last day

Today was our last day at therapy in Sikeston. 3 weeks seems to really fly by when your on an all day schedule everyday. I wanted to take this time to say thank you again to all who are involved with making these types of trips for therapy possible. I hesitate to even list the people but I will try--thanks to family, friends, strangers, dodgeball players/volunteers/donators, cookie makers, garage sale buyers, therapists, and many more who I probably am not aware of!!! You are all making a difference in Christian's life.

I hope that the words, pictures, and videos can convey the message that therapy like this (along with others) is helping Christian get stronger which in turn helps with his progression to sit, stand, walk on his own. Our goal is for him to become more independent in every area. When we come to new places like this one it is also opening the door to learn more about equipment, techniques, and ideas to take home. I have seen a huge change in Christian's strength which is allowing him to stand longer with little assistance, walk farther and more correctly (is that a phrase?), sit up taller. . . We appreciate all of the work and love that you all put in to our son!

THANK YOU -THANK YOU
The Russells

The video is of walking he did this week. Also there is a wide angle of the big room that we worked in.

Wow!

Today was a great day at therapy! I would say today and yesterday have been his best days. But of course he should be able to do more and improving the last week due to all of the work he has done up until this point.

I would say he was either standing or walking in his walker the last 2 hours. He had some small breaks but not much. And of course worked on sit to stands but that's still hard work. He did the most walking he's done in a good while. His trunk control while sitting and standing is great. He's able to stand longer with very little support from the therapist. Longer meaning 10-15 seconds maybe. I was very pleased with him today!

Videos: Christian walked in his walker (with us pushing, him stepping) to the tactile wall. He liked playing with the stuff on it today.

just my thoughts

As we've been here doing therapy I've found myself thinking in my head "man if Christian could just see he would probably be able to do so much more". Of course, we learn most of what we know by using our vision. Most of our motivation is what we can see-crawl towards the toy, walk towards mommy, see the food -pick it up , see me move my mouth to talk and copy that. . .
I usually don't get hung up on his lack of vision and the role it plays in his life but for some reason this last week it has been on my mind more. Christian does a great job of using his ears and hands to tell him different things and somewhat motivate himself. I am still amazed at what he can do and will be able to do even with lack of vision. The thing that struck me last night was that last January when we were in Kansas City doing therapy and Christian was having 5 to 7 grand mal seizures a day I said to myself "man if Christian just didn't have seizures he could do so much more". Hmmm and today Christian has been grand mal seizure free for 6 months. It's like God reminded me of what He's already done and what He will do. I'm reminded that nothing is impossible for God-not brain damage, not seizures and certainly not cortical blindness! I anticipate every tomorrow and what it holds!

videos and pics on the previous posts.

it's monday

Well today was ok considering Christian has touched by the southest mo allergy season. The cotton and soybean and other farmland is being uhh (i did not grow up on the farm, just close by)--well they are taking it from the farm soo the dust is a flyin. So he was a little puny today. Although daddy got to watch him work for a little bit. Here are videos from last week.

Christian is proving that you can sit or stand on a horse to get a workout. No animals were harmed in the filming of this video:)

week 2 is over-pics and vids

Thisweek Christian tried out a couple of new walkers just to say how he would work with them. We also moved around some parts on his walker to try to help his position for walking. It's nice to try out some other walkers because you normally don't get to try any out unless a facility happens to have one. I feel like it's like buying a car before test driving any. You just see one in a magazine or test drive one and then have to go with it.

He did some great walking on weds and thursday but i was helping so don't have pics or videos. sorry!

The picture above with his head down is in a room where it is dark and they use a black light to for kids with visual impairments. She was trying to see if he would respond to any of the objects that were lit up under the black light. Unfortunately we didn't see much of a difference from him. But thanks for trying Brandy!

Volunteers make it happen. .

Thank you to everyone who donated their time and energy to donate or work for the tournament! We are so blessed to have family and friends who truly care and want to make a difference in Christian's life!

thank you's

Christian's past 2 days have been really productive. His walking is getting more consistant and smoother and he's doing it correctly. I don't think i could explain what correctly means without getting technical about muscles, tone, and all that therapy stuff. I can tell he's just getting stronger. I think on tues he had just hit a wall and was very tired and thus not as motivated. I"m still working on videos and pics so in the mean time check out some stuff from the 2nd Annual "Dodging to make a Difference" Fundraiser.

Thank you to the businesses that donated:

Ozark- Burger King, Lamberts, Rib Crib, Express Care Valvolin, Shoneys, Sonic, Salon 3:16, Grumpy's Ice Cream and Sandwiches, Price Cutter, Taco Bell, Godfathers, Dominoes

Springfield-Hilites Hair Salon, Hotel of Terror, Ozarko Tire Center, TGIF, Chesterfield Family Center

Branson- Auntie Anne's, Chateau on the Lake, Travelhost, Shorty Smalls, Montana Mikes

Nixa and others- Casey's Pizza

Others-Tshirts Image Pro Group (ohio) and State Farm Sharon Bryant

week 2

Christian is. . . getting stronger, impressing me at times, making me say "huh", melting my heart, teaching me, . . .and so much more.

Last week Christian so impressed me with his endurance and adapting to a new place and voices. This week well. . .yesterday was great. While working on the horse he was holding on to a pole on each side. I was so shocked at how well he held on with his left hand (which is his weak hand). He wasn't using his tone and clutching the pole for life but actually actively using muscles to hold it loosely. Sounds simple but not when your brain usually tells you to hold really tight. I"m trying to get a video on of that.

Today was a different story. He didn't want to use his legs. hmmm that's not good. He was just kind of blah with the legs. It's hard when he does so well and then one day has just a blah day and doesn't seem to want to do much. I have to remember he's working harder than ever and it is tiring.

I'm learning a lot of new things to do with him as well. Things I can take home!

The video is of him doing sit ups!

The Suite

Christian wears a suite during some of his therapy. In the video the therapist explains what it does. It's pretty neat stuff. Makes the work he does a little harder because it is making him use the correct muscles. He also wears another piece of equipment during sitting and standing that she will explain.
She is trying to strengthen his legs, glutes, and trunk so that he can do things like sit, stand, walk, ect. He has come so far from a year ago and I am so proud of him and how hard he works!

First week at the Kenny Rogers Center

Hello everyone. My we have been busy so that's why i'm just posting some updates. We had the dodgeball tournament and then left for Kansas City to get hyperbaric oxygen treatments which we had to leave early because Christian got an ear infection. We will return later for more treatments. Now we are in Sikeston (my hometown) and Christian is getting intense physical therapy 3 hours a day, everyday for 3 weeks. I am blown away by how hard he works and doesn't complain. I was suprised he made it that long the first day. The center is amazing and his therapist Brandy is equally amazing. I'm including some pics and video. The first 2 are of christian being like his daddy and lifting weights! She is trying to strengthen his legs muscles and butt muscles (quads, hamstrings, and glutes).