We are off to Virginia in a few hours for our weekend of ABM therapy. Please pray for a successful weekend with no illness and awesome therapy sessions. Our God is able!

Wordless Wednesday

Childhood Delight

One of the first times Liam ever laughed, one of those all out belly laughs, was when his Mimi was swinging with him on our swing set out back. I didn't hear it, but when I got a chance, I took Liam back out and started swinging with him too, in order to hear that angelic sound. Sure enough, he giggled and squealed as the motion of the swing took his tummy away.

Being vision impaired and loving movement are supposed to go hand in hand and Liam definitely likes to move. So, I knew this summer I wanted to get Liam his own swing. I went to Target and purchased the Little Tikes blue swing and eagerly set it up. I plopped Liam down in it and gave him a shove. And being the little peanut that he is, he was so small inside the swing and the swing had such a high , very straight, back that he fell forward in it and you could barely see him above the T-bar.

I was so disappointed.

Sometimes, it is easy to deal with Liam's disability and other times it can be so glaringly obvious that the world isn't geared towards his issues. I didn't think I would have to rig a swing just for him to sit in it and enjoy it. And clearly, with his head on his chest and nothing to see but a red T-bar, this wasn't going to be an enjoyable vestibular experience.

I started hunting down something that would work for him that wouldn't require a lot of intervention and rigging to make it usable and came across this swing at Amazon.

I ordered it, it came today and it is perfect! When I put Liam in it, he could sit up straight with out his head falling and with the slight recline position he doesn't droop forward when he is swinging! No rigging of this swing was necessary!! A normal, unadapted experience.

He started giggling right away which he didn't do in the other swing because he was so uncomfortable.

I was so happy for Liam to be able to enjoy such a simple childhood delight.

We haven't been back to Virginia for Liam's ABM therapy sessions since December. We did attempt a go at a full weekend of sessions in January but Liam came down with a wicked fever within hours of getting there and we only did one session before I decided I needed to get back home with him. I knew he wouldn't get much out of the session when he was so uncomfortable and in case he was really sick I wanted to be near our Dr.

Of all the times that Liam has been sick with a high fever (only 3) was when we were in Virginia (all 3 times). So, you can imagine my trepidation as we embark this week on another trip to Virginia!

I have to go again (therapist's policy requires me to reschedule our canceled sessions or be billed for them) but I am a bit nervous about the trip. I am looking forward to going though. I am curious how Liam will do with the trip, how he will do with the therapy and... I get to go shopping!

I know Liam has changed quite a bit since we were last there so it will be exciting to see if he responds and makes any new changes. I am making sure the hotel is thoroughly sprayed down with Lysol when I get there and I plan on turning on the air to circulate the germs through a window for a bit before I actually allow Liam in.

Liam is such a good kid but when he gets to feeling bad he can be a bear! He is so difficult and he resorts to horrible posturing. Liam actually isn't feeling well today so I am hoping he is getting it out of his system before we go! We tried to go to our BFG (bible fellowship group) get together today and we didn't even last an hour. He cried the entire time and wouldn't comply with anything I tried to get him to do.

It might have been the heat that was getting to him because when we got in the car and turned on the air he seemed to feel so much better. And I think Liam is getting tired of being carried for long periods of time. Granted, he didn't feel well yesterday either, but he made a huge fit in Wal-mart and he didn't care at all for his new Ergo carrier. And since we were in the back yard of someone's house today and he was pitching a fit, my only options were to try to carry him and console him in my arms. And I think he has just had enough. He likes life better when he is stretched out on the floor.

Liam is really doing pretty good now with his side lying skills. He is much looser than when Carla first started ABM with Liam and even though Liam still isn't getting his head up and under control he is getting stronger with everything! So, I am looking forward to our trip and keeping my prayers going for a weekend in Virginia with no sickness! It would be the first time!