Making Progress

Ryder’s weekly Occupational Therapy sessions have been going really great and we’re making a lot of progress in strengthening his left side. 

 

You can see in this video that Ryder is playing with a toy in his right hand (as he always does) but when I ask him to grab another one with his left, he opens his hand and grabs it!  I know this seems like something so little, but in baby milestone language, it’s HUGE.  He gets major points taken off for not picking things up with both hands, not transferring from hand to hand, and not banging two objects together…all of which we’re so proud to say he’s beginning to do now!

 

The therapist has been showing me lots of stretches to do with Ryder on a daily basis in order to gain full range of motion in his arm, and help loosen his tendons that he keeps clenched so tight.  I can’t even begin to tell you how much these stretches have helped.  You know what else is going to help SO much?? Ryder got two splints during therapy today!  The first one is for him to wear when he’s crawling around or in his bouncer, it is going to help him stop clenching his fist, and relax his fingers and arm into a more natural position.  The second one is for him to wear when he’s playing, it pulls his thumb out and supports his wrist so that he can grab things and pick them up more easily.This orange ball is something else the therapist brought us and has been using to help Ryder.  He loves it and thinks it’s so fun because he gets to bounce on it and get rocked back and forth, his favorite part is to be upside down (of course…my little thrill seeker)!

One other thing that is really helping Ryder gain strength and start pulling himself up is this step that Aunt Vicki has for him (I brought it home to show the therapist how great he’s doing).  He goes up and down it all day…it amazes me every time I see him do it.     

To see all this progress he’s making, to watch him open and close his hand, put weight on his leg, climb up and over obstacles, every little thing reminds me what a big, mighty God we serve who is in control over everything…even my little babies tiny little thumb. 

When you see Ryder in action, you can see that his left side doesn’t quite work in sync with his right.  When he crawls, all of his strength comes from the right side, his left arm and left leg try to keep up but they drag a little.  I don’t know what causes this, but to see the determination in this little guy and to watch these struggles not slow him down one single bit just opens my eyes to the fact that he can handle this!  He can get through it, I know he can.  Look how much progress he has made already!

We see the Neurologist on Tuesday…