House of pain

Aug 14, 2011

There is a price to be paid for all of the activities this year. With all of the driving, days in the heat and eating on the run are finally catching up with all of us. Between Annette’s ankles, my back and what we can only imagine to be achin’ all over for Nathan, our bodies have all taken their abuse in need of a couple of days off.

It was about 10 months ago when bursitis struck in my elbow, which lasted for over three months. I went through my own physical therapy, but it was just being able to rest, getting some time off from hoisting and holding Nathan on his horse for equine-assisted therapy which finally gave a chance for that to subside.

Being the last week of conductive education we’re sad to see the learning end, but won’t complain about regaining a big part of our week back. When I didn’t have back issues, I would carry Nathan to-and-from the car to the session (about 100-yards) with his lunch/snack bag and his bag with clothes, diapers, braces, etc. The past week I’ve used the stroller, but lifting that in and out of the car was its own feat, if even for just a few seconds.

I won’t miss packing the car with his bag, two lunch bags (one for snack and one for a bigger meal later on, which may or may not include food for me,) two computers (my laptop and Nathan’s communication device,) riding clothes/shoes and splints, Tylenol (to get me through the day) and some type of caffeinated beverage for the road. We’ll actually get one week off before school starts and things start back up again.

On top of all of our little aches and pains, Nathan was subjected to his quarterly botox injections the middle of this week. Two injections to four muscles in his legs (which does require twisting the needle once in his leg to inject one hamstring and then the other.) Still Nathan barely flinches, and never cries throughout the entire ordeal. The new trick this time around is to distract the child with music and/or games on the hospital’s iPad. With Nathan, they were pretty much done before the app loaded for him to play. Still the faster we’re in an out of the hospital, the better.

Wednesday, being the first nice weather day we’ve had for a long time, Nathan put whatever sore legs he had to get outside and walk in his walker. It was here that the results of the summer really show some of the fruits of our labors. Annette went walking with Nathan as I tackled the neglected backyard, which hadn’t been mowed in over a month. As they returned from the first half of their walk, Annette stopped me and had me watch what Nathan was doing.

We started walking the other way down the street and Nathan, was matching us stride for stride. Typically, we’d walk, but he would be distracted by something, or his legs would need a break about every 10-15 feet. That night he would go 30-50 feet at a time. Looking excited about what he was doing, regardless of having a real reason for his legs to be hurting. He would get excited when cars passed and would breakout in a near-run, taking nice, large strides as he would try to keep up as long as he could.

We’re still working on his creeping and crawling across the floor. He still gets frustrated that it doesn’t work as fast as he’d like, but still he’s putting a good effort in. We’re excited to see what our therapist says when we start up our 8-weeks of physical therapy, next week.

Today finally gave us a day to all relax, all get a good nap, and still get a little shopping in. After all, school is just over two-weeks away and we have to get all his new supplies (and maybe a new outfit or two) for him to go back to school in style. Maybe it’s a good thing he thing he can’t talk right now, because when the students ask what they did over summer vacation, Nathan wouldn’t allow anyone else to get a word in the rest of the day.

For the rest of us, we'll get the heating pads and ice packs ready. Hopefully we'll be able to recover soon and keep up with the energy and excitement of a 5 year old, ready to get back with the other kids and Miss Beth again.

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