Fisher and Flower Guts

July 19, 2013

This is my beautiful flower pot in the backyard!  It is so big and full!

I walked out onto the deck to see this....

Then he picked up a flower and looked at it like.... "What happened to this?"

 

I couldn't believe my eyes!! My flowers were all hacked away by Fisher and his sword.  I didn't want to get mad and yell at him so I told Tyler to talk to him .  This is how Tyler handled it: "Nice sword skills, Fish!"

What?!?! Then Fisher gave Tyler a high five and asked me to wipe the flower guts off his sword!! Argggg....boys and their weapons and their skills!

I am not sure if the Justin and Wyatt had anything to do with it but they had no problem helping Fisher pick it up.

A walk accross the backyard

July 23, 2013

Today Hunter walked across the backyard holding one of my hands without stumbling or loosing his balance! I was so excited. Then he walked up the deck steps...all 7 of them holding both my hands but he did it without me having to initiate the weight shift in his legs!! This picture is to give some idea of the distance he walked from the swing set to the deck!! 

No day better than today

July 23, 2013

Conversation at lunch today. Lunch was pizza.

Justin: "Mom, whats for dinner?"
Me: "Chicken Alfredo."
Justin: " Cereal. Pizza. Chicken alfredo. No day is better than today. Well, except for Christmas and my birthday."

IPTI - Day 13 of 13 - Last Day

July 19, 2013

Last. Day. Of. Therapy. Today.

It has been a long crazy 3 weeks.  Hunter has been a trooper and has worked very hard.  Justin and Fisher have been wonderful and have enjoyed going somewhere different everyday!  It will be good to get back to normal life schedule.

Today we weren't able to be paired up with Reese and Carla due to scheduling conflicts....oh how I missed them both.  It just wasnt the same with new faces. 

Hunter finished strong and has a good home program set up for him.  Thanks to Tyler for making a custom bench for Hunter to use at home.  (He made one for Reese too!).  In the 3 weeks Hunter has gained a lot of strength and confidence.  He has increased his ability to balance and the number of steps he can take.  It will still be a lot of work to walk independently.  We are excited for the doors this therapy has opened for Hunter.

POST PTICTURES

IPTI - Day 12 of 13

July 18, 2013.

Almost done with therapy......one more day.........Today was a little off for hunter today. I think it was trying to get the home program set up and a little chaos in the gym today! So happy we did this!!

While setting up the home program Muriel walked me though each step I was to do at home.  They wrote up a program with pictures of Hunter in each position and hold.  It will be some work but worth it.

I made a new friend while at therapy.  Since there is only 2 children in therapy at one time the mom's get to spend a lot of time together.  I am so thankful that Hunter and I were paired up with Carla and Reese.  Carla was so much fun to get to know.  She taught me that even though my child has disabilities he can still do all the things he wants - even if it is play baseball or run in races.  I am thankful for her wisdom and for her sharing so much with me.  I am so thankful that Reese was paired with Hunter.  They are 6 years apart in age but on the same page when it comes to desire and commitment.  Reese worked hard for 3 weeks right along side of Hunter.  Thanks Carla Thorne for everything....I will miss seeing you everyday!

IPTI - Day 11 of 13

July 17, 2013

Day 11 of intensive physical therapy was a good day. Hunter walked so well!!! He has been working on stepping up/down levels and catching himself when falling. He is doing so so good!

POST PICTURES


It has been amazing to read all of the comments posted on facebook.  They keep me going and encourage me through the tough schedule this therapy places on Hunter and our entire family. It is exciting to see our family and friends excited for Hunter.   Here are a few of my favorites from today:

Grandma Sing:
"Hunter has done so remarkable. It was amazing to be there and watch Sergio do the physical therapy with Hunter. To watch how he helps Hunter's body learn how it feels to be balanced. I am so grateful for this intense therapy. Hunter is so strong, smart and determined. I love Hunter!"

Carla Thorne:
"Hunter has done amazing. We feel so blessed to have watched it first hand everyday. I also feel blessed to have made a new really good friend in the process. Thanks Hillary Clark for everything."

Heide Maass:
"This is indeed a happy moment, Hunter is doing great, what a amazing time he has ahead, new freedom and he can reach it all , we can not image his feeling. We are so proud of him and you all, making it happen!"

Jake Williams:
"He looks so cute. His expression is dedicated so determined. It is awesome that you share these with all of us. It really makes me as a person feel more strong through your sons example with what he overcomes. Wow!"

IPTI - Day 10 of 13

July 16, 2013

Strength

July 15, 2013

I saw this today and it made me think.  I thought of my Hunter in therapy and all of the things he has dealt with in his short life.  He truly has strength I know nothing about.

IPTI - Day 9 of 13

July 15, 2013

Day 9 of Intense Therapy got off to a good start..... and then someone needed to have a nap.

Hunter feel right to sleep in the Neurosuit.  He never falls asleep just on the floor but today he did.  We let him sleep for about 15 minutes.  That was the most expensive nap he has ever taken. :)

My Ninja Turtle Raf

July 12, 2013

We are up to our eyebrows in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles at our house.

Here is my Ninja Turtle Raf, AKA, Fisher.

Love this boy.  He is the cutest Turtle ever!

IPTI - Day 8 of 13

July 12, 2013


Day 8 of intense therapy was a good break for me. I took Justin and Fisher out to lunch and to a movie. Tyler took hunter to therapy! It was good for our entire family. Hunter needs this weekend for some very badly needed R & R today ended with this video clip...........


NEED TO UPLOAD VIDEO


Hunter is working on QUALITY walking just not quantity. Once he can master the 2-5 feet around him then he can go anywhere. We have to get Hunter to catch himself when falling so he doesn't get hurt. One specific thing we have to correct is when he stops walking his left toes come up so he is standing on his heel and then his foot turns to the outside. When he does this his pelvis is not stable. Without pelvis stability shifting weight will be difficult. 

IPTI - Day 7 of 13

July 11, 2013

Day 7 of intense physical therapy.  Hunter in the stander. This is his break time where he gets snack and free play on the iPad. This is his favorite time of the day I think. The stander allows gravity to work on his joints.

Everyday at the stander Hunter gets to play the iPad and have a drink and some snacks.  He is still working while standing.  I have been working on getting Hunter to use his pointer finger to actually point with it.  When he plays the iPad fingers 3-5 drag on the screen and messes everything up.  So to teach him to point, I used coban tape and taped his thumb and fingers into the palm of his hand so that only his pointer finger can move around.  This created a whole new world on the iPad for him!  Slowly but surely he will be able to point and play the iPad to his heart's desire. 

IPTI - Day 6 of 13

July10, 2013

Day 6 of intense PT went well. Hunter worked a lot on static standing. He did a lot of up and down today from sitting to standing and then back to sitting. It was a good day!

Up and down on the metal step.

Then Hunter moved to the round pad.  

Up...

 

 Down....

 

 Up.... again...and...again...

Look at Hunter standing nearly BY HIMSELF!!  Muriel has one finger on his bum providing just a fingertip amount of pressure!  This is HUGE!  plus having the stability to go up and down!

IPTI - Day 5 of 13

July 9, 2013

Day 5 if intense physical therapy was so AMAZING!

Here Hunter is int he spider cage with Sergio.  Look how straight, tall and balanced he is standing with such little help.  Hunter started with all of the bungees on and Sergio removed them one at a time until he was standing there with no bungees and very little assistance!!

Hunter is now working on pelvis stability and narrowing his base. Watch this video and see how awesome he is doing! He has completed 5 of 13 days....I am so excited for him.

NEED TO UPLOAD THE VIDEO!


So proud of you Hunter!  Look at your progress in just 5 days of therapy!!

IPTI - Day 4 of 13

July 8, 2013

Day 4 of intense therapy went well. Not much to report other than he made it an hour an a half before needing a movie to keep him going and happy. That is a huge improvement from the normal 10 minutes! .I think today was a day to get him back into routine from a long weekend. I really enjoyed watching him in the spider cage today for some reason. Today he worked on stairs and more walking. He did lots of squats too! Awesome job Hunter!

It was a nice break to get away for a few days and spend some time at our favorite camping spot...Ophir!  Now back to the grind of therapy.

Ophir 2013 - Clark Family Reunion

July 4-7, 2013

Ophir is one of our very favorite camping places.  Every July we go with the Clark Family.  It has become an annual tradition.  The funnest part about it is the Triple F (Fabulous Family Fun) that happens each and every year!

Kennedy, Jared, Sadie and Sydney on the swings.

Grandma Nancy and Hunter.

Justin and Hunter

Cy and his smile

Tyler

All the kids LOVE the sandbox

Fisher building in the sand

Swinging is Hunter's favorite place to be.

T-Shirt Ninjas!! We made ninja masks out of t-shirts.  

Cedar, Cy, Weston, Jeff, Justin and Brody

Fisher and Justin with their best Ninja moves.

Watching the horseshoe tourney!

Brody and Megan

Cy and Jody

Jeff and Lacey

Mattix, Justin and Zara

Kennedy and Sydney

Horseshoe Tourney! Big Jeff, Little Jeff and Lee Bob

Justin and Fisher just kickin back. Even Ninjas have some down time.

Uncle Scoob and Cael

The water slide was a hit this year!  Of course with the water slide we had to have a water fight!  It was the best water fight yet..... Tyler, Lee and Little Jeff got pounded by the kids.  It  was a blast!

Justin taking aim

Ophir has the best bike riding space ever! Fisher got a lot of practice on his big bike.

Hunter and Tyler going on a walk around the loop.

Brody in the sandbox

 Hunter played so good. He just loves to be outside

Justin on his scooter!

Connie's crew.... Brenda, Trent, Jayden, Trevor, Lester and Troy (Micheal didn't come this year).

Tyler and Hunter

Crafts, crafts and more crafts.  This year we made knit headbands.

Look at all those boy cousins!  Ray, Cedar, Cy, Jack, Justin and Brody

Little boy cousins who should have been in this picture: Mattix, Fisher, Hunter, Dean, and Cael.

Justin LOVED making and selling snow cones.  

Justin's selling pitch: "All snow cones $1. The first 10 are free!"

Fisher really got into helping Tyler set up the trailer.  Justin not so much.

We LOVE Ophir!  We hope this family reunion stays around each and every year!