Life is keeping us busy. Melissa is still seizure free! 8 1/2 months now-yea!!!

She has become so social. I remember the months that I would hope to get just one smile a week out of her. We got that one smile if we were having a good week otherwise it could be weeks or even months before we would get just one smile. Now we get many smiles a day! She studies us and responds to us daily. She is so smart it is obvious that she understands.
She is trying to use some signs-more, all done, drink, and hungry.
When given the choice she will reach out and choose what she wants. Her OT Lynn is using a special switch with Melissa. Lynn records a word or a phrase such as “turn the page please” and then reads or plays with Melissa and Melissa has to hit the switch at the right time to communicate what she wants. She has been doing very good at hitting the switch at the right time.
Melissa has constantly been reaching out for the spoon when I feed her. We are going to work on getting Melissa to feed herself this summer.
She has been getting pool therapy 2x a months since Feb. She loves to be in the pool. She can do things in the pool that she can not do on land and loves the freedom of movement. At times when she is in the water her PT Lois will put a horseshoe life jacket on Melissa. The life jacket only hold Melissa’s head out of the water this enables her to be able to kick and splash herself all over the pool. She has even taken steps in the pool. She is so funny-she has to get her hair wet, she will keep trying to throw her head back until she does.
Melissa has the emotional development of a two year old-complete with tantrums when she doesn’t get what she wants.
She has a free standing hammock called a Nature’s Nest. She loves to be in there she has figured out that if she throws her legs over the end and pumps them back and forth that she can get herself bouncing. She can do that for a long time. Needless to say her legs are starting to get some muscle on them. They are not just bones anymore!
She love to be outside and she is usually in a better mood when she gets to spend time outside. Today Kelly turned an old baby bike seat into a swing for her. She was loving that.
We have her IEP (individual education plan) on Tues she is moving up from the Birth to 3 program to the school district program. Luckily she will keep all her old therapists Jennifer, Lynn, and Lois because it takes Melissa about 6 months before she warms up to a new therapist and will work for them.
We went to Handi Riders outside of Sioux Falls yesterday to have Melissa evaluated for horse therapy. It is looking like we will be doing horse therapy on her this summer. It is a 10 week class one time a week with a physical therapist. I have heard such great feedback from other parents who have done this therapy. I can’t wait to see how Melissa does on a horse since she really likes being outside and she likes animals.