25 months and CRAWLING!

So...Mama read the book What to do about your Brain-Injured Child by Glenn Doman, and we began scooting ALL THE TIME to follow in the developmental footsteps of well-children.  Gwenny is not a very fast scooter (army crawl, pulling herself with only her arms.) Therefore, getting in a certain amount of distance during the day became time consuming.  I moved toys from one end of the kitchen to the other, sat on the ground and played cheerleader all day (between meals and nap.)   

 A few days after we began hard-core scooting, Gwenny would start from her W-sit, put her hands on the floor, move her left knee forward then her right before flopping to her belly to scoot the distance. 

On the 12th day of hard-core scooting right after breakfast, G started from her W-sit, put her hands on the floor,  moved her left knee forward, then her right, then her left, then her right again!  And kept crawling on hands and knees half way across the kitchen!  Then she flopped to her belly, scooted a few paces, stopped to play with a chair, got back on her hands and knees and CRAWLED THE REST OF THE WAY TO ME. (Youtube link in blue.)

I was teary-eyed and over-joyed!  It was almost a shock that she started crawling on hands and knees so fast after switching tactics.  Again, I find myself frustrated with the medical world on not pointing me in this direction sooner.  But it has taught me something very important- NEVER give up, and if I feel there is something more I can do for my child, but I just don't know what it is, I have to keep looking until I find it.  I need to trust myself enough to be the expert on my child.  I'm already devouring more "alternative" literature to help Gwenny.

Its interesting to note that Mr Doman claims that a child cannot progress physically without progressing in other aspects of development (and visa-versa.)  Since seeing the crawling on hands and knees (Doman calls this "creeping") Gwenny has also used a pincher grasp a few times (development for hands to work towards pointing and holding a writing utensil) and last night surprised us by attempting to pull herself to standing at the couch.  I'm excited to see what the next few months holds for Gwenny Claire.

Here, Gwenny is working on pointing to the picture that is named (Mama or dog.)  Our speech therapist suggested we pick a person she sees all the time and a non-person.  Its hard to tell if she understands, but she seems to be right more than half the time.

As Gwenny starts to show more of her little personality, it has been fun to watch her interact with her Cousin Chloie.

Gwenny's hair is now long enough for piggy-tails! 

Gwenny crawl-scooted (she's alternating) over to help me with the dishes the other day.  This was an exciting moment for me as I've seen other babies be interested in helping with the dishwasher, and now its Gwenny's turn.

Another exciting (and very unexpected) development was Gwenny's first throw at OT a few days ago.   She was happily playing in the ball pit when she picked up a yellow ball with her left hand (barely able to grasp it) and threw it overhand!  We were able to get her to throw again with both hands about 5 times.  Unfortunately, I haven't been able to get her to do it again at home.

The emerging pincher grasp.

Feeding herself yogurt with a spoon.  She has trouble with the scooping, but can get the spoon to her mouth.

Gwen's PT was "amazed" at her trunk strength and sitting these past 2 visits since we started focusing on scooting all day.

Gwenny's been braver about exploring and trying to escape!



Pa-pop found a grasshopper and introduced Gwenny.

 

We found a used trike with a parent-push handle online for $20.  Gwenny really enjoyed her first ride.  We rubber banded her feet to the pedals and her sitting is now good enough that she can hold her own.  The only downfall is the used trike seems to have a gear issue and doesn't turn very well.  Luckily, there's no need to go fast anytime soon.

24.5 months & scooting

Yes, its the infamous W sit...the one she's not supposed to be doing.  Gwenny is confident and getting faster at getting in and out of sitting this way.  We're still working on transitioning to a tradition tailor sit from scooting, but she's a smart cookie and she knows this way is faster and easier.

This is an Amtryke that G got to try at PT this week.  It an adjustable tryke with straps on the seat & feet for special needs kids.  Gwenny was pretty tired this day, and acted only mildly interested. We'll try it again next week to see if she's more into it.  If she does get more interested, a tryke would be a great way to exercise her legs in pedaling motion.  I was told we could put Gwenny's story and picture on the amtryke website and people can donate to buying her a tryke.

We have been scooting a lot in the past 4 days.  I read the book, "What to do About Your Brain Injured Child" by Glenn Doman this week and we are implementing one of his ideas (my jury is still skeptical about some other ideas of his.) 

One of his theories on helping brain injured children to develop is to have them follow in the foot steps of well children.  He points out, and I've observed (as I'm sure most of us have) that when well children first become mobile, and start scooting on their bellies, they suddenly start scooting EVERYWHERE and they get into everything they can reach. 

I specifically thought of my friend's baby Grayson and when he started scooting.  Once he figured it out, he did it as fast as he could and got around everywhere he wanted on his belly.  I noticed that Gwenny does not do this.  She scoots around in very small intervals, from toy to toy in the living room and we spend a lot of time doing other exercises from PT, OT and ST. 

Starting on Sept 12, I focused very heavily on scooting, more specifically, the amount of scooting.  I figured G was scooting less than 10 yards each day.  Doman recommends 1-2 year olds who aren't yet crawling, but are scooting, should be scooting 75-125 yards daily (to build strength and independence.)  So this has been our aim. 

The first day, Gwenny scooted more than 50 yards.  Today, 4 days later, she scooted more than 80 yards (with lots of encouragement and coaxing.)  This morning, as Gwenny was on hands and knees, my parents and I witnessed her scoot her knee forward 3 TIMES!  I'll be keeping my eyes on this development...

Gwenny is very curious to watch me prepare her food in the kitchen, so I started turning her high chair around and found the tray fits under the counter.  She loves feeling like a big girl!