Theo's Last Week of Early Interventions and Theo's 3rd Birthday!

This week was Theo's last week of Early Interventions! I can't believe he has been in this program since April 2018. It's been hard, but so rewarding and I'm sure that Theo would have been so much more delayed if it wasn't for this program and our amazing (and patient) therapist. I will be eternally grateful for those 12 therapist who worked so hard for our little Theo. I was in tears this week when we said goodbye to Theo's Feeding/Speech therapist, Diane. She has been with us for so long that she knew Theo back when he was ACTUALLY EATING! Insane, right?! I'm glad she was able to see him at Toddler Class and over Zoom even once we moved to Minooka.

[Waiting for Diane for our final Zoom]

Even though Theo is graduating we will be continuing with OT, PT, Feeding/Speech, and Nutrition. I'm ready for Theo to start Preschool, but I know he still needs additional help.

Tommy Rivs is still in the hospital receiving Chemo for his lung cancer. He's on a ventilator and an ECMO machine. He still needs prayers, thoughts, feelings, and good vibes. 

On Monday, August 3rd, people came from all over the world to #RunForRivs. IFit paid out a dollar for ever mile ran. Even though I was only able to run a few miles for him, I'm still glad I was able to help.

We bought a mask for Theo and have been working with him at home. It's not going very well, but we will keep trying.

Finally got my Christian Waggoner "The Child" reflection piece hung in Theo's Star Wars room. It's perfect hanging next to the Mandalorian! 

[YES!! 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻 Let's do this!!]

After I finished my 1/2 Marathon I swore I would never do it again, but then this series popped up on my treadmill. Just because it's Rivs, I will do this series and run another 1/2 Marathon to see if my time improves. Wish me luck!

We celebrated Theo's 3rd birthday on Thursday, August 6th, since I was going to be out of town on his actual birthday. 

[Oh Theo... it's just a cupcake]

He wasn't too interested in his cupcake (go figure), but that's okay. More for me!

[THAT FACE!]

Happy birthday! We love you so much!

On Friday, August 7th, we went back to Hanger to get Theo's SMO's and AFO's.

[SMO's]

[SMO's with the AFO's and shoes!]

Our Clinician told us to have Theo wear the SMO's and AFO's for an hour the first day, two hours the next day, and so on. Theo's been tolerating them well and has been spending a lot of time in his stander!

End of July and Aunt Missy Comes to Visit

This quarantine has been hard on us for a lot of the same reasons it's been hard on everyone. The hardest thing is the isolation (which I wrote about before) and the fact that it's so hard to leave the house without help. It's hard being away from family and friends. I literally have no friends or family here (do therapist and doctors count?). I rely HEAVILY on Marco Polo, FaceTime, and text messages to fill my need for social interactions. So, when Missy decided to come and visit I couldn't have been more excited!

[Missy and Theo]

[She even brought her snow cone maker and syrups! Not as good as Hawaiian Shave Ice, but it's close!]

She stayed for a few days and I could tell how badly I needed a girlfriend (IN PERSON) to just talk to. Don't get me wrong, I love Marco Polo, but having someone talking back to you is so great. 

While Missy was here we got gyros and pizza! Don't worry, I got back on WW right after she left 😬

Thanks again for coming to visit! Come back anytime!

[I'm so ready for some Lakers basketball!]

Theo has been working hard on his stamina. He is able to sit in his chair (without complaining) for 90 minutes. He loves to play with his toys and he is getting good at hitting is button with his left hand.

[Look at that hair!]

[Theo has started picking up his musical books and iPad and putting them up to his ear.]

I got this awesome Darth Vader Scentsy warmer and wax bars from Kayleen. They smell so good and I love how the Tie Fighters show up when it's turned on!

I have a large bag of pennies. I don't want them. Pennies are dumb and I don't want to take them to the bank. So, I gave them away on Facebook in the local Buy Nothing / Sell Nothing Group! YAY!

AFO Fitting, FaceTime with Em and Katey, Rolling Over, and Rage For Rivs

The second half of July wasn't as busy as the first, but we did have a lot of therapy to keep us busy!

[When will the madness end?!]

[Theo working hard with his buttons and toys]

[Star Wars helps keep me sane]

On July 15 we had Tornado Watches and multiple funnel clouds were spotted over Ottawa. Everyone was fine though!

We decided to mix it up and Theo has been standing at the dinner table. If we are going to get in multiple sessions in the Stander a day then he may as well stand at dinner. His feeding therapist also recommended "mixing it up" when it comes to food. Two birds, right?

July 17th was Disneyland's 65th Anniversary! I still remember celebrating the 50th, aka "The Happiest Homecoming on Earth" back in 2005. How was that 15 years ago?!

On July 17, Theo and I went to Hanger to get him fitted for his AFO's and SMO's. We have been waiting so long for these! Theo sat like a champ and let the nice man take all of his measurements. They also casted his legs and Theo had no problem with that either. I think it helps that the technician was singing along to Theo's music! We will get the AFO's and SMO's on August 7th! Can't wait!

[Josh reading with Theo]

[❤️❤️]

Theo's feeding therapist also recommended using is toys during "food play" since he puts them in his mouth on his own.

[Funny stuff]

Theo will NOT roll over his right ear or put his right ear to the ground. It is the strangest thing and no one has been able to figure out why. And believe me, I've asked EVERYONE I cross paths with. Honestly, he use to. He use to lay on his right side or lay on his tummy with his right ear down, but it stopped by the time he turned one. And if you tried to get him to roll over his right ear he would completely freak out and throw up. So, we started doing TMR exercises and rolling Theo over his right ear at bedtime. That way if he freaks out we can give him his Paci and he can just go to bed. BTW, he LOVES to go night-night.

Over the last couple of months he has gotten more tolerant of us rolling him at bed time. He's even started laughing and enjoying the roll! On July 21st I was sitting on the couch and Theo was playing with his toys on the floor. I realized he was on his tummy and he was trying to roll over his right ear to get to his ball! WHAA?! All of a sudden he rolled from his tummy onto his back... and I waited... I waited for the cry, but he didn't even seem to notice what happened! YAY! It's progress, right?!

Theo is VERY motivated by his toys right now. He will roll, shimmy, squirm, and even push with his feet, to get to his toys. He's a long ways from crawling, but he's definitely on the move!

[Off of his blanket, off of the pad, off of the carpet, and onto the hard wood floor]

On July 23 we got our first glimpse of what the MLB season will be like. It was so strange to see the players in mask with a fake crowd behind them.

[Theo still loves his robot friend!]

[More funny stuff]

Josh continues to work hard and he still likes his job! We are very grateful that he has continued to work during the pandemic.

We found out early Friday (July 24th) morning that Tommy Rivs was transferred to another hospital and was diagnosed with Primary Pulmonary NK T-Cell Lymphoma. It's a rare form of cancer and the prognosis for this type of cancer is poor. They are starting him on a high dose of chemo and hopefully will see positive results. Read more here.

My heart continues to break for him and his family. 

He needs all the love and prayers that the world can offer.

People all around the world are #RunningForRivs

I had been planning on running a 20K (12.4 miles) race on Sunday, but I decided to make it a half marathon (13.1 miles).

Even though I’ve never met him, I feel like he’s had such a huge impact on my life. Today I ran for Rivs, who is in the hospital fighting for his life. He needs thoughts, prayers, and anything we can send his way. Please think of him, his wife, kids, family, friends, and doctors. 

#RunningForRivs

#RageOn

#RunForRivs

#RageDay

#RageForRivs

#DontGetDead

#BeatCancer

#TeamRivs

Here is his GoFundMe. Please donate if you can.

Tommy Rivs Needs Your Help!

This is my iFit coach, Tommy Rivs:

He has been in the ICU for three weeks and was recently put on a ventilator. 

This guy is a husband, father, friend, ultra-marathoner, and hero. He has inspired people around the world to care about themselves and others. I've enjoyed running with him 3-6 days a week for the last 9 months. I've learned so much from him and he's made it so I actually look forward to those long and intense runs.

He desperately needs your thoughts and prayers. 

https://gf.me/u/yg3ipg

Rage On! 🖤🏴‍☠️