Saturday, August 31, 2013

What's New?

You're all familiar with the saying "no news is good news," right? This certainly applies to Liam currently. Next week, we return for a routine check-up with his orthopedic doctor for the first time in 4 months! Why the exclamation? Well, it's pretty exciting that we have not needed to see this specialist for so long, considering the first 8 months of Liam's life meant weekly visits for cast changes and two separate surgical procedures to his ankles. We are all certainly blessed!

Liam isn't walking or standing on his own yet and we are still working on his mastering sitting upright unsupported. However, the stander, mentioned in the last post, has worked wonders in strengthening the muscles that will help him to stand.

Initially during therapy, Liam's physical therapist would stand him up supported against a couch or ottoman and try to help him strengthen his leg muscles in that way, but Liam would just scream and cry. After three 15-minute sessions in the stander, we tried standing him up against the ottoman again and he instinctively pressed his heels into the ground and stood (with support) tall and proud as though this was what he was born to do. The stander has also helped him to enjoy his ExerSaucer more than ever, giving him more strength in his knees and ankles to bounce around.


Also, so as not to leave anything out, Liam's arms and hands are still making good progress. He uses them more than ever to play with his toys and reach for things that catch his interest. Lately we've noticed him bending his elbows when he presses his hands against our arms. Where there's a will, there's a way!