time I’ll get someone to take one.