I liked the idea of Joyful Abode’s 20 chore Tuesday… kinda. She gets an amazing amount of shit done in 1 day, with 2 kids, all on Tuesday. Um, yeah, not happening over here. Not with working full time and 3 therapies a week for Pickle. But does that mean I shouldn’t strive to adapt it… no! So, 20 chore WEEK starting on a TUESDAY is more realistic for me
Write birth story
Write Golden Boobies blog post
Write 1st year blog post
Figure out how to embed a damn vimeo! So frustrating!
Read a little more in “Happiest Toddler on the Block”
Retire the 18 month clothes that dont fit
Get out 24 month clothes that do fit
Pickle laundry
Research best way to rotate toys
Unattach myself from old toys that are too young for Pickle
Wrap Craigery’s bday gift!
Make Craigery’s bday cake
Finish and Order Engagement client’s “Save the Dates”
Add filters to requested photos for client
Get my Q’s answered at breastfeeding support group
Shoot Pickle’s 1 year photos on Sunday
Edit and burn a disc of Noomi’s 100 day photo shoot
Fill out UCLA family leave study follow-up survey
Upload MY photos of Pickle’s 11 month photo shoot
Sleep!
Whoa… feels like a lot. But I think I can get it done.. mostly… some of it may carry over into the next week. I guess then it would be called some chore Tuesday. Thats fine. The yellow button bellow will take you to the awesome Emily’s blog, Joyful Abode.
Hey all! I thought maybe its a good time to update everyone on how the different therapies are going.
Physical therapy (PT) is going well! Pickle goes 2x per week for 30 mins each at the PT office. Miss Joleen usually starts him with the platform swing which he is really starting to like! She said pushing babies in a swing often is great for them to learn spacial relationship and where their body is in the environment. And, I have noticed when we are at the park he can look at me now when swinging. He used to only look at the ground. Up until this week, we were working on crawling on hands and knees, sitting up, and core strengthening. I’m happy to say, about a week ago, he crawled on hands and knees! I cried. He is still weak in his arms and legs… when he crawls he sits back on his heels mostly.
This week we have moved on to standing, cruising, walking as well as still strengthening the core and left side. We did meet with the senior PT this week because they thought Pickle might have a leg length issue of and inch difference! I was dreading and dreading.. knowing that would send us to an Orthopedic doctor and be another concerns. I’m happy to report that there is no leg length issues! Whats happening is that his whole left side is much weaker to he doesn’t want to bear weight on the left, causing him to lean to the right. Now, though, he is over-leaning to the right and causing that leg to bow and ankle to roll out. We want to correct this right away so it doesn’t further hinder his progress nor become a habit. The PT’s told us its time for “early walker” shoes! The more structured shoe and harder sole will help keep him from rolling the foot out. I tried to ask her when she thinks he would walk. She said we are shooting for the normal range which is up to 14 months, but even up to 18 months is ok. My interpretation: the end is not that near. In the mean time, keeping at it.
Pickle just started back up with developmental therapy. His therapist got into a car accident and was out for a few weeks. She is feeling better now so it resumed this past week. This therapy is with Miss Rosa every Monday morning at 8am at my house. I LOVE that she comes to me. 1 hour is a little long for him, but he does well. Toward the end of the session, he starts whining and looking for me, so I join their instructional play. She has mostly been working with him on putting things into and taking things out. He struggles with this concept. I’m trying not to worry about his adaptive, fine motor, and cognitive skills. I hope its like the physical therapy and will start to show progress soon. Its weird when I see other babies around 1 so in tune with their environment. I can see it in their faces. They are concentrating. I don’t see that in Pickle yet. I feel like he only surface plays. He doesn’t spend much time at all investigating the environment or toys. He only bangs or throws them. I have been going crazy trying to find resources and readings on how to help him progress through play. So far, I haven’t been very successful. I’m unsure what he is ready to learn versus what is out of reach. I don’t want to push something that is way too advanced and frustrate both of us. Then, of course I also realize, we don’t have any time together to work on that anyway. 2 hrs a night to bathe, breastfeed 2 times, and have dinner…. oh and some physical therapy work too… I don’t even have time to read him a book each night. Its hard to keep the mama guilt at bay sometimes. Parenting the way you want is a full time job.. but parenting a developmentally delayed baby? So difficult you guys. And working.
I have been trying to cut myself some slack though. I had my own moment of therapy earlier this week. I was feeling guilty about not being able to parent my own child more~ feeling green.. then a voice in my head told me to knock it off and cut myself some slack. I’m doing the best I can. I only hope its good enough.
~Leasa <3 (starting to feel like bearing my soul means wearing my name and I’m ok with that)
I’m not myself. I feel… a little disconnected lately, introverted. I’ve been racking my brain about why I feel so strange. All the different things going on are consuming me. It’s been stressful. But this stress is different. It’s uncertain, unfamiliar, unannounced. This is the first time I’ve internalized my feelings & issues. It’s not like me. My somewhat melancholy mood is unwelcome & difficult to shake. I get frustrated with myself, asking me what I want or expect? Do I want people to feel sorry for me? For Pickle? No. It ain’t that serious! Do I enjoy feeling sorry for myself? No. What’s my problem then????! I’m green. You know, the color of envy. Or rather, simple jealousy. It’s not negative toward others, it’s my problem. I’m embarrassed to admit it because I know it’s stupid. None the less I feel it.
I don’t want to give the impression that my jealousies, big or small, overshadow the joy in my life. They don’t. But the big ones have made me a little antisocial. When I’m around others I am reminded of my stresses, worries, jealousies. It feels pathetic, and I think its a big reason I’ve been distant. No one and nothing to be jealous of when I’m alone. Just me, Pickle, Craigery.
