'Lil Bikers

We pulled out the bikes this weekend to try them out at Grandma Ridding's house (Katheryn got a new bike now that her collar bone is healed).

 

 

First we practiced in the backyard until they were ready for the street.

 

 

 

Pretty soon we were ready to get moving!

 

This is the bike that we got for Nick last year. We didn't use it as much as we wanted to, it was still a bit big this year but it fits him a lot better now.
It has a couple of features like a seat with a back, seat belt, pedals with foot support and Velcro, and direct-drive so it is easier to push. No parent handle, so we just push him using the seat and of course training wheels. They are a bit thicker than Katheryn's training wheels.

 

The kids had a great time, I was pushing Nick around, Katheryn was off doing her own riding around in a circle (no cars).

Then we decided to see what Nick could do himself, without us pushing!

He was pedaling on his own, starting... and if you watch the video... but needing some help to stop.

 



 

And Katheryn was getting used to her bigger bike too!

They had so much fun! It was a great Mother's Day gift to see them enjoying their bikes so much!
 
By the way, in the video you can see all of the branches and tree limbs left over from the December ice storm.

Appointments Galore!

May is our month for doctors appointments.


For 1 month we have 2 SB clinic days, MRI, pediatrician check-up, 2 dentist appointments, neurosurgeon follow-up (which I had to move to June), 1 resources for exception children visit and 1 camp consultation.



First was SB clinic day.


It went well after a bit of a schedule-confusion.


My appointment letter said 0830, but the confirmation phone call said 1030, so we aimed in the middle for 930. We went straight into a room, and stayed there for 6 hours!
My father came with me, which was good because we didn't actually have time for lunch. We were told, 'just one more person' or 'I can come back' but from experience... you grab them while you can.
So my dad went and brought food back to us.


I had one focus. Get the MACE scheduled. But also see and talk to everyone else.

But we also followed up with everyone. Social work to see if there is anything to help us (and introduce herself as our original social worker has left). Psychologist to follow up with our plans from last year and my concerns about Nick's learning. Occupational Therapist to discuss how Nick is doing with school and his wheelchair. Physiotherapy to talk about his walking and mobility.

Nick showed off by letting go of the table and standing there for about 10 seconds... over and over again. The label L3 came out again with discussion about functional muscles. Which I listened to and put aside until I can think more about it.

Dr Church came in and we discussed how everything is. As Nick's developmental pediatrician she is part of everything. I really like and respect her, and the feeling is mutual, she respects my decisions and observations. Nick loves her too. We talked about bowels and bladder and the upcoming MRI to look at tethered cord (which I have successfully pushed to the back of the my mind for the last couple of months).

At the end of the day we saw urology. Discussed the MACE, I already had read or learned what he explained, all of the information was consistent with what I knew. I signed all of the papers and we had a plan (MACE operatively, but if for some reason it was not possible then the c-tube as a back-up). Now it is just waiting for the date.

Nick was actually very interested in what was being said and when we got home that night asked when the catheter was going to go into his belly button.

We also got a prescription for a new type of oxybutynin. A gel instead of the patch. We've had issues with the patch coming off early, and he had a new red and irritated mark from his last patch (that just got worse through the day). So we'll try this new gel.

We left clinic with a ton of information, a plan for surgery, and a car full of tired people, with a drive through rush hour traffic. No clinic again for 1 year, but as usual Dr Church can be contacted earlier with any questions or concerns.

2 days later we were at Sick Kids for Nick's MRI. Sunday morning at 8am. Yuck!

8am meant a very early start.... but no line up or bumping.

Katheryn liked Nick's ninja look.

It worked out really well. I knew the nurse he had, he went to sleep really well and wasn't scared. He woke up drunk and not unhappy. He was fine for the drive home (except for us getting a bit lost - not my fault), and tired for the day.

Now that that is out of the way we have lots of other appointments through the month, and follow up with Dr Rutka in June to see what the MRI says.

One thing I have noticed over the years with Nick's appointments, we seem to have months and months with no appointments and then they all bunch up like this for a month. It makes for a really busy month, but then you know you'll get a break soon.



Fun Day

Just sitting around having fun!

And trying out a new toy!
The Radioflyer Cyclone

It is avaible and accessible for Nick. It moves using your hands and rolling the wheels. It spins and twirls and the kids love it!

Thanks to Great Auntie Wendy and Uncle Mike for picking it up in the States for us before it came to Canada!

Aid4Alej

We went to a fundraiser this weekend. Raising money for a special little girl we have known for a number of years. Alejandra and her mother Antonella have joined us the last couple of years for our spipna bifida walk, we have done Conductive Education together as well as meeting in the Spina Bifida clinic baby group. And they will be at school together next year.

This is Antonella's second annual Aid4Alej event to raise money for stem cell treatments.

There were alot of fun things to do.

Katheryn was very excited about the face painting... and so was I

Nick was adamant that he did not want his face painted. Until the end of the night

It looked fantastic! 

There was music, but the kids were all over dancing to their own beat

After a bit of hesitation, Alejandra, Nickolas and Katheryn were all over the place together

There was also a photo-booth with costumes that Katheryn was excited about.

 

And live music by Danny Lamb a SB&H ambassador.

 

Katheryn got raffle tickets and picked out everything that she wanted.

And she guessed how many popcorn was in the bag!
And won!
Over 3333 kernels

 

We stayed until almost midnight, when the kids were turning into pumpkins

We went between the walker and wheelchair when Nick started getting tired.
As usual they were party animals and we had a lot of fun!

We even got to catch up on another SB family we haven't seen since baby group!

Can't wait for next year's Spring Fling!



Resilience

I know kids are resilient, you hear it all the time when they are hurt. But to actually see it.

This is Katheryn's x-ray. I actually winced and said "ouch" when we followed up in the fracture clinic and it was up on the screen.

 

It's been a couple of days in the sling, and we keep trying to get her to rest the arm.
Fracture clinic went well, arrived an hour early and were second in line once they opened (we would have been first, but an old couple budded in line).
In and out in 30 minutes!

Since we took the whole afternoon off, we decided to go to Walmart.
We need to upgrade Katheryn's bike this year so we were sizing some. Katheryn didn't understand why we couldn't just buy one right now. She was good riding one handed.

Resilience... the ability for the body to recover quickly from illness, change or misfortune.

Now to keep her resting and letting it heal