Wednesday, June 27, 2012

The "BIG" Little Room

Dear, Savannah,

   You were diagnosed with Cortical Visual Impairment back in February. With this, you are considered legally blind and you process your vision much different than Daddy and me. You have trouble tracking objects, if you can track them at all. However, your vision has improved so much in the last six months. You watch me move if I walk past you while you are on the floor. You also love the Ipad. You are even giving longer glimpses at mommy :). I sure hope someday you can see how beautiful you are.

   With your vision diagnosis, we receive vision therapy once a week. This is a therapy that is not stressful because you don't feel as if you are tortured like in physical therapy, even though I know your PT Keri is helping you and is wonderful. Visual activity is tiring for you. It is not as tiring as physical therapy though. You have had a little room for the past few months. Basically, it is a solid colored box (red, yellow,blue, black) with plexiglass on the top so you can see in and an opening for your feet/body to hang out. A cube missing two pieces, the bottom and the end. Small holes are drilled in the plexiglass to allow for toys to hang by large washers. These toys are solid colored and different textures to allow you to explore. For example, it has a large green jingle bell, a yellow flower, and a silver mylar ballon. These are all for purposes of play and helping stimulate your vision while encouraging new sounds and tactile play while reaching. This is a service we receive from Perkins School for the Blind.
You in your light box.

Sweet pea, this is not how you are supposed to use this;)

   Sometimes you are so silly. Just as you started using this therapy tool, you started rolling, a lot. You would roll into the side and get stuck. You would also stay on her belly, silly girl. It doesn't help you when you are on your belly. Monday, we were given a new little room and there is nothing little about it. It is a BIG little room. I can almost sit upright in this room. Now, you can roll again, in your BIG little room. Make your mommy proud. Keep rolling and we can get an even bigger little room.



Love, Mommy

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Thirteen months!!

Dear Savannah,

Today, Savannah Mae, you are thirteen months. Time flies. We have been very busy this past month, very busy this week. Yesterday marks the anniversary of your shunt placement surgery. We are blessed that we have not had any complications thus far and no additional hospital time, and that makes me HAPPY :) I pray that I can continue to say this every year.

We spent the weekend celebrating Daddy as your daddy.  Last year, you were still in the hospital so it was great to spend the day with our family. We started with church and out to breakfast where we gave you your first taste of pancakes and syrup. After breakfast, we went and visited Papa James' grave, something Mommy had never done before. I wish we would have had the chance to know him.  I think Daddy must be a lot like his father. We ended with a nice dinner after a very relaxing day.

Monday, we had a visit with your neurologist.  It is one of my least favorite appointments, next to genetics. We did not receive any new answers to why you have global delays. I really didn't expect any new updates because as we have learned, it's a wait and see world we live in. If you ask me, you are perfect. You are just taking your time and eventually you will get there. Wednesday you had a g.i. appointment and as for now, you no longer need to be seen. You are off your reflux medicine and we are free and clear. :) Let's hope things stay this way.

Savannah, you had a few firsts this week. You put her feet in the ocean, although I'm not so sure you enjoyed it. You also went swimming for the first time. I knew you would like this and you did. You have always loved your bath. This week, I  dressed you adorable all week. I have been waiting to dress you in the cute clothes from Mimi's store that you got for your birthday. You are so unbelivable cute.  I love you to pieces!!!!
Little Lovebug Swimming

Love, Mommy
New outfit from Mimi's