enssle family

Pictures and whatnot

September 7th, 2007 Tara

Since my last entry I’ve posted at least a couple batches of photos. Make sure you check them out! They extend far beyond those found on the front page of this site.

Just a quick update…yes, we are all still alive and kicking! I know it has been a long time since I updated the blog; I guess we’ve been a little busy. Here’s a brief list of what’s been going on: Anna’s been walking around a lot lately – it’s become her primary mode of locomotion at this point; she’s had another ear infection; she’s been fitted for a new Dynamic Ankle Foot Orthotic (DAFO) for her left foot, so that she will hopefully walk correctly (heel-toe, not toe-heel); I was sick for a couple of weeks; Neal was sick for a couple of weeks; Granny and Papa came to visit; Anna played a lot with Henry; she’s been increasing her vocabulary substantially; Neal received a promotion; and we recently purchased a new car. Doesn’t sound like a lot when you write it down, but it seems like we’ve been very busy lately.

September, October and November are gearing up to be extremely hectic months. If she isn’t already, Anna will be fed up with doctors and clinics (I’m sure I will be too, and I’m not the one being poked, pulled and stretched). We have Anna’s 18 month check-up coming soon (she’ll be 18 months in a little more than a week!). And then we have all of her specialist appointments – neurologist, opthamalogist, neuropsychologist, and physiatrist (rehab doctor). We’re coming up on the one-year anniversary of Anna’s diagnosis. It’s hard to believe that it has been only a year. Sometime in October we’ll also be having Anna’s 6-month reevaluation for her IFSP (Individualized Family Service Plan). This is basically a powwow among Anna’s therapists, our early intervention service coordinator, and us where we discuss Anna’s progress and our goals for the next 6-month period.

In late October Anna will be receiving her Botox treatment. No, she doesn’t have wrinkles. Doctors often use Botox in children with cerebral palsy to relieve/reduce spasticity (high muscle tone) in select muscle groups. The physiatrist will be injecting Botox into several of Anna’s arm muscles. This will hopefully allow her to strengthen the opposing muscles that aren’t able to do much because of those muscles with high tone. Of course, this makes Neal and me more than a little nervous. I mean, the stuff is poison. And she’s still so little. They say that the injections are painful, which makes me feel terrible for putting her through this. I guess the one saving grace is that she probably won’t remember this (?). I certainly hope she doesn’t.

After the Botox treatment, Anna will begin her second round of constraint therapy at Children’s in Denver. As a reminder, this is a 3-week intensive therapy program where Anna’s good arm is casted in an attempt to make her use her affected arm. We see an occupational therapist down at Children’s 3 times per week, and we do a lot of work at home. She wears the cast from the moment she wakes up until she goes to sleep. Fun!

Anna has made a lot of progress since her last round of constraint therapy in March/April. Since we finished up the first round in April, we’ve continued to wear the cast all-day for 2 days per week and during each and every evening meal. It will be interesting to see what goals we establish for this phase. The treatment period will last right up to the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. I’ve been joking about the fact that this year we will have something for which to be truly thankful: a few cast-free days!

Filed under: Babies,Family,Health,Parenting,Photos