Therapy update

Therapy was GREAT!! AMAZING!!! WONDERFUL!!!

Okay so maybe I exaggerated a little, but Kiya actually interacted with her therapist and didn't cry the whole appointment or even most of it like she has in the past. This time was so different. She has come along way.

She was so proud to show off her superb crawling skills, her amazing climbing skills, her ability to stand up with little effort and she even (after a lot of bubbles) pushed a little shopping cart for her. The therapist was thrilled beyond words at how well Kiya has progressed in her gross motor development. She said that Kiya has amazing leg strength, balance and in essence has all the physical skills necessary to walk on her own. Now it is a mind game. We need to convince Kiya that yes in fact she can. The therapist gave us some things to try so we will go with that. She really felt that Kiya could walk any day now. Don't worry charging the batteries in the video camera.

On her curved spine issue....well....the word scoliosis was mentioned. The therapist would like Kiya to see a Pediatric Ortho doctor for maybe an x-ray or just a baseline screening. She really feels Kiya is at risk for being diagnosed with this. I did some research and most kids aren't diagnosed until school age. The degree of the curvature will determine treatment options. If minimal then just observation, if moderate a possible back brace and if severe surgery. Given Kiya's young age at this point observation would be all this would entail. She is much too young for a back brace and surgery isn't even considered until age 10 or 12. We are going to discuss with our regular pediatrician next week.

In the meantime, the therapist was thrilled to hear that Kiya starts swim lessons in two weeks and thinks this will be good for her back. We are to continue working with her on her exercise ball. She lies down on her back on it and we roll her forward and back to help stretch the muscles. She loves it. We are also going to try this special tape that athletes use for more acute conditions but some have used for more chronic conditions. We are testing the tape now to see if there is an allergy. Basically the therapist would put strips of tape on Kiya's back to pull the muscles. It will force her to use her back muscles in a different way. Kiya will straighten up if you apply pressure or run you finger along her back so there is some hope that this might help. Walking and being upright may also help.

The other thing we discussed was Kiya's foot. She tends to turn her right foot outwards at times when standing or walking. The running theories are she is doing it for balance or to compensate for her back. The therapist isn't too concerned as in all other positions Kiya's foot looks normal, reflexes properly and Kiya herself without knowing it was exercising her foot muscles which were all good signs.

I think Kiya's favorite part of therapy was the bubbles. She got really quiet while in the exercise room so much so the therapist asked how the rest of Kiya's development was and I said she is right on track. Then came the bubbles....then Kiya pointed, said no no no (her way of saying I want this) and then she kept saying Bubbles bubbles and more. Too cute.

We go back in two weeks for the taping of the back, until then watch out world you may have another toddler hurricane on the lose.