How 2011 came and went

I knew that it has been awhile since I wrote a blog entry, but I was surprised to see that it has been well over a year since my last blog entry. Wow!

So, Hunter's progress is slow and steady since my last journal entry. He continues to make small strides in his development. He is still walking with his rifton pacer walker. However, he will soon graduate out of this walker. He uses it as a crutch and is not working at his full potential in it. His medical team does not want him to push a walker anymore. They want him to pull one. They will be switching him into walker that is more behind him, than in front of him. He has mastered walking with a walker; whether he is pushing or pulling it. I mentioned to the physical therapist today that I wanted to see him walking with crutches. We tried it today. He did it. It was a short distance and he has not mastered it yet. But, we hope that it will be a work in progress and the new Hunter. Hunter will get his next round of botox treatments in January 2012.

Hunter's speech is still a problem for him. He says "momma". But, his other words are not words and consist of "gaggle", "yogi", and other misc. sounds. He is drinking much better than my last blog entry. In fact, I have finally taught him how to drink from a straw. This was difficult for him because of his feeding issues in infancy. He never learned how to suck, as most babies do. I'm hoping that with the work of a speech therapist, we can get his oral motor skills up and running.

His vision still remains a problem. We have had to increase his prescription strength. I'm not getting many clear answers on how bad his vision is, or what to expect. It makes me nervous for Hunter's sake.

In April 2011, we had a scare. Hunter went in for a hearing test and failed. After a couple tests and a visit to an ENT specialist, the results came back. He had water on his eardrums and needed tubes placed. He had the tubes placed and passed his next hearing test. Whew...what a relief!

These are all ongoing problems for Hunter. His speech and vision problems as well as his physical problems brought on by the cerebral palsy make it difficult for him to make huge strides, but the little strides I see make me hopeful that he is heading in the right direction.

Hunter is attending pre-school. He is receiving services there. I'm very pleased with his team of teachers, speech and physical therapist, and vision specialists. I feel that he is with a good team working with him and wanting him to succeed.

Okay, let's put all his medical conditions to the side. I think I've stated this a hundred times, but I'll say it again - his medical conditions do not define who he is. So, to get in touch with who this little boy is, I must say that he is highly moitivated, smart, and spirited. Despite his limitations, he is very active, plays with toys, plays with his peers, and smiles more than any child I have ever known. He still lights up a room when he steps into it.