Working with mom!

I just LOVE taking my girls to work. It used to be a breeze! Then, you know who....

Became a little , umm, let's just say, "Busy"! That said, I don't typically torture the others who are either trying to work or rehab there when Ellie is at work, and always now bring a sitter!

Our new one happens to be Katelyn. Ellie can't say that well, so I asked if she would mind affectionately being called, "KK". You may remember Katelyn from the beach pictures last year. If I had not been forced to delete my blog, you could have scrolled back and seen them! Katelyn will be going with us again this year, along with good ol' Masson. We have an extended stay planned in about a week and a half. It was planned late last year, so despite my freaking out a bit with a very full caseload at work, and a brand new clinic to boot, I AM sticking to my guns, and we will be in Gulf Shores by the 21st! There's a bird! Back to work!

Ever wonder what I do at work? If you have ever had PT, then you understand it from a big person's perspective. But here is a little one. This is "A". She has never sat alone before. I get to be a part of moments like this! I screamed, "Jessssssi. Cammmera!". Shortly followed by Ellie Sue ....

Screaming, "jesssssii. Cammmera." I swear she is my shadow!

Anyhoo. I LOVE getting to take pics of my babies taking their first steps, sitting for the first time, standing alone, etc. ANd now in this age of email and such, we (I use that term loosely... I meant, Jessi) can just plop it right on the "puter" and send it to mom or dad at work. (Often a sitter or grandparent brings the kids so mom/pop can earn a living.)

"A" was coerced to sit by my constantly feeding her goldfish. See the crumbs all over the place? I had to pop those little suckers and give her tiny bites at a time. I actually have a proof sitting on my desk of a potential onesie we may have printed that says, "Will work for food". Wouldn't that be cute? I have taught many a delyaed kid to walk with goldfish! That just seems to be the treat of choice!

Speaking of delayed kids... Someone commented a while back about my never having mentioned why GG is in therapy... wellll.....
First let me clarify by saying her mom is a pediatric physical therapist and a psycho! Ok. That out of the way....
I have been bothered by her lack of willingness to use her right arm. I showed it to the pediatrician, and she agreed. See above pic? Gabbi tends to hold her right arm with her left one. For a while, she hardly even acknowledged it. That has gotten WAY better!

The pediatrician even thought she may have brachial plexus injury (a stretch of the nerve roots that innervate her arm). I am not so sure it is that, and may be a little more significant, since it is a total avoidance of any weight into the entire right side.

Unless we are working with her, she usually looks a lot like this.

She also maintains her head tilted to the left all the time, with a slight rotation to the right. I made that "torticollis" call when she was about 2 months old. Anyone remember?! And sure enough...
If you think I am crazy, scroll back and look at all of her pictures.... always to the left! and that is WITH me working with her all the time at home. SO, I gave up and now we come to therapy. The deal is is that with her tilted head comes a rotated head. With a rotated head comes a visual attntion to only one way. IN Gabbi's case, that is to the right. She does not, therefore look to the left with her left eye very well. If she is looking to the right, both eyes go that way. If she is looking to the left, the right one goes that way, but the left one doesn't pass midline very well. We are both going to the eye doctor tomorrow. Gabbi for her situation, and me... well, I am turning the Big 4-0 this year, and I think the time has come!

Gabbi isn't sitting herself up yet, so that is another thing we are working on. She is resonding to therapy very well, so I think all will be well!

What is funny is that my therapists are pretty much busy all the time! so, we have everyone in on the game...

Patients' moms....

This is Aunt Kimmie, Andy's mom, doing a little work on getting her on her hands and knees (oh not doing that yet either.) Should have been emerging around 6 months. She is 8 1/2!

And Katie... Wait. I think Katie is just playing with her! In pediatric PT, it is sometimes hard to tell the difference. It is a tough job, but somebody's gotta do it!
Meanwhile, back in the PT gym....
Umm.... where you going Ellie? Anyone seen Ellie? Oh, there you are. Sitting atop a patient getting her hot packs! Katy, you ok?

Back to Gaggi Gull...Gosh she is so cute!
This is Jessi making Gabbi use both hands at the same time. Gabbi is not yet clapping and only started holding her bottle about a week ago. I know, I know... many of you are thinking, "yea, so?", but remember what I do for a living! Ellie is waaaaay into this necklace that she wears to be like her daddy. She gets a bit agitated when I try to take it off. And to conclude. Another reason Ellie likes to be at MMPT Ruston is that Katie and Jessi let her eat all of her food (Rice Krispie treats and such) with these umbrellas as "forks".
She just thinks that is the bomb.com. Who wouldn't? I think I may start using umbrella toothpicks for all my meals!
I just love having my kids with me at work! melanie