Growing Grass

"...It's a little like watching grass grow." - Makenzie's Mom.

I really couldn't have said it any better myself.

Day in and day out, sometimes I can see bursts of progress and account for every tiny leap Christian makes. And sometimes...it's difficult. I don't know if it's fatigue from trying to look for any progress made in a day or if it's constantly reciting what progresses Christian has made and getting tired of hearing myself. That combined with the look of confusion on people's faces or in the sound of their voice as I recite Christian's process and lack of understanding that - yes, opening his left hand and feeling for something is a huge accomplishment. What people want to hear is, "Christian jumped off the couch today and ran over to watch Spongebob!" Trust me, I want to say this, and when it happens I will recite it over and over again to whoever will listen. The day will happen but that day isn't today. So for now, I'm watching the grass grow.

It wasn't a stellar weekend. Unproductive and uneventful I would say. Christian was seriously irritable yesterday. Not completely sure why but my guess is that a big, fat molar is pushing it's way through his little gums. Not nice. But it was nothing Tylenol couldn't handle. I put his Converse shoes on for the first time in a while and he absolutely hated them. In fact, he was so frustrated that he cried the entire time and even lifted his leg from his hip a few times. We took the shoes off and all was right with the world again.

But today, Christian was refreshed and ready to go. He was looking around and focusing a little and I swear he was following me a few times. OT told me his team of therapists met and were really excited about the progress he's making. That was nice to hear, especially with the way I was feeling over the weekend. I did get some good, albeit difficult shots of Christian attempting to hold up his head...

Christian on Friday night trying to hold up his head.

We like this because it's an actual attempt to stabilize his head rather than throw it back in an arch. He is face down on my chest in this picture which makes it a little easier to try to hold his head up.

The OT also suggested introducing different stuffed animals that are big enough so that he can try to feel them with both arms/hands at the same time. I introduced him to a character from a Dr. Seuss book and this is what happened...

A love affair has emerged.

I didn't set this up, I swear. I simply put the stuffed animal over his right arm. I showed him with his left arm where it was and he did the rest. He began on his back and ended up like this on his own. He's even getting oral stimulation. I think he's in love. He fell asleep like this not 10 minutes later.

And, finally, this is Daddy pretending to sleep like Christian. No, he wasn't asleep but I thought it was a cute picture.

So after a weekend of wondering what was really going on with Christian, it hit me this morning. It's a pattern after we see Dr. Peters, the cranial sacral doctor. Every time Christian sees him, he's irritable and downright uncooperative for a few days and then, BAM!, progress again. Dr. Peters told me last visit, "There will be a time when you don't have to come here anymore." It actually made me want to cry. Really? There might be a time we aren't looking for something...anything that will help him? I felt peaceful about this. But after having three visits and seeing progress after each one, I'm thinking we'll go back for a fourth just for good measure and just based on what I've seen so far.

Slow....quick, quick....slow. Yet another analogy that describes Christian's progress. It's all amazing and frustrating at the same time. I never imagined I'd get so much joy out of such small victories. Actually laugh out loud joy. But when my boy is crying and I pick him up and pat his back and he's okay again or when he feels for my hand when I ticked his fingers, I believe this is the most beautiful, growing grass I've ever had the pleasure of watching.