The first week of 2011!

2011- Week ONE

Another week has begun... and it is FREEZING here... so we are trying to not only stay warm, but also find some fun things to do that are indoors, as well. Yesterday was Gymboree day, which is always really fun for both Jack and Maggie! They are both able to get all their massive amounts of wiggles out (for the most part)...

 Maggie having so much fun at Gymboree! And, standing all on her own, as well as taking some steps for us! Way to go, Miss Maggie!!!

Ooops... and down she goes. She recovered well. :)

 Each week, Gymboree has a new "theme"... and they change all of their structures around... so it all seems new to the kiddos. This week, they pretended they were cooks, or cookies. So, here is Jack using a roller on some little bean bags "rolling out his cookie dough"... later on they all jumped on this balance beam type bouncy thing and at the end was a big foam type pit with the parachute in it (so no hard landing), and they were all "cookies jumping into a cup of milk"... Jack LOVED it!!!

Doing a great job, Jack!!!

...and they both usually take a fairly good nap when we get home.

Usually...

Jack has been struggling with nap time and bedtime for the past couple of weeks. So, some days, he doesn't nap at all... but he still has to stay in his room and "rest"... well, that had lead to many many many disasters that you wouldn't even think he would be capable of doing.

There has been the "destruction of his entire room", where he quietly took practically every particle of clothing he has out of his dresser and down from the hangers in his closet... as well, as removing just about every thing off of his bookcase, and it all going on the floor... there has been the "diaper cream/eczema creme incident", in which he proceeded to take both tubes of cream and apply them to every single stuffed animal he has as well as himself, his walls, the hardwood floors in his room, his furniture, and the "best" - every little George on his Curious George Sheets. Thank Goodness everything could be washed... especially his George Sheets... I think I might love them even more than he does (which says A LOT!!!)

Jack's lil' bed... you may wonder where he fits with his menagerie of "guys" (that is what he calls his favorite animals - which consist of over 10 - and some are quite LARGE)... Jack does fit into his bed... and still insist on each and every special guy sleeping with him :)



So, now we have to either keep his door partially open, or check on him every few minutes until he falls asleep to make sure he isn't doing anything too crazy! With that said, he's done great the past few days. We did remove just about everything from his room besides clothing and furniture... so he doesn't have much to work with... ;)
He is slowly earning back his belongings.... as he has been doing pretty well staying in bed at nap, and actually sleeping and not going crazy in his room! Hope he keeps up the good work!!!

Poor Thomas and his "cream" application... maybe he has diaper rash???

On a different note... Today, Maggie had Physical Therapy, and Jack got to go to back to "My Little Waiting Room", located at St. Vincent Hospital, where Maggie has PT at the Gerry Frank Children's Center. It's a fun  "play place" for him to go while I take Maggie to her appointments. Their staff is AMAZING, everything is brand new, clean, fun and cool toys, books, imagination tables, etc. - and it's.... FREE!!! YES... FREE! They do, of course accept donations, but it is so nice to not have to worry about a sitter for Jack & he's also having a really fun time! I can't say enough great things about "My Little Waiting Room"...

or about Maggie's fabulous Pediatric Physical Therapist, Stephanie. She is so great with Maggie, and me too! :) She answers all of my ongoing questions, concerns, and is truly teaching me and helping me understand what "hyperflexibility" and "low muscle tone" mean, in the big picture of Maggie's gross motor skills and development. She also gives me so many great and wonderful ideas for different types of exercises, etc. to do at home with Maggie. We're hoping to have a stable walker... and then runner soon! Until then, we keep working each day with Maggs, and helping her gain the confidence she needs, as well as the strength in her hips, legs and feet. She is now wearing her "Cricuts" for at least 1/2 of the day - so basically any time she isn't sleeping and is actively playing. The "Cricuts" are again, custom-made inserts that go into her shoes that have been specially made and formed by a Pediatric Orthopedist to fit Maggie's foot, and help align her feet - so that rather than turning inward as they want to do naturally - they keep her feet straight and give her stability and balance.
She doesn't seem to mind wearing them... and they do work better in some shoes than others. And, really who cares about shoes (you're thinking... Brooke, right?)... :p Of course, I care about shoes, but I care more about my little darlings feet and the correction of them, so that hopefully she won't have future problems down the road that would need more intense help, rather than just insoles and physical therapy.

We are really trying to get her walking as much as we can, as well as having her bend down to pick things up, rather than sitting down, picking something up, and then pulling herself back up into a standing position. The bending will strengthen her hip muscles, and again lead to greater balance and stability, which she needs to walk/run.

Well, that is the update on the kiddos. They are both doing GREAT! And, I cannot say this enough.... we are so eager for warmer weather and some outside time... but, until then we shall continue to go to Gymboree, paint funny things, wash every plastic dish in the house, Brooke will set up cars while Jack is napping and when he wakes up - tell him they were having a parade while he was asleep and they want him to join them (yes, I'm getting desperate... very desperate), use window markers all over the house, take so many baths, clean out closets, sweep floors (all 3 of us... using little sweepers - Brian doesn't join us... as he is at work :p), etc. I'm sure I could think of more to entertain you all... but, I'll save the embarrassment and leave it at that.

CAR/TRUCK parade!!!

Watch out... they could be coming to your town, or a town near you!!!



This would be a fun little thing to make for J & M... or just make the "house/barn", & they could decorate it... maybe a project for later this week...

Happy Tuesday! Make Wednesday even better!!! xoxo