I finally talked to someone who works for the Conductive Education facility in Dacula! I called the city hall down there, mostly to see if the place was still open and they gave me a number that lead me to their former owner. She then gave me the current coordinator's number. I left her a message this afternoon. Coincidentally enough, her husband, who also runs A Step To Independence, saw my email from last week and called me. The reason they've all been M.I.A. is because they only operate for a couple weeks every other month. He and I had a long conversation about our common experiences from raising a child with CP and let me know how they run things at their facility. Basically, they stay very closely in line with the teachings at the original Conductive Education Center in Hungary (The Peto Institute...named, of course, after the man I mentioned in my older post). Soooo....the wild goose chase is over and I plan to visit them in September, during their next Session!

Also, Davis' teacher called me today! She sounded very sweet and we can't wait to meet her tomorrow. A girlfriend of mine, who also works at Little River, went over to her classroom today and scoped her out for me!!! She said that she had a very organized classroom (be still my heart!) and that Davis will only have 4 other classmates! Awesome news! She even asked other teachers what they thought about her and they all had really positive things to say! I love spies!

Scheule Set In Stone

I finally, finally, finally figured out Davis' schedule for Little River. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 11:45 - 2:45. This time is ideal because it's also when the 'normal developing' preschoolers will be attending and Davis will have the opportunity to mingle with them during certain activities. Open house is Friday afternoon, where we'll meet his teacher! Maybe he'll even get a 'school supply' list! Those were always so fun!

I can finally check off one of my 'To Do's'. I found Davis new Speech and Occupational therapists and he starts with them in 2 weeks.

OH! And I finally finished Justin's company website. I still need to add pictures to one of the pages and replace some of the wall photos with better ones. It's been about 4 months in the making (and isn't really that glamorous...just really hard to do from scratch), so I'm so happy to finally have it published. http://www.appalachianfoundations.com/

We met up with my cousin and her family while they visited my aunt a couple weekends ago. Halle became Davis' best friend when she started playing ball with him.

Justin and Davis have been taking four wheeler rides at night lately. Don't let the frown fool you, he loves it. It's just part of the 'bad boy' image.
Davis playing with Shane and Stacy's puppies while they had us over for dinner.

Ok, don't be alarmed. I'm back. In full effect, even. The tail end of this summer has been so busy for Mrs. Momma Nunley. Davis starts school at Little River Elementary on Monday. MONDAY! And with much thanks to Sonny Perdue and this furlough crap, I have no idea who his teacher or therapists are going to be or what times he'll attend during the day. My head has been spinning. I've called every person in the Cherokee County School System and no one has any idea what the plan is. MONDAY! Ridiculous.

And, just to add insult to injury, I've made the decision to find Davis a new Speech, Occupational, and Physical therapist. It's not that I'm unhappy with his current ones; I just need to make his and my life easier. We drive 30 minutes to get to ST and OT every week, which hasn't been a problem until now. With his upcoming schedule (school every day), this commute seems like a burden. His PT, who's been with us since Davis was 6 months old, does home visits and I think he'll benefit more from actually going to a clinic for this service. So, I've been calling around to find availability, but can't really tell anyone what our availability is...again...furlough.

Also, I found a Conductive Ed facility in Dacula. I've been calling and emailing them to set up a day to go out there and visit the place, but I'm starting to think they don't actually have a place anymore. They're phone has been disconnected. Boo.

I found this great article that better explains the whole conductive education concept. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/02/24/60II/main601944.shtml. A man named Andras Peto is credited for realizing that, if the brain is exercised enough, it will train the mind to coordinate with the muscles. People like him have helped guarantee that people like Davis can and will live normal, independent lives.

Never A Dull Moment Around Davis

Davis' GI appointment went great. He weighs 26 lbs, 7 oz. That makes a weight gain of 10 oz. in 2 months! The doctor was going to take his Mickey Button out, but Justin wanted to keep it in for a little while longer 'just in case' he gets sick and we need to use it. So, we decide to keep doing what we're doing and go back in 2-3 months.

You won't believe what happened next...We got home and laid Davis down for his nap. Through the monitor, I could hear him playing with his golf ball set. (He's been getting out of bed and trying to escape from his room recently.) I went in there, looked at his bed, and found his freakin' Mickey Button laying there!!! This, of course, happens during the office's lunch hour, so I have no way of getting in touch with anyone. Murphy's Law, right?!?

So, I went all the way back to Scottish Rite. Justin, the doctor, and I decided to just leave it out, for good. No more feeding tube!!!!

My Big Boy And His Baby Steps!

Along with the skills Davis learned in Orlando, he's also developed this huge desire to stand and attempt walking...which is great because that means lots and lots of practicing! We knew all along that his lack of 'trying' was mostly based on being scared and not confident about it. With kids, everyone says '...they'll do it on their own time...when they're ready'. Well, he's soooo ready! Today, he stood up and took 7 whole steps!!! We're getting so close!!!

I've been doing the potty training thing since yesterday...every single hour...it's so exhausting! And he hasn't released one single drop in there! This has to be one of the top 10 hardest parental jobs!!!

I left a message with Davis' Neurologist asking that she write us a prescription for new braces and some canes. I'm hoping we can have those ordered by the end of the week. But maybe...just maybe...he won't even need the canes...I don't wanna jinx it thought :)

Tomorrow is our check-up with the GI doctor. Keep your fingers crossed that he's gained some weight so we can get that dang tube removed!

The End of The Trip

Davis and I finally made it home last night. I'm so happy to be back, but hate that the experience is over. Of course, I learned so many great things that will carry into our daily lives here at home. CE changed Davis' life and I can't wait to go back! It's probably the best thing we've done so far for his development...and it didn't involve any operations or medications - just a holistic approach to learning and mobility for children like my little man!

My Dad arrived in Orlando on Wednesday and, therefore, I was able to check-out of the ol' Mickey D's House. Our stay there was in and of itself a wonderful experience.

Heading towards the potty before class.
At our hotel on Wednesday night, Davis took his very first steps. They were motivated by (of all things) a diaper, which served as his makeshift football. Whatever it takes, right?!?

Enjoying some SweetTarts on the way home. What a face!!!

It was so exciting to get home and see Justin's face when he got to witness, first hand, his son standing and taking baby steps! It was like I was seeing it for the first time, too.

Day 10

It just keeps getting better and better!!

Davis used the big boy potty TWICE in class today! I'm bummed that I wasn't there to share in the excitement of this 'first', but I'm soooo proud of him!


AND...he can take about 7 or 8 steps all by himself with the canes! The positive impact this place is having on Davis is incredible!

It's Totally Paying Off!!!

Today, we hit a milestone! Davis started standing! It's so amazing to see and I'm so thankful for this day!

Our weekend in Florida

Davis stood all by himself during therapy on Friday. He was shooting baskets and didn't even realize that she had let go of him. Then she made him do muscle strengthening exercises (lifting dumbbells, doing squats, push-ups, etc.). I thought I was in my Step Plus Abs Class for a second. It was the funniest thing ever.

After therapy, Davis and I headed to Tampa to stay with Michelle for the weekend. This is her cute house just outside of downtown. We spent about 75% of our time there in her pool.

Friday night, she took us to this place called Square One Burgers. It was like an upscale burger joint with a full bar.

To celebrate the 4th, we headed to the beach, set up shop, and waited for the sunset. It was so pretty. Michelle bought Davis a million beach toys. And, of course, all he wanted to do was play with her iPhone. The fireworks show was the coolest thing I've ever seen! There were about 40 boats shooting off fireworks all along the horizon of the ocean. Then, all up and down the beach (as far as you could see) there were fireworks going off like every 50 yards. It was so cool. Here's Davis taking it all in!

It was so nice to get away and spend some much needed time with My Michelle!! I miss her already.


Now, it's back to reality. Only 2 more days and Pa will be here!

Day 5

When I walked Davis into class this morning he kept shouting, "Mi-yuh! Mi-yuh!" One of the therapists was like, "Oh yeah, Davis and Micah are best buds." Micah is the only male therapist in Davis' Walking Class. So funny. Micah had to switch seats so that he'd be next to Davis. He was removed from class about 10 minutes early because he couldn't keep his eyes opened.

By the way, it has rained every single day since I got here. :(

Here's the House.

This is the computer room. It's right next to my room, so I come in here a lot. It's supposed to be off limits after 9 p.m., but the girl working here lets me stay so I can be near Davis. It's full of Orlando Magic memorabilia.

The kitchen

The community fridge and freezer. The cabinets on the right are everyone's personal pantries.

The playroom and infamous Train Table.

Someone brought all the kids at the House Build-A-Bears. Davis named him Rusty.

Day 4

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that the chances of Justin Timberlake lodging at my Ronald McDonald House are pretty slim...sooooo...I've decided to leave Room 6 and mingle with the people who are here. And I made a friend. She's a beautiful, Brazilian mother (of quadruplets!!!) who speaks about as much English as Davis. One of her four little ones is also receiving treatment at Conductive Education, so we've been chatting about our common experiences. It's so fun trying to translate her half Portuguese/half English words. And then attempting to fire back with some of my own half Spanish (I don't even know if they understand Spanish)/half English words. She'll start to tell me something about something, notice my puzzled expression, and just toss her hands up and shake her head in laughter. She's shared a lot of great information with me, though - mostly about other therapy services that she's participated in.

Davis' hour of therapy today went ok. He threw a couple fits, but I guess that's to be expected. He did the rope walking thing, practiced standing, and walking with the cane. She let me take the cane home with us, so we practiced walking up and down the halls for about an hour tonight.

P.S. We're not allowed to have any food or drinks in our room...and...I've been breaking that rule since I walked through the doors on Sunday. I think I got caught this morning...I'll keep you posted. I may end up homeless.