Horseback Riding Therapy Assessment

This week we were both brave and cautious.

Monday, September 4th: Happy Labor Day!

We had a nice three day weekend with Josh and it was fantastic! It's always nice when he's home during the day. We got our piano tuned too.

Theo had three observable seizures today.

Tuesday, September 5th:

Theo went back to school today and I went and got my allergy shots. 

Josh and I picked Theo up early from school, so he could go get his hearing tested at the INI in Peoria. Theo was NOT cooperating and kept screaming when the audiologist tried to put the little probes in his ears. We finally laid him on the ground and put on his videos. He calmed down enough for them to get a few readings.

The said that they couldn't get a good reading on his right ear. They think it's because he still has a small hole in his ear drum from where his tube had been. The audiologist said they aren't concerned and we will see them again next year!

[Elsa ❤️]

Right as we were leaving the INI I found out that quite a few of the students and aids in Theo's class got sick over the weekend and they tested positive for COVID today. Bummer!

I decided it would be best to keep Theo home for the rest of the week. He was definitely exposed on Friday, so if he was sick I wanted to keep him home so we didn't spread it to others AND so I could do his respiratory therapy every four hours. 

We were hopeful that Theo dodged COVID again, but I didn't want to take any chances until he had a COVID test.

Theo had three observable seizures today.

Wednesday, September 6th: 

Theo and I stayed at home and did respiratory therapy every four hours. He was coughing a bit in the morning. Hopefully that is just allergies 🤞🏻🤞🏻

That afternoon we Zoomed with Ms Jen and Ms Jeannine. After Josh got home we gave Theo a COVID test and he was negative. YAY!

Theo had three observable seizures today.

Thursday, September 7th: 

The next morning I called Theo's Pediatrician to see if I should bring him in for a COVID test just in case the at home test wasn't super accurate. They said I could bring him in that afternoon and they would check him out and give him a test.

Theo was coughing a bit in the morning, but he didn't cough at all in the afternoon (just like yesterday).

In the late afternoon we headed to Ottawa. The Pediatrician check him out and she said his lungs sounded really good, even his lower left lobe. She then gave him a nose swab to test for COVID, RSV, and the flu. He was negative for all of them. YAY!

Theo had two observable seizures today.

Friday, September 8th: 

I kept Theo home from school for one more day - just to be extra super safe.

[Standing up super strong with his jeans on!]

That afternoon we took Theo to The Legacy Ranch for his horseback riding therapy assessment with Ms. Kate and Sherman the Tank.

Theo was very nervous when we got to the ranch since he was unfamiliar with the new location. We first met with Ms. Kate and we went over Theo's medical history and what are are hoping to get out of therapy. Ms. Kate then told us that Theo would be going for a ride on Sherman the Tank! He was fitted for a helmet and then we went to the indoor arena where Theo met Sherman.

We rolled Theo up a ramp and helped get him onto Sherman. Theo was very upset, but everyone else (including Sherman) stayed calm. 

They took Theo for a few laps around the arena. When Theo got tired Ms. Kate had Sherman stop and then Theo was able to lay down.

On their final lap around the arena, Theo FINALLY calmed down. He relaxed, stopped arching his back, and even smiled for a second. 

After we got Theo back in his wheelchair we asked Ms. Kate her thoughts. She thinks that Theo will greatly benefit from horseback riding therapy and we agreed! Not only will it give him a great stretch in his hips (his Orthopedic Surgeon will be happy about that) it will also help him gain strength in his core and neck. We are going to sign him up for an eight week session. I think it'll still take time for him to get used to Sherman, but it'll be so good for him!

Theo had three observable seizures today

Weekend:

Theo likes to leave his blue mat and lay next to the fan tower. I put his squeezie there to deter him, but it didn't work. Such a stinker!

Josh and I have been on new diets since July 1st. I guess that's not saying much since I'm always on and off diets 🤦‍♀️ Anyways! Eating healthy tends not to be very glamorous. But I thought my salad looked good (minus the plastic bowl), so I took a picture. Enjoy!

I got a new book! 99% of my books are on my kindle, so I rarely get to enjoy that "new book smell!" 

On Sunday we watched the Chargers and Packers games! Thank goodness for NFL Sunday Ticket!

Theo had three observable seizures on Saturday and four on Sunday.